2023 Best Places to Raise a Family in Hampshire County

• Suburb of Springfield, MA

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• Population 1,280

• Suburb of Springfield, MA

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  Rating 4 out of 5  12 reviews

Current Resident: Quiet, beautiful mountains and landscape, perfect for kayaking and hiking and enjoying the outdoors. Everyone here is very welcoming and kind.... Read 12 reviews

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• Population 5,293

• Suburb of Springfield, MA

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  Rating 3.94 out of 5  84 reviews

Former Resident: It's a great college town and there are lots of family friendly activities and outdoor events. The public schools are good, and there are lots of charter/private school options as well. It is a nice size, not too rural but not too congested either. Very quaint, and has the quintessential New England vibe. Lots of good restaurants, and educational/arts enrichment opportunities through the multiple local colleges. Pretty big arts and performance scene for an area that isn't a big city, and there are lots of concerts, plays, and other types of performances. Very walkable, lots of bike paths and sidewalks, and you can also get most places in 15-20 minutes by car. There's also lots to do in nearby towns of Amherst, Easthampton, Greenfield, Springfield, Holyoke, etc. in case you want to drive a bit further. Right off Interstate 91, so very easy to get on the highway when necessary (91 connects to 90 in Springfield which will take you to Boston/New York).... Read 84 reviews

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• Population 29,379

• Suburb of Springfield, MA

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  Rating 4.33 out of 5  3 reviews

Current Resident: Amherst a vibrant college town with UMass and Amherst College. It is very busy during the semesters and quiets down during the holidays and summer. There are many apartment building to select from, however most are occupied by students.There are many restaurants and shops located in the town and its convenient location makes it easy to drive to Boston, New York, and Connecticut.... Read 3 reviews

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• Population 5,106

• Suburb of Springfield, MA

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  Rating 3.54 out of 5  24 reviews

Current Resident: My family and I have lived here for 3.5 years, I am a college student. Compared to other places, North Amherst is in the top three places I have ever lived. The community standard for safety is bar none. The bus system is fantastic. The experience for my child in the local school has been great. There is a great, very inexpensive grocery store you must try if ever here, the name is Aldi. Year round, the town has community events; for example, this past weekend we went to a Winter Farmers Market. Excellent.... Read 24 reviews

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• Population 6,907

• Suburb of Springfield, MA

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  Rating 3.87 out of 5  55 reviews

Current Resident: Overall South Hadley is a great community with something for everyone. There are quiet, closed off neighborhoods along with other neighborhoods being conveniently located next to the schools, mount holyoke, or the commons. If you ever looking for something to do in South Hadley, you can head over to the commons, by yourself, or with a group of friends to enjoy a variety of great dining options, small shops, and even a movie theater. All of the South Hadley public schools provide a great education that prepares students to graduate and be a successful member in their community.... Read 55 reviews

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• Population 18,051

• Suburb of Springfield, MA

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  Rating 3.35 out of 5  20 reviews

Current Resident: I love Amherst so so much, it is truly the best college town and the best place to attend school. The community is so welcoming and pretty I love it!... Read 20 reviews

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• Population 20,409

• Suburb of Springfield, MA

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  Rating 3.93 out of 5  45 reviews

Current Resident: Belchertown is an average, rural town. Most consider it a bedroom community. The school systems are pretty good. There is not much to do in town but the neighboring town, Amherst MA has plenty going on. The town is not very diverse. Very safe town!... Read 45 reviews

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• Population 15,228

• Suburb of Springfield, MA

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  Rating 4.07 out of 5  71 reviews

Current Resident: Amherst is a friendly and welcoming town. The town center is the best part because of all the shops and fun activities you can do there. Also, the Hampshire mall is a fun place were people can do movies, take their pets, and roller skate!... Read 71 reviews

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• Population 39,814

• Suburb of Springfield, MA

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  Rating 4.19 out of 5  27 reviews

Current Resident: This is a great little town with a pretty tight community. There are shared values of community, volunteering, and helping others.... Read 27 reviews

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• Population 6,158

Current Resident: Williamsburg is a great small town, near small cities but also close to lakes, mountains, and rivers.... Read 1 review

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• Population 2,623

Nearby Resident: Westhampton is a truly beautiful town that offers many resources to visitors. There are many enjoyable things to do here, and an absolutely breathtaking natural landscape, peppered with farms, and a campground as well. It is a very family-oriented town, and I love coming back to Westhampton year-round.... Read 6 reviews

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• Population 1,567

• Suburb of Springfield, MA

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  Rating 3.71 out of 5  7 reviews

Current Resident: Long time resident! Excellent schools and even better green space! Lovely quiet area! Many generations of my family has grown up in or around here and I can see why! Very safe neighborhoods and we are always looking out for each other!... Read 7 reviews

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• Population 6,110

• Suburb of Springfield, MA

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  Rating 3.97 out of 5  32 reviews

Current Resident: Easthampton is overlooked by Mount Tom which displays a gorgeous fall changing colors of the trees. Nashawanuk Pond offers a beautiful relaxing body of water to fish, kayak, canoe, and pedal boat in. Easthampton also has a bike path connecting to the Northampton bike trail that is very well cared for and pretty to walk, run, roller blade, or bike on.... Read 32 reviews

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• Population 16,120

Current Resident: I like the fact that it is a small town in the country. There are not a ton of people. The area is beautiful. The closest grocery store is about 35 minutes away. There is a bank and small local shops where you can get necessities. The commute to work depends on where you work. A drive to Northampton could be 30 minutes, yet a drive to Springfield could be an hour. There are not many job opportunities in the town itself with the exception of couple of restaurants, local shops, the bank, and a community health center. There are a ton of places to go hiking, kayaking, and other outdoor activities.... Read 6 reviews

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• Population 2,205

• Town in Massachusetts

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  Rating 3.13 out of 5  24 reviews

Current Resident: I had heard nothing but negative things about Ware my entire young-adult life, but once I got a job here I moved into town b/c the 36 minute back-roads commute had gotten very old fast, AND the rent here is the cheapest I've ever seen in MA.. You can't complain about that. I've been working & living here for almost a year now & i really don't see what's so bad about it. It is an old mill town, so it's to be expected that the downtown looks pretty depressive & lifeless. You can't come here expecting it to be some hip college town. The people so far have been much friendlier than I'd expected, & since I don't hang around where the drugs are, I really haven't noticed much involving all the bad things people talked down about. If you aren't expecting it to be some amazing modern place, you won't be disappointed at all. It's far from everything, but I actually prefer that.... Read 24 reviews

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• Population 10,067

• Town in Massachusetts

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  Rating 3.67 out of 5  3 reviews

Current Resident: Goshen is a lovely little town but it is definitely out in the hills. It's perfect for people who want to be out in nature but it is a bit of a drive to get anywhere (think grocery stores, shopping centers, schools, etc.)... Read 3 reviews

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• Population 870

• Town in Massachusetts

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  Rating 5 out of 5  2 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived in Cummington my whole entire life. It is a small town of about 800 people, but it is a wonderful place to grow up in. There is an amazing community that surrounds the town. The scenery is a wonderful view, there are places to swim, hike and take in nature. There´s one small grocery store, named the Old-Creamery Co-op and it has amazing food and great people. Also, the amazing thing about the Old Creamery Co-op is that they sell local artists' work and support small businesses within the hill towns. Cummington is a place you immediately fall in love with as soon as you see the ´Entering Cummington´ sign. Also during the summer, the town of Cummington hosts the Cummington fair welcoming everyone in Massachusetts to it. Great games, food, and rides welcome people of all ages. Cummington is a wonderful town and everyone should experience.... Read 2 reviews

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• Population 975

• Town in Massachusetts

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  Rating 4 out of 5  2 reviews

Current Resident: Hatfield is and will always be my home. I have lived here my whole life and have some of my best memories here. I have grown up here, and have gotten to watch my siblings grow up here too. I love the small town feel, where everybody knows everybody. With just 3,000 people, if you're looking for a small and tight knit community, Hatfield is where you need to be. I also always feel safe here and never feel scared, because Hatfield ensures safety to all who reside here.... Read 2 reviews

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• Population 3,315

• Town in Massachusetts

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  Rating 3.5 out of 5  4 reviews

Current Resident: Worthington is the quintessential American small town. Everyone knows everyone, the neighbors are so friendly, there's almost no crime, and there are tons of community activities. I have lived here as long as I can remember, and so far, I haven't gotten tired of it. You would think it gets boring, but it really doesn't -- some new, important event always happens just when you're thinking it won't.... Read 4 reviews

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• Population 1,048

• Town in Massachusetts

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  Rating 2.67 out of 5  3 reviews

Former Resident: I lived there for years. The town is beautiful, has a fantastic police and fire force. Has a post office and library, and a wonderful elementary school with caring and loyal teachers. The perfect place to live if you want to have a community and a home.... Read 3 reviews

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• Population 1,087

• Town in Massachusetts

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• Population 676

• Town in Massachusetts

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• Population 342