11 Best Places To Call Home In Massachusetts In 2025

Moving to the Bay State in 2025 doesn’t have to mean paying the high prices you’ll find in Boston. Massachusetts has a lot to offer, and if you know where to look, you can make a home for yourself that won’t cost an arm and a leg. While the median house listing price for Massachusetts is around $725K, below are eleven welcoming communities where typical home values sit well below this benchmark. From the largest contemporary art museum in the country to wildlife sanctuaries, historic landmarks, award-winning theater, and amusement parks, there is truly something for everyone.

Pittsfield

With a population of about 44,000 people, Pittsfield is known as the largest city in the Berkshires and continues to serve as a hub for both outdoor recreation and cultural attractions. The Lichtenstein Center for the Arts is a city-owned, multi-disciplinary arts center that showcases local and regional exhibits, classes, performances, readers, and events.

Theater enthusiasts can also attend innovative live shows at the Barrington Stage Company, which has premiered several productions that later moved to Broadway. Those who prefer outdoor adventure can spend weekends in Pittsfield State Forest, where more than 30 miles of trails provide access to waterfalls, campgrounds, and panoramic mountain views.

Fitchburg

Fitchburg has developed a reputation for its combination of cultural life and access to nature. The Fitchburg Art Museum, founded in 1925, features a diverse permanent collection that ranges from African art to modern American painting, along with traveling exhibitions.

Locals and visitors alike often gather at Coggshall Park, where a stone gazebo overlooks Mirror Lake and wooded trails wind through the grounds. Those seeking more rugged exploration can find it in Leominster State Forest, where hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, and swimming at Crow Hill Pond provide year-round opportunities for recreation.

Leominster

Leominster, famously the birthplace of John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed, continues to celebrate his legacy through outdoor spaces and festivals. Visitors and newcomers can head to Johnny Appleseed Lane to view the Johnny Appleseed Monument commemorating his place of birth.

Meanwhile, the Doyle Community Park and Center offers landscaped gardens, woodlands, and wildlife observation areas that provide educational programs for all ages. For a deeper look into the town's history, The Drake House is an unassuming spot with a rich heritage. Home of abolitionists Frances and Jonathan Drake, this location was an important stop on the Underground Railroad that helped countless enslaved people escape to freedom.

Gardner

Gardner has carried the nickname "Chair City" for over a century because of its economic history of chair production, but today the community offers more than its industrial past. Dunn State Park is a local favorite, with its sandy swimming beach, shaded picnic areas, and wooded hiking trails that circle a peaceful pond.

The Gardner Museum, located in a nineteenth-century mansion, preserves the city’s history with furniture collections, artwork, and rotating exhibitions, while outdoor enthusiasts often head toward Wachusett Mountain, a short 15-minute drive away, for skiing in winter and challenging hiking trails in summer.

Greenfield

Greenfield serves as a gateway to the scenic Deerfield River Valley and continues to attract both residents and visitors with its mix of cultural sites and outdoor experiences. The Poet’s Seat Tower, a sandstone lookout built in 1912, offers near-360 degree views of the breathtaking Pioneer Valley and surrounding hills, especially popular when autumn foliage is peaking.

Cyclists enjoy riding portions of the Franklin County Bikeway, which is comprised of approximately 240 miles of bike routes that cover the entire county, while families often visit the nearby Great Falls Discovery Center, which highlights the region’s ecological and industrial history at the site of a preserved historic paper mill.

Holyoke

Holyoke combines a legacy of nineteenth-century canals and mills with natural landmarks that continue to draw visitors. At Holyoke Heritage State Park, pathways and exhibits tell the story of the city’s industrial history. There is also a children's museum on site.

Sports enthusiasts can explore the International Volleyball Hall of Fame, which honors athletes from around the world, as well as coaches, officials, and leaders who have had an impact on the game. Hikers ascend to Mount Tom State Reservation, where dramatic cliffs overlook the Pioneer Valley and rare species find refuge. Meanwhile, the Wistariahurst Museum, once a silk magnate’s mansion, provides cultural programs and elegant gardens open to the public.

Westfield

Westfield is part of the Pioneer Valley’s cultural and recreational fabric and continues to provide ample opportunities for outdoor activity. Stanley Park, established by philanthropist Frank Stanley Beveridge, contains botanical gardens, duck ponds, and wooded trails, making it a favorite community gathering space.

Nearby, Hampton Ponds State Park offers swimming, boating, and fishing, with picnic sites perfect for summer afternoons. The presence of Westfield State University enriches the town through student theater performances, concerts, and sporting events featuring the Westfield Owls that are open to the public throughout the year.

Attleboro

Attleboro has maintained its role as a commuter-friendly city between Boston and Providence, while building its own attractions and allure. The Capron Park Zoo provides families with interactive animal exhibits and educational programs. The zoo is home to nearly 50 different species of animals, including lions, leopards, sloths, and even a pink-toed tarantula. Art lovers can head to the Attleboro Arts Museum, which hosts inspiring exhibitions showcasing contemporary and historic art, as well as workshops and community events throughout the year.

For a different kind of inspiration, The National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette has been a spiritual destination since 1953, especially known for its elaborate holiday light displays. Nature enthusiasts can also explore the Oak Knoll Wildlife Sanctuary, where boardwalks wind through forests and wetlands, offering refuge for animals and opportunities for wildlife spotting.

Wareham

The town of Wareham has served as a coastal community at the head of Buzzards Bay, providing many of the benefits of Cape Cod without the headache of the heavier summer traffic. The town's Onset Beach offers a gentle surf and a lively town green with seasonal festivals and concerts. Residents and visitors can also take part in programs at the Onset Bay Center, which provides sailing, paddling, and environmental education, while baseball fans gather each summer to watch the Wareham Gatemen, part of the Cape Cod Baseball League, a tradition that has showcased future professional players.

Easthampton

Easthampton has developed into a community known for its outdoor access and arts scene. Residents enjoy paddling on Nashawannuck Pond, where boardwalks and benches provide places to relax. Cyclists and walkers follow the Manhan Rail Trail, a paved path that connects Southhampton to Northampton and highlights the region’s natural beauty.

Or, combine the outdoors with the arts scene by visiting Park Hill Orchard. This working fruit farm tends 95 different varieties of fruits like apples, blackberries, peaches, nectarines, cherries, and pears. It also hosts 'Art in the Orchard', a half-mile long walking sculpture trail that winds through the property showcasing unique artistic expressions.

North Adams

North Adams has transformed from a mill town into a cultural destination. The Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art occupies a sprawling nineteenth-century factory complex and presents large-scale contemporary art installations, concerts, and film screenings. It is the largest contemporary art museum in the country, and one of the biggest in the world. Visitors seeking natural creations can explore Natural Bridge State Park, where a unique marble arch made of 550-million-year-old bedrock spans a brook and demonstrates the geological history of the region.

For a taste of human history, Western Gateway Heritage State Park educates visitors by interpreting the engineering challenges of the nearby Hoosac Tunnel, once considered one of the great feats of American railroading. With a median state listing price of just around $260K, North Adams is also the most affordable town on this list, further adding to its wide appeal.

Agawam

Agawam has provided a mix of suburban living and access to outdoor spaces along the Connecticut River, with median house listing prices of about half the state average. Robinson State Park contains over 800 acres of forest and trails, attracting hikers, cyclists, and those interested in spotting rare dragonflies and turtles.

Families and outdoor enthusiasts can also visit the Connecticut River Walk and Bikeway, which connects neighboring communities and provides riverfront views. Those looking for something to scratch their 'thrill-seeker' itch should pay a visit to Six Flags New England. The ever-popular amusement park offers unlimited access to seasons pass holders providing exciting family entertainment like roller coasters, water park rides, live entertainment, and more.

Massachusetts offers more than metropolitan living. Each of these eleven towns boasts small populations, a typical home value below the state median, and an array of recreational, cultural, and educational opportunities. The combination of affordability and quality of life has made them appealing places to call home, whether you are seeking access to the Berkshires, the Connecticut River Valley, or the South Coast.