Moving to Massachusetts - Which Area Is Right for You?
So, you know you want to move to Massachusetts. Maybe for a job, for family or for a new adventure? If you’re considering a move to the Bay State, here’s my insight into what area of the state might be a good fit for you by county.
Barnstable County
Barnstable, Bourne, Brewster, Chatham, Dennis, Eastham, Falmouth, Harwich, Mashpee, Orleans, Provincetown, Sandwich, Truro, Wellfleet and Yarmouth
Barnstable County is also known as Cape Cod — one of Massachusett’s premiere summer destinations. Though most of Cape Cod is vacationtown, there are about 200,000 year-round residents. Living in Cape Cod means that you’ve escaped the city and are interested in living the beach town lifestyle. Many residents of the Cape have careers that support the tourism or nature industries. Even on the beach, you aren’t too far away - the drive from Provincetown to Boston is about two and a half hours.
More about living in Barnstable County
Berkshire County
North Adams, Pittsfield, Adams, Alford, Becket, Cheshire, Clarksburg, Dalton, Egremont, Florida, Great Barrington, Hancock, Hinsdale, Lanesborough, Lee, Lenox, Monterey, Mount Washington, New Ashford, New Marlborough, Otis, Peru, Richmond, Sandisfield, Savoy, Sheffield, Stockbridge, Tyringham, Washington, West Stockbridge, Williamstown and Windsor
Berkshire County is the westernmost part of Massachusetts, or what we call “Western Mass.” It borders New York State and is closer to Albany than Boston. Many people like living in Western Mass because it’s affordable, has wide open spaces, and hosts the beautiful Berkshire mountains. It’s also home to some of New England’s hidden gem colleges, like Williams and Bard College. This is a historical and beautiful area, though far from Boston, is part of New England’s history all on its own.
More about living in Berkshire County
Bristol County
Attleboro, Fall River, New Bedford, Taunton, Acushnet, Berkley, Dartmouth, Dighton, Easton, Fairhaven, Freetown, Mansfield, North Attleborough, Norton, Raynham, Rehoboth, Seekonk, Somerset, Swansea and Westport.
Bristol County is adjacent to Rhode Island. It contains both rural, suburban and urban living. Cities like Fall River, New Bedford and Taunton are historical fishing villages that have transformed into small cities. Towns like Rehoboth have sprawling land and plenty of farms. Many towns contain some of both. Bristol County is a great “central” location for those who are
Dukes County
Aquinnah, Chilmark, Edgartown, Gosnold, Oak Bluffs, Tisbury and West Tisbury.
Dukes County contains Martha’s Vineyard and associated islands. Like Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard is a premiere summer destination. Martha’s Vineyard is a very safe, isolated island with a year-round population of about 15,000 - and a summer population of 200,000. For someone who loves island living and doesn’t mind being part of a tourism culture, Martha’s Vineyard might be a good fit.
Martha’s Vineyard, Off-Season, New York Times
Essex County
Amesbury, Beverly, Gloucester, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lynn, Methuen, Newburyport, Peabody, Salem, Andover, Boxford, Danvers, Essex, Georgetown, Groveland, Hamilton, Ipswich, Lynnfield, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Marblehead, Merrimac, Middleton, Nahant, Newbury, North Andover, Rockport, Rowley, Salisbury, Saugus, Swampscott, Topsfield, Wenham and West Newbury.
Essex County is what we would call the “North Shore.” Adjacent to New Hampshire, the North Shore is a favorite of suburbanites who want to live close to the city, beach and mountains. Within roughly an hour commute and on many commuter train lines, many families move this way to have a more traditional home and still work in the city. However, the North Shore has a lot of culture on its own: the Topsfield Fair, a smattering of ski resorts, and some of the most beautiful beaches in Massachusetts.
More on living on the North Shore
Franklin County
Greenfield, Ashfield, Bernardston, Buckland, Charlemont, Colrain, Conway, Deerfield, Erving, Gill, Hawley, Heath, Leverett, Leyden, Monroe, Montague, New Salem, Northfield, Orange, Rowe, Shelburne, Shutesbury, Sunderland, Warwick, Wendell and Whately.
Franklin County is in the western half of the state, and abutts New Hampshire. Franklin County is not densely populated and has a population of about 70,000. It’s a relatively sleepy area of Massachusetts with great public schools. This is a great area for those looking to recapture a small-town feel and and live a rural New England lifestyle.
More on living in Deerfield, MA
Hampden County
Agawam, Chicopee, Holyoke, Palmer, Springfield, West Springfield, Westfield, Blandford, Brimfield, Chester, East Longmeadow, Granville, Hampden, Holland, Longmeadow, Ludlow, Monson, Montgomery, Russell, Southwick, Tolland, Wales, Wilbraham
Hampden County is also in Western Mass, but contains the city of Springfield. This is the center of the “Pioneer Valley.” It’s the most urban and populated area of Western Masschusetts. Springfield is home to Six Flags New England, dozens of cultural and arts festivals, and the Basketball Hall of Fame. Hampden County may be a great choice for someone who loves the beauty and nature of Western Mass, but still wants to be able to access the conveniences of a major city.
Quora: What is it like to live in Springfield Massachusetts?
Hampshire County
Amherst, Belchertown, Chesterfield, Cummington, Goshen, Granby, Hadley, Hatfield, Huntington, Middlefield, Pelham, Plainfield, South Hadley, Southampton, Ware, Westhampton, Williamsburg, Worthington
Hampshire County is in Central-Western Mass. There are a number of historic New England colleges in this area, including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College and University of Massachusetts Amherst. There is a quintessence to Hampshire County, as it’s a liberal, artsy area that’s a great place for academics that love small-town feel, but don’t want to feel isolated. Livability.com called Amherst one of the best small towns in the United States.
Middlesex County
Everett, Framingham, Lowell, Malden, Marlborough, Medford, Melrose, Newton, Somerville, Waltham, Watertown, Woburn, Acton, Arlington, Ashby, Ashland, Ayer, Bedford, Belmont, Billerica, Boxborough, Burlington, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Concord, Dracut, Dunstable, Groton, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hudson, Lexington, Lincoln, Littleton, Maynard, Natick, North Reading, Pepperell, Reading, Sherborn, Shirley, Stoneham, Stow, Sudbury, Tewksbury, Townsend, Tyngsborough, Wakefield, Wayland, Westford, Weston, Wilmington and Winchester
It’s not Boston, but it’s the next-best-thing — literally. Middlesex County is just north of Boston, and contains the vibrant cities of Somerville and Cambridge. As you move north, the towns become more residential and even more rural. However, most of Middlesex county is defined by its proximity to Boston. Most residents work in the major city, and commute via subway, train or car. Middlesex County is a great solution if you’re looking to put down roots near your favorite city, but still want to have a little room to spread out.
Here’s some of our guides to living in the different Middlesex County cities:
Contact Sage to learn more about living in Middlesex County
Nantucket County
Nantucket, Tuckernuck and Muskeget
Nantucket is similar to Martha’s Vineyard - an island off the coast primarily occupied in the summer. Nantucket is smaller, with a population of just 11,000 and fewer restaurants and shops. If the overwhelming nature of Martha’s Vineyard summers might be too much for you, Nantucket might provide a slightly more peaceful alternative.
Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket: Which Is Right for You?
Norfolk County
Braintree, Franklin, Quincy, Randolph, Weymouth, Towns, Avon, Bellingham, Brookline, Canton, Cohasset, Dedham, Dover, Foxborough, Holbrook, Medfield, Medway, Millis, Milton, Needham, Norfolk, Norwood, Plainville, Sharon, Stoughton, Walpole, Wellesley, Westwood and Wrentham
Norfolk County would generally be referred to as the South Shore. Like the North Shore, it’s a great commuting location for people that work in Boston, but are looking to live either in a suburban, rural or beach environment. The South Shore is a culturally diverse area that boasts great schools and is a real favorite of Massachusetts families.
Top Five Reasons to Move to the South Shore
Plymouth County
Bridgewater, Brockton (traditional county seat), Towns, Abington, Carver, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Hingham, Hull, Kingston, Lakeville, Marion, Marshfield, Mattapoisett, Middleborough, Norwell, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, Rochester, Rockland, Scituate, Wareham, West Bridgewater and Whitman.
What’s south of the South Shore? Plymouth County! Plymouth is sandwiched between the South Shore and Cape Cod, making it a favorite of those who commute into Boston for work and to the Cape on the weekends. It boasts a number of great beaches itself as well. Historically a fishing town, you might like living in Plymouth if you’re looking for a quiet life not defined by any big city.
Moving To & Living in Plymouth, Massachusetts: The Definitive Guide
Suffolk County
Boston, Chelsea, Revere and Winthrop.
The center of it all! Suffolk County contains the entire city of Boston, including its annexed cities of South Boston, East Boston, Roxbury, Dorchester, Mattapan, Brighton, Allston, West Roxbury, Jamaica Plain, Roslindale, Charlestown and Hyde Park. It also includes nearby cities Chelsea, Revere and Winthrop, which give the county urban beach access. If you’re a career-minded person, living right in Boston may be right for you. Between the major companies, startups, universities and tourism, working in the city becomes easier and more fun without your commute. If you’re a student, you’ll likely be living in one of Boston’s urban residential neighborhoods, and have unprecedented access to the city’s culture. For sportsfans, food-fans, and history fans - there’s no better place to be.
12 Tips for Anyone Thinking of Moving to Boston
Worcester County
Fitchburg, Gardner, Leominster, Southbridge, Worcester (traditional county seat), Towns, Ashburnham, Athol, Auburn, Barre, Berlin, Blackstone, Bolton, Boylston, Brookfield, Charlton, Clinton, Douglas, Dudley, East Brookfield, Grafton, Hardwick, Harvard, Holden, Hopedale, Hubbardston, Lancaster, Leicester, Lunenburg, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, New Braintree, North Brookfield, Northborough, Northbridge, Oakham, Oxford, Paxton, Petersham, Phillipston, Princeton, Royalston, Rutland, Shrewsbury, Southborough, Spencer, Sterling, Sturbridge, Sutton, Templeton, Upton, Uxbridge, Warren, Webster, West Boylston, West Brookfield, Westborough, Westminster and Winchendon.
Worcester County is just west of Boston and is another great intersection of the urban, rural and suburban makeup of Massachusetts. With a smattering of universities, manufacturing companies and the Boston-area commuters, there’s something in Worcester for everyone. It’s another favorite of those looking to get out of the hustle-and-bustle of Boston and settle down, but still keeping the amenities of city living.