#1Carlisle
Middlesex County · 5,286 peopleCost of living grade, homes cost 11.2 years of area income·Overall A+ · #2 of 282 in MA
Carlisle, #1 on this list · Photo: Tim Pierce · CC BY 3.0Massachusetts rankings · Cost of living
Most affordable towns in Massachusetts
Carlisle ranks first on cost of living among Massachusetts’ 282 towns of 2,500+; 0 of the 282 grade A− or better on cost of living nationally.
The Cost of living grade: home values, rent and property-tax bills against the income of the town’s metro area or county, and the share of households paying 30%+ of income for housing (Census ACS). How grades work
#1B
#2Hubbardston
Worcester County · 4,460 peopleCost of living grade, homes cost 5.0 years of area income·Overall B+ · #117 of 282 in MA
#3Boxford
Essex County · 8,520 peopleCost of living grade, homes cost 9.1 years of area income·Overall A+ · #3 of 282 in MA
All 282 towns
Cost of living grade, best first (the letter is national). Towns with the same score share a rank; the overall grade and state rank are beside each.
282 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.
#TownGradeHome price · overall
52Southbridge TownWorcester County · 18,105 peopleC4.0 years of area income·Overall D− · #276 of 282
115Manchester-by-the-SeaEssex County · 5,475 peopleC−8.1 years of area income·Overall A+ · #16 of 282
138East BridgewaterPlymouth County · 14,602 peopleC−5.1 years of area income·Overall B+ · #122 of 282
160North Attleborough TownBristol County · 31,506 peopleD5.5 years of area income·Overall B+ · #112 of 282
179Bridgewater TownPlymouth County · 29,309 peopleD5.5 years of area income·Overall A− · #101 of 282
186West Springfield TownHampden County · 28,829 peopleD5.1 years of area income·Overall D · #269 of 282
241Barnstable TownBarnstable County · 50,101 peopleD7.5 years of area income·Overall C · #244 of 282
274Great BarringtonBerkshire County · 7,239 peopleD−8.0 years of area income·Overall C+ · #224 of 282
Not ranked
1 town without a cost of living grade
Towns of 2,500+ that don’t have the figures this grade needs. Each town’s page says which ones are missing.
- Wenham Essex County · 4,952 people
Quick answers
Questions people ask
What is the most affordable town in Massachusetts?
Carlisle (Middlesex County) ranks first on cost of living among 282 towns, with a B; Hubbardston and Boxford follow.
How are these towns ranked?
The Cost of living grade: home values, rent and property-tax bills against the income of the town’s metro area or county, and the share of households paying 30%+ of income for housing (Census ACS). 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 cost of living grade (282 in Massachusetts). 1 town of 2,500+ lack the figures and is listed above. 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 WenhamSafest towns276 towns · #1 GrovelandTowns with the best schools283 towns · #1 CarlisleHealthiest 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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