You’ve seen these lists before. Best places to live in Massachusetts. Best sururbs in Massachusetts. Best counties in Massachusetts.
Etc., etc., etc.
But they all focus on major cities and towns in the Bay State, and no one pays attention to the little guy.
Well, that’s all about to change as we put together a list of the superb small towns in Massachusetts based on numbers–not opinions or hearsay.
We’ll dive right into our methodology in the next section, but first, we thought you might want to know which places in Massachusetts ranked the best based on Saturday Night Science.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 15 Best Small Towns To Live In Massachusetts For 2025
- Essex
- Topsfield
- Hopkinton
- Rowley
- Sagamore
- Cordaville
- Mashpee Neck
- South Duxbury
- North Falmouth
- Housatonic
- Vineyard Haven
- The Pinehills
- Boxford
- Williamstown
- Hatfield
What’s the best small town in Massachusetts? Essex is the best small town in Massachusetts based on the most recent Census data. If you live in one of these small towns like Essex, chances are, you’re not surprised. After all, you know how great you have it.
But for the rest of you–keep reading, and we’ll get to just why these small towns made our list.
For more reading on the Bay State check out:
- Best Places To Live In Massachusetts
- Cheapest Places To Live In Massachusetts
- Most Dangerous Cities In Massachusetts
The 15 Best Small Towns In Massachusetts For 2025
1. Essex
/10
Population: 1,775
Median Income: $156,094 (10th Best)
Median Home Value: $774,400 (10th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.4%
2. Topsfield
/10
Population: 2,573
Median Income: $169,468 (8th Best)
Median Home Value: $793,300 (8th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.6%
3. Hopkinton
/10
Population: 3,142
Median Income: $173,750 (7th Best)
Median Home Value: $601,900 (30th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.2%
4. Rowley
/10
Population: 1,576
Median Income: $106,250 (40th Best)
Median Home Value: $615,500 (28th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%
5. Sagamore
/10
Population: 3,958
Median Income: $132,000 (14th Best)
Median Home Value: $562,600 (35th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.9%
6. Cordaville
/10
Population: 3,076
Median Income: $161,023 (9th Best)
Median Home Value: $730,600 (15th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.1%
7. Mashpee Neck
/10
Population: 1,071
Median Income: $131,250 (15th Best)
Median Home Value: $578,400 (33rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.2%
8. South Duxbury
/10
Population: 3,272
Median Income: $206,111 (4th Best)
Median Home Value: $987,500 (4th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.6%
9. North Falmouth
/10
Population: 2,558
Median Income: $133,571 (13th Best)
Median Home Value: $656,400 (21st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 6.0%
10. Housatonic
Population: 1,054
Median Income: $86,920 (61st Best)
Median Home Value: $429,200 (61st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%
11. Vineyard Haven
/10
Population: 2,672
Median Income: $73,917 (78th Best)
Median Home Value: $815,000 (7th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.9%
12. The Pinehills
/10
Population: 4,988
Median Income: $121,792 (24th Best)
Median Home Value: $669,100 (19th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.9%
13. Boxford
/10
Population: 2,325
Median Income: $238,375 (2nd Best)
Median Home Value: $977,400 (5th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.5%
14. Williamstown
/10
Population: 4,352
Median Income: $82,917 (68th Best)
Median Home Value: $436,900 (60th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.9%
15. Hatfield
/10
Population: 1,361
Median Income: $109,625 (38th Best)
Median Home Value: $460,300 (53rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.4%
Methodology: How We Determined The Coolest Towns In Massachusetts
We threw a lot of criteria at this report to get the best, most complete results of the best small towns in Massachusetts possible.
Using the most recent data from the Census’s 2019-2023 American Community Survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Saturday Night Science, this is the criteria we used:
- Population Density (Higher is better)
- Lowest Unemployment Rates
- Housing costs (Higher is better. More demand.)
- Adjusted Median Income (Higher is better)
- Highly Educated Adults (Higher is better)
- Insurance Rates (Higher is better)
- Commute Times (Lower is better)
We looked at places with populations lower than 5,000 people and greater than 1,000, of which there were many – 99 to be exact.
We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 99, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in Massachusetts. Top of that list — Essex.
This is our tenth time ranking the best small places to live in Massachusetts.
Summary: Science Can Tackle Any Issue, Even Small Ones
We said it once, and we’ll say it again — this list: it’s just science. We did the research, crunched the numbers, and it turns out these 15 small towns in Massachusetts are the best in which to live.
And who can argue with that?
The best small towns in Massachusetts are Essex, Topsfield, Hopkinton, Rowley, Sagamore, Cordaville, Mashpee Neck, South Duxbury, North Falmouth, and Housatonic.
If you’re curious, here are the worst small towns in Massachusetts:
- Monson Center
- West Wareham
- Townsend
For more Massachusetts reading, check out:
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Massachusetts
- Safest Places In Massachusetts
- Worst Places To Live In Massachusetts
Best Small Towns In Massachusetts
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Median Home Value | Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Essex, MA | 1,775 | $156,094 | 1.4% | |
| 2 | Topsfield, MA | 2,573 | $169,468 | 1.6% | |
| 3 | Hopkinton, MA | 3,142 | $173,750 | 4.2% | |
| 4 | Rowley, MA | 1,576 | $106,250 | 0.0% | |
| 5 | Sagamore, MA | 3,958 | $132,000 | 3.9% | |
| 6 | Cordaville, MA | 3,076 | $161,023 | 4.1% | |
| 7 | Mashpee Neck, MA | 1,071 | $131,250 | 4.2% | |
| 8 | South Duxbury, MA | 3,272 | $206,111 | 4.6% | |
| 9 | North Falmouth, MA | 2,558 | $133,571 | 6.0% | |
| 10 | Housatonic, MA | 1,054 | $86,920 | 0.0% | |
| 11 | Vineyard Haven, MA | 2,672 | $73,917 | 0.9% | |
| 12 | The Pinehills, MA | 4,988 | $121,792 | 3.9% | |
| 13 | Boxford, MA | 2,325 | $238,375 | 4.5% | |
| 14 | Williamstown, MA | 4,352 | $82,917 | 1.9% | |
| 15 | Hatfield, MA | 1,361 | $109,625 | 1.4% | |
| 16 | Dover, MA | 2,386 | $250,001 | 13.2% | |
| 17 | Duxbury, MA | 1,620 | $126,750 | 4.4% | |
| 18 | West Falmouth, MA | 1,655 | $115,735 | 10.3% | |
| 19 | Nahant, MA | 3,328 | $111,004 | 5.1% | |
| 20 | Rockport, MA | 4,795 | $86,250 | 8.8% | |
| 21 | Dennis, MA | 1,903 | $127,292 | 3.1% | |
| 22 | West Chatham, MA | 1,337 | $135,199 | 6.0% | |
| 23 | Marshfield Hills, MA | 2,121 | $210,096 | 0.0% | |
| 24 | Lunenburg, MA | 2,163 | $112,422 | 1.9% | |
| 25 | Ipswich, MA | 4,806 | $92,969 | 3.4% | |
| 26 | Monument Beach, MA | 3,067 | $86,953 | 1.6% | |
| 27 | Westborough, MA | 4,234 | $100,037 | 2.5% | |
| 28 | Bourne, MA | 1,765 | $125,366 | 6.2% | |
| 29 | West Dennis, MA | 2,586 | $93,958 | 0.7% | |
| 30 | Provincetown, MA | 3,466 | $123,456 | 8.5% | |
| 31 | Norton Center, MA | 2,526 | $114,051 | 3.6% | |
| 32 | Mattapoisett Center, MA | 2,573 | $99,864 | 3.0% | |
| 33 | Marion Center, MA | 1,159 | $180,130 | 5.9% | |
| 34 | Sandwich, MA | 2,976 | $108,583 | 4.6% | |
| 35 | Great Barrington, MA | 1,953 | $57,071 | 2.2% | |
| 36 | East Sandwich, MA | 3,597 | $128,750 | 2.9% | |
| 37 | North Pembroke, MA | 3,924 | $177,703 | 1.9% | |
| 38 | Sturbridge, MA | 2,277 | $129,413 | 0.0% | |
| 39 | Falmouth, MA | 3,996 | $68,267 | 3.4% | |
| 40 | Pocasset, MA | 2,375 | $84,544 | 0.9% | |
| 41 | Millis-Clicquot, MA | 4,479 | $116,324 | 2.2% | |
| 42 | East Douglas, MA | 2,842 | $141,042 | 1.6% | |
| 43 | Orleans, MA | 1,618 | $76,768 | 0.0% | |
| 44 | Hanson, MA | 2,002 | $115,109 | 6.0% | |
| 45 | Harwich Port, MA | 2,011 | $64,813 | 3.7% | |
| 46 | Teaticket, MA | 1,728 | $85,669 | 1.4% | |
| 47 | Ocean Bluff-Brant Rock, MA | 4,695 | $118,625 | 3.7% | |
| 48 | East Dennis, MA | 3,685 | $100,504 | 4.5% | |
| 49 | Littleton Common, MA | 2,838 | $129,347 | 7.6% | |
| 50 | Lenox, MA | 1,809 | $58,920 | 0.0% | |
| 51 | Upton, MA | 2,985 | $109,925 | 5.5% | |
| 52 | Chatham, MA | 1,614 | $82,269 | 8.5% | |
| 53 | North Lakeville, MA | 3,602 | $88,750 | 2.1% | |
| 54 | North Seekonk, MA | 2,903 | $110,541 | 6.2% | |
| 55 | Brewster, MA | 1,711 | $75,481 | 6.7% | |
| 56 | South Dennis, MA | 3,190 | $86,500 | 3.4% | |
| 57 | Lee, MA | 1,522 | $70,306 | 4.3% | |
| 58 | South Deerfield, MA | 1,822 | $97,250 | 5.1% | |
| 59 | Raynham Center, MA | 4,871 | $120,913 | 4.9% | |
| 60 | Forestdale, MA | 3,716 | $105,368 | 2.7% | |
| 61 | East Pepperell, MA | 1,984 | $111,736 | 4.4% | |
| 62 | Ocean Grove, MA | 3,099 | $97,109 | 8.4% | |
| 63 | Hopedale, MA | 4,126 | $111,016 | 4.4% | |
| 64 | White Island Shores, MA | 1,880 | $104,940 | 6.7% | |
| 65 | Harwich Center, MA | 1,620 | $76,944 | 3.4% | |
| 66 | Ayer, MA | 3,012 | $81,286 | 2.9% | |
| 67 | Granby, MA | 1,127 | $126,136 | 4.7% | |
| 68 | Rutland, MA | 1,796 | $102,885 | 4.8% | |
| 69 | Wareham Center, MA | 2,737 | $88,424 | 1.1% | |
| 70 | Turners Falls, MA | 3,949 | $56,729 | 3.0% | |
| 71 | South Lancaster, MA | 1,991 | $104,745 | 17.1% | |
| 72 | Wilbraham, MA | 4,247 | $88,409 | 4.1% | |
| 73 | Buzzards Bay, MA | 2,941 | $95,847 | 2.4% | |
| 74 | Northwest Harwich, MA | 4,205 | $89,063 | 10.4% | |
| 75 | Bellingham, MA | 4,939 | $88,731 | 10.5% | |
| 76 | Acushnet Center, MA | 2,792 | $69,159 | 6.7% | |
| 77 | East Brookfield, MA | 1,349 | $70,625 | 2.2% | |
| 78 | Marshfield, MA | 4,698 | $99,537 | 5.1% | |
| 79 | North Eastham, MA | 1,958 | $80,375 | 10.2% | |
| 80 | North Westport, MA | 4,995 | $85,120 | 2.0% | |
| 81 | South Ashburnham, MA | 1,174 | $82,006 | 0.0% | |
| 82 | Belchertown, MA | 2,299 | $68,393 | 1.1% | |
| 83 | North Plymouth, MA | 4,458 | $71,205 | 16.5% | |
| 84 | Fiskdale, MA | 2,564 | $92,273 | 8.5% | |
| 85 | Smith Mills, MA | 4,467 | $56,250 | 6.4% | |
| 86 | Pepperell, MA | 1,887 | $76,196 | 6.4% | |
| 87 | Holland, MA | 1,313 | $83,382 | 3.8% | |
| 88 | Dennis Port, MA | 3,439 | $61,974 | 7.2% | |
| 89 | Devens, MA | 1,871 | $113,125 | 4.4% | |
| 90 | Shelburne Falls, MA | 1,755 | $52,604 | 7.2% | |
| 91 | Millers Falls, MA | 1,081 | $63,646 | 5.5% | |
| 92 | North Brookfield, MA | 2,477 | $75,956 | 4.0% | |
| 93 | Winchendon, MA | 4,407 | $67,188 | 6.2% | |
| 94 | Baldwinville, MA | 2,454 | $56,957 | 21.2% | |
| 95 | Orange, MA | 3,793 | $53,014 | 14.1% | |
| 96 | West Brookfield, MA | 1,518 | $59,734 | 9.1% | |
| 97 | Townsend, MA | 1,082 | $56,726 | 2.2% | |
| 98 | West Wareham, MA | 2,776 | $55,900 | 11.4% | |
| 99 | Monson Center, MA | 1,794 | $58,603 | 16.6% |