3 Massachusetts Cities Rank In The Top 50 For Best Quality Of Life, And One Of Them Is #1!

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According to a recent ranking by LawnStarter, three Massachusetts cities - Newton, Cambridge, and Somerville - have been named among the top 50 cities in the U.S. for best quality of life. Newton, MA was ranked the #1 city in the country for quality of life, with Cambridge coming in at #16 and Somerville just outside the top 20 at #24. The ranking looked at factors like food security, unemployment, life expectancy, and environmental quality across 500 cities.

Why it matters

This ranking highlights the strong quality of life that Massachusetts cities are able to offer residents, with factors like low unemployment, good public health, and environmental sustainability contributing to high livability. As cities across the country compete to attract new residents and businesses, these quality of life rankings can be an important factor in where people choose to live and work.

The details

LawnStarter analyzed 500 U.S. cities across 16 different metrics to determine the top cities for quality of life. The top-ranked city was Newton, MA, followed by other Massachusetts cities Cambridge at #16 and Somerville at #24. Other top-ranked cities included Woodbury, MN; Plymouth, MN; and Pleasanton, CA. The ranking looked at factors like food security, unemployment rates, life expectancy, air and water quality, and mental and physical health.

• The ranking was issued by LawnStarter in February 2026.