These Massachusetts Cities Made a Surprising ‘Best Places’ List

When it comes to choosing which state to live in, year after year studies rank Massachusetts extremely high.

In fact, for several years in a row, WalletHub has called Massachusetts the "best state to live in" citing top healthcare, strong schools and low crime rates. However, the study didn't break down where to live within the Commonwealth.

Now another lifestyle website, Livability.com, is listing what they call the Top 25 Places to Live in the Northeast — and once again Massachusetts ranks pretty high.

Massachusetts Cities That Made the List

Throughout Livability's new ranking, Massachusetts towns appear four times, more than any other New England state on the list. Lowell, Fall River, Lynn and Worcester were all ranked for their affordability, quality of life, demographics, economy, and size.

READ MORE: Massachusetts Ranks Top 10 For Quality of Life in the U.S.

While the towns listed in this new ranking might surprise some, it seems Livability's focus is on small to mid-sized cities and towns that can offer residents a higher quality of life than their larger metropolitan neighbors.

So where do these Massachusetts cities rank among the entire Northeast?

Why Lowell Ranked #3 Overall

Lowell comes out on top for the Bay State, ranking third overall on Livability's list. It cited the Lowell's numerous modern mill apartments, the Lowell National Historic Park's trails along canal walkways, the multiple museums throughout town plus two large college campuses.

What Helped Fall River, Lynn and Worcester Stand Out

Other Massachusetts cities on the list include Fall River at #12 for its "Old World charm with a modern urban atmosphere", Lynn at #14 with its stunning 2,200 acre Lynn Woods Reservation and Worcester at #15 because of the eight colleges and universities, numerous career opportunities, 60 parks and four minor-league sports teams.

READ MORE: Former Red Sox Bronson Arroyo Visits Worcester's Polar Park

Honestly, these may not be the cities most Massachusetts residents would choose, but Livability's list highlights enough positives to make some rethink relocating.

How New England Compares in Livability Rankings

Overall, Livability listed Clifton, New Jersey the best place to live in the Northeast, mainly due to the proximity to New York City. Warwick and Cranston, Rhode Island ranked #2 and #4 respectively.