Massachusetts doesn't get a lot of attention for its colleges, but there are 24 towns in the state with at least one four-year school -- and some of them make great places to spend four years.
We wanted to know which ones are the best college towns. You know the type of place: plenty of students, plenty to do, affordable rent, and safe enough to walk around at night.
So we used Saturday Night Science to rank all 24 of them on the colleges themselves, the town around them, and things to do. Waltham came out on top.
The 10 Best College Towns In Massachusetts For 2026
Want the bigger picture? See where Massachusetts's towns land among the best college towns in America.
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| Colleges | Bentley University, Brandeis University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 8,092 (12 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 64,902 |
| Median rent | $2,268 |
| Graduation rate | 90% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $82,998 |
Waltham is home to Bentley University, Brandeis University. There are 12 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $2,268 a month, and the average cost to attend is $82,998 a year. It ranks 9th for crime among the 24 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Babson College, Wellesley College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 5,028 (17 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 30,347 |
| Median rent | $2,886 |
| Graduation rate | 93% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $83,241 |
Wellesley is home to Babson College, Wellesley College. There are 17 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $2,886 a month, and the average cost to attend is $83,241 a year. It ranks 2nd for crime among the 24 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Lesley University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 13,886 (12 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 118,796 |
| Median rent | $2,787 |
| Graduation rate | 72% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $74,267 |
Cambridge is home to Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Lesley University. There are 12 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $2,787 a month, and the average cost to attend is $74,267 a year. It ranks 22nd for crime among the 24 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Boston University, Northeastern University, University of Massachusetts-Boston |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 80,142 (12 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 666,442 |
| Median rent | $2,147 |
| Graduation rate | 64% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $57,195 |
Boston is home to Boston University, Northeastern University, University of Massachusetts-Boston. There are 12 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $2,147 a month, and the average cost to attend is $57,195 a year. It ranks 21st for crime among the 24 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Williams College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 2,076 (41 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 5,070 |
| Median rent | $1,424 |
| Graduation rate | 89% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $84,860 |
Williamstown is home to Williams College. There are 41 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,424 a month, and the average cost to attend is $84,860 a year. It ranks 10th for crime among the 24 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of Massachusetts-Lowell |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 11,434 (10 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 118,368 |
| Median rent | $1,625 |
| Graduation rate | 72% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $30,786 |
Lowell is home to University of Massachusetts-Lowell. There are 10 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,625 a month, and the average cost to attend is $30,786 a year. It ranks 19th for crime among the 24 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Curry College, Laboure College of Healthcare |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 2,305 (8 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 28,587 |
| Median rent | $1,474 |
| Graduation rate | 74% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $50,442 |
Milton is home to Curry College, Laboure College of Healthcare. There are 8 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,474 a month, and the average cost to attend is $50,442 a year. It ranks 4th for crime among the 24 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Tufts University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 7,061 (12 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 59,354 |
| Median rent | $2,509 |
| Graduation rate | 97% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $88,300 |
Medford is home to Tufts University. There are 12 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $2,509 a month, and the average cost to attend is $88,300 a year. It ranks 14th for crime among the 24 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Salem State University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 4,291 (10 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 44,795 |
| Median rent | $1,836 |
| Graduation rate | 64% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $28,291 |
Salem is home to Salem State University. There are 10 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,836 a month, and the average cost to attend is $28,291 a year. It ranks 16th for crime among the 24 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Westfield State University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 3,615 (9 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 40,378 |
| Median rent | $1,117 |
| Graduation rate | 67% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $27,649 |
Westfield is home to Westfield State University. There are 9 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,117 a month, and the average cost to attend is $27,649 a year. It ranks 12th for crime among the 24 towns we ranked.
Saturday Night Science
How we determined the best college towns in Massachusetts
First, we decided that every town on the list had to have at least one four-year college -- a school that grants bachelor's degrees -- and at least 5,000 residents. There are 24 towns in Massachusetts that fit the bill.
Then we ranked every town on these categories:
- The town: unemployment rate, median rent, and crime per capita
- The colleges: graduation rate, the average cost to attend, and student body diversity
- Things to do: bars, museums and libraries per capita, and population density
- Students: undergrads as a share of the population
- Size: population, since bigger towns have more going on
We ranked each town on every measure, averaged those ranks into a score for each category, and then averaged the categories. The town with the best overall score is the best college town in Massachusetts.
Our data comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (enrollment, graduation rates, cost, and diversity), the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey, the FBI's 2024 crime report. We left out colleges that are online-only or mostly online, since their students don't actually live in town. A handful of towns don't report crime to the FBI, so we gave them the average.
We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh time ranking the best college towns in Massachusetts.
Summary
There You Have It -- The Best College Towns In Massachusetts
If you're looking for the best college towns in Massachusetts, Waltham is where to start.
The best college towns in Massachusetts are Waltham, Wellesley, Cambridge, Boston, Williamstown, Lowell, Milton, Medford, Salem, and Westfield.
For more college towns, check out the best college towns in America.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best college town in Massachusetts for 2026?
Waltham is the best college town in Massachusetts for 2026, followed by Wellesley and Cambridge.
How did you rank the best college towns in Massachusetts?
We looked at every town in Massachusetts with at least 5,000 residents and a four-year college, then ranked them on city characteristics, college characteristics, things to do, the share of residents who are students, and size. The town with the best average rank is number one.
What is the worst college town in Massachusetts?
Andover ranks last of the 24 college towns we ranked in Massachusetts for 2026.
Best College Towns In Massachusetts For 2026
| Rank | City | Population | Undergrads | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waltham, MA | 64,902 | 8,092 | $2,268 |
| 2 | Wellesley, MA | 30,347 | 5,028 | $2,886 |
| 3 | Cambridge, MA | 118,796 | 13,886 | $2,787 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | 666,442 | 80,142 | $2,147 |
| 5 | Williamstown, MA | 5,070 | 2,076 | $1,424 |
| 6 | Lowell, MA | 118,368 | 11,434 | $1,625 |
| 7 | Milton, MA | 28,587 | 2,305 | $1,474 |
| 8 | Medford, MA | 59,354 | 7,061 | $2,509 |
| 9 | Salem, MA | 44,795 | 4,291 | $1,836 |
| 10 | Westfield, MA | 40,378 | 3,615 | $1,117 |
| 11 | Worcester, MA | 207,055 | 16,366 | $1,487 |
| 12 | Beverly, MA | 42,665 | 3,351 | $1,771 |
| 13 | Northampton, MA | 30,962 | 2,544 | $1,439 |
| 14 | Needham, MA | 32,459 | 377 | $2,409 |
| 15 | Longmeadow, MA | 15,696 | 1,108 | $1,682 |
| 16 | Chicopee, MA | 55,295 | 949 | $1,157 |
| 17 | Quincy, MA | 102,114 | 2,300 | $2,118 |
| 18 | Brookline, MA | 63,266 | 64 | $2,835 |
| 19 | Newton, MA | 89,044 | 1,265 | $2,370 |
| 20 | Springfield, MA | 154,749 | 5,547 | $1,144 |
| 21 | North Adams, MA | 12,606 | 713 | $793 |
| 22 | Fitchburg, MA | 41,798 | 2,752 | $1,222 |
| 23 | Haverhill, MA | 67,698 | 86 | $1,668 |
| 24 | Andover, MA | 9,451 | 0 | $1,759 |
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