Best counties to live in Massachusetts
- Overall Rank: 1,266
- Population: 464,575
- Median household income: $66,619
- Median home value: $258,100 (62% own)
- Median rent: $1,051 (38% rent)
- Top public schools: Amherst Regional High School (grade A+), Longmeadow High School (grade A), Blueberry Hill Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Wilbraham & Monson Academy (grade A+), Springfield Commonwealth Academy (grade A+), Pioneer Valley Christian Academy (grade A minus)
- Top places: Longmeadow (grade A), Wilbraham (grade A), West Springfield (grade B+)
- Overall Rank: 1,083
- Population: 576,699
- Median household income: $80,628
- Median home value: $385,000 (62% own)
- Median rent: $1,116 (38% rent)
- Top public schools: Oliver Ames High School (grade A minus), Mildred Aitken School (grade A minus), Jordan/Jackson Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Al-Noor Academy (grade A+), Bishop Feehan High School (grade A minus), Bishop Stang High School (grade A minus)
- Top places: Easton (grade A minus), North Seekonk (grade A minus), Mansfield (grade A minus)
- Overall Rank: 865
- Population: 70,980
- Median household income: $70,383
- Median home value: $284,100 (70% own)
- Median rent: $1,109 (30% rent)
- Top public schools: Whately Elementary School (grade A minus), Conway Grammar School (grade B+), Frontier Regional School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Deerfield Academy (grade A+), Northfield Mount Hermon (grade A+), Stoneleigh-Burnham School (grade A+)
- Top places: Deerfield (grade B+), Gill (grade B+), Sunderland (grade B+)
- Overall Rank: 741
- Population: 806,103
- Median household income: $94,378
- Median home value: $535,300 (64% own)
- Median rent: $1,580 (36% rent)
- Top public schools: Huckleberry Hill Elementary School (grade A), Lynnfield High School (grade A), High Plain Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Phillips Academy Andover (grade A+), Brooks School (grade A+), The Governor's Academy (grade A+)
- Top places: Andover (grade A+), Boxford (grade A), Marblehead (grade A)
- Overall Rank: 612
- Population: 20,543
- Median household income: $93,225
- Median home value: $998,100 (77% own)
- Median rent: $1,636 (23% rent)
- Top public schools: Tisbury Elementary School (grade A minus), Chilmark Elementary School (grade B+), Martha's Vineyard Regional High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Vineyard Montessori School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Oak Bluffs (grade B), Tisbury (grade B), Vineyard Haven (grade B)
- Overall Rank: 549
- Population: 529,548
- Median household income: $105,387
- Median home value: $475,500 (77% own)
- Median rent: $1,550 (23% rent)
- Top public schools: Hingham High School (grade A), Hingham Middle School (grade A), South Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Tabor Academy (grade A+), Notre Dame Academy (grade A), Cardinal Spellman High School (grade A minus)
- Top places: Norwell (grade A), Hingham (grade A), Duxbury (grade A)
- Overall Rank: 486
- Population: 229,436
- Median household income: $90,447
- Median home value: $519,100 (81% own)
- Median rent: $1,536 (19% rent)
- Top public schools: Sturgis Charter Public School (grade A+), Truro Central School (grade A), Orleans Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Falmouth Academy (grade A+), Cape Cod Academy (grade A+), Trinity Christian Academy of Cape Cod (grade A minus)
- Top places: North Falmouth (grade A), West Falmouth (grade A), Woods Hole (grade A)
- Overall Rank: 479
- Population: 128,763
- Median household income: $69,744
- Median home value: $266,400 (70% own)
- Median rent: $1,003 (30% rent)
- Top public schools: Williamstown Elementary School (grade A), Lanesborough Elementary School (grade A), Mt. Greylock Regional High School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Berkshire School (grade A+), Miss Hall's School (grade A+), Buxton School (grade A+)
- Top places: Williamstown (grade A+), Lanesborough (grade A minus), Lenox (grade A minus)
- Overall Rank: 468
- Population: 858,898
- Median household income: $88,524
- Median home value: $363,200 (66% own)
- Median rent: $1,263 (34% rent)
- Top public schools: MA Academy for Math & Science School (grade A+), Westborough High School (grade A+), Spring Street Elementary School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: St. Mark's School (grade A+), Cushing Academy (grade A+), Bancroft School (grade A+)
- Top places: Shrewsbury (grade A+), Westborough (grade A+), Southborough (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 276
- Population: 785,443
- Median household income: $87,669
- Median home value: $650,900 (36% own)
- Median rent: $1,953 (64% rent)
- Top public schools: Boston Latin School (grade A+), Excel Academy Charter School - East Boston (grade A+), Boston Latin Academy (grade A)
- Top private schools: Commonwealth School (grade A+), Boston University Academy (grade A+), The Roxbury Latin School (grade A+)
- Top places: Back Bay (grade A+), North End (grade A+), Bay Village (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 181
- Population: 153,931
- Median household income: $84,025
- Median home value: $344,200 (69% own)
- Median rent: $1,263 (31% rent)
- Top public schools: Amherst Regional Middle School (grade A), Northampton High School (grade A), Anne T. Dunphy School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: The Williston Northampton School (grade A+), The MacDuffie School (grade A+), The Hartsbrook School (grade A)
- Top places: Pelham (grade A+), Northampton (grade A), Hadley (grade A)
- Overall Rank: 108
- Population: 722,112
- Median household income: $120,621
- Median home value: $612,100 (68% own)
- Median rent: $1,933 (32% rent)
- Top public schools: Brookline High School (grade A+), Wellesley Senior High School (grade A+), Sharon High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Noble and Greenough School (grade A+), Milton Academy (grade A+), St. Sebastian's School (grade A+)
- Top places: Brookline (grade A+), Sharon (grade A+), Wellesley (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 107
- Population: 1,623,109
- Median household income: $121,304
- Median home value: $654,300 (61% own)
- Median rent: $2,004 (39% rent)
- Top public schools: Lexington High School (grade A+), Weston High School (grade A+), Newton North High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Groton School (grade A+), Middlesex School (grade A+), Concord Academy (grade A+)
- Top places: Cambridgeport (grade A+), Cambridge (grade A+), Mid-Cambridge (grade A+)
This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.