Welcome to Massachusetts! This New England state is known for being the second English settlement in the New World. Massachusetts has a rich colonial history from Plymouth to Boston, and its more than 100 four-year universities make it a top spot for academics.
Choosing the right place to live can be hard, so we’ve done the work for you and compiled a list of the seven best places to live in Massachusetts based on Niche.com ratings and research of renter preferences.
The seven best places to live in Massachusetts in 2025 are:
Amherst
Nicknamed “Knowledge Corridor” for the three colleges within city limits, Amherst is an academic’s dream located at the foot of the Holyoke Mountains. Three out of five of the universities in the Five College Consortium are located in Amherst – Amherst College, Hampshire College, and UMass Amherst – providing education, employment, and entertainment opportunities for residents.
Amherst was also the home of 19th century poet Emily Dickinson, and her house in Amherst is on the National Register of Historic Places. Dickinson’s home is now called the Emily Dickinson Museum and hosts writing workshops to encourage a new generation of poets.
Boston
Boston has a rich colonial history that dates back to 1630, when it was established by English Puritans. Located in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, Boston was a major port city in the 17th and 18th centuries, facilitating trade along the Atlantic trade routes. In the late 1700s, Boston played a crucial role in the American Revolution as the site of the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party and the home of the Sons of Liberty.
Now, Boston is the most populated city in New England and is a cultural and economic hub. Historic areas like Boston Common and Beacon Hill live alongside trendy nightlife in Downtown Boston and Fenway Park in the Fenway neighborhood. Boston University, Tufts University, and UMass Boston make this city a top destination for academics.
Brookline
Just outside of Boston, Brookline enjoys proximity to the city with the peace and quiet of suburban life. Brookline is located along the MBTA Green Line, allowing commuters to travel to and from Boston via public transportation.
Red Sox fans will enjoy proximity to Fenway Park, and art history enthusiasts will appreciate the nearby Museum of Fine Arts. Brookline’s proximity to Boston and Cambridge makes it ideal for renters who want to live near the many universities in the area.
Cambridge
Tucked just across the Charles River from Boston, Cambridge is a walkable city with stunning public spaces and great nightlife. There’s no bad place to live in Cambridge; rentals around the city offer access to different landmarks and local businesses while still being along MBTA Red Line.
Cambridge is best known as the home of Harvard University, the oldest college in the United States. Harvard University facilities are scattered throughout the city, from the Harvard Museum of Natural History to Harvard Yard. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology—better known as MIT—is also in Cambridge, balancing out Harvard’s prestige in business and law.
Lexington
Lexington is a suburban town in the Greater Boston area. This historic town primarily consists of commuters who work or study in Boston and prefer to live in a quieter area. Lexington has top-rated public schools, parks with biking and walking paths, and low crime rates, making it a great place to live.
Just a few miles to the west is Minute Man National Historic Park, a national park that preserves and commemorates the sites of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the first battle of the American Revolution. Battle sites are scattered throughout Lexington and Concord, including Concord’s North Bridge, where the “shot heard ‘round the world” was fired, and the Lexington Battle Green in Downtown Lexington.
Salem
Salem is a coastal town on the North Shore of Greater Boston best known as the site of the infamous witch trials between 1692 and 1693, when mass hysteria took hold of Salem. Around 150 people were accused of being witches, and thirty of the accused were found guilty.
While Salem’s reputation precedes it, the town is a much friendlier place today. There are always community events happening around Salem, many of which play into its supernatural history. Stop in Downtown Salem for a spell, where you can explore local shops, the Salem Witch Museum, and several filming locations of the beloved Halloween movie “Hocus Pocus.”
Worcester
Known as the “Heart of the Commonwealth” due to its location in the middle of Massachusetts, Worcester is within a short road trip of any city in Massachusetts. Its central location makes it the perfect spot for renters who want to explore the whole state, and its combination of history, nature, and a rich arts scene makes it appealing to everyone.
Worcester offers rentals to suit every taste. Green Island and Downtown Worcester offer apartments in both modern high-rises and converted historic buildings that put you close to restaurants, museums, and nightlife. Neighborhoods further out like Broadmeadow Brook or Tatnuck give renters more elbow room and proximity to amenities like Indian Lake or the Worcester Regional Airport.
Ready to make the move?
If Massachusetts has caught your eye, take the next step with Apartments.com! Whether you’re dropping in for a short-term lease or hoping to set down roots, Apartments.com has the tools to help you find the perfect place. Navigate housing across neighborhoods with our customized search engine and use our customizable filters to narrow your search by price, amenities, and floor plan.
Wherever you are and wherever you’re going, the options are endless with Apartments.com.
