Boston wasn’t named one of the best places to live in America according to a new Money.com and ADT report. However, four New England destinations did make the list of the top 50 places to live in America for 2024.
One western Massachusetts town in particular is among the top, Northampton. The college city, home of Smith College, and neighboring universities offers an intersection of culture and nature. The small city is dubbed Massachusetts’ Five Colleges Consortium, with Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst in the midst.
Money.com praises Northampton for its access to the outdoors, abundance of indie bookshops, low unemployment rate, hidden gem restaurants, and vibrant art scene. According to Money, legendary opera singer, Jenny Lind name Northampton “the paradise of America.”
This year’s Best Places to Live list celebrates cities and towns where a thriving economy meets affordability, diversity and an exceptional quality of life. Backed by rigorous research and data-driven analysis, these 50 places are the blueprint for the future, notes Money’s editorial team.
Other New England towns and cities to make the list include: Portland, Maine; Milford, Connecticut; and Pawtucket, Rhode Island.