Best Places to Live in Massachusetts (2012)

This article, the thirteenth in a 50-state series, ranks the best places to live in Massachusetts based on three criteria: (1) median household income (adjusted for cost of living); (2) educational attainment (% of residents 25 years and over who have earned a bachelor's degree or higher); and (3) property crime rates per 1,000 residents (burglary and automobile thefts). For purposes of these rankings, "places" are incorporated municipalities with populations greater than 2,000.

Among the twenty best places to live in Massachusetts, thirteen are suburbs of Boston, six are suburbs of Lowell, and one is a suburb of Worcester. By county, eleven of the best places to live in Massachusetts are located in Middlesex County, four in Essex County, four in Norfolk County, and one in Worcester County.

After reading "Best Places to Live in Massachusetts (2012)," return to this link to read "Largest Cities in Massachusetts (2012)." A collection of similar articles for the remaining 49 states can be found at these links: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

For the culmination of the 50-state series, read "Best Places to Live in America (2012)."

This article may be updated as new data becomes available.

1. Best Places to Live in Massachusetts (2012) - Carlisle, MA (Middlesex County)

Population: 4,817
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $125,509
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 86.8%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.08

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Boston, MA: 25 miles SE
Lowell, MA: 10 miles N
Nashua, NH: 25 miles NNW

2. Best Places to Live in Massachusetts (2012) - Sherborn, MA (Middlesex County)

Population: 4,281
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $129,423
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 79.8%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 3.27

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Boston, MA: 20 miles NE
Lowell, MA: 34 miles N
Worcester, MA: 28 miles W


3. Best Places to Live in Massachusetts (2012) - Weston, MA (Middlesex County)

Population: 11,897
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $107,463
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 79.3%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.51

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Boston, MA: 14 miles E
Lowell, MA: 23 miles N
Nashua, NH: 39 miles NNW

4. Best Places to Live in Massachusetts (2012) - Dover, MA (Norfolk County)

Population: 5,724
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $110,842
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 77.9%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.27

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Boston, MA: 16 miles NE
Lowell, MA: 33 miles N
Worcester, MA: 30 miles W
Providence, RI: 36 miles SSW


5. Best Places to Live in Massachusetts (2012) - Sudbury, MA (Middlesex County)

Population: 17,445
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $109,660
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 72.9%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.2

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Boston, MA: 21 miles E
Lowell, MA: 21 miles NNE
Nashua, NH: 37 miles N

6. Best Places to Live in Massachusetts (2012) - Boxford, MA (Essex County)

Population: 8,187
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $116,106
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 65.0%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 0.12

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Boston, MA: 24 miles SSW
Lowell, MA: 20 miles WSW
Nashua, NH: 33 miles WNW

7. Best Places to Live in Massachusetts (2012) - Lexington, MA (Middlesex County)

Population: 30,445
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $93,572
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 77.3%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 0.91

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Boston, MA: 13 miles SE
Lowell, MA: 16 miles NNW
Nashua, NH: 32 miles NNW

8. Best Places to Live in Massachusetts (2012) - Wellesley, MA (Norfolk County)

Population: 27,091
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $95,021
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 78.5%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.12

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Boston, MA: 14 miles ENE
Lowell, MA: 28 miles N
Worcester, MA: 28 miles W

9. Best Places to Live in Massachusetts (2012) - Wayland, MA (Middlesex County)

Population: 13,195
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $96,061
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 74.4%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 0.76

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Boston, MA: 18 miles E
Lowell, MA: 23 miles N
Nashua, NH: 39 miles NNW


10. Best Places to Live in Massachusetts (2012) - Lincoln, MA (Middlesex County)

Population: 8,103
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $84,081
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 78.4%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.36

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Boston, MA: 16 miles SE
Lowell, MA: 18 miles N
Nashua, NH: 35 miles NNW

11. Best Places to Live in Massachusetts (2012) - Hopkinton, MA (Middlesex County)

Population: 14,633
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $95,108
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 68.4%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 0.75

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Boston, MA: 30 miles ENE
Lowell, MA: 39 miles NNE
Nashua, NH: 49 miles N

12. Best Places to Live in Massachusetts (2012) - Acton, MA (Middlesex County)

Population: 21,104
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $85,687
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 75.8%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.71

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Boston, MA: 24 miles ESE
Lowell, MA: 13 miles NNE
Nashua, NH: 28 miles N

13. Best Places to Live in Massachusetts (2012) - Wenham, MA (Essex County)

Population: 4,665
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $97,204
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 64.5%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.29

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Boston, MA: 23 miles SSW
Lowell, MA: 34 miles W
Nashua, NH: 46 miles NW

14. Best Places to Live in Massachusetts (2012) - Southborough, MA (Worcester County)

Population: 9,640
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $98,987
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 66.3%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.59

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Boston, MA: 28 miles ENE
Lowell, MA: 32 miles NNE
Worcester, MA: 16 miles WSW
Providence, RI: 41 miles S


15. Best Places to Live in Massachusetts (2012) - Stow, MA (Middlesex County)

Population: 6,473
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $91,898
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 65.9%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 0.93

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Boston, MA: 28 miles ESE
Lowell, MA: 18 miles NNE
Nashua, NH: 38 miles N


16. Best Places to Live in Massachusetts (2012) - West Newbury, MA (Essex County)

Population: 4,336
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $96,417
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 64.8%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.61

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Boston, MA: 39 miles SSW
Lowell, MA: 29 miles SW
Nashua, NH: 33 miles W

17. Best Places to Live in Massachusetts (2012) - Groton, MA (Middlesex County)

Population: 10,936
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $87,308
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 65.3%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 0.55

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Boston, MA: 36 miles SE
Lowell, MA: 15 miles E
Nashua, NH: 15 miles NNE


18. Best Places to Live in Massachusetts (2012) - Medfield, MA (Norfolk County)

Population: 12,457
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $81,268
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 67.1%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 0.48

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Boston, MA: 24 miles NE
Lowell, MA: 37 miles N
Worcester, MA: 34 miles WNW
Providence, RI: 31 miles SSW


19. Best Places to Live in Massachusetts (2012) - Sharon, MA (Norfolk County)

Population: 17,256
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $85,725
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 65.4%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.68

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Boston, MA: 25 miles NNE
Lowell, MA: 42 miles NNW
Worcester, MA: 48 miles WNW
Providence, RI: 27 miles SSW

20. Best Places to Live in Massachusetts (2012) - Topsfield, MA (Essex County)

Population: 6,096
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $85,553
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 62.0%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 0.49

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Boston, MA: 22 miles SSW
Lowell, MA: 26 miles W
Nashua, NH: 37 miles WNW

*In some cases, municipalities either do not report their crime statistics to the FBI or they contract for services with a county law enforcement agency or the state police. For those towns, crime rates are extrapolated from state, county, or contiguous municipality data.

Source(s):

"All Cities in Massachusetts," City-Data.com
"American Community Survey," U.S. Census Bureau
"American Fact Finder," U.S. Census Bureau
"Uniform Crime Reports," Federal Bureau of Investigation