Massachusetts county rankings
Best counties in Massachusetts to live
We scored 14 counties with 5,000+ residents on home affordability, unemployment, education, population growth and total crime per 100,000 people.
| # | County | Score | Home value | Income | Unemployment | Crime /100k |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hampshire County | 75 | $363,400 | $86,391 | 5.1% | 869 |
| 2 | Norfolk County | 69 | $649,400 | $126,497 | 4.9% | 1,012 |
| 3 | Plymouth County | 66 | $513,000 | $109,698 | 5.1% | 961 |
| 4 | Barnstable County | 63 | $575,900 | $94,452 | 4.6% | 908 |
| 5 | Middlesex County | 58 | $687,200 | $126,779 | 4.2% | 1,109 |
| 6 | Essex County | 55 | $584,000 | $99,431 | 5.1% | 956 |
| 7 | Nantucket County | 55 | $1,387,000 | $119,750 | 5.3% | 1,302 |
| 8 | Worcester County | 54 | $390,700 | $93,561 | 5.3% | 1,096 |
| 9 | Dukes County | 45 | $1,104,100 | $102,348 | 6.7% | 994 |
| 10 | Franklin County | 40 | $303,400 | $72,584 | 6.2% | 962 |
| 11 | Bristol County | 35 | $421,800 | $84,198 | 5.6% | 1,364 |
| 12 | Berkshire County | 32 | $283,800 | $72,565 | 5.6% | 1,399 |
| 13 | Hampden County | 28 | $276,300 | $70,535 | 6.0% | 2,267 |
| 14 | Suffolk County | 23 | $680,700 | $92,859 | 6.2% | 2,371 |
Also see: Where to move in Massachusetts
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023); FBI Crime Data Explorer county agency totals. "—" means no reporting data.
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See the full Smart Movers Club report on Massachusetts