Chelmsford, Best Kept Secret Of Middlesex County: Money Magazine

CHELMSFORD, MA — What makes a town or a city the best place to live? When it comes to Massachusetts it's often proximity to Boston and colleges, public transportation and an excellent school system — at least according to Money Magazine. This year, the magazine gave bragging rights to Chelmsford as the top place to live in the Commonwealth. Chelmsford also ranked the No.14 town in which to live in the country.

"Chelmsford may be the best kept secret of Middlesex County" reads Money Magazine's list.

The ranking noted the town was "only" 30 miles from downtown Boston and was more accessible than its neighbor Concord. "Where the median home price in Concord is more than $800,000, Chelmsford’s is a more modest $342,000," the listing said.

Money Magazine also gave a shout out to Chelmsford High, which had students score higher than the state and national average in math and reading proficiency.

The magazine noted the colonial-style homes and other historic buildings, including the First Parish Unitarian Church, the farmers market on Town Common and Maxwell’s Winter Farmers Market on Maple Road.

Newton has a population of about 36,000 and a median household Income of $109,000. The median home listing price: $342,000.

The report included only cities with populations of 25,000 or more, but excluded communities with more than double the national crime risk, less than 85 percent of their state's median household income or lack of diversity.

According to the rankings, these are the 15 Best Places To Live In America:

1. Evans, Georgia,
2. Parker, Colorado,
3. Meridian, Idaho,
4. Roxwall, Texas,
5. Columbia, Maryland,
6. Westfield, Indiana,
7. Syracuse, Utah,
8. Franklin, Tennessee,
9. Woodbury, Minnesota,
10. Morrisville, North Carolina,
11. Ashburn, Virginia,
12. South Windsor, Connecticut,
13. St. Peters, Missouri,
14. Chelmsford, Massachusetts,
15. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.

See top 50 list here.

The rankings were released this week and compiled by looking at more than 135,000 data points including economic health, cost of living, diversity, public education, crime and income, according to Money Magazine. Reporters also researched each community, interviewed residents and checked out neighborhoods, they said.

Last year's top Massachusetts spot was Newton. But this year there was only one other Massachusetts to get a mention on Money Magazine's Best Places To Live In 2020. It wasn't Newton.