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Best Overall Cities in Massachusetts

5 cities ranked · Highest MoveScore composite — safest overall balance of all six livability dimensions.

Top Cities in Massachusetts

  1. #1
    B

    Cambridge

    Best Overall Cities score 76 · MoveScore 76

  2. #2
    B

    Boston

    Best Overall Cities score 72 · MoveScore 72

  3. #3
    C

    Worcester

    Best Overall Cities score 68 · MoveScore 68

  4. #4
    F

    Lowell

    Best Overall Cities score 48 · MoveScore 48

  5. #5
    F

    Springfield

    Best Overall Cities score 41 · MoveScore 41

Other Massachusetts Rankings

Best for Safety in Massachusetts

Lowest crime rates per FBI UCR — best for families sensitive to violent and property crime.

Best for Water Quality in Massachusetts

Cleanest drinking water per EPA SDWIS — fewest violations, highest safety scores.

Best for Air Quality in Massachusetts

Cleanest air per EPA AQS — lowest median AQI and fewest unhealthy days.

Best for Public Schools in Massachusetts

Strongest public school performance per NCES/EDFacts — highest average proficiency.

Best Fiscal Health in Massachusetts

Strongest municipal fiscal health per Census ASPEP — sustainable per-capita spending.

Best for Hospital Care in Massachusetts

Highest-rated hospitals per CMS HCAHPS — best patient experience scores.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city in Massachusetts ranks highest for best overall cities?

Cambridge, MA ranks #1 in Massachusetts for best overall cities with a sub-score of 76/100 (MoveScore 76, grade B).

How many cities in Massachusetts are compared?

5 Massachusetts cities have enough federal data for this ranking. Cities need at least three of six sub-scores for inclusion.

How is this ranking calculated?

Highest MoveScore composite — safest overall balance of all six livability dimensions. Sub-scores are normalized to 0-100 and the highest scores rank first.

Sources: FBI UCR, EPA, NCES, Census ASPEP, CMS HCAHPS
Last updated:

Massachusetts-specific ranking using the composite MoveScore, normalized to 0-100. Cities need at least three federal sub-scores to be included.