The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Massachusetts

Ranked on The Town Files lifestyle rankings among 181 towns of 500–10,000 people in Massachusetts. #1 is Dover, MA.

1. 25Topsfield, Massachusetts

   Better for families than 91% of Massachusetts towns

   Topsfield is a community of 2,864 people in Essex County, Massachusetts. It also ranks more upscale than 92% of Massachusetts towns and better for retirees than 82% of Massachusetts towns.

   2,864 people · Essex County · median home $836,600 · income $191,146 · Jan low 20°F · 48 in snow

   Full Topsfield, Massachusetts profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

2. 24Topsfield, Massachusetts

   Better for families than 91% of Massachusetts towns

   Topsfield is a town of 6,569 people in Essex County, Massachusetts. It also ranks more upscale than 92% of Massachusetts towns and better for retirees than 82% of Massachusetts towns.

   6,569 people · Essex County · median home $853,400 · income $195,718 · Jan low 20°F · 48 in snow

   Full Topsfield, Massachusetts profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

3. 23Stow, Massachusetts

   Better for families than 91% of Massachusetts towns

   Stow is a town of 7,174 people in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. It also ranks more upscale than 95% of Massachusetts towns and better for young professionals than 81% of Massachusetts towns.

   7,174 people · Middlesex County · median home $729,600 · income $185,809 · Jan low 15°F · 54 in snow

   Full Stow, Massachusetts profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

4. 22Sutton, Massachusetts

   Better for families than 91% of Massachusetts towns

   Sutton is a town of 9,357 people in Worcester County, Massachusetts. It also ranks quieter than 76% of Massachusetts towns and more upscale than 70% of Massachusetts towns.

   9,357 people · Worcester County · median home $523,100 · income $147,125 · Jan low 15°F · 48 in snow

   Full Sutton, Massachusetts profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

5. 21Rochester, Massachusetts

   Better for families than 92% of Massachusetts towns

   Rochester is a town of 5,717 people in Plymouth County, Massachusetts. It also ranks easier by car than 100% of Massachusetts towns and better for first-time buyers than 96% of Massachusetts towns.

   5,717 people · Plymouth County · median home $599,100 · income $120,273 · Jan low 20°F · 31 in snow

   Full Rochester, Massachusetts profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

6. 20Hamilton, Massachusetts

   Better for families than 92% of Massachusetts towns

   Hamilton is a town of 7,561 people in Essex County, Massachusetts. It also ranks more upscale than 87% of Massachusetts towns and better for cycling than 83% of Massachusetts towns.

   7,561 people · Essex County · median home $720,000 · income $129,833 · Jan low 18°F · 51 in snow

   Full Hamilton, Massachusetts profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

7. 19West Newbury, Massachusetts

   Better for families than 93% of Massachusetts towns

   West Newbury is a town of 4,500 people in Essex County, Massachusetts. It also ranks more of a college town than 90% of Massachusetts towns and more upscale than 88% of Massachusetts towns.

   4,500 people · Essex County · median home $808,200 · income $179,500 · Jan low 17°F · 62 in snow

   Full West Newbury, Massachusetts profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

8. 18Cochituate, Massachusetts

   Better for families than 93% of Massachusetts towns

   Cochituate is a community of 6,927 people in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. It also ranks more upscale than 96% of Massachusetts towns and more walkable than 79% of Massachusetts towns.

   6,927 people · Middlesex County · median home $906,300 · income $192,361 · Jan low 18°F · 46 in snow

   Full Cochituate, Massachusetts profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

9. 17Medfield, Massachusetts

   Better for families than 94% of Massachusetts towns

   Medfield is a community of 6,939 people in Norfolk County, Massachusetts. It also ranks more upscale than 95% of Massachusetts towns and better for young professionals than 71% of Massachusetts towns.

   6,939 people · Norfolk County · median home $815,300 · income $218,946 · Jan low 20°F · 56 in snow

   Full Medfield, Massachusetts profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

10. 16Littleton Common, Massachusetts

    Better for families than 95% of Massachusetts towns

    Littleton Common is a community of 3,065 people in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 92% of Massachusetts towns and more upscale than 81% of Massachusetts towns.

    3,065 people · Middlesex County · median home $558,200 · income $135,074 · Jan low 15°F · 60 in snow

    Full Littleton Common, Massachusetts profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

11. 15Mendon, Massachusetts

    Better for families than 95% of Massachusetts towns

    

    Mendon is a town of 6,228 people in Worcester County, Massachusetts. It also ranks easier by car than 87% of Massachusetts towns and better transit than 72% of Massachusetts towns.

    6,228 people · Worcester County · median home $616,000 · income $132,256 · Jan low 17°F · 48 in snow

    Full Mendon, Massachusetts profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

12. 14Groveland, Massachusetts

    Better for families than 95% of Massachusetts towns

    Groveland is a town of 6,752 people in Essex County, Massachusetts. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 98% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 71% of Massachusetts towns.

    6,752 people · Essex County · median home $610,900 · income $141,487 · Jan low 17°F · 67 in snow

    Full Groveland, Massachusetts profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

13. 13Pinehurst, Massachusetts

    Better for families than 95% of Massachusetts towns

    Pinehurst is a community of 7,368 people in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 92% of Massachusetts towns and better transit than 92% of Massachusetts towns.

    7,368 people · Middlesex County · median home $623,800 · income $146,250 · Jan low 18°F · 59 in snow

    Full Pinehurst, Massachusetts profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

14. 12Plympton, Massachusetts

    Better for families than 97% of Massachusetts towns

    Plympton is a town of 2,930 people in Plymouth County, Massachusetts. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 97% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 70% of Massachusetts towns.

    2,930 people · Plymouth County · median home $517,800 · income $126,736 · Jan low 20°F · 38 in snow

    Full Plympton, Massachusetts profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

15. 11North Scituate, Massachusetts

    Better for families than 97% of Massachusetts towns

    North Scituate is a community of 5,414 people in Plymouth County, Massachusetts. It also ranks more of a college town than 95% of Massachusetts towns and more upscale than 91% of Massachusetts towns.

    5,414 people · Plymouth County · median home $824,800 · income $140,329 · Jan low 22°F · 51 in snow

    Full North Scituate, Massachusetts profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

16. 10Cordaville, Massachusetts

    Better for families than 98% of Massachusetts towns

    Cordaville is a community of 2,703 people in Worcester County, Massachusetts. It also ranks more upscale than 92% of Massachusetts towns and better transit than 87% of Massachusetts towns.

    2,703 people · Worcester County · median home $765,900 · income $165,375 · Jan low 18°F · 48 in snow

    Full Cordaville, Massachusetts profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

17. 9South Duxbury, Massachusetts

    Better for families than 98% of Massachusetts towns

    South Duxbury is a community of 3,463 people in Plymouth County, Massachusetts. It also ranks more of a college town than 98% of Massachusetts towns and more seaside character than 94% of Massachusetts towns.

    3,463 people · Plymouth County · median home $982,000 · income $212,734 · Jan low 22°F · 38 in snow

    Full South Duxbury, Massachusetts profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

18. 8Princeton, Massachusetts

    Better for families than 98% of Massachusetts towns

    Princeton is a town of 3,495 people in Worcester County, Massachusetts. It also ranks better for cycling than 94% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 93% of Massachusetts towns.

    3,495 people · Worcester County · median home $520,500 · income $158,750 · Jan low 13°F · 60 in snow

    Full Princeton, Massachusetts profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

19. 7Sherborn, Massachusetts

    Better for families than 98% of Massachusetts towns

    Sherborn is a town of 4,401 people in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. It also ranks more upscale than 99% of Massachusetts towns and better transit than 92% of Massachusetts towns.

    4,401 people · Middlesex County · median home $1,026,800 · income $250,001 · Jan low 18°F · 46 in snow

    Full Sherborn, Massachusetts profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

20. 6Dunstable, Massachusetts

    Better for families than 99% of Massachusetts towns

    Dunstable is a town of 3,358 people in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. It also ranks more upscale than 85% of Massachusetts towns and easier by car than 70% of Massachusetts towns.

    3,358 people · Middlesex County · median home $674,000 · income $208,512 · Jan low 14°F · 53 in snow

    Full Dunstable, Massachusetts profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

21. 5Bolton, Massachusetts

    Better for families than 99% of Massachusetts towns

    Bolton is a town of 5,665 people in Worcester County, Massachusetts. It also ranks more upscale than 98% of Massachusetts towns.

    5,665 people · Worcester County · median home $796,000 · income $205,449 · Jan low 15°F · 57 in snow

    Full Bolton, Massachusetts profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

22. 4Berkley, Massachusetts

    Better for families than 99% of Massachusetts towns

    Berkley is a town of 6,764 people in Bristol County, Massachusetts. It also ranks easier by car than 97% of Massachusetts towns and more of a college town than 81% of Massachusetts towns.

    6,764 people · Bristol County · median home $511,200 · income $144,205 · Jan low 19°F · 26 in snow

    Full Berkley, Massachusetts profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

23. 3Boxford, Massachusetts

    Better for families than 99% of Massachusetts towns

    Boxford is a town of 8,203 people in Essex County, Massachusetts. It also ranks more of a college town than 94% of Massachusetts towns and more upscale than 93% of Massachusetts towns.

    8,203 people · Essex County · median home $907,000 · income $200,871 · Jan low 17°F · 67 in snow

    Full Boxford, Massachusetts profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

24. 2Carlisle, Massachusetts

    Better for families than 100% of Massachusetts towns

    Carlisle is a town of 5,237 people in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. It also ranks more upscale than 99% of Massachusetts towns and better for retirees than 86% of Massachusetts towns.

    5,237 people · Middlesex County · median home $1,103,900 · income $250,001 · Jan low 18°F · 59 in snow

    Full Carlisle, Massachusetts profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

25. 1Dover, Massachusetts

    Better for families than 100% of Massachusetts towns

    Dover is a town of 5,923 people in Norfolk County, Massachusetts. It also ranks more upscale than 100% of Massachusetts towns and more of a college town than 87% of Massachusetts towns.

    5,923 people · Norfolk County · median home $1,340,300 · income $250,001 · Jan low 18°F · 46 in snow

    Full Dover, Massachusetts profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

Price vs ranking

More Massachusetts rankings

• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Massachusetts
• The 25 Quietest Small Towns in Massachusetts
• The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Massachusetts
• The 19 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Massachusetts
• 25 Small Towns in Massachusetts With the Cheapest Homes
• 25 Small Towns in Massachusetts With the Mildest Winters
• The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in Massachusetts
• 25 Small Towns in Massachusetts With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Massachusetts
• The 24 Best Affordable Small Towns for Remote Workers in Massachusetts

Same ranking, other places

• The 50 Best Small Towns for Families in America
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• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in New York
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Michigan
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Texas
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in California
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in New Jersey
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Florida
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Wisconsin
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Ohio