The 10 Best Small Towns In Massachusetts For 2026


The best small towns in Massachusetts are Topsfield and Hopkinton for 2026 based on Saturday Night Science.

By: Chris Kolmar | About HomeSnacks
Last Updated: April 18, 2026

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 2026

  1. Topsfield
  2. Hopkinton
  3. Vineyard Haven
  4. South Duxbury
  5. Duxbury
  6. Cordaville
  7. Provincetown
  8. Ipswich
  9. Sandwich
  10. Sagamore
  11. Rowley
  12. Boxford
  13. Nahant
  14. Brewster
  15. North Falmouth

Best Small Towns To Live In Massachusetts Map

What’s the best small town in Massachusetts? Topsfield is the best small town in Massachusetts based on the most recent Census data. If you live in one of these small towns like Topsfield, 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:

The 15 Best Small Towns In Massachusetts For 2026

1. Topsfield

Topsfield, MA

Source: Wikipedia User John Phelan | CC BY 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 2,624
Median Income: $191,146 (6th Best)
Median Home Value: $964,376 (11th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.6%

2. Hopkinton

Hopkinton, MA

Source: Wikipedia User John Phelan | CC BY 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 3,426
Median Income: $201,094 (4th Best)
Median Home Value: $961,410 (13th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.8%

3. Vineyard Haven

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 2,469
Median Income: $77,665 (70th Best)
Median Home Value: $990,000 (10th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.2%

4. South Duxbury

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 3,252
Median Income: $212,734 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value: $1,147,251 (3rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.0%

5. Duxbury

Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 1,994
Median Income: $126,694 (21st Best)
Median Home Value: $1,095,537 (4th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.4%

6. Cordaville

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,989
Median Income: $165,375 (9th Best)
Median Home Value: $894,785 (15th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.8%

7. Provincetown

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 3,452
Median Income: $158,125 (11th Best)
Median Home Value: $1,060,322 (7th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 6.7%

8. Ipswich

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 4,924
Median Income: $104,102 (50th Best)
Median Home Value: $842,373 (18th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.6%

9. Sandwich

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,890
Median Income: $117,321 (28th Best)
Median Home Value: $681,449 (35th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.9%

10. Sagamore

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 4,072
Median Income: $108,315 (41st Best)
Median Home Value: $672,579 (36th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.2%

11. Rowley

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,708
Median Income: $109,622 (38th Best)
Median Home Value: $794,856 (26th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

12. Boxford

Boxford, MA

Source: Wikipedia User John Phelan | CC BY 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 2,284
Median Income: $188,482 (8th Best)
Median Home Value: $1,063,822 (5th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.4%

13. Nahant

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 3,325
Median Income: $112,762 (32nd Best)
Median Home Value: $952,662 (14th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 5.9%

14. Brewster

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,994
Median Income: $113,214 (31st Best)
Median Home Value: $778,116 (27th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 8.8%

15. North Falmouth

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,838
Median Income: $121,509 (23rd Best)
Median Home Value: $835,670 (21st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 6.4%

Best States In America

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 2020-2024 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 – 97 to be exact.

We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 97, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in Massachusetts. Top of that list — Topsfield.

This is our eleventh 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 Topsfield, Hopkinton, Vineyard Haven, South Duxbury, Duxbury, Cordaville, Provincetown, Ipswich, Sandwich, and Sagamore.

If you’re curious, here are the worst small towns in Massachusetts:

  1. West Wareham
  2. Monson Center
  3. Orange

For more Massachusetts reading, check out:

Best Small Towns In Massachusetts

Rank City Population Median Income Median Home Value Unemployment Rate
1 Topsfield, MA 2,624 $191,146 1.6%
2 Hopkinton, MA 3,426 $201,094 3.8%
3 Vineyard Haven, MA 2,469 $77,665 1.2%
4 South Duxbury, MA 3,252 $212,734 4.0%
5 Duxbury, MA 1,994 $126,694 3.4%
6 Cordaville, MA 2,989 $165,375 4.8%
7 Provincetown, MA 3,452 $158,125 6.7%
8 Ipswich, MA 4,924 $104,102 0.6%
9 Sandwich, MA 2,890 $117,321 2.9%
10 Sagamore, MA 4,072 $108,315 3.2%
11 Rowley, MA 1,708 $109,622 0.0%
12 Boxford, MA 2,284 $188,482 3.4%
13 Nahant, MA 3,325 $112,762 5.9%
14 Brewster, MA 1,994 $113,214 8.8%
15 North Falmouth, MA 2,838 $121,509 6.4%
16 Orleans, MA 1,480 $78,359 0.0%
17 Hatfield, MA 1,449 $110,972 0.0%
18 Essex, MA 1,688 $161,250 2.2%
19 Dover, MA 2,308 $250,001 12.2%
20 Mattapoisett Center, MA 2,669 $105,500 3.1%
21 Norton Center, MA 2,663 $119,949 2.3%
22 Harwich Center, MA 1,774 $85,057 2.4%
23 Marshfield Hills, MA 1,978 $216,250 0.0%
24 Lunenburg, MA 2,057 $109,662 1.3%
25 West Dennis, MA 2,556 $95,758 0.7%
26 Dennis, MA 2,424 $109,882 3.2%
27 Falmouth, MA 3,954 $68,227 2.7%
28 East Sandwich, MA 3,864 $115,000 2.7%
29 Millis-Clicquot, MA 4,437 $146,853 3.0%
30 Westborough, MA 4,699 $106,200 2.5%
31 Ocean Bluff-Brant Rock, MA 4,540 $119,310 4.1%
32 Sturbridge, MA 2,443 $131,568 0.0%
33 East Douglas, MA 2,987 $138,309 1.9%
34 Rockport, MA 4,704 $86,250 8.8%
35 South Lancaster, MA 2,177 $109,173 8.9%
36 Littleton Common, MA 3,289 $135,074 7.6%
37 North Pembroke, MA 3,393 $194,309 1.3%
38 South Dennis, MA 3,135 $88,411 3.8%
39 Lenox, MA 1,866 $61,335 0.0%
40 Marion Center, MA 1,335 $150,700 0.0%
41 North Seekonk, MA 2,974 $114,712 6.6%
42 Bourne, MA 1,806 $97,847 17.1%
43 Shirley, MA 1,146 $108,494 6.0%
44 Hopedale, MA 4,360 $107,909 2.3%
45 Ocean Grove, MA 3,453 $118,696 7.0%
46 Monument Beach, MA 3,277 $77,167 8.5%
47 North Lakeville, MA 3,624 $106,713 1.7%
48 Pocasset, MA 2,247 $84,583 4.8%
49 Teaticket, MA 1,759 $84,837 1.6%
50 East Dennis, MA 3,062 $103,654 3.4%
51 South Ashburnham, MA 1,500 $126,071 0.0%
52 Groton, MA 1,232 $135,714 7.2%
53 White Island Shores, MA 1,620 $106,667 1.3%
54 Granby, MA 1,152 $135,750 2.4%
55 Great Barrington, MA 2,331 $64,506 3.3%
56 Hanscom Afb, MA 2,110 $104,688 0.7%
57 West Falmouth, MA 1,325 $77,292 10.2%
58 Onset, MA 1,380 $137,997 12.2%
59 Forestdale, MA 3,801 $108,158 3.1%
60 Raynham Center, MA 4,841 $132,382 3.5%
61 Chatham, MA 1,600 $83,750 7.7%
62 Harwich Port, MA 2,238 $70,761 9.5%
63 Northwest Harwich, MA 3,932 $107,730 7.4%
64 Lee, MA 1,511 $70,724 4.0%
65 Upton, MA 3,234 $110,900 6.0%
66 Hanson, MA 1,927 $119,211 9.1%
67 Wareham Center, MA 3,635 $91,936 0.8%
68 Rutland, MA 2,019 $95,724 8.4%
69 South Deerfield, MA 1,882 $103,056 3.7%
70 Fiskdale, MA 2,311 $112,400 5.9%
71 Buzzards Bay, MA 2,909 $94,388 2.8%
72 Ayer, MA 3,098 $74,878 4.1%
73 North Eastham, MA 2,085 $77,442 9.6%
74 Weweantic, MA 1,452 $62,481 11.1%
75 Acushnet Center, MA 2,810 $71,864 7.9%
76 East Pepperell, MA 1,949 $96,198 5.1%
77 Belchertown, MA 2,355 $77,428 1.9%
78 Turners Falls, MA 4,124 $54,772 5.0%
79 Wilbraham, MA 3,679 $92,188 4.8%
80 East Brookfield, MA 1,445 $69,837 2.4%
81 North Plymouth, MA 4,337 $80,745 16.1%
82 Winchendon, MA 4,331 $55,809 4.0%
83 Smith Mills, MA 4,612 $64,818 6.2%
84 Pepperell, MA 1,971 $76,726 5.9%
85 Northfield, MA 1,070 $68,333 5.1%
86 Devens, MA 1,723 $189,250 5.3%
87 Millers Falls, MA 1,054 $68,750 2.9%
88 Dennis Port, MA 3,691 $70,094 9.6%
89 Holland, MA 1,301 $86,615 2.8%
90 Shelburne Falls, MA 1,845 $76,536 4.6%
91 North Brookfield, MA 2,659 $77,740 4.7%
92 West Brookfield, MA 1,563 $76,625 7.8%
93 Baldwinville, MA 2,528 $51,917 21.1%
94 Warren, MA 1,426 $40,365 8.8%
95 Orange, MA 3,737 $48,115 13.2%
96 Monson Center, MA 1,613 $64,563 9.2%
97 West Wareham, MA 2,257 $58,560 12.1%
About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.

 Best Small Towns