Best places to live in the Boston metro area

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July 8, 2025
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Best places to live in the Boston metro area

Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in the Boston metro area using data from the Niche. Niche uses 15 weighted factors for its rankings. A majority of the score is based on cost of living, higher education rate, housing, public schools, diversity, and crime. You can read more about Niche's methodology here.

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#25. Westwood

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 16,213

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#24. Medway

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 13,251

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#23. Sherborn

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 4,404

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#22. Groton

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 11,265

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#21. Boxborough

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 5,468

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#20. Milton

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 28,481

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#19. Medfield

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 12,923

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#18. Cochituate

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 6,688

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#17. Somerville

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: B+
- Population: 80,549

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#16. Carlisle

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 5,209

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#15. Sudbury

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 19,067

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#14. Acton

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 23,961

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#13. Southborough

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 10,441

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#12. Westford

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 24,584

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#11. Winchester

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 22,862

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#10. Wellesley

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 29,906

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#9. Hopkinton

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 19,050

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#8. Sharon

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 18,478

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#7. Arlington

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 46,015

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#6. Wayland

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 13,826

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#5. Newton

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 88,504

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#4. Belmont

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 27,009

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#3. Lexington

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 34,085

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#2. Cambridge

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 117,794

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#1. Brookline

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 62,822

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