Massachusetts may not have 365 days of sunshine a year or consistently warm temperatures, but it does have some great places to retire.
There are currently 1.2 million Massachusetts residents 65 and older enjoying all that the Bay State offers while trying to figure out where you should spend your golden years. We’ve created a list of the best places to retire in Massachusetts for 2024.
But what about Massachusetts makes people want to spend their golden years here? It is the Boston Baked Beans, Worcester’s world-famous chowder, and the fact that Massachusetts’ is one of the best states in America.
We consulted the latest Census data for places in Massachachusetts with at least 10,000 residents and this left us with 69 cities. We analyzed important factors like the cost of living, crime, and how close a place is to an international airport.
So, want to know where you, too, can be part of Massachusetts cool ‘silver’ crowd? Keep reading.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Massachusetts For 2024
What is the best place to retire in Massachusetts? The best place to retire in Massachusetts is Hull.
And if you want to learn more about the rest of Massachusetts’ best places to retire, look below.
Why did Hull take the top spot? And where are Boston and Worcester?
For more Massachusetts state reading:
- Best Places To Live In Massachusetts
- Cheapest Places To Live In Massachusetts
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Massachusetts
- Best Places To Retire In America
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Massachusetts For 2024
/10
Population: 10,116
Median Income: $128,022
Median Home Price: $635,254
Median Rent: $1,728
Distance to Closest Airport: 6 miles
More on Hull: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 15,789
Median Income: $138,218
Median Home Price: $469,600
Median Rent: $1,760
Distance to Closest Airport: 9 miles
More on Longmeadow: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 28,450
Median Income: $170,531
Median Home Price: $951,376
Median Rent: $1,454
Distance to Closest Airport: 9 miles
More on Milton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 18,356
Median Income: $127,306
Median Home Price: $820,037
Median Rent: $1,426
Distance to Closest Airport: 31 miles
More on Newburyport: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 29,830
Median Income: $84,465
Median Home Price: $684,078
Median Rent: $1,390
Distance to Closest Airport: 24 miles
More on Gloucester: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 27,054
Median Income: $125,592
Median Home Price: $731,515
Median Rent: $1,742
Distance to Closest Airport: 10 miles
More on Wakefield: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 25,415
Median Income: $154,662
Median Home Price: $807,065
Median Rent: $1,650
Distance to Closest Airport: 12 miles
More on Reading: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 20,350
Median Income: $164,104
Median Home Price: $947,382
Median Rent: $1,749
Distance to Closest Airport: 12 miles
More on Marblehead: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 29,477
Median Income: $126,305
Median Home Price: $819,404
Median Rent: $1,837
Distance to Closest Airport: 6 miles
More on Melrose: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 21,090
Median Income: $56,974
Median Home Price: $331,761
Median Rent: $1,041
Distance to Closest Airport: 52 miles
More on Gardner: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Bay State for 2024
To create our ranking of the best places in Massachusetts to retire, we used Saturday Night Science. We analyzed Census data to find all places in the Bay State — 245 cities and towns.
We then narrowed it down to places with at least 10,000 people that weren’t townships. This left us with 69 places from across the state.
For these 69, we looked at the following criteria taken from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights:
- Low cost of living as measured by rent
- Low crime
- Things to do (Museums, Colleges, and Libraries in town)
- Nice weather
- Distance to the closest international airport
- Other retirees (High median age)
We then ranked each of these places for each criterion from one to 69, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Hull, with the lowest average rank, was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second career.
The report has been updated for 2024. This list reflects our tenth time ranking the best places to retire in Massachusetts.
Summary: Maybe You’re Not Ready To Retire In Massachusetts Yet…
So there you have it, the best place to retire in Massachusetts goes to Hull.
The best places to retire in Massachusetts are Hull, Longmeadow, Milton, Newburyport, Gloucester, Wakefield, Reading, Marblehead, Melrose, and Gardner.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Lawrence
- Brockton
- Nantucket
For more Massachusetts reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In Massachusetts
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hull | 10,116 | $128,022 | $635,254 | $1,728 |
| 2 | Longmeadow | 15,789 | $138,218 | $469,600 | $1,760 |
| 3 | Milton | 28,450 | $170,531 | $951,376 | $1,454 |
| 4 | Newburyport | 18,356 | $127,306 | $820,037 | $1,426 |
| 5 | Gloucester | 29,830 | $84,465 | $684,078 | $1,390 |
| 6 | Wakefield | 27,054 | $125,592 | $731,515 | $1,742 |
| 7 | Reading | 25,415 | $154,662 | $807,065 | $1,650 |
| 8 | Marblehead | 20,350 | $164,104 | $947,382 | $1,749 |
| 9 | Melrose | 29,477 | $126,305 | $819,404 | $1,837 |
| 10 | Gardner | 21,090 | $56,974 | $331,761 | $1,041 |