Do we think there’s a direct correlation between good schools, educated residents, jobs, competitive salaries, and people flocking to the best places for families to live in Massachusetts? Absolutely.
And here at HomeSnacks, we wanted to know just how family friendly is Massachusetts? More importantly, where, exactly, are the best places for families in The Bay State? So, we consulted the numbers. In total, we analyzed 69 cities with over 10,000 residents. We looked at important factors like family friendly amenities and percentage of households that currently have kids for every place from Pittsfield to Boston.
Whether you’re hanging out on a beach in Nantucket, spending the weekend at the Coco Beach Water Park in Danvers, or visiting the Worcester Art Museum, Massachusetts knows good, wholesome, family fun. When you choose to live in one of Massachusetts’ best places for families, you are choosing to live where you can keep your family safe, happy, and healthy: you are choosing to live where your Massachusetts’ salary will go the furthest for your family. More importantly, you are choosing to live where your kids have a better chance at being accepted to some of the most competitive colleges. And that, Bay Staters, makes perfect sense.
Have we piqued your interest? Want to know where these amazing, family friendly places in Massachusetts are located? Read on.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Cities To Raise A Family In Massachusetts For 2026
The competition for Massachusetts’ best place for families was fierce to say the least. Unfortunately, there can only be one number on place in The Baked Bean State for 2026; and that, folks, would be Wellesley. It’s not surprising considering Wellesley scored off the highest family friendly HomeSnacks’ snackability score with an emphasis on education and amenities.
Check out the rest of our family friendly, very safe Massachusetts’ places to see how your city ranked. There are definitely some surprises. And if you don’t find your favorite there, head to the bottom.
More reading about Massachusetts and the best places for families in the country:
- Best Places To Live In Massachusetts
- Cheapest Places To Live In Massachusetts
- Best Cities To Raise A Family In America
- Best States To Raise A Family In America
The 10 Best Places To Raise A Family In Massachusetts For 2026
/10
Population: 30,347
Median Income: $250,001
Average Home Price: $2,023,292
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 53
Closest Major City: Boston
Households with kids: 41.8%
More on Wellesley: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 28,587
Median Income: $188,529
Average Home Price: $1,073,619
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 47
Closest Major City: Boston
Households with kids: 42.9%
More on Milton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 23,406
Median Income: $230,198
Average Home Price: $1,553,770
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 38
Closest Major City: Boston
Households with kids: 41.8%
More on Winchester: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 32,459
Median Income: $214,308
Average Home Price: $1,540,159
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 44
Closest Major City: Boston
Households with kids: 41.5%
More on Needham: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 15,696
Median Income: $149,601
Average Home Price: $527,665
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 35
Closest Major City: Worcester
Households with kids: 34.3%
More on Longmeadow: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 46,350
Median Income: $150,701
Average Home Price: $1,081,431
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 51
Closest Major City: Boston
Households with kids: 28.6%
More on Arlington: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 89,044
Median Income: $190,304
Average Home Price: $1,528,893
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 42
Closest Major City: Boston
Households with kids: 33.0%
More on Newton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 63,266
Median Income: $142,101
Average Home Price: $1,211,600
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 70
Closest Major City: Boston
Households with kids: 24.0%
More on Brookline: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 34,295
Median Income: $238,444
Average Home Price: $1,584,587
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 59
Closest Major City: Boston
Households with kids: 41.1%
More on Lexington: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 13,064
Median Income: $175,265
Average Home Price: $1,089,938
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 39
Closest Major City: Boston
Households with kids: 44.1%
More on Lynnfield: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Methodology: How do you determine which place is best for families in Massachusetts anyways?
To give you the places in Massachusetts that are best for families, we must look at a handful of metrics. We want to measure the criteria people want in a family-friendly city utilizing Saturday Night Science.
After researching U.S. Census data produced for the state of Massachusetts, we looked at the data for every single city in the state. We paid particular attention to:
- Crime (Both violent and property)
- Quality of local schools
- Distance to a major city without necessarily being in it
- % of households with children
- Family-friendly amenities nearby (museums, libraries, and colleges)
We then gave each city a “Family Score.”
The higher the score, the better the city is for families. We also limited our results to cities with over 10,000 people. For Massachusetts, that meant a total of 69 cities.
We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh time ranking the best cities for families in Massachusetts.
Summary: The Best Places To Raise A Family In Massachusetts
If you’re looking for a breakdown of cities in Massachusetts ranked by criteria that most agree make a place a great spot for families, this is an accurate list.
The best places for families in Massachusetts are Wellesley, Milton, Winchester, Needham, Longmeadow, Arlington, Newton, Brookline, Lexington, and Lynnfield.
Here’s a look at the best cities for singles Massachusetts according to the data:
- Fall River
- Chicopee
- Leominster
For more Massachusetts reading, check out:
- Most Dangerous Cities In Massachusetts
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Massachusetts
- Cheapest Places To Live In Massachusetts
Best Places For Families In Massachusetts
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | Amenities Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wellesley, MA | 30,347 | $250,001 | $2,023,292 | 50 |
| 2 | Milton, MA | 28,587 | $188,529 | $1,073,619 | 60 |
| 3 | Winchester, MA | 23,406 | $230,198 | $1,553,770 | 60 |
| 4 | Needham, MA | 32,459 | $214,308 | $1,540,159 | 59 |
| 5 | Longmeadow, MA | 15,696 | $149,601 | $527,665 | 48 |
| 6 | Arlington, MA | 46,350 | $150,701 | $1,081,431 | 47 |
| 7 | Newton, MA | 89,044 | $190,304 | $1,528,893 | 48 |
| 8 | Brookline, MA | 63,266 | $142,101 | $1,211,600 | 56 |
| 9 | Lexington, MA | 34,295 | $238,444 | $1,584,587 | 40 |
| 10 | Lynnfield, MA | 13,064 | $175,265 | $1,089,938 | 34 |