#1Carlisle
Middlesex County · 5,286 peopleSchools grade, graded within the state·Overall A+ · #2 of 282 in MA
Carlisle, #1 on this list · Photo: Tim Pierce · CC BY 3.0Massachusetts rankings · Schools
Towns with the best schools in Massachusetts
Carlisle ranks first on schools among Massachusetts’ 283 towns of 2,500+; 71 of the 283 grade A− or better (schools are graded within each state).
The Schools grade: state test results and graduation rates of the districts serving each town, compared with the state’s other districts (U.S. Department of Education). How grades work
#1A+
#2Southborough
Worcester County · 10,559 peopleSchools grade, graded within the state·Overall A+ · #9 of 282 in MA
#3Sudbury
Middlesex County · 19,643 peopleSchools grade, graded within the state·Overall A+ · #4 of 282 in MA
All 283 towns
Schools grade, best first (graded within Massachusetts). Towns with the same score share a rank (T = tied; 60 towns here); the overall grade and state rank are beside each.
283 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.
#TownGradeOverall
133North Attleborough TownBristol County · 31,506 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B+ · #112 of 282
152East BridgewaterPlymouth County · 14,602 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall B+ · #122 of 282
T154Bridgewater TownPlymouth County · 29,309 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall A− · #101 of 282
166Great BarringtonBerkshire County · 7,239 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall C+ · #224 of 282
T203West BrookfieldWorcester County · 3,947 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall C+ · #215 of 282
213West Springfield TownHampden County · 28,829 peopleCgraded within the state·Overall D · #269 of 282
239Barnstable TownBarnstable County · 50,101 peopleC−graded within the state·Overall C · #244 of 282
257North BrookfieldWorcester County · 4,793 peopleC−graded within the state·Overall C− · #253 of 282
283Southbridge TownWorcester County · 18,105 peopleD−graded within the state·Overall D− · #276 of 282
Quick answers
Questions people ask
Which Massachusetts town has the best schools?
Carlisle (Middlesex County) ranks first on schools among 283 towns, with an A+; Southborough and Sudbury follow. Schools are compared within Massachusetts, so the letter is a state grade.
How are these towns ranked?
The Schools grade: state test results and graduation rates of the districts serving each town, compared with the state’s other districts (U.S. Department of Education). Towns are sorted on the grade’s score; the letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.
Why isn’t my town on this list?
The list covers towns of 2,500+ residents with a schools grade (283 in Massachusetts). Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the Massachusetts page.
Go deeper
All Massachusetts rankings →More Massachusetts lists
Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.
Best places to live282 towns · #1 WenhamBest small towns98 towns · #1 WenhamMost affordable towns282 towns · #1 CarlisleSafest towns276 towns · #1 GrovelandHealthiest towns279 towns · #1 SherbornBest towns for jobs & income283 towns · #1 WestonMost walkable towns283 towns · #1 CambridgeTowns with the lowest natural-hazard risk283 towns · #1 AvonBest towns for the outdoors283 towns · #1 ProvincetownMost historic towns283 towns · #1 NewburyportTowns with the most civic life283 towns · #1 Oak BluffsTowns with the least snow281 towns · #1 Barnstable TownDescribed, no lettersSnowiest towns281 towns · #1 AdamsDescribed, no lettersTowns with the mildest winters278 towns · #1 NantucketDescribed, no lettersTowns with the hottest summers278 towns · #1 Agawam Town and WestfieldDescribed, no lettersTowns with the coolest summers278 towns · #1 NantucketDescribed, no lettersTowns with the highest incomes283 towns · #1 Carlisle and 4 moreDescribed, no lettersTowns with the lowest property taxes246 towns · #1 DennisDescribed, no lettersFastest-growing towns284 towns · #1 WilliamstownDescribed, no lettersTowns with the most-used libraries263 towns · #1 ProvincetownDescribed, no letters
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