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 2026.
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 2026
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 2026
/10
Population: 10,138
Median Income: $115,485
Median Home Price: $703,778
Median Rent: $2,081
Distance to Closest Airport: 6 miles
More on Hull: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 15,696
Median Income: $149,601
Median Home Price: $527,665
Median Rent: $1,682
Distance to Closest Airport: 9 miles
More on Longmeadow: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 18,652
Median Income: $139,625
Median Home Price: $923,542
Median Rent: $1,592
Distance to Closest Airport: 31 miles
More on Newburyport: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 28,587
Median Income: $188,529
Median Home Price: $1,073,619
Median Rent: $1,474
Distance to Closest Airport: 9 miles
More on Milton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 30,075
Median Income: $83,883
Median Home Price: $760,558
Median Rent: $1,411
Distance to Closest Airport: 24 miles
More on Gloucester: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 46,350
Median Income: $150,701
Median Home Price: $1,081,431
Median Rent: $2,082
Distance to Closest Airport: 8 miles
More on Arlington: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 40,378
Median Income: $87,753
Median Home Price: $378,737
Median Rent: $1,117
Distance to Closest Airport: 14 miles
More on Westfield: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 27,793
Median Income: $134,306
Median Home Price: $814,874
Median Rent: $1,958
Distance to Closest Airport: 10 miles
More on Wakefield: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 29,650
Median Income: $133,953
Median Home Price: $908,130
Median Rent: $1,970
Distance to Closest Airport: 6 miles
More on Melrose: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 25,612
Median Income: $165,912
Median Home Price: $915,078
Median Rent: $1,991
Distance to Closest Airport: 12 miles
More on Reading: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Bay State for 2026
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 2026. This list reflects our eleventh 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, Arlington, Westfield, Wakefield, Melrose, and Reading.
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 | 10,138 | $115,485 | $703,778 | $2,081 |
| 2 | Longmeadow | 15,696 | $149,601 | $527,665 | $1,682 |
| 3 | Newburyport | 18,652 | $139,625 | $923,542 | $1,592 |
| 4 | Milton | 28,587 | $188,529 | $1,073,619 | $1,474 |
| 5 | Gloucester | 30,075 | $83,883 | $760,558 | $1,411 |
| 6 | Arlington | 46,350 | $150,701 | $1,081,431 | $2,082 |
| 7 | Westfield | 40,378 | $87,753 | $378,737 | $1,117 |
| 8 | Wakefield | 27,793 | $134,306 | $814,874 | $1,958 |
| 9 | Melrose | 29,650 | $133,953 | $908,130 | $1,970 |
| 10 | Reading | 25,612 | $165,912 | $915,078 | $1,991 |