State rankings

Best Counties to Live in Massachusetts

Compare counties in Massachusetts by overall score, affordability, economy, schools, safety, taxes, and peace & quiet. Rankings are public-data estimates for comparison and research.

Category highlights

Quick entry points for common county search priorities.

National rankings

Best overall

Norfolk County

Overall score 58.8

Most affordable

Franklin County

Affordability 42.6

Best schools

Norfolk County

Schools 99.9

Safest

Nantucket County

Safety 72.3

Lowest taxes

Nantucket County

Taxes 79.4

Best peace & quiet

Franklin County

Peace & Quiet 84.8

All Massachusetts counties

Showing 14 counties ranked by the default generated overall score.

RankCountyOverallEconomyAfford.SchoolsSafetyTaxesPeace & QuietTypical homeIncome
1Norfolk County
FIPS 25021
58.874.822.299.96934.215.5$768,983$130,739
2Hampshire County
FIPS 25015
58.461.935.495.363.319.271$442,612$87,001
3Dukes County
FIPS 25007
57.565.811.199.855.365.370.6$1,532,600$125,786
4Middlesex County
FIPS 25017
57.376.914.999.66735.317.5$815,478$130,847
5Franklin County
FIPS 25011
56.756.342.6846117.684.8$364,154$74,907
6Worcester County
FIPS 25027
55.266.532.294.743.726.648.1$492,236$95,939
7Plymouth County
FIPS 25023
55.170.227.797.244.930.927.9$640,329$114,201
8Barnstable County
FIPS 25001
53.464.511.497.848.357.636.9$750,046$95,241
9Nantucket County
FIPS 25019
52.557.96.572.272.379.462.8$3,047,306$139,688
10Berkshire County
FIPS 25003
5257.435.98630.429.679.8$382,918$76,013
11Essex County
FIPS 25009
51.467.814.59350.836.418.5$716,686$101,883
12Bristol County
FIPS 25005
4555.81490.632.336.718.5$539,520$85,625
13Suffolk County
FIPS 25025
38.964.911.546.829.153.415.1$768,792$95,631
14Hampden County
FIPS 25013
3842.640.75713.117.640.4$343,808$71,306