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Wayside, TheConcord, MA, #1 on this list · Wayside, The · Photo: National Park Service Digital Image Archives · Public domain
United States · Outdoors

Best towns for the outdoors in America

Concord, MA and Groton, MA (tied with 5 more) share first place on outdoors among 5,239 U.S. towns and cities of 10,000+ residents.

The Outdoors grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): the share of land conserved and the trail miles per square mile. The state rank sits beside each letter. How grades work

#T1

Concord, MA

Middlesex County · 18,208 people
A+

Among the top in the U.S.·#6 of 283 in Massachusetts

#T1

Groton, MA

Middlesex County · 11,541 people
A+

Among the top in the U.S.·#4 of 283 in Massachusetts

#T1

Haverstraw, NY

Rockland County · 40,462 people
A+

Among the top in the U.S.·#1 of 758 in New York

The top 100

Of 5,239 towns and cities of 10,000+ graded on outdoors. Towns with the same score share a rank (T = tied). Each state rank links to that state’s full list.

100 towns. Every graded town is on its state’s list.

#TownGrade · state rankCompared with U.S. towns
T1Concord, MAMiddlesex County · 18,208 peopleA+#6 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T1Groton, MAMiddlesex County · 11,541 peopleA+#4 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T1Haverstraw, NYRockland County · 40,462 peopleA+#1 of 758 in NYamong the top in the U.S.
T1Medfield, MANorfolk County · 13,248 peopleA+#8 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T1Nantucket, MANantucket County · 14,758 peopleA+#7 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T1Oak Park, CAunincorporated, Ventura County · 13,757 peopleA+#8 of 847 in CAamong the top in the U.S.
T1Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, CAunincorporated, Marin County · 12,085 peopleA+#9 of 847 in CAamong the top in the U.S.
T8Arcata, CAHumboldt County · 19,047 peopleA+#11 of 847 in CAamong the top in the U.S.
T8Cocoa Beach, FLBrevard County · 11,314 peopleA+#2 of 638 in FLamong the top in the U.S.
T8Gunbarrel, COunincorporated, Boulder County · 10,051 peopleA+#1 of 159 in COamong the top in the U.S.
T8Holyoke, MAHampden County · 38,023 peopleA+#10 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T8Ipswich, MAEssex County · 14,131 peopleA+#13 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T8Sharon, MANorfolk County · 18,798 peopleA+#11 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T8Stony Point, NYRockland County · 15,335 peopleA+#2 of 758 in NYamong the top in the U.S.
T8Victoria, MNCarver County · 12,447 peopleA+#1 of 274 in MNamong the top in the U.S.
T8White Bear Township, MNRamsey County · 10,399 peopleA+#2 of 274 in MNamong the top in the U.S.
T17Brewster, MABarnstable County · 10,457 peopleA+#18 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T17Falmouth, MABarnstable County · 33,361 peopleA+#16 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T17Gloucester, MAEssex County · 30,627 peopleA+#22 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T17Marshfield, MAPlymouth County · 26,826 peopleA+#21 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T17Pacifica, CASan Mateo County · 36,890 peopleA+#15 of 847 in CAamong the top in the U.S.
T17South Hadley, MAHampshire County · 17,768 peopleA+#19 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T17Yorktown, NYWestchester County · 35,944 peopleA+#3 of 758 in NYamong the top in the U.S.
T24Amherst Town, MA College campusHampshire County · 40,920 peopleA+#23 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T24Foxborough, MANorfolk County · 18,934 peopleA+#26 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T24Golden, COJefferson County · 20,390 peopleA+#3 of 159 in COamong the top in the U.S.
T24Groveton, VAunincorporated, Fairfax County · 13,931 peopleA+#4 of 253 in VAamong the top in the U.S.
T24Hopkinton, MAMiddlesex County · 19,866 peopleA+#24 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T24Laguna Beach, CAOrange County · 22,391 peopleA+#21 of 847 in CAamong the top in the U.S.
T24Morro Bay, CASan Luis Obispo County · 10,613 peopleA+#19 of 847 in CAamong the top in the U.S.
T24Mount Olive Township, NJMorris County · 29,503 peopleA+#5 of 468 in NJamong the top in the U.S.
T24Palo Alto, CASanta Clara County · 67,609 peopleA+#18 of 847 in CAamong the top in the U.S.
T24Thousand Oaks, CAVentura County · 122,230 peopleA+#20 of 847 in CAamong the top in the U.S.
T34Kinnelon, NJMorris County · 10,138 peopleA+#6 of 468 in NJamong the top in the U.S.
T34Lacey Township, NJOcean County · 30,297 peopleA+#8 of 468 in NJamong the top in the U.S.
T34Mashpee, MABarnstable County · 15,468 peopleA+#28 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T34Mill Valley, CAMarin County · 13,799 peopleA+#24 of 847 in CAamong the top in the U.S.
T34Rancho Santa Margarita, CAOrange County · 45,779 peopleA+#23 of 847 in CAamong the top in the U.S.
T34Stoneham, MAMiddlesex County · 24,253 peopleA+#29 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T34Wayland, MAMiddlesex County · 13,913 peopleA+#30 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T34West Windsor Township, NJMercer County · 32,839 peopleA+#9 of 468 in NJamong the top in the U.S.
T42Bourne, MABarnstable County · 20,772 peopleA+#35 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T42Chino Hills, CASan Bernardino County · 77,519 peopleA+#27 of 847 in CAamong the top in the U.S.
T42Durango, COLa Plata County · 19,733 peopleA+#6 of 159 in COamong the top in the U.S.
T42Duxbury, MAPlymouth County · 16,498 peopleA+#31 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T42Issaquah, WAKing County · 39,423 peopleA+#4 of 285 in WAamong the top in the U.S.
T42Lexington, MAMiddlesex County · 34,648 peopleA+#33 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T42Novato, CAMarin County · 51,947 peopleA+#25 of 847 in CAamong the top in the U.S.
T42Redland, MDunincorporated, Montgomery County · 18,665 peopleA+#2 of 261 in MDamong the top in the U.S.
T42Sudbury, MAMiddlesex County · 19,643 peopleA+#32 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T42Superior, COBoulder County · 13,637 peopleA+#7 of 159 in COamong the top in the U.S.
T52Barnegat Township, NJOcean County · 26,151 peopleA+#12 of 468 in NJamong the top in the U.S.
T52Easton, MABristol County · 25,795 peopleA+#39 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T52Milton, MANorfolk County · 28,537 peopleA+#38 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T52Weston, MAMiddlesex County · 11,729 peopleA+#36 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T52Yarmouth, MABarnstable County · 25,225 peopleA+#37 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T57Beachwood, NJOcean County · 11,340 peopleA+#15 of 468 in NJamong the top in the U.S.
T57Bedford, MAMiddlesex County · 14,836 peopleA+#45 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T57Canton, MANorfolk County · 25,165 peopleA+#48 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T57Dennis, MABarnstable County · 14,906 peopleA+#47 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T57Glastonbury, CT35,503 peopleA+#1 of 155 in CTamong the top in the U.S.
T57Jefferson Township, NJMorris County · 20,703 peopleA+#14 of 468 in NJamong the top in the U.S.
T57Northampton, MAHampshire County · 31,047 peopleA+#44 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T57Palos Verdes Estates, CALos Angeles County · 12,559 peopleA+#29 of 847 in CAamong the top in the U.S.
T57Quincy, MANorfolk County · 103,173 peopleA+#43 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T66Anacortes, WASkagit County · 18,080 peopleA+#5 of 285 in WAamong the top in the U.S.
T66Barnstable Town, MABarnstable County · 50,101 peopleA+#51 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T66Boulder, COBoulder County · 105,689 peopleA+#9 of 159 in COamong the top in the U.S.
T66Burtonsville, MDunincorporated, Montgomery County · 10,203 peopleA+#3 of 261 in MDamong the top in the U.S.
T66Larkspur, CAMarin County · 12,620 peopleA+#31 of 847 in CAamong the top in the U.S.
T66Lincoln Park, NJMorris County · 10,950 peopleA+#16 of 468 in NJamong the top in the U.S.
T66Norton, MABristol County · 19,559 peopleA+#49 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T73Acton, MAMiddlesex County · 24,786 peopleA+#54 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T73Champlin, MNHennepin County · 23,125 peopleA+#3 of 274 in MNamong the top in the U.S.
T73Clayton, CAContra Costa County · 10,842 peopleA+#36 of 847 in CAamong the top in the U.S.
T73Cornwall, NYOrange County · 12,577 peopleA+#14 of 758 in NYamong the top in the U.S.
T73Easthampton, MA15,851 peopleA+#53 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T73Los Osos, CAunincorporated, San Luis Obispo County · 14,166 peopleA+#32 of 847 in CAamong the top in the U.S.
T73Santa Cruz, CASanta Cruz County · 61,797 peopleA+#33 of 847 in CAamong the top in the U.S.
T73Sleepy Hollow, NYWestchester County · 11,474 peopleA+#13 of 758 in NYamong the top in the U.S.
T73Westford, MAMiddlesex County · 24,853 peopleA+#55 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T82Andover, MAEssex County · 37,014 peopleA+#59 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T82Brookhaven, NYSuffolk County · 496,410 peopleA+#16 of 758 in NYamong the top in the U.S.
T82Dakota Ridge, COunincorporated, Jefferson County · 33,753 peopleA+#12 of 159 in COamong the top in the U.S.
T82Helena, MTLewis and Clark County · 35,138 peopleA+#1 of 42 in MTamong the top in the U.S.
T82Holliston, MAMiddlesex County · 15,206 peopleA+#58 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T82Lake Elsinore, CARiverside County · 75,067 peopleA+#37 of 847 in CAamong the top in the U.S.
T82Rockaway Township, NJMorris County · 27,728 peopleA+#19 of 468 in NJamong the top in the U.S.
T82Rosaryville, MDunincorporated, Prince George's County · 12,883 peopleA+#4 of 261 in MDamong the top in the U.S.
T82Woodbury, NYOrange County · 11,571 peopleA+#15 of 758 in NYamong the top in the U.S.
T91Fish Hawk, FLunincorporated, Hillsborough County · 26,186 peopleA+#5 of 638 in FLamong the top in the U.S.
T91North Adams, MABerkshire County · 12,368 peopleA+#63 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T91Ringwood, NJPassaic County · 11,853 peopleA+#21 of 468 in NJamong the top in the U.S.
T91Snoqualmie, WAKing County · 13,640 peopleA+#6 of 285 in WAamong the top in the U.S.
T91Wakefield, VAunincorporated, Fairfax County · 11,930 peopleA+#8 of 253 in VAamong the top in the U.S.
T96Burlington, MAMiddlesex County · 26,778 peopleA+#69 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T96Cedar Grove Township, NJEssex County · 13,916 peopleA+#22 of 468 in NJamong the top in the U.S.
T96Littleton, COArapahoe County · 46,246 peopleA+#13 of 159 in COamong the top in the U.S.
T96Medford, MAMiddlesex County · 59,834 peopleA+#66 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T96Middletown Township, PADelaware County · 17,342 peopleA+#10 of 1,037 in PAamong the top in the U.S.
Quick answers

Questions people ask

How are these towns ranked?

The Outdoors grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): the share of land conserved and the trail miles per square mile. The national list starts at 10,000 residents; state lists start at 2,500. How grades work.

Why isn’t my town on this list?

This page shows the top 100 of 5,239 towns of 10,000+ with a outdoors grade. Every town of 2,500+ is ranked on its state’s list, and smaller towns show the grade on their own page.

Other states

Best towns for the outdoors, state by state

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