Best places to live in the Boston metro area

Written by:
July 8, 2025
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

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.

1 / 25
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#25. Westwood

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

2 / 25
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#24. Medway

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

3 / 25
FamVeld // Shutterstock

#23. Sherborn

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

4 / 25
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#22. Groton

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

5 / 25
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#21. Boxborough

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

6 / 25
RossHelen // Shutterstock

#20. Milton

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

7 / 25
Laura Beach // Shutterstock

#19. Medfield

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

8 / 25
Stuart Monk // Shutterstock

#18. Cochituate

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

9 / 25
Akarawut // Shutterstock

#17. Somerville

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

10 / 25
imtmphoto // Shutterstock

#16. Carlisle

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

11 / 25
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#15. Sudbury

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

12 / 25
oneinchpunch // Shutterstock

#14. Acton

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

13 / 25
YAKOBCHUK VIACHESLAV // Shutterstock

#13. Southborough

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

14 / 25
Mila Supinskaya Glashchenko // Shutterstock

#12. Westford

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

15 / 25
Stuart Monk // Shutterstock

#11. Winchester

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

16 / 25
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#10. Wellesley

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

17 / 25
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#9. Hopkinton

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

18 / 25
Jacek Chabraszewski // Shutterstock

#8. Sharon

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

19 / 25
NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock

#7. Arlington

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

20 / 25
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

#6. Wayland

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

21 / 25
Ground Picture // Shutterstock

#5. Newton

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

22 / 25
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#4. Belmont

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

23 / 25
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#3. Lexington

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

24 / 25
F8 studio // Shutterstock

#2. Cambridge

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

25 / 25
Robert Kneschke // Shutterstock

#1. Brookline

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

Trending Now