The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Massachusetts

Ranked on The Town Files lifestyle rankings among 181 towns of 2,500–10,000 people in Massachusetts. #1 is Dover, MA.

1. 25Topsfield, Massachusetts

   Better for families than 91% of Massachusetts towns

   2,864 people · Essex County · median home $836,600 · income $191,146 · Jan low 20°F · 48 in snow

2. 24Topsfield, Massachusetts

   Better for families than 91% of Massachusetts towns

   6,569 people · Essex County · median home $853,400 · income $195,718 · Jan low 20°F · 48 in snow

3. 23Stow, Massachusetts

   Better for families than 91% of Massachusetts towns

   7,174 people · Middlesex County · median home $729,600 · income $185,809 · Jan low 15°F · 54 in snow

4. 22Sutton, Massachusetts

   Better for families than 91% of Massachusetts towns

   9,357 people · Worcester County · median home $523,100 · income $147,125 · Jan low 15°F · 48 in snow

5. 21Rochester, Massachusetts

   Better for families than 92% of Massachusetts towns

   5,717 people · Plymouth County · median home $599,100 · income $120,273 · Jan low 20°F · 31 in snow

6. 20Hamilton, Massachusetts

   Better for families than 92% of Massachusetts towns

   7,561 people · Essex County · median home $720,000 · income $129,833 · Jan low 18°F · 51 in snow

7. 19West Newbury, Massachusetts

   Better for families than 93% of Massachusetts towns

   4,500 people · Essex County · median home $808,200 · income $179,500 · Jan low 17°F · 62 in snow

8. 18Cochituate, Massachusetts

   Better for families than 93% of Massachusetts towns

   6,927 people · Middlesex County · median home $906,300 · income $192,361 · Jan low 18°F · 46 in snow

9. 17Medfield, Massachusetts

   Better for families than 94% of Massachusetts towns

   6,939 people · Norfolk County · median home $815,300 · income $218,946 · Jan low 20°F · 56 in snow

10. 16Littleton Common, Massachusetts

    Better for families than 95% of Massachusetts towns

    3,065 people · Middlesex County · median home $558,200 · income $135,074 · Jan low 15°F · 60 in snow

11. 15Mendon, Massachusetts

    Better for families than 95% of Massachusetts towns

    6,228 people · Worcester County · median home $616,000 · income $132,256 · Jan low 17°F · 48 in snow

12. 14Groveland, Massachusetts

    Better for families than 95% of Massachusetts towns

    6,752 people · Essex County · median home $610,900 · income $141,487 · Jan low 17°F · 67 in snow

13. 13Pinehurst, Massachusetts

    Better for families than 95% of Massachusetts towns

    7,368 people · Middlesex County · median home $623,800 · income $146,250 · Jan low 18°F · 59 in snow

14. 12Plympton, Massachusetts

    Better for families than 97% of Massachusetts towns

    2,930 people · Plymouth County · median home $517,800 · income $126,736 · Jan low 20°F · 38 in snow

15. 11North Scituate, Massachusetts

    Better for families than 97% of Massachusetts towns

    5,414 people · Plymouth County · median home $824,800 · income $140,329 · Jan low 22°F · 51 in snow

16. 10Cordaville, Massachusetts

    Better for families than 98% of Massachusetts towns

    2,703 people · Worcester County · median home $765,900 · income $165,375 · Jan low 18°F · 48 in snow

17. 9South Duxbury, Massachusetts

    Better for families than 98% of Massachusetts towns

    3,463 people · Plymouth County · median home $982,000 · income $212,734 · Jan low 22°F · 38 in snow

18. 8Princeton, Massachusetts

    Better for families than 98% of Massachusetts towns

    3,495 people · Worcester County · median home $520,500 · income $158,750 · Jan low 13°F · 60 in snow

19. 7Sherborn, Massachusetts

    Better for families than 98% of Massachusetts towns

    4,401 people · Middlesex County · median home $1,026,800 · income $250,001 · Jan low 18°F · 46 in snow

20. 6Dunstable, Massachusetts

    Better for families than 99% of Massachusetts towns

    3,358 people · Middlesex County · median home $674,000 · income $208,512 · Jan low 14°F · 53 in snow

21. 5Bolton, Massachusetts

    Better for families than 99% of Massachusetts towns

    5,665 people · Worcester County · median home $796,000 · income $205,449 · Jan low 15°F · 57 in snow

22. 4Berkley, Massachusetts

    Better for families than 99% of Massachusetts towns

    6,764 people · Bristol County · median home $511,200 · income $144,205 · Jan low 19°F · 26 in snow

23. 3Boxford, Massachusetts

    Better for families than 99% of Massachusetts towns

    8,203 people · Essex County · median home $907,000 · income $200,871 · Jan low 17°F · 67 in snow

24. 2Carlisle, Massachusetts

    Better for families than 100% of Massachusetts towns

    5,237 people · Middlesex County · median home $1,103,900 · income $250,001 · Jan low 18°F · 59 in snow

25. 1Dover, Massachusetts

    Better for families than 100% of Massachusetts towns

    5,923 people · Norfolk County · median home $1,340,300 · income $250,001 · Jan low 18°F · 46 in snow

Price vs ranking

More Massachusetts rankings

• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Massachusetts
• The 25 Quietest Small Towns in Massachusetts
• The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Massachusetts
• The 19 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Massachusetts
• 25 Small Towns in Massachusetts With the Cheapest Homes
• 25 Small Towns in Massachusetts With the Mildest Winters
• The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in Massachusetts
• 25 Small Towns in Massachusetts With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Massachusetts
• The 24 Best Affordable Small Towns for Remote Workers in Massachusetts

Same ranking, other places

• The 50 Best Small Towns for Families in America
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Pennsylvania
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in New York
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Michigan
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Texas
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in California
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in New Jersey
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Florida
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Wisconsin
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Ohio