This City Was Just Named the Best Place to Live in Massachusetts—and No, It’s Not Boston
If the New England lifestyle is calling you to Massachusetts, you likely have a few of the state’s charming small towns and historic cities on your radar. But a new list shows one place stands out above the rest.
The city of Lowell, which sits northwest of Boston, was ranked the best place to live in Massachusetts, according to a new ranking from Livability spotlighting the top 25 best places to live in the Northeast. The city’s high position on the list stems from its “ability to weave its industrial history into modern amenities” and its “rich culture.”
Once a hub for textile production, Lowell has since transitioned to an era in which healthcare, manufacturing, and education are the top industries: Lowell General Hospital, MACOM Technology Solutions, and UMass Lowell are all major employers in the area. The old textile mills are now modern apartment buildings, and the canal system that powered those mills is now admired from the walkways in Lowell National Historic Park.
Lowell’s cultural side (and dedication to preserving history) is also apparent in its impressive roster of museums. Visitors and residents alike can enjoy the New England Quilt Museum, the Whistler House Museum of Art, and the Boott Cotton Mills Museum.
Housing in Lowell does tend to be on the higher side, with Zillow estimating the average home value to be $471,792 and the median sale price to be $422,333. The cost of living in Lowell is also 19 percent higher than the national average, according to Payscale. However, it’s considerably more affordable when compared to Boston where the cost of living is 48 percent higher than the national average.
Beyond Lowell, Livability highlighted the cities of Fall River, Lynn, and Worcester as more great places to live in Massachusetts. They ranked No. 12, No. 14, and No. 15 on the overall list of the best places to live in the Northeast, respectively.
Fall River stood out for its “amenities, affordability, and sense of history,” while Lynn was known for its outdoor activities, including cross-country skiing and mountain biking. Worcester, the second-most populous city in the state, is a place where career opportunities, innovation, art, and restaurants thrive.
Overall, Livability named the city of Clifton, New Jersey, the top destination to live in the Northeast—a designation given due to the city’s education system (both private and public), its “healthy” economy, proximity to New York City, and a dynamic arts and culture scene.
