Massachusetts may not have 365 days of sunshine a year or consistently warm temperatures, but it does have some great places to retire.
There are currently 1.2 million Massachusetts residents 65 and older enjoying all that the Bay State offers while trying to figure out where you should spend your golden years. We’ve created a list of the best places to retire in Massachusetts for 2025.
But what about Massachusetts makes people want to spend their golden years here? It is the Boston Baked Beans, Worcester’s world-famous chowder, and the fact that Massachusetts’ is one of the best states in America.
We consulted the latest Census data for places in Massachachusetts with at least 10,000 residents and this left us with 69 cities. We analyzed important factors like the cost of living, crime, and how close a place is to an international airport.
So, want to know where you, too, can be part of Massachusetts cool ‘silver’ crowd? Keep reading.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Massachusetts For 2025
What is the best place to retire in Massachusetts? The best place to retire in Massachusetts is Hull.
And if you want to learn more about the rest of Massachusetts’ best places to retire, look below.
Why did Hull take the top spot? And where are Boston and Worcester?
For more Massachusetts state reading:
- Best Places To Live In Massachusetts
- Cheapest Places To Live In Massachusetts
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Massachusetts
- Best Places To Retire In America
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Massachusetts For 2025
/10
Population: 10,098
Median Income: $127,112
Median Home Price: $606,100
Median Rent: $1,885
Distance to Closest Airport: 6 miles
More on Hull: Data
/10
Population: 15,724
Median Income: $144,639
Median Home Price: $425,800
Median Rent: $1,650
Distance to Closest Airport: 9 miles
More on Longmeadow: Data
/10
Population: 18,444
Median Income: $144,259
Median Home Price: $792,400
Median Rent: $1,511
Distance to Closest Airport: 31 miles
More on Newburyport: Data
/10
Population: 28,481
Median Income: $178,053
Median Home Price: $896,500
Median Rent: $1,503
Distance to Closest Airport: 9 miles
More on Milton: Data
/10
Population: 29,862
Median Income: $87,898
Median Home Price: $587,800
Median Rent: $1,395
Distance to Closest Airport: 24 miles
More on Gloucester: Data
/10
Population: 25,448
Median Income: $163,725
Median Home Price: $741,100
Median Rent: $1,722
Distance to Closest Airport: 12 miles
More on Reading: Data
/10
Population: 27,284
Median Income: $130,320
Median Home Price: $670,100
Median Rent: $1,872
Distance to Closest Airport: 10 miles
More on Wakefield: Data
/10
Population: 46,015
Median Income: $141,440
Median Home Price: $885,000
Median Rent: $2,043
Distance to Closest Airport: 8 miles
More on Arlington: Data
/10
Population: 29,488
Median Income: $126,854
Median Home Price: $796,100
Median Rent: $1,933
Distance to Closest Airport: 6 miles
More on Melrose: Data
/10
Population: 40,673
Median Income: $82,847
Median Home Price: $295,500
Median Rent: $1,064
Distance to Closest Airport: 14 miles
More on Westfield: Data
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Bay State for 2025
To create our ranking of the best places in Massachusetts to retire, we used Saturday Night Science. We analyzed Census data to find all places in the Bay State — 245 cities and towns.
We then narrowed it down to places with at least 10,000 people that weren’t townships. This left us with 69 places from across the state.
For these 69, we looked at the following criteria taken from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights:
- Low cost of living as measured by rent
- Low crime
- Things to do (Museums, Colleges, and Libraries in town)
- Nice weather
- Distance to the closest international airport
- Other retirees (High median age)
We then ranked each of these places for each criterion from one to 69, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Hull, with the lowest average rank, was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second career.
The report has been updated for 2025. This list reflects our tenth time ranking the best places to retire in Massachusetts.
Summary: Maybe You’re Not Ready To Retire In Massachusetts Yet…
So there you have it, the best place to retire in Massachusetts goes to Hull.
The best places to retire in Massachusetts are Hull, Longmeadow, Newburyport, Milton, Gloucester, Reading, Wakefield, Arlington, Melrose, and Westfield.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Lawrence
- Somerville
- Brockton
For more Massachusetts reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In Massachusetts
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hull | 10,098 | $127,112 | $606,100 | $1,885 |
| 2 | Longmeadow | 15,724 | $144,639 | $425,800 | $1,650 |
| 3 | Newburyport | 18,444 | $144,259 | $792,400 | $1,511 |
| 4 | Milton | 28,481 | $178,053 | $896,500 | $1,503 |
| 5 | Gloucester | 29,862 | $87,898 | $587,800 | $1,395 |
| 6 | Reading | 25,448 | $163,725 | $741,100 | $1,722 |
| 7 | Wakefield | 27,284 | $130,320 | $670,100 | $1,872 |
| 8 | Arlington | 46,015 | $141,440 | $885,000 | $2,043 |
| 9 | Melrose | 29,488 | $126,854 | $796,100 | $1,933 |
| 10 | Westfield | 40,673 | $82,847 | $295,500 | $1,064 |