Best places to live in Massachusetts
- Overall Rank: 1,331
- Population: 1,251
- Median household income: $250,001
- Median home value: $1,205,400 (28% own)
- Median rent: $2,068 (72% rent)
- Top public schools: Boston Latin School (grade A+), Boston Latin Academy (grade A), O'Bryant School of Math & Science (grade A)
- Top private schools: Commonwealth School (grade A+), Boston University Academy (grade A+), Milton Academy (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 1,290
- Population: 9,856
- Median household income: $119,930
- Median home value: $897,349 (23% own)
- Median rent: $2,545 (77% rent)
- Top public schools: Boston Latin School (grade A+), Gibbs School (grade A+), Boston Latin Academy (grade A)
- Top private schools: Commonwealth School (grade A+), Boston University Academy (grade A+), Belmont Hill School (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 1,208
- Population: 6,170
- Median household income: $225,842
- Median home value: $1,480,949 (85% own)
- Median rent: $2,815 (15% rent)
- Top public schools: Newton North High School (grade A+), Newton South High School (grade A+), Ward Elementary School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Commonwealth School (grade A+), Noble and Greenough School (grade A+), Boston University Academy (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 1,052
- Population: 18,364
- Median household income: $121,150
- Median home value: $1,571,945 (31% own)
- Median rent: $2,682 (69% rent)
- Top public schools: Boston Latin School (grade A+), Gibbs School (grade A+), Boston Latin Academy (grade A)
- Top private schools: Commonwealth School (grade A+), Boston University Academy (grade A+), Milton Academy (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 865
- Population: 15,647
- Median household income: $160,801
- Median home value: $548,400 (85% own)
- Median rent: $1,920 (15% rent)
- Top public schools: MA Academy for Math & Science School (grade A+), Algonquin Regional High School (grade A+), Advanced Math & Science Academy Charter School (grade A)
- Top private schools: St. Mark's School (grade A+), Bancroft School (grade A+), Worcester Academy (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 789
- Population: 5,239
- Median household income: $173,290
- Median home value: $1,032,936 (71% own)
- Median rent: $2,127 (29% rent)
- Top public schools: Newton North High School (grade A+), Newton South High School (grade A+), Wellesley Senior High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Commonwealth School (grade A+), Noble and Greenough School (grade A+), Boston University Academy (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 776
- Population: 4,950
- Median household income: $171,464
- Median home value: $1,003,710 (72% own)
- Median rent: $2,703 (28% rent)
- Top public schools: Newton South High School (grade A+), Heath School (grade A+), Charles E. Brown Middle School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Commonwealth School (grade A+), Noble and Greenough School (grade A+), Boston University Academy (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 765
- Population: 3,952
- Median household income: $111,920
- Median home value: $930,192 (46% own)
- Median rent: $2,702 (54% rent)
- Top public schools: Belmont High School (grade A+), Cambridge Rindge & Latin School (grade A+), Mary Lee Burbank School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Commonwealth School (grade A+), Boston University Academy (grade A+), Concord Academy (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 745
- Population: 9,852
- Median household income: $168,131
- Median home value: $1,124,182 (70% own)
- Median rent: $2,651 (30% rent)
- Top public schools: Newton South High School (grade A+), Needham High School (grade A+), Mason Rice Elementary School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Commonwealth School (grade A+), Noble and Greenough School (grade A+), Boston University Academy (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 640
- Population: 4,899
- Median household income: $141,481
- Median home value: $798,713 (42% own)
- Median rent: $2,488 (58% rent)
- Top public schools: Belmont High School (grade A+), Cambridge Rindge & Latin School (grade A+), Mary Lee Burbank School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Commonwealth School (grade A+), Boston University Academy (grade A+), Belmont Hill School (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 638
- Population: 15,783
- Median household income: $133,659
- Median home value: $841,824 (52% own)
- Median rent: $1,998 (48% rent)
- Top public schools: Newton North High School (grade A+), F.A. Day Middle School (grade A+), Gibbs School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Commonwealth School (grade A+), Noble and Greenough School (grade A+), Boston University Academy (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 633
- Population: 5,004
- Median household income: $195,541
- Median home value: $1,279,695 (72% own)
- Median rent: $2,596 (28% rent)
- Top public schools: Boston Latin School (grade A+), Newton North High School (grade A+), Ward Elementary School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Commonwealth School (grade A+), Noble and Greenough School (grade A+), Boston University Academy (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 563
- Population: 9,737
- Median household income: $231,541
- Median home value: $1,756,840 (72% own)
- Median rent: $2,460 (28% rent)
- Top public schools: Boston Latin School (grade A+), Newton North High School (grade A+), Newton South High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Commonwealth School (grade A+), Noble and Greenough School (grade A+), Boston University Academy (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 543
- Population: 9,990
- Median household income: $157,393
- Median home value: $1,063,656 (60% own)
- Median rent: $2,218 (40% rent)
- Top public schools: Newton North High School (grade A+), Newton South High School (grade A+), F.A. Day Middle School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Commonwealth School (grade A+), Noble and Greenough School (grade A+), St. Mark's School (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 529
- Population: 1,126
- Median household income: $206,458
- Median home value: $810,000 (100% own)
- Median rent: $294 (% rent)
- Top public schools: Boston Latin School (grade A+), Newton South High School (grade A+), Needham High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Noble and Greenough School (grade A+), Boston University Academy (grade A+), The Roxbury Latin School (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 523
- Population: 9,351
- Median household income: $157,278
- Median home value: $1,551,724 (63% own)
- Median rent: $2,745 (37% rent)
- Top public schools: Boston Latin School (grade A+), Cambridge Rindge & Latin School (grade A+), Gibbs School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Commonwealth School (grade A+), Boston University Academy (grade A+), Concord Academy (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 489
- Population: 21,631
- Median household income: $142,693
- Median home value: $1,021,005 (33% own)
- Median rent: $2,539 (67% rent)
- Top public schools: Cambridge Rindge & Latin School (grade A+), Gibbs School (grade A+), John M. Tobin Montessori School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Commonwealth School (grade A+), Boston University Academy (grade A+), Concord Academy (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 451
- Population: 17,149
- Median household income: $173,322
- Median home value: $1,247,205 (57% own)
- Median rent: $2,335 (43% rent)
- Top public schools: Newton North High School (grade A+), Newton South High School (grade A+), F.A. Day Middle School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Commonwealth School (grade A+), Noble and Greenough School (grade A+), Boston University Academy (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 438
- Population: 21,360
- Median household income: $133,145
- Median home value: $601,900 (61% own)
- Median rent: $1,937 (39% rent)
- Top public schools: MA Academy for Math & Science School (grade A+), Westborough High School (grade A+), J. Harding Armstrong Elementary School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: St. Mark's School (grade A+), The Rivers School (grade A+), Bancroft School (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 399
- Population: 7,630
- Median household income: $102,545
- Median home value: $419,800 (75% own)
- Median rent: $1,217 (25% rent)
- Top public schools: Williamstown Elementary School (grade A), Mt. Greylock Regional High School (grade A minus), Berkshire Arts & Technology Charter Public School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: Buxton School (grade A+), Darrow School (grade A+), Hoosac School (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 373
- Population: 38,734
- Median household income: $127,088
- Median home value: $512,000 (74% own)
- Median rent: $1,841 (26% rent)
- Top public schools: MA Academy for Math & Science School (grade A+), Spring Street Elementary School (grade A+), Shrewsbury Senior High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: St. Mark's School (grade A+), Bancroft School (grade A+), Worcester Academy (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 347
- Population: 5,342
- Median household income: $167,202
- Median home value: $1,095,719 (68% own)
- Median rent: $2,567 (32% rent)
- Top public schools: Newton North High School (grade A+), Newton South High School (grade A+), Mason Rice Elementary School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Commonwealth School (grade A+), Noble and Greenough School (grade A+), Boston University Academy (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 241
- Population: 6,970
- Median household income: $100,043
- Median home value: $874,426 (25% own)
- Median rent: $2,220 (75% rent)
- Top public schools: Cambridge Rindge & Latin School (grade A+), Gibbs School (grade A+), John M. Tobin Montessori School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Commonwealth School (grade A+), Boston University Academy (grade A+), Belmont Hill School (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 199
- Population: 13,088
- Median household income: $125,225
- Median home value: $1,048,014 (42% own)
- Median rent: $2,585 (58% rent)
- Top public schools: Cambridge Rindge & Latin School (grade A+), Gibbs School (grade A+), John M. Tobin Montessori School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Commonwealth School (grade A+), Boston University Academy (grade A+), Concord Academy (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 192
- Population: 11,930
- Median household income: $96,594
- Median home value: $1,196,843 (23% own)
- Median rent: $2,344 (77% rent)
- Top public schools: Boston Latin School (grade A+), Cambridge Rindge & Latin School (grade A+), Gibbs School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Commonwealth School (grade A+), Boston University Academy (grade A+), Belmont Hill School (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 182
- Population: 8,893
- Median household income: $146,637
- Median home value: $1,398,615 (32% own)
- Median rent: $2,652 (68% rent)
- Top public schools: Cambridge Rindge & Latin School (grade A+), Gibbs School (grade A+), John M. Tobin Montessori School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Commonwealth School (grade A+), Boston University Academy (grade A+), Belmont Hill School (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 140
- Population: 7,745
- Median household income: $104,232
- Median home value: $947,566 (29% own)
- Median rent: $2,288 (71% rent)
- Top public schools: Cambridge Rindge & Latin School (grade A+), Gibbs School (grade A+), John M. Tobin Montessori School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Commonwealth School (grade A+), Boston University Academy (grade A+), Belmont Hill School (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 83
- Population: 13,279
- Median household income: $119,408
- Median home value: $927,649 (28% own)
- Median rent: $2,863 (72% rent)
- Top public schools: Boston Latin School (grade A+), Cambridge Rindge & Latin School (grade A+), Gibbs School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Commonwealth School (grade A+), Boston University Academy (grade A+), Belmont Hill School (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 70
- Population: 15,300
- Median household income: $120,945
- Median home value: $1,085,182 (33% own)
- Median rent: $2,555 (67% rent)
- Top public schools: Cambridge Rindge & Latin School (grade A+), Gibbs School (grade A+), John M. Tobin Montessori School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Commonwealth School (grade A+), Boston University Academy (grade A+), Belmont Hill School (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 30
- Population: 13,671
- Median household income: $126,707
- Median home value: $997,151 (33% own)
- Median rent: $2,433 (67% rent)
- Top public schools: Cambridge Rindge & Latin School (grade A+), Gibbs School (grade A+), John M. Tobin Montessori School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Commonwealth School (grade A+), Boston University Academy (grade A+), Belmont Hill School (grade A+)
This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 42 states.