The 19 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Massachusetts

Ranked on The Town Files lifestyle rankings among 181 towns of 500–10,000 people in Massachusetts, scoring every town on all of these at once. #1 is Princeton, MA.

1. 19West Newbury, Massachusetts

   Retirement: 84th percentile · Quiet: 74th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 54th percentile

   West Newbury is a town of 4,500 people in Essex County, Massachusetts. Homes have a median value of $808,200 against household income of $179,500; January lows average 17°F.

   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 →

2. 18Boylston, Massachusetts

   Retirement: 70th percentile · Quiet: 74th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 70th percentile

   

   Boylston is a town of 4,849 people in Worcester County, Massachusetts. Homes have a median value of $578,600 against household income of $140,962; January lows average 17°F.

   4,849 people · Worcester County · median home $578,600 · income $140,962 · Jan low 17°F · 62 in snow

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

3. 17Upton, Massachusetts

   Retirement: 63rd percentile · Quiet: 68th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 84th percentile

   Upton is a town of 8,000 people in Worcester County, Massachusetts. Homes have a median value of $576,700 against household income of $155,508; January lows average 17°F.

   8,000 people · Worcester County · median home $576,700 · income $155,508 · Jan low 17°F · 48 in snow

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

4. 16Harvard, Massachusetts

   Retirement: 75th percentile · Quiet: 64th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 78th percentile

   Harvard is a town of 6,851 people in Worcester County, Massachusetts. Homes have a median value of $833,600 against household income of $213,996; January lows average 15°F.

   6,851 people · Worcester County · median home $833,600 · income $213,996 · Jan low 15°F · 59 in snow

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

5. 15Lancaster, Massachusetts

   Retirement: 77th percentile · Quiet: 65th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 81st percentile

   Lancaster is a town of 8,441 people in Worcester County, Massachusetts. Homes have a median value of $519,100 against household income of $134,833; January lows average 16°F.

   8,441 people · Worcester County · median home $519,100 · income $134,833 · Jan low 16°F · 68 in snow

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

6. 14Deerfield, Massachusetts

   Retirement: 76th percentile · Quiet: 72nd percentile · Home value ÷ income: 78th percentile

   

   Deerfield is a town of 5,090 people in Franklin County, Massachusetts. Homes have a median value of $414,900 against household income of $106,136; January lows average 15°F.

   5,090 people · Franklin County · median home $414,900 · income $106,136 · Jan low 15°F · 46 in snow

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

7. 13Westminster, Massachusetts

   Retirement: 69th percentile · Quiet: 85th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 74th percentile

   Westminster is a town of 8,213 people in Worcester County, Massachusetts. Homes have a median value of $422,000 against household income of $106,331; January lows average 14°F.

   8,213 people · Worcester County · median home $422,000 · income $106,331 · Jan low 14°F · 75 in snow

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

8. 12Sheffield, Massachusetts

   Retirement: 92nd percentile · Quiet: 84th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 57th percentile

   Sheffield is a town of 3,327 people in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. Homes have a median value of $409,400 against household income of $92,120; January lows average 14°F.

   3,327 people · Berkshire County · median home $409,400 · income $92,120 · Jan low 14°F · 57 in snow

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

9. 11Granby, Massachusetts

   Retirement: 51st percentile · Quiet: 84th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 98th percentile

   Granby is a town of 6,110 people in Hampshire County, Massachusetts. Homes have a median value of $352,600 against household income of $119,297; January lows average 15°F.

   6,110 people · Hampshire County · median home $352,600 · income $119,297 · Jan low 15°F · 48 in snow

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

10. 10Northfield, Massachusetts

    Retirement: 70th percentile · Quiet: 80th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 88th percentile

    Northfield is a town of 2,866 people in Franklin County, Massachusetts. Homes have a median value of $375,800 against household income of $103,375; January lows average 15°F.

    2,866 people · Franklin County · median home $375,800 · income $103,375 · Jan low 15°F · 55 in snow

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

11. 9Ashby, Massachusetts

    Retirement: 52nd percentile · Quiet: 94th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 93rd percentile

    Ashby is a town of 3,193 people in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Homes have a median value of $390,500 against household income of $115,598; January lows average 15°F.

    3,193 people · Middlesex County · median home $390,500 · income $115,598 · Jan low 15°F · 75 in snow

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

12. 8Shirley, Massachusetts

    Retirement: 79th percentile · Quiet: 69th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 91st percentile

    Shirley is a town of 7,431 people in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Homes have a median value of $427,600 against household income of $122,365; January lows average 16°F.

    7,431 people · Middlesex County · median home $427,600 · income $122,365 · Jan low 16°F · 67 in snow

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

13. 7Brimfield, Massachusetts

    Retirement: 73rd percentile · Quiet: 81st percentile · Home value ÷ income: 91st percentile

    Brimfield is a town of 3,694 people in Hampden County, Massachusetts. Homes have a median value of $389,100 against household income of $111,250; January lows average 16°F.

    3,694 people · Hampden County · median home $389,100 · income $111,250 · Jan low 16°F · 64 in snow

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

14. 6Cheshire, Massachusetts

    Retirement: 74th percentile · Quiet: 92nd percentile · Home value ÷ income: 81st percentile

    Cheshire is a town of 3,258 people in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. Homes have a median value of $268,200 against household income of $69,803; January lows average 14°F.

    3,258 people · Berkshire County · median home $268,200 · income $69,803 · Jan low 14°F · 76 in snow

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

15. 5Sterling, Massachusetts

    Retirement: 80th percentile · Quiet: 89th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 78th percentile

    

    Sterling is a town of 7,985 people in Worcester County, Massachusetts. Homes have a median value of $498,800 against household income of $129,063; January lows average 16°F.

    7,985 people · Worcester County · median home $498,800 · income $129,063 · Jan low 16°F · 67 in snow

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

16. 4Dalton, Massachusetts

    Retirement: 85th percentile · Quiet: 80th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 84th percentile

    Dalton is a town of 6,330 people in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. Homes have a median value of $295,700 against household income of $79,438; January lows average 14°F.

    6,330 people · Berkshire County · median home $295,700 · income $79,438 · Jan low 14°F · 77 in snow

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

17. 3West Brookfield, Massachusetts

    Retirement: 86th percentile · Quiet: 88th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 84th percentile

    West Brookfield is a town of 3,833 people in Worcester County, Massachusetts. Homes have a median value of $354,000 against household income of $95,613; January lows average 15°F.

    3,833 people · Worcester County · median home $354,000 · income $95,613 · Jan low 15°F · 43 in snow

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

18. 2Williamsburg, Massachusetts

    Retirement: 91st percentile · Quiet: 95th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 81st percentile

    Williamsburg is a town of 2,504 people in Hampshire County, Massachusetts. Homes have a median value of $403,100 against household income of $104,792; January lows average 14°F.

    2,504 people · Hampshire County · median home $403,100 · income $104,792 · Jan low 14°F · 46 in snow

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

19. 1Princeton, Massachusetts

    Retirement: 83rd percentile · Quiet: 93rd percentile · Home value ÷ income: 94th percentile

    Princeton is a town of 3,495 people in Worcester County, Massachusetts. Homes have a median value of $520,500 against household income of $158,750; January lows average 13°F.

    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 →

Price vs ranking

More Massachusetts rankings

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