State rankings

Best Counties to Live in Massachusetts

Compare counties in Massachusetts by affordability, schools, safety, taxes, economy, home values, and quality-of-life tradeoffs.

Use the county-size filter to compare large metro counties, mid-size counties, small counties, and rural areas separately. These modules are a starting point, then you can open the full rankings table or compare individual counties.

County size

County size helps compare places with similar scale. Large metro counties and small rural counties can rank well for very different reasons.

Showing all 14 Massachusetts counties

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All sizesLarge counties: 500k+ residentsMid-size counties: 100k-500k residentsSmall counties: 25k-100k residentsRural / very small: under 25k residents

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Compare counties in Massachusetts

Put Massachusetts counties side by side.

Estimate moving costs

Compare housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, insurance, and tax-pressure estimates.

Open Massachusetts rankings

Open the full Massachusetts ranking table with filters.

Explore on the map

Scan county scores geographically across the country.

Massachusetts county rankings at a glance

Compact winners for common county-search priorities.

View full Massachusetts rankings

Top counties by category

Use these short lists to jump into the state rankings that match your priorities.

National rankings

Popular Massachusetts county comparisons

Put two counties side by side before you narrow the search.

Compare Norfolk County vs Hampshire CountyCompare Norfolk County vs Nantucket CountyCompare Norfolk County vs Franklin CountyCompare Nantucket County vs Franklin County

How to choose a county in Massachusetts

The best county in Massachusetts depends on what you need most. Families may care more about schools and safety, budget-focused movers may care more about affordability and taxes, and quiet-living households may care more about density and peace & quiet. Large counties and rural counties can rank well for very different reasons, so use the county-size filter to compare places with similar scale.

Best family rankingsAffordable county rankingsLow-tax county rankingsCompare countiesEstimate moving costs

Best for different needs

What to watch before moving to Massachusetts

Compare county scale carefully in Massachusetts; large metro counties and rural counties can rank well for very different reasons.

Check town-level housing costs, commute patterns, school districts, and local services before making a final move decision.

Frequently asked questions about the best counties in Massachusetts

What is the best county to live in Massachusetts?

The best county depends on your priorities. In this ranking model, Norfolk County currently scores highest overall, but families, budget-focused movers, and quiet-living households may prefer different counties.

What is the best county in Massachusetts for families?

Based on the family ranking blend of schools, safety, affordability, taxes, economy, and peace & quiet, Hampshire County stands out in this model.

What is the most affordable county in Massachusetts?

Franklin County scores highly on affordability in this model, but buyers should still compare home prices, taxes, insurance, commute costs, and local job access.

How should I compare large and small counties?

Use the county-size filter. Large metro counties and small rural counties can rank well for very different reasons, so comparing similar county sizes usually gives a more realistic shortlist.

Are these rankings based on reviews?

No. These rankings use public-data signals such as affordability, schools, safety, taxes, economy, home values, and peace & quiet. Local reviews and personal visits should still be part of a final decision.

Which Massachusetts counties score well for schools or taxes?

Norfolk County currently leads the school-score view, while Nantucket County stands out on the tax-score view. Use the rankings presets to compare those priorities separately.

All Massachusetts counties

Showing all 14 Massachusetts counties ranked by the default generated overall score.

RankCountyOverallEconomyAfford.SchoolsSafetyTaxesPeace & QuietTypical homeIncome
1Norfolk County
FIPS 25021
59.574.822.299.973.634.215.5$768,983$130,739
2Hampshire County
FIPS 25015
58.961.935.495.367.119.271$442,612$87,001
3Middlesex County
FIPS 25017
58.176.914.999.672.135.317.5$815,478$130,847
4Dukes County
FIPS 25007
57.965.811.199.857.765.370.6$1,532,600$125,786
5Franklin County
FIPS 25011
57.456.342.68465.617.684.8$364,154$74,907
6Worcester County
FIPS 25027
56.466.532.294.751.626.648.1$492,236$95,939
7Plymouth County
FIPS 25023
56.370.227.797.252.530.927.9$640,329$114,201
8Barnstable County
FIPS 25001
54.264.511.497.853.557.636.9$750,046$95,241
9Berkshire County
FIPS 25003
53.257.435.98638.429.679.8$382,918$76,013
10Nantucket County
FIPS 25019
52.857.96.572.274.579.462.8$3,047,306$139,688
11Essex County
FIPS 25009
52.567.814.59358.136.418.5$716,686$101,883
12Bristol County
FIPS 25005
45.655.81490.636.536.718.5$539,520$85,625
13Suffolk County
FIPS 25025
39.264.911.546.83153.415.1$768,792$95,631
14Hampden County
FIPS 25013
38.442.640.75716.117.640.4$343,808$71,306