Massachusetts is a Northeastern heaven. With the New England Patriots, the Red Sox, and clam chowder, everyone wants to live there. That demand means finding the most affordable locations in Massachusetts can be harder than finding a parking spot at Fenway.
To make things easier, we used Saturday Night Science to find the cheapest places to live in Massachusetts based on home prices, incomes, and cost of living.
We’ve done the hard work for you, so all you have to do is sit back, find a quiet spot at the Cape, and read on to discover the most affordable places to live in Massachusetts. Trust us; it’s going to be wicked cheap.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | FAQs | Summary
The 10 most affordable places to live in Massachusetts
So, what is the most affordable place to live in the Bay State? The cheapest place to live in Massachusetts is North Adams after crunching data from the US Census regarding median housing costs, median income, and overall cost of living for cities with over 5,000 residents.
We discovered many cities that offer affordable living without compromising quality. Most can be found within driving distance to Boston or Cambridge. While Salem and Provincetown are great options for inexpensive staycations.
Check out some more reading about Massachusetts and the cheapest places in the country:
The 10 Cheapest Places To Live In Massachusetts For 2026
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Population: 12,606
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 104
Median Income: $47,500
Median Home Price: $252,588
Median Rent: $793
Rounding out our list of cheapest places to live in Massachusetts is North Adams, a city in northern Berkshire County near the New Hampshire border.
You won’t feel like you’re living in an aggressively cheap city when you’ve got the Mass MoCA downtown. With a median rent of $793, North Adams has the cheapest rent on this list. Not to mention that it’s more than three times cheaper than the average rent in Massachusetts. North Adams also boasts the cheapest homes in the state, with a median price tag of $252,588. With residents earning a median income of $47,500, North Adams has the eighth best home price to income ratio in the state.
More on North Adams: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 43,457
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 108
Median Income: $70,582
Median Home Price: $302,830
Median Rent: $1,134
If you’re looking to buy a home in Massachusetts, you’d be hard pressed to find anywhere cheaper than Pittsfield. The median home price in Pittsfield is the third lowest in the state at $302,830. With residents earning a median income of $70,582, paying off a mortgage in Pittsfield couldn’t be easier. Even more good news for those who want to live the high life on a budget: Onota Lake has a free public beach, boat launch, and fishing. That’s how you enjoy the Berkshires year-round without spending a dime.
More on Pittsfield: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 55,295
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 109
Median Income: $62,615
Median Home Price: $311,122
Median Rent: $1,157
Located just north of Springfield, Chicopee ranks as the third cheapest city in Massachusetts. With a median home price of $311,122 and a median income of $62,615, Chicopee has the sixth lowest home price to income ratio in the state. The median rent in Chicopee is $1,157, so it’s a little more economical to buy than rent here.
If you can get your entertainment fix through free activities like hiking at Chicopee Memorial State Park, you’ll have even more money in your wallet at the end of every week.
More on Chicopee: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
I don’t understand how Chicopee could be 10th most dangerous city in Ma. I moved into Chicopee 4 years ago and have never had an issue with anyone or my property. Its rare to see cops or any emergency in action. Very quiet neighborhoods. People are polite and courteous. The schools have helped my kids grades go up dramatically since we moved here. As for things to do, not much, since its a little town with just stores for shopping. Overall I love this place.
Chicopee Annual fair, not sure what’s it called but it’s a little fair with food and such. Celebrating Chicopee. There are also events for the holidays such as the Christmas Tree lighting. Plenty of parks and the Chicopee recreational office offers classes for adults and children such as swimming lessons, art classes, cpr training and more.
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Population: 21,148
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 109
Median Income: $67,518
Median Home Price: $369,177
Median Rent: $1,109
Gardener is the fourth most affordable city in Massachusetts, thanks to the low price tag on housing for both buyers and renters. The median rent in Gardner is a measly $1,109, which is bound to make Bostonians super jealous. But where Gardner really shines is the cost of homes. At $369,177, Gardner has the ninth cheapest homes in the state. And with residents earning a median income of $67,518, it’s a piece of cake to pay off the mortgage. Those of an outdoorsy inclination will find plenty to do at Dunn State Park without having to break out the wallet at all.
Gardner is about 40 miles north of Worcester.
More on Gardner: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 154,749
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 111
Median Income: $52,656
Median Home Price: $294,613
Median Rent: $1,144
Springfield, located in western Massachusetts, stands out for its affordability with a median home value ranked second lowest in the state. Like every place on this list, the cost of living index is over 100. That means the cost of living in Springfield is high for the nation but low for Massachusetts.
The museums are the big draw for affordable-loving enthusiasts. The Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden is the local favorite, with other museums nearby, including the Children’s Science Museum.
More on Springfield: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
It was a fun experience, with some great local colleges as well. The city had a lot of life and was fun for me on the whole.
The city will welcome most people and represents a great slice of life for the North East area of the United States.
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Population: 37,813
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 112
Median Income: $53,605
Median Home Price: $322,895
Median Rent: $1,021
Holy moly, Holyoke is the sixth most affordable city in Massachusetts. Located along the Connecticut River in Western Mass, the overall cost of living index of 112 is supported by low index values for utilities, services, and healthcare.
The $322,895 median home values fall below the state average, and a $1,021 median rent underscores Holyoke’s cost-effective living. You can spend some of the money you save on housing on better clam chowder and lobster rolls.
More on Holyoke: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Years ago Holyoke was bad, but tor the past 10 years the ghetto n the crime has extremely decreased!! Last 2 years there were no deaths on crime at all and this year 2 and the ones that did the crime were already caught.
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Population: 41,798
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 113
Median Income: $73,040
Median Home Price: $396,820
Median Rent: $1,222
Located about 30 miles west of Lowell and north of Worcester, Fitchburg ranks as the seventh most affordable city in Massachusetts. Fitchburg has the 11th lowest home price to income ratio in the state, with a median home price of $396,820 and a median income of $73,040. Living in Fitchburg, you won’t know what people are talking about when they say that Massachusetts is one of the most expensive states in America.
More on Fitchburg: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 40,378
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 115
Median Income: $87,753
Median Home Price: $378,737
Median Rent: $1,117
Located just west of Springfield, Westfield ranks as the eighth cheapest city to live in Massachusetts. With a median price tag of $378,737, Westfield has the second highest home prices on this list. However, because residents earn $87,753 as a median income, Westfield still has the fourth best ratio of home price to income in the state. It’s also economical to rent in Westfield, where the median rent to income ratio is among the best in Massachusetts. We should also mention that Westfield was just shy of making the cut of best places to live in Massachusetts, so if you want quality on a budget, look no further.
More on Westfield: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 12,381
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 115
Median Income: $78,480
Median Home Price: $317,071
Median Rent: $1,075
When it comes to affordability, there’s nowhere better in Massachusetts than Palmer Town. Palmer Town residents pay a median price of $317,071 for homes and earn a median income of $78,480. That gives Palmer Town the best ratio of home price to income in Massachusetts. And with a median rent of $1,075, Palmer Town is also one of the cheapest places to rent in the state, taken as a proportion of income. With all that extra cash, you can afford to splurge at the Yankee Flea Market any day of the week.
Palmer Town is located between Worcester and Springfield in the south-central part of Massachusetts.
More on Palmer Town: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 28,772
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 116
Median Income: $69,371
Median Home Price: $375,602
Median Rent: $1,144
West Springfield Town is a great spot for those looking to live in Massachusetts without breaking the bank. With a median home value of $375,602 and median rent of $1,144, this town offers lower housing costs compared to many other areas in the state.
Part of the Springfield Metropolitan Statistical Area, West Springfield Town residents can enjoy the charm of small-town living. With its convenient location on the western side of the Connecticut River, West Springfield Town has a rich history and plenty of local attractions.
More on West Springfield Town: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
Cheapest places to live in Massachusetts FAQs
The county in Massachusetts with the lowest cost of living is Hampden County. The average living wage in Hampden County is $106,670 according to MIT data. Hampden County has the lowest cost of living because it has relatively less expensive childcare and housing costs compared to Massachusetts as a whole. Childcare costs $27,661 a year in Hampden County for two children compared to the Massachusetts average of $31,879. Housing costs, defined as a blend of the average rent and average mortgage payment, are $13,548 per year in Hampden County compared to $22,268 on average in Massachusetts.
The cost of living in Massachusetts is 35.3% higher than the US average. According to MIT, the required living wage for a family of four with two working parents in Massachusetts is $121,414 vs the national average for a family of four with two working parents of $89,744. The median income of a Massachusetts household is $84,385.
The cheapest housing market in Massachusetts is North Adams. The average home value in North Adams is $149,300, the lowest in the state. The average home value in Massachusetts is $398,800, almost 2.7 times higher than North Adams.
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The county in Massachusetts with the lowest cost of living is Hampden County. The average living wage in Hampden County is $106,670 according to MIT data. Hampden County has the lowest cost of living because it has relatively less expensive childcare and housing costs compared to Massachusetts as a whole. Childcare costs $27,661 a year in Hampden County for two children compared to the Massachusetts average of $31,879. Housing costs, defined as a blend of the average rent and average mortgage payment, are $13,548 per year in Hampden County compared to $22,268 on average in Massachusetts.
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The cost of living in Massachusetts is 35.3% higher than the US average. According to MIT, the required living wage for a family of four with two working parents in Massachusetts is $121,414 vs the national average for a family of four with two working parents of $89,744. The median income of a Massachusetts household is $84,385.
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The cheapest housing market in Massachusetts is North Adams. The average home value in North Adams is $149,300, the lowest in the state. The average home value in Massachusetts is $398,800, almost 2.7 times higher than North Adams.
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Methodology: How we determined the most affordable places to live in the Bay State for 2026
Determining affordability for places in Massachusetts boils down to how much it costs to live here.
You need to understand your costs relative to what people in the rest of the state are paying.
With that logic in mind, we derived several cost of living statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2020-2024 for Massachusetts using Saturday Night Science. We indexed the cost of living statistics across the following categories:
- Housing
- Transportation
- Services
- Groceries
- Healthcare
- Utilities
These are then weighted together to produce an overall cost of living index where 100 is the United States average. Anything below 100 is relatively affordable. Anything over 100 is relatively expensive.
We applied the biggest weight to housing as it typically accounts for 25% or more of your budget. Additionally, housing costs are the highest variant cost across a state. We then compare these cost of living metrics for each place in Massachusetts to figure out which is the least expensive.
The “Cost of Living Index” allows you to rank all of the 48 places in Massachusetts that have more than 12,000 people from least expensive to most expensive. Any ties went to the larger city.
The place in Massachusetts with the lowest cost of living according to the data is North Adams.
We updated this article for 2026. This report reflects our eleventh time ranking the cheapest places to live in Massachusetts.
Massachusetts Affordabilility Summary
This is an accurate list of the most affordable places to live in Massachusetts for 2026, if you’re looking at the cost of living numbers in Massachusetts.
The cheapest cities in Massachusetts are North Adams, Pittsfield, Chicopee, Gardner, Springfield, Holyoke, Fitchburg, Westfield, Palmer Town, and West Springfield Town.
Here’s a look at the most expensive cities in Massachusetts according to the data:
- Newton
- Cambridge
- Somerville
For more Massachusetts reading, check out:
- Best Places To Buy A House In Massachusetts
- Worst Places To Live In Massachusetts
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Massachusetts
Cheapest Places To Live In Massachusetts
| Rank | City | Population | Cost Of Living Index | Median Income | Home Prices | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Adams | 12,606 | 104 | $47,500 | $252,588 | $793 |
| 2 | Pittsfield | 43,457 | 108 | $70,582 | $302,830 | $1,134 |
| 3 | Chicopee | 55,295 | 109 | $62,615 | $311,122 | $1,157 |
| 4 | Gardner | 21,148 | 109 | $67,518 | $369,177 | $1,109 |
| 5 | Springfield | 154,749 | 111 | $52,656 | $294,613 | $1,144 |
| 6 | Holyoke | 37,813 | 112 | $53,605 | $322,895 | $1,021 |
| 7 | Fitchburg | 41,798 | 113 | $73,040 | $396,820 | $1,222 |
| 8 | Westfield | 40,378 | 115 | $87,753 | $378,737 | $1,117 |
| 9 | Palmer Town | 12,381 | 115 | $78,480 | $317,071 | $1,075 |
| 10 | West Springfield Town | 28,772 | 116 | $69,371 | $375,602 | $1,144 |
| 11 | New Bedford | 100,998 | 117 | $56,981 | $434,261 | $1,137 |
| 12 | Leominster | 43,909 | 117 | $83,816 | $463,493 | $1,354 |
| 13 | Southbridge Town | 17,928 | 118 | $66,287 | $344,409 | $1,256 |
| 14 | Worcester | 207,055 | 119 | $70,102 | $430,111 | $1,487 |
| 15 | Agawam Town | 28,539 | 120 | $85,421 | $364,036 | $1,256 |
| 16 | Fall River | 94,082 | 121 | $56,673 | $445,781 | $1,155 |
| 17 | Taunton | 60,433 | 124 | $79,283 | $513,321 | $1,324 |
| 18 | Lowell | 118,368 | 127 | $78,658 | $480,318 | $1,625 |
| 19 | Brockton | 105,386 | 127 | $80,115 | $503,832 | $1,641 |
| 20 | Lawrence | 88,736 | 127 | $60,433 | $504,150 | $1,662 |
| 21 | Haverhill | 67,698 | 127 | $88,326 | $543,991 | $1,668 |
| 22 | Attleboro | 46,762 | 127 | $98,954 | $532,570 | $1,590 |
| 23 | Northampton | 30,962 | 130 | $80,288 | $486,075 | $1,439 |
| 24 | Chelsea | 39,908 | 134 | $72,179 | $526,190 | $1,956 |
| 25 | Salem | 44,795 | 135 | $85,153 | $606,558 | $1,836 |
| 26 | Lynn | 101,709 | 136 | $75,043 | $580,315 | $1,722 |
| 27 | Weymouth Town | 58,505 | 137 | $102,714 | $645,007 | $1,941 |
| 28 | Revere | 60,012 | 138 | $86,969 | $612,970 | $2,076 |
| 29 | Marlborough | 41,647 | 138 | $91,968 | $578,933 | $1,871 |
| 30 | Gloucester | 30,075 | 140 | $83,883 | $760,558 | $1,411 |
| 31 | Barnstable Town | 49,568 | 141 | $91,982 | $703,888 | $1,917 |
| 32 | Peabody | 54,695 | 142 | $96,657 | $694,094 | $1,950 |
| 33 | Franklin Town | 33,154 | 145 | $145,773 | $714,637 | $1,899 |
| 34 | Everett | 50,045 | 146 | $85,218 | $639,069 | $2,076 |
| 35 | Beverly | 42,665 | 148 | $106,044 | $755,766 | $1,771 |
| 36 | Quincy | 102,114 | 149 | $98,882 | $675,958 | $2,118 |
| 37 | Malden | 65,906 | 150 | $100,606 | $684,055 | $2,204 |
| 38 | Braintree Town | 38,899 | 150 | $122,214 | $767,326 | $2,024 |
| 39 | Winthrop Town | 18,759 | 150 | $116,167 | $758,914 | $2,064 |
| 40 | Woburn | 41,939 | 153 | $111,185 | $758,602 | $2,221 |
| 41 | Medford | 59,354 | 162 | $129,540 | $842,297 | $2,509 |
| 42 | Newburyport | 18,652 | 162 | $139,625 | $923,542 | $1,592 |
| 43 | Waltham | 64,902 | 163 | $120,216 | $826,437 | $2,268 |
| 44 | Melrose | 29,650 | 167 | $133,953 | $908,130 | $1,970 |
| 45 | Boston | 666,442 | 171 | $97,344 | $798,216 | $2,147 |
| 46 | Somerville | 81,036 | 186 | $132,572 | $940,239 | $2,517 |
| 47 | Cambridge | 118,796 | 204 | $130,748 | $1,041,569 | $2,787 |
| 48 | Newton | 89,044 | 205 | $190,304 | $1,528,893 | $2,370 |