Wenham, #1 on this list · Photo: Fletcher6 · CC BY-SA 3.0

Massachusetts rankings · 2026

Best small towns in Massachusetts

Q: What is the best small town in Massachusetts?

Among 98 graded towns of 2,500 to 9,999 residents, Wenham (Essex County) ranks first, with an A+; jobs & income (A+) and hazard risk (A+) are its strongest grades; walkability (B+) is its lowest. Carlisle and Boxford follow.

Wenham ranks first of Massachusetts’ 98 graded small towns (2,500–9,999 residents), with an A+: jobs & income (A+) and hazard risk (A+) are its strongest grades; walkability (B+) is its lowest. 40 of the 98 (41%) grade A− or better nationally, against 25% of U.S. towns.

The overall grade, sorted: cost of living, safety, schools, health, jobs & income, walkability and hazard risk, from Census, FBI, state, CDC, EPA and FEMA data. How grades work

Wenham

Essex County · 4,952 people

A⁺

Strongest: jobs & income A⁺, hazard risk A⁺·lowest: walkability B⁺

–CostASafetyA⁻SchoolsA⁺HealthA⁺JobsB⁺WalkA⁺Hazards

Carlisle

Middlesex County · 5,286 people

A⁺

Strongest: health A⁺, schools A⁺·lowest: walkability B⁻

BCostASafetyA⁺SchoolsA⁺HealthA⁺JobsB⁻WalkAHazards

Boxford

Essex County · 8,520 people

A⁺

Strongest: safety A⁺, health A⁺·lowest: walkability B⁻

B⁻CostA⁺SafetyASchoolsA⁺HealthA⁺JobsB⁻WalkA⁻Hazards

Where they are: Four of the top 10 are in Essex County.

All 98 small towns

Overall score, highest first. The score (0–100) blends the seven livability grades and sets the order; the letter places that score among every U.S. town of 2,500+, and A+ is the top 5%, so neighbors on the list often share a letter. Each town links to its page, where the grade sheet shows every subject. The rank is the town’s place among all 282 Massachusetts towns.

Find a town

98 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.

#TownScoreGradeWhat drives it

1WenhamEssex County · 4,952 people87.7top 0.1%A⁺Strongest: jobs & income A⁺, hazard risk A⁺·lowest: walkability B⁺

2CarlisleMiddlesex County · 5,286 people84.4top 0.1%A⁺Strongest: health A⁺, schools A⁺·lowest: walkability B⁻

3BoxfordEssex County · 8,520 people81.5top 0.1%A⁺Strongest: safety A⁺, health A⁺·lowest: walkability B⁻

5TopsfieldEssex County · 6,626 people80.3top 0.2%A⁺Strongest: health A⁺, jobs & income A⁺·lowest: cost of living C⁺

11HarvardWorcester County · 7,014 people77.5top 0.5%A⁺Strongest: schools A⁺, health A·lowest: cost of living C⁺

16Manchester-by-the-SeaEssex County · 5,475 people75.8top 1.0%A⁺Strongest: health A⁺, safety A·lowest: cost of living C⁻

17SherbornMiddlesex County · 4,455 people75.6top 1.1%A⁺Strongest: health A⁺, schools A⁺·lowest: cost of living D

18PrincetonWorcester County · 3,618 people75.4top 1.2%A⁺Strongest: jobs & income A⁺, health A·lowest: walkability B⁻

27DunstableMiddlesex County · 3,486 people73.8top 2.3%A⁺Strongest: health A⁺, safety A·lowest: walkability D

30StowMiddlesex County · 7,248 people73.5top 2.6%A⁺Strongest: health A⁺, safety A·lowest: cost of living C⁻

31BoxboroughMiddlesex County · 5,508 people73.1top 2.9%A⁺Strongest: health A⁺, hazard risk A·lowest: cost of living C⁻

35LincolnMiddlesex County · 6,925 people72.7top 3.3%A⁺Strongest: jobs & income A⁺, health A⁺·lowest: cost of living D⁻

41DoverNorfolk County · 6,026 people72.0top 4.0%A⁺Strongest: health A⁺, schools A⁺·lowest: cost of living D

42PaxtonWorcester County · 5,046 people71.9top 4.2%A⁺Strongest: hazard risk A, health A·lowest: cost of living C

44HamiltonEssex County · 7,674 people71.6top 4.4%A⁺Strongest: health A⁺, hazard risk A·lowest: cost of living D

46MerrimacEssex County · 6,818 people71.4top 4.7%A⁺Strongest: safety A⁺, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living C

49MiddletonEssex County · 9,895 people70.7top 5.7%AStrongest: jobs & income A, health A·lowest: cost of living C

53BoltonWorcester County · 6,477 people70.2top 6.4%AStrongest: health A⁺, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living C

54CohassetNorfolk County · 8,461 people69.9top 6.8%AStrongest: health A⁺, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D

56MillisNorfolk County · 9,463 people69.8top 7.1%AStrongest: safety A⁺, health A·lowest: cost of living C⁻

60AshbyMiddlesex County · 3,274 people69.0top 8.4%AStrongest: hazard risk A, health A·lowest: walkability B⁻

65MattapoisettPlymouth County · 6,831 people68.5top 9.3%AStrongest: jobs & income A⁺, health A·lowest: cost of living C

67EssexEssex County · 3,770 people68.1top 10.0%AStrongest: health A⁺, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D

68West NewburyEssex County · 4,709 people68.1top 10.1%AStrongest: jobs & income A⁺, health A⁺·lowest: walkability C⁻

69West BoylstonWorcester County · 7,923 people67.9top 10.3%AStrongest: hazard risk A, safety A⁻·lowest: cost of living C

73SuttonWorcester County · 9,662 people66.7top 12.8%AStrongest: jobs & income A, health A·lowest: walkability C

75SterlingWorcester County · 8,358 people66.6top 13.2%AStrongest: safety A, health A·lowest: cost of living D

76GeorgetownEssex County · 8,577 people66.5top 13.5%AStrongest: jobs & income A⁺, health A⁺·lowest: cost of living D

77RutlandWorcester County · 9,776 people66.4top 13.6%AStrongest: hazard risk A, health A·lowest: walkability C⁻

78BerlinWorcester County · 3,486 people66.4top 13.7%AStrongest: safety A, health A·lowest: cost of living D⁻

80MarionPlymouth County · 5,366 people66.0top 14.5%AStrongest: health A⁻, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: cost of living C⁺

81NahantEssex County · 3,331 people65.9top 14.6%AStrongest: walkability A⁺, health A·lowest: cost of living D

82UptonWorcester County · 8,560 people65.9top 14.6%AStrongest: safety A, health A·lowest: cost of living C

85GrovelandEssex County · 7,102 people65.4top 15.8%A⁻Strongest: safety A⁺, health A·lowest: cost of living C⁻

86LancasterWorcester County · 9,161 people65.3top 15.9%A⁻Strongest: health A, schools A⁻·lowest: cost of living D⁻

93HalifaxPlymouth County · 7,845 people64.5top 17.8%A⁻Strongest: jobs & income A⁺, health A⁻·lowest: cost of living C⁻

95BoylstonWorcester County · 5,104 people64.1top 18.8%A⁻Strongest: hazard risk A, health A·lowest: cost of living D

103BrimfieldHampden County · 3,739 people62.7top 22.2%A⁻Strongest: safety A, jobs & income A·lowest: walkability D

105ShirleyMiddlesex County · 7,189 people62.4top 22.9%A⁻Strongest: health A, hazard risk A·lowest: schools C⁺

109WilliamstownBerkshire County · 9,186 people61.8top 24.7%A⁻Strongest: walkability A, health A·lowest: cost of living D⁻

113HopedaleWorcester County · 6,066 people61.3top 26.0%B⁺Strongest: jobs & income A⁺, health A·lowest: cost of living D

114BerkleyBristol County · 6,950 people61.3top 26.1%B⁺Strongest: jobs & income A, safety A·lowest: walkability D

116DouglasWorcester County · 9,545 people60.6top 27.8%B⁺Strongest: jobs & income A, health A·lowest: cost of living C

117HubbardstonWorcester County · 4,460 people60.6top 27.8%B⁺Strongest: hazard risk A, safety A·lowest: walkability D

118RockportEssex County · 7,126 people60.6top 27.9%B⁺Strongest: safety A, walkability A·lowest: cost of living D

119TownsendMiddlesex County · 9,143 people60.5top 28.1%B⁺Strongest: health A⁻, safety A⁻·lowest: cost of living C⁺

120GranbyHampshire County · 5,991 people60.5top 28.2%B⁺Strongest: jobs & income A, safety A·lowest: schools D

121RochesterPlymouth County · 5,956 people60.4top 28.4%B⁺Strongest: safety A⁻, jobs & income A⁻·lowest: walkability C⁻

123AyerMiddlesex County · 9,267 people60.2top 29.0%B⁺Strongest: hazard risk A⁺, walkability A·lowest: schools C⁺

124SouthamptonHampshire County · 6,085 people60.1top 29.1%B⁺Strongest: jobs & income A, health A·lowest: walkability D

126NewburyEssex County · 6,895 people59.6top 30.5%B⁺Strongest: jobs & income A, health A·lowest: cost of living C⁻

127LanesboroughBerkshire County · 2,999 people59.4top 30.8%B⁺Strongest: schools A⁻, jobs & income B⁺·lowest: cost of living C

128PlymptonPlymouth County · 2,985 people59.4top 31.0%B⁺Strongest: hazard risk A⁻, safety B⁺·lowest: walkability D

130HatfieldHampshire County · 3,286 people59.3top 31.2%B⁺Strongest: safety A⁺, health A·lowest: cost of living C⁻

132MillvilleWorcester County · 3,186 people59.2top 31.5%B⁺Strongest: safety A⁺, jobs & income A·lowest: walkability C⁻

137DeerfieldFranklin County · 5,147 people58.5top 33.2%B⁺Strongest: health A, walkability A·lowest: cost of living D

140RowleyEssex County · 6,356 people58.4top 33.4%B⁺Strongest: health A⁺, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living C⁻

141ChathamBarnstable County · 6,752 people58.3top 33.9%B⁺Strongest: health A, walkability A⁻·lowest: cost of living D

143West TisburyDukes County · 3,645 people58.1top 34.2%B⁺Strongest: health A⁺, safety A⁻·lowest: cost of living D

145OrleansBarnstable County · 6,524 people58.0top 34.6%B⁺Strongest: health A, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: cost of living D

149MendonWorcester County · 6,479 people57.7top 35.4%BStrongest: health A, jobs & income A⁻·lowest: cost of living D⁻

153BlackstoneWorcester County · 9,416 people57.5top 36.0%BStrongest: safety A, jobs & income A⁻·lowest: cost of living C

154AshburnhamWorcester County · 6,554 people57.5top 36.0%BStrongest: hazard risk A⁻, safety A⁻·lowest: cost of living C⁻

156LenoxBerkshire County · 5,059 people57.3top 36.6%BStrongest: hazard risk A, schools A·lowest: cost of living C⁻

161WellfleetBarnstable County · 3,707 people56.6top 38.5%BStrongest: health A, walkability A·lowest: cost of living D

162FreetownBristol County · 9,443 people56.5top 38.7%BStrongest: jobs & income A, health A⁻·lowest: cost of living C⁻

166WestminsterWorcester County · 8,807 people56.3top 39.3%BStrongest: hazard risk A, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D

171HampdenHampden County · 4,960 people55.9top 40.4%BStrongest: health A⁻, jobs & income A⁻·lowest: cost of living C⁻

172Oak BluffsDukes County · 5,428 people55.8top 40.6%BStrongest: walkability A, health A⁻·lowest: safety C⁺

173DaltonBerkshire County · 6,157 people55.7top 40.8%BStrongest: safety A⁻, health A⁻·lowest: hazard risk C

174DightonBristol County · 8,348 people55.5top 41.2%BStrongest: jobs & income A, health A⁻·lowest: walkability C⁻

178HollandHampden County · 2,577 people54.8top 43.2%BStrongest: safety A, jobs & income B⁺·lowest: cost of living D

185West BridgewaterPlymouth County · 7,872 people54.0top 45.4%B⁻Strongest: health A, hazard risk A·lowest: cost of living D

192AvonNorfolk County · 4,861 people53.2top 47.7%B⁻Strongest: hazard risk A⁺, jobs & income A⁺·lowest: schools C⁻

194SunderlandFranklin County · 3,607 people53.0top 48.4%B⁻Strongest: health A, walkability A·lowest: cost of living D⁻

195SalisburyEssex County · 9,530 people52.8top 48.8%B⁻Strongest: health A, jobs & income B⁺·lowest: hazard risk D

196CheshireBerkshire County · 3,180 people52.7top 49.0%B⁻Strongest: safety A⁺, walkability A·lowest: schools C⁻

197TisburyDukes County · 4,934 people52.7top 49.0%B⁻Strongest: walkability A⁺, health A⁻·lowest: safety C⁻

199HadleyHampshire County · 5,213 people52.6top 49.4%B⁻Strongest: health A⁺, walkability A⁻·lowest: safety D

200SouthwickHampden County · 9,305 people52.5top 49.6%B⁻Strongest: jobs & income A, safety A⁻·lowest: cost of living D

201NorthfieldFranklin County · 2,857 people52.3bottom 49.9%B⁻Strongest: safety A, health A·lowest: walkability D

209EdgartownDukes County · 5,446 people50.9bottom 46.1%B⁻Strongest: walkability A⁺, health A⁻·lowest: cost of living D

210TempletonWorcester County · 8,553 people50.9bottom 46.0%B⁻Strongest: hazard risk A⁻, safety A⁻·lowest: schools C

213EasthamBarnstable County · 5,844 people50.3bottom 44.4%C⁺Strongest: walkability A, health A⁻·lowest: cost of living D

215West BrookfieldWorcester County · 3,947 people50.0bottom 43.5%C⁺Strongest: safety A⁻, jobs & income B·lowest: walkability D

216BrookfieldWorcester County · 3,516 people49.7bottom 42.8%C⁺Strongest: safety B⁺, schools B·lowest: walkability C⁻

224Great BarringtonBerkshire County · 7,239 people48.2bottom 38.6%C⁺Strongest: walkability A⁺, health A⁻·lowest: cost of living D⁻

228HardwickWorcester County · 2,736 people48.0bottom 38.0%C⁺Strongest: safety B⁺, hazard risk B·lowest: schools C

230BarreWorcester County · 5,641 people47.8bottom 37.2%C⁺Strongest: jobs & income B⁺, hazard risk B·lowest: schools C

237LeeBerkshire County · 5,673 people45.6bottom 31.8%CStrongest: walkability A, health A⁻·lowest: cost of living D

238WarrenWorcester County · 5,122 people45.4bottom 31.2%CStrongest: safety B, hazard risk B·lowest: walkability D

248SheffieldBerkshire County · 3,314 people41.7bottom 22.7%C⁻Strongest: health A⁻, walkability B·lowest: cost of living D⁻

251ProvincetownBarnstable County · 3,729 people40.9bottom 20.9%C⁻Strongest: walkability A⁺, health A⁻·lowest: schools D

253North BrookfieldWorcester County · 4,793 people40.4bottom 19.6%C⁻Strongest: hazard risk B, health B·lowest: schools C⁻

254MonsonHampden County · 8,175 people39.3bottom 17.7%C⁻Strongest: jobs & income B, hazard risk B⁻·lowest: schools C⁻

258MontagueFranklin County · 8,377 people37.4bottom 14.2%DStrongest: walkability A⁻, health B⁺·lowest: schools D

270AdamsBerkshire County · 7,934 people32.4bottom 7.3%DStrongest: walkability B⁻, health B⁻·lowest: hazard risk D

273OrangeFranklin County · 7,569 people30.3bottom 5.2%DStrongest: walkability B⁺, safety B⁻·lowest: schools D

Method

How this list is made

Each town’s overall grade blends seven livability grades: cost of living (weight 18), safety (18), schools (16), health (14), jobs & income (12), walkability (8) and hazard risk (4). A town needs 2,500+ residents and three of the first four. Letters are national, so an A here means the same as an A in any state; the list is the same towns in the same order, ranked within Massachusetts. Towns without their own FBI figures are graded on the rest and their page says why.

Data years: crime 2023–2025 (FBI), Census ACS 2020–2024, CDC PLACES 2025, state school tests. How grades work

Quick answers

Questions people ask

What is the best small town in Massachusetts?

Among 98 graded towns of 2,500 to 9,999 residents, Wenham (Essex County) ranks first, with an A+; jobs & income (A+) and hazard risk (A+) are its strongest grades; walkability (B+) is its lowest. Carlisle and Boxford follow.

How are these towns ranked?

By the overall grade, which blends seven livability grades from public data. The letter is national; the rank is within Massachusetts. The full method is on How grades work.

Why isn’t my town on this list?

The list covers towns of 2,500 to 9,999 residents with an overall grade (98 in Massachusetts). 42 smaller places have subject grades only; Larger towns are on the best places to live list. Every town is on the Massachusetts page.

Go deeper

More Massachusetts lists

Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.

All Massachusetts rankings →

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