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The best place to live in Boston

The best place to live in Boston

Boston Condos for Sale and Apartments for Rent

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The best place to live in Boston

For 2026, Brookline has been ranked as the #1 place to live in Greater Boston, followed closely by Newton. Partnering with the research firm ataJoe, Boston magazine evaluated 141 cities and towns using a “CityScore” system that crunches data across eight key categories: housing, safety, mobility, healthcare, community, education, employment, and entertainment.
 
The Top 10 Places to Live (2026)
 
These communities earned the highest overall scores based on their balance of elite schools, walkable village centers, and proximity to major employment hubs.
 
RankTownOverall ScoreMedian Single-Family Home Price
1Brookline7.69$2,725,000
2Newton7.36$1,910,000
3Wellesley7.19$2,211,303
4Cambridge7.08$2,521,708
5Lexington6.96$1,900,000
6Arlington6.92$1,250,000*
7Andover6.86$1,075,000
8Needham6.85$1,650,000*
9Bedford6.84$1,100,000*
10Belmont6.81*$1,550,000*
*Estimated or partially cited values based on current market trends and nearby rankings.
 
Greater Boston’s Most Affordable Top Towns
 
These five towns were highlighted for maintaining median single-family home prices below $1 million while still earning high marks for quality of life.
 
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Sharon: Median price $860,000. Known for its strong schools and Commuter Rail access.
 
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Swampscott: Median price $892,000. Offers a coastal lifestyle and scenic views.
 
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North Andover: Median price $945,000. Noted for its “classic Merrimack Valley charm” and investment in quality-of-life upgrades.
 
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Acton: Median price $950,000. A “best bang for your buck” option along the Route 2 corridor with excellent schools.
 
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Walpole: Median price $792,500. Recognized for its downtown character and overall value.
 
 
Top Five Towns on the Rise for 2026
 
These communities showed the most significant upward movement in the rankings this year due to dramatic improvements in diversity, education, or infrastructure.
  1. Stow: Jumped in nearly every category, bolstered by the upcoming opening of the Masters Academy International at the former Bose headquarters.
  2. Maynard: Ranked #4 on the “On the Rise” list, jumping 30 spots overall due to gains in housing and education.
  3. (The remaining three towns in this sub-list include communities like Hudson or Beverly, often cited for revitalized downtowns and relative mobility).
Explore the full 2026 Rankings on the Boston Magazine website for a deeper dive into the DataJoe methodology and specific scores for your town.
Are you looking for more details on a specific town’s score or do you want to see how these rankings changed compared to last year?
 
 
The best place to live in Boston is in Dorchester

If you are a first-time homebuyer, the best place to live is in Dorchester.  It has a great quality of life, it’s convenient to public transportation and major highways, it’s close to downtown, and, most importantly, housing prices are low.

Right now, there are 78 condos for sale between $250,000 and $350,000.  (I am only including properties over 800 square feet, with 2 or more bedrooms.)

Typically, these were originally a part of a three-family home that have now been converted into individual condos.  The quality of work is usually high, and for that price you get refinished hardwood floors, one or two baths, granite countertops and stainless steel appliances in the kitchen, plus washer/dryer hookups, huge storage space in the basement, and a back deck, too.

Anyone looking to stay in the city but hoping to buy should consider Dorchester.

 

 

 

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