2020 Best Suburbs to Buy a House in MassachusettsAbout this List

Hopkinton

• Suburb of Boston, MA
• 27 reviews

Current Resident: Reading some of the more recent reviews, it’s clear that a particular individual with egomaniacal tendencies decided to trash the town on their way out. My family moved to Hopkinton recently and we could not be more pleased with our decision. There are ample gorgeous public areas for hiking and outdoor activities, coupled with socioeconomic diversity we did not find in other Boston suburbs we considered. The racial diversity is increasing and our neighbors and the town in general have been incredibly welcoming. Being one of the safest suburbs in the country with a top shelf school system makes this a great town to raise a family. A town is what you make of it!
Read 27 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A-

• 17,178 Population

Cordaville

• Suburb of Boston, MA
• 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

• A+

• A+

• A-

• 2,905 Population

Pelham

• Suburb of Springfield, MA

• A+

• A+

• A-

• 1,306 Population

Longmeadow

• Suburb of Springfield, MA
• 55 reviews

Current Resident: Longmeadow is my chosen hometown. It's very safe here and people are friendly. As a liberal Democrat, I enjoy the very active Democratic town committee and other activist groups. The schools here are excellent and I appreciate that my fellow residents value the importance of education. I even love the Longmeadow News newspaper and enjoy the local access channel. Nightlife isn't important to me and there are enough restaurants in town to enjoy and if I want to go to a cinema, go to other restaurants, Springfield and Enfield are only 5 minutes away
Read 55 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A-

• 15,830 Population

Westford

• Suburb of Boston, MA
• 69 reviews

Current Resident: I like how this is a quiet nice town that is safe and clean. The library is nice and quiet with a huge selection of books to choose from. There are a variety of restaurants like Bamboo, Five Guys, Burton’s Grill, Evviva Cucina, Paul’s Diner, Rangoli Grill, and Seoul Kitchen. Westford also has great summer get-together spots. A big one is Kimball’s Farm. They serve ice cream, food and have multiple fun attractions that are reasonably priced. Some of these attractions include a mini golf course, a driving range, batting cages, bumper cars, and even a zip line.
Read 69 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A-

• 24,194 Population

Boxborough

• Suburb of Boston, MA
• 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

• A+

• A+

• A-

• 5,794 Population

Harvard

• Suburb of Boston, MA
• 11 reviews

Current Resident: It is a close-knit community, but it is very expensive to live in. There isn't too much night activity and shopping options are very limited. The school system is very good and the community is a big benefit.
Read 11 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A-

• 6,570 Population

Hopedale

• Suburb of Boston, MA
• 17 reviews

Current Resident: Hopedale is a quaint, quiet town and is very safe with good schools and a close community feel. Though there are not a lot of amenities, it's not a far drive to decent restaurants, movies etc. I've lived happily in Hopedale for 30 years.
Read 17 Reviews

• A-

• A-

• A-

• 5,951 Population

North Seekonk

• Suburb in Massachusetts
• 2 reviews

Current Resident: I was lucky to grow up in such a great area. Schools systems are the best and you really have the opportunity to know teachers and staff. I'm third generation growing up in our town.
Read 2 Reviews

• B+

• A-

• B+

• 2,534 Population

Wayland

• Suburb of Boston, MA
• 14 reviews

Current Resident: We recently moved to this town and so far everything has been going great!
I have three kids ages from 12, 5 and 2 years old. At first I was expecting a hard "transitions" being that we moved from a great and warm community, Naples Florida.
To families out there that are looking for a town with excellent schools and close-by to Boston, I highly recommended Wayland. We did our research for years- We started looking into Lexington (we got priced out from outrageous homes), Sudbury (little too far for my shopping needs), We looked and looked -really in all these towns you are comparing apple to apple, depends on what you looking for. Wayland fits my agenda- be in town that offers GREAT public schools and homes that you are not on top of each other. I love having my privacy and Wayland has that feel, yet if you want to be involved in the community, there are so many things you can do!
Read 14 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• B+

• 13,720 Population

Stow

• Suburb of Boston, MA
• 14 reviews

Current Resident: Stows small town feel allows for an intimate community bond. There is lots of volunteerism and an overall strong sense of town pride. There are countless apple orchards which make for a great fall. Whether it is volunteering at the library, attending the annual Spring Fest or participating in the Lake Boon Carnival, Stow is a warm and welcoming town.
Read 14 Reviews

• A+

• A

• B+

• 7,098 Population

Bolton

• Suburb of Boston, MA
• 3 reviews

Current Resident: Bolton is a great little town with lots to offer. If you want shopping malls and office buildings then stay away. We dont have them. We have a beautiful town common, lots of nature trails and conservation lands and many farms. Every resident takes pride in our town and we work together to make it the best place to live.
Read 3 Reviews

• A

• A

• B+

• 5,236 Population

Sudbury

• Suburb of Boston, MA
• 15 reviews

Current Resident: Sudbury is a safe, beautiful, leafy community 18 miles west of Boston. The town prides itself on its colonial heritage and highly rated public schools. There’s no real public transport in town so a car is a must for commuting. However there are 2 commuter rail stations north (Lincoln) and south (Framinhgam). Sudbury has 3 grocery stores including a new Whole Foods. There are several restaurants in town and all are good. Good proximity to major shopping (Natick Mall, Shoppers World and Rt 9 are 15-20 min drive) but not in your backyard. Strong parent community with high expectations for students. Lots of school-based as well as private club sports options.
Read 15 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• B+

• 18,940 Population

Sharon

• Suburb of Boston, MA
• 38 reviews

Current Resident: Sharon is a wonderful community, rich and diverse in cultures and ethnicities. The nature in town is beautiful; Lake Massapoag is a wonderful, local and homey place to swim in the summer and beautiful to walk by in the winter. Borderland State Park is in the next town over and is a great place to go on hikes. Sharon itself is also in a great location, accessible to both Boston and Providence easily by the commuter rail which has a station in the center of Sharon.
Read 38 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• B+

• 18,400 Population

Wilbraham

• Suburb of Springfield, MA
• 40 reviews

Former Resident: My family moved here when I was very young b/c of how great the education is said to be in this town. I cannot deny that the schools were very good, but the environment was that of a typical affluent town, e.g. the other children are just as uppity as their parents & due to that I wasn't very happy here as a kid. Now that I have been away from this town for 13 yrs., I find myself reminiscing in a positive way, b/c it is a very safe & great place to raise your family, & I did enjoy my childhood. It's just very expensive, & many of the residents act like it's the Beverly Hills of MA which is hard to deal with. There is [not-surprisingly] absolutely no diversity which sucked too.
Read 40 Reviews

• A

• A-

• B+

• 14,604 Population

Sherborn

• Suburb of Boston, MA
• 30 reviews

Current Resident: I love living in Sherborn Massachusetts, it was an awesome place to grow up! The small town makes for a tight-knit, inclusive community. The cute New England Town only has a few places, but that is all Sherborn needs to continue to prosper. The town pond, Farm Pond, is perfect for the summer. You can do swim lessons or sailing lessons and it is a great place to cool off! The Dover-Sherborn school system is one of the best in Massachusetts and it is a great place for kids to prosper!
Read 30 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• B+

• 4,301 Population

Norfolk

• Suburb of Boston, MA
• 31 reviews

Current Resident: Norfolk is a very small town and a very tight knit community. As a teenager preparing to depart for college, I can confidently say that Norfolk was a great place to grow up. The public school system here is phenomenal and has allowed me to cultivate some great memories and benefits. The entire town is very supportive of the children as can be seen at the town sporting events. There has never been any real crime in my time here other than minor incidents. Being a small town there is very little to know night life, meaning that it is a very family friendly environment. There is not much diversity in the town, with a majority of Caucasian families living here. There are not many businesses in the town also other than some small, usually independently owned businesses. In conclusion, I highly recommend the town of Norfolk to any families looking for a wonderful environment for their children.
Read 31 Reviews

• A

• A-

• B+

• 11,748 Population

Chelmsford

• Suburb of Boston, MA
• 97 reviews

Current Resident: I love Chelmsford because of the family feel. I like how much space there is compared to the city. I love the people and how genuinely nice they are. Chelmsford offers a ton of things to do for kids and adults alike. I gave 4 stars because Chelmsford doesn’t have much going on for young adults (early 20’s). Also, Chelmsford doesn’t have very good restaurants. Other than that, its a beautiful place to live!
Read 97 Reviews

• A

• A

• B+

• 35,086 Population

Dover

• Suburb of Boston, MA
• 13 reviews

Current Resident: Dover has been my home for 7 years now and I have learned to love the level of privacy and security that comes from being a suburb outside a main city. While being less than a 45 min drive from Boston, I am able to have access to the urban scene but am not subject to the high population density or strain on resources. Dover has a great community within the town, as well as a highly performing school system. Given the space and immense amount of nature throughout the town, I would like to see more initiatives being put forward to utilise the outdoors more; I am very supportive of the rail trail project and look forwards to taking more advantage of the nature we are privileged to have surround us.
Read 13 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• B+

• 5,987 Population

Norwell

• Suburb of Boston, MA
• 18 reviews

Former Resident: I lived in Norwell from the age of 4 until I left college. It was a wonderful town to grow up in. The schools were excellent and you had the feel of an almost rural town while being minutes from the highway and only a half hour from Boston. The primary downside is the affordability. While I would like nothing more than to raise my family there, financially I am not in a position to purchase a home there.
Read 18 Reviews

• A+

• A

• B+

• 10,987 Population

Boxford

• Suburb of Boston, MA
• 16 reviews

Current Resident: Very nice small town. Large geographically but very isolated and with a small town feel. Excellent public and private schools nearby. One of the safest towns in Massachusetts. Very little ever happens here.
Read 16 Reviews

• A

• A

• B+

• 8,270 Population

Ashland

• Suburb of Boston, MA
• 46 reviews

Current Resident: I love this town! There are so many things to do like go on walks in the Ashland State Park, go to playgrounds, go out to eat at local restaurants and so many more. We have a dance studio, schools, libraries, sports facilities, and outside of school tutoring centers. The people in Ashland are so kind and they love to help others. I am so glad to have grown up in this community.
Read 46 Reviews

• A+

• A

• B+

• 17,576 Population

Cochituate

• Suburb of Boston, MA

• A+

• A+

• B+

• 6,942 Population

Belchertown

• Suburb of Springfield, MA
• 43 reviews

Current Resident: It's a classic suburban, family-friendly town. I've lived here my whole life and the community is amazing. Our schools are also very good with many students coming from nearby towns just for the top-notch education.
Read 43 Reviews

• A-

• B

• B+

• 14,967 Population

Franklin

• Suburb of Boston, MA
• 83 reviews

Current Resident: Great schools! Check out the scores/rankings as compared to the more 'affluent' towns. Ideally located equidistant from Providence, Boston and Worcester. Has two commuter rail stations. Great downtown area with a burgeoning arts/music scene. Small town feel, bigger town conveniences.
Read 83 Reviews

• A

• A

• B+

• 33,022 Population