2023 Best Places to Raise a Family in Massachusetts

• Suburb of Boston, MA

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  Rating 4.26 out of 5  19 reviews

Current Resident: I believe the school system is great! I have had very few teachers I did not like which is amazing for a public school. Although, the ratings have gone down and Wayland Public Schools is now not ranked top 10 in the state, when it was previously top 5 I believe. It is a predominantly white town although there is around 30% asians and 5% black students in my high school. Very easy access to 95 and 90 which makes the commute to activities easy. It is expensive but at the cost of good schools. Additionally, as a student there are always places looking for staff and also interns.... Read 19 reviews

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• Population 13,859

• Neighborhood in Newton, MA

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  Rating 4.13 out of 5  23 reviews

Current Resident: I like all there is to do here. There’s plenty of food places, stores, and schools in the area. It’s very safe, there’s never a day where I’m feeling unsafe or scared to be out and about. Traffic usually isn’t too bad, unless it’s right after school.... Read 23 reviews

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• Population 17,619

• Neighborhood in Newton, MA

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  Rating 3.88 out of 5  16 reviews

Niche User: My town has been said to be one of the safest in the United States and even walking the streets in the dead of night I feel completely safe.... Read 16 reviews

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• Population 5,727

• Neighborhood in Newton, MA

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• Population 2,993

• Suburb of Boston, MA

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• Population 6,966

• Suburb of Boston, MA

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  Rating 3.91 out of 5  11 reviews

Niche User: Living in Southborough Massachusetts over the years has been extremely amazing. It is a small town so it is not over run with large businesses and there are more "mom and pop" ran businesses. Everyone pretty much knows each other so the atmosphere is very friendly. The education is great, schools hire teachers that care about the students and push them everyday to do their best. I moved to this town when I was around eight years old, and if I were able to do it all again from an earlier age if I could. For the past decades Southborough has been a small quiet town and it look like it will stay like this for many more decades to come.... Read 11 reviews

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• Population 2,776

• Neighborhood in Newton, MA

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  Rating 4.86 out of 5  7 reviews

Former Resident: It's a quiet area with a good amount of stores around to get what you need. There's a commuter rail stop nearby and some buses to get to downtown Boston. There a lot of families and seems like a nice suburban area, I'm more of a downtown city dweller so being farther out from the city was my only complaint.... Read 7 reviews

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• Population 4,855

• Neighborhood in Newton, MA

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  Rating 4 out of 5  1 review

Current Resident: NUF is a one of 13 villages of the city of Newton. It is not one of wealthier villages, and has a fair amount of renters living in the area. Overall it is a very safe neighborhood, with an MBTA train stop for greater access to the city of Boston, Cambridge, Brookline and other areas that the MBTA services. On the down side, it is becoming overcrowded as older lower priced homes are being bought, torn down and rebuilt. The population is not that diverse, but more diverse than other villages in Newton.... Read 1 review

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• Population 5,899

• Neighborhood in Newton, MA

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  Rating 4.25 out of 5  8 reviews

Former Resident: I lived in Newton Highlands for a couple of years and found it to be a very calm and safe neighborhood. One of my favorite places is definitely Hemlock Gorge; there is always something new to find there!... Read 8 reviews

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• Population 7,604

• Neighborhood in Newton, MA

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  Rating 4 out of 5  2 reviews

Current Resident: I love it here in Newton Centre. I feel like it is extremely diverse and a thriving city and community. Although it is expensive but I feel like it is a welcoming community.... Read 2 reviews

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• Population 5,554

• Neighborhood in Newton, MA

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  Rating 4.36 out of 5  11 reviews

Current Resident: Nice, safe neighborhood in Newton. Everything is a short walk or quick bike ride, which is a big plus over other Newton neighborhoods where you need to drive everywhere. There's a commuter rail station going to Boston or Worcester in the other direction. The Riverside green line T station into Boston is close too. There is a supermarket, post office, Starbucks, and a bunch of small shops. Auburndale Park has riverfront views and ball fields. There is a paddle boat launch near the Marriot hotel. You can jump on Rt. 128 or Mass Pike highways easily. People are very nice overall. Schools are good. Just a nice place to settle down. Worst thing you can say is that there isn't much open past 9 or 10 o'clock at night and housing is expensive, but you are close to Boston so you have entertainment options and good jobs close by.... Read 11 reviews

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• Population 8,189

• Neighborhood in Newton, MA

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  Rating 4 out of 5  2 reviews

Current Resident: Moved to Oak Hill Park recently and we love it here! The area was designed to be walked with the family through it's many walking paths that surrounds a school/community center with a large field, tennis courts, and playground. Not a lot of car traffic and many families biking the streets. Many of the early ranch style houses are being torn down at a fast clip with larger houses replacing them. There is an MBTA bus (52) that runs through the area and the closest Commuter Rail is only a 5 minute drive. It's a quiet and unique neighborhood built for families with great schools.... Read 2 reviews

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• Population 1,134

• Neighborhood in Newton, MA

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  Rating 4.2 out of 5  20 reviews

Current Resident: Chestnut Hill is a very safe area to live in and a very cute town. The people who live here are very nice and all seem to be upper-middle class. It is a college town so there are lots of young and bright students roaming around. There are lots of stores, malls, and great places to eat.... Read 20 reviews

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• Population 8,805

• Suburb of Boston, MA

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  Rating 4.02 out of 5  103 reviews

Former Resident: It was very safe, green, and the standard of living is very high. The only thing is because of the quaint nature of the town, it is extremely expensive! Many people who used to live there can no longer afford to due to the increase in property. Most people need to have a high paying career and a partner in a similar career to afford property there, and that's not realistic for most people.... Read 103 reviews

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• Population 34,235

• Suburb of Boston, MA

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  Rating 4.11 out of 5  37 reviews

Current Resident: Hopkinton is a very resident based town. It doesn't have many big franchise stores but rather family owned shops that the town adores such as The Spoon and Hop-Yo. All of the schools from elementary to high school are amazingly diverse and ranked highly in Massachusetts Public Schools. One thing that I think could benefit from in traffic during the week days. Around 7:20-8:00 am, the main street of Hopkinton is normally slow because construction or the rush of getting to school or work. Overall, Hopkinton is a lovely town that feels like home. As a girl who moved to the town during the 6th grade, it was very easy to connect with my peers and make friends in this community. Hopkinton also has fun amenities like Whitehall Lake, Sandy Beach, and Hopkinton State Park which are great for rope swinging, swimming, and having picnics, respectively. Hopkinton provides that comforting feel that I crave which is why I love this town and everything it has to offer.... Read 37 reviews

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• Population 18,501

• Neighborhood in Newton, MA

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  Rating 4.33 out of 5  6 reviews

Niche User: For the past few years of living in Newton, Massachusetts, I haven't found issues with too much crime. With that said, I haven't found issues with crime at all.... Read 6 reviews

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• Population 11,085

• Suburb of Boston, MA

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  Rating 4.22 out of 5  54 reviews

Current Resident: Wellesley is a great place to grow up in and raise a family! This town is very family-oriented. It is so safe and there was never a time where I felt like it wasn't. Wellesley does have a reputation for being pretentious, but most of the people are lovely. Some people who come off across as pretentious may not feel that they are. It also gets a reputation for not being welcoming to newcomers which is not true. Yes, there have been families living there for generations, but it is seeing more international diversity and people from other states. I, including many of my friends, have moved here from somewhere else.... Read 54 reviews

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• Population 29,365

• Suburb of Boston, MA

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  Rating 4.12 out of 5  142 reviews

Current Resident: Brookline's public transportation is excellent, and restaurants and businesses are everywhere in the historic districts, making shopping and dining an overall experience. LIVING in Brookline is a little bit more difficult though, as all parking is reserved for shoppers and visitors, so if you plan on being a resident here, plan on renting a separate home for your vehicle (Craigslist). You're a stones-throw from most activities though, and it may be more advantageous for those who can to avoid having a car all together. The only other downside to living in Brookline is the cost of rent. A one bedroom apartment can cost anywhere from $1,800 to $3,000 on the high end, so be prepared! Living here has been a great experience so far, just a little strapping on the wallet.... Read 142 reviews

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• Population 62,620

• Town in Massachusetts

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  Rating 4.29 out of 5  93 reviews

Current Resident: I am a high school student in Newton, MA. At my school, I can tell they are trying to make it an inclusive school environment. They have classes that work to include different marginalized groups like the class Jewish Literature. I think this progressive and inclusive mindset is applied to the rest of Newton. I like that Newton cares and it has fun events in town like Newtonville Day or Harvest Fest. One thing I would like to see change is more affordable housing in Newton. Many of the housing options are very expensive to the average American.... Read 93 reviews

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• Population 88,647

• Neighborhood in Newton, MA

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  Rating 5 out of 5  4 reviews

Current Resident: Super safe and family friendly suburb of Boston. Great commuting options with proximity to highway and green line T. 20 min drive into city if no traffic. Easy access to Newton Centre restaurants and multiple grocery stores. Mostly larger 4 bedroom+ single family residential homes owned by professionals (lawyers, doctors, finance, etc.) and retirees. Diversity and affordability are a bit lacking.... Read 4 reviews

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• Population 5,039

• Suburb of Boston, MA

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  Rating 4.07 out of 5  29 reviews

Current Resident: Overall, Carlisle is a fantastic place to like. It's a small, quiet town with great schools and awesome people. Better yet, Carlisle is only a few minutes drive from larger towns and 30-40 minutes from Boston. Schooling is generally fantastic, however, diversity is a big issue here. I've found myself being the only colored person in the classroom, and every single teacher I've had from grades 1-12 have been white, except for 1. It's also expensive, with high taxes and housing values, but the current real estate market is on fire. Also, there's tons of trails and small roads to go hiking, running, or biking, with a beautiful state park. Carlisle's a safe, tucked away New England town. Things certainly get boring for teens and young adults, as there isn't really much to do, but proximity to larger towns with activities is nice. Overall, its a fantastic place to live.... Read 29 reviews

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• Population 5,215

• Suburb of Boston, MA

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  Rating 3.98 out of 5  54 reviews

Current Resident: Sharon has a lot of wildlife. It has lots of plants and trees. It is a kid friendly place and is very safe. The lake in the center of town makes for a great summer with family. There are weekly bands all summer long. Angel’s restaurant is a town center to see neighbors and friends. Crescent Ridge is amazing! Our kids love to go there. It is an adventure and great ice cream. Recommend grabbing a few bar pizzas out of the freezer as well. Local milk is good. Wards Berry Farm has good food and local farmers veggies and such. Plus each season they bring it for adventures.... Read 54 reviews

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• Population 18,477

• Suburb of Boston, MA

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  Rating 4.25 out of 5  4 reviews

Current Resident: Beautiful suburban town. Very small and caring community with great schools and incredibly low crime rate. It's a bit far from Boston, but if you don't mind the commute, this is a great place to live.... Read 4 reviews

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• Population 5,471

• Neighborhood in Newton, MA

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• Population 2,952

• Neighborhood in Cambridge, MA

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• Population 4,903