“After I found my kha-kis, I did a dunks run. Then I had to bang a uey after I passed up Market Basket, but finally got a carriage and picked up some Hoodsies, tonic, fluff, and some wicked good chowdah for later…”
If you understood the previous comments to mean that this person found their car keys, went to a Dunkin Donut shop, made an illegal u-turn after passing by the grocery store, and filled up their shopping cart with Hoodsie Cup ice cream, soda, marshmallow fluff (for a “fluffernutter” peanut butter/fluff sandwich), along with a very good New England clam chowder, you may already be from the Bay State.
After all, Massachusetts ranked as the fifth best US state to move to in 2024– with high-paying employment opportunities in health care, education, and technology. Mass General Brigham health care system is the state’s largest private employer, and General Electric, TJX Companies, Inc, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Dunkin’ Brands, and Raytheon Technologies have headquarters here. Along with its good job options, residents enjoy top-notch healthcare systems and schools, overall safety, great natural beauty for outdoor lovers, and access to historic sites (especially in Boston, the birthplace of the American Revolution). However the cost of living in MA is the 2nd highest in the US, behind Hawaii. The western portion of Massachusetts usually offers lower housing and living expenses. In eastern cities such as its capital Boston, affordability can be a big concern. Mass.gov is a great help in further researching jobs, housing prices, and various costs in different areas as you decide to relocate. Here’s some insights to help you start your search for the safest cities in Massachusetts.
What are 7 of Massachusetts’ Safest Cities in 2025?
Wayland
If you want to know what city in Massachusetts has the lowest crime rate, look no further than Wayland. This small city of 13,826 residents, 15 miles west of Boston, has the lowest property crime rate in the state at 0, with a violent crime rate of 0.1 per 1,000 residents. Founded by Puritans in 1638, rural-meets-suburban Wayland is now an affluent community where median sale prices of houses are $920k, and average rents are a hefty $2,677/month for a 1 bedroom. 90% of residents own their own homes, and enjoy Wayland’s good schools, parks, coffee shops, and easy commute to nearby Boston for its jobs and big-city amenities.
Franklin
Franklin is the second safest city on many lists (violent crime rate of 0.1 and property crime at 1.2 per 1,000 residents). Median prices of Franklin homes were $629,000 in January 2025 and 1 bedroom rents are $2,280/mo. This city boasts the first public library in the US- the Franklin Public Library, whose first books were donated by Benjamin Franklin in 1790. The city is about 40 miles southwest from Boston, accessible by car or the MBTA’s Franklin/Foxboro Line. Cost of living here is 7% less than the average in MA, but 21% higher than the national average. The Charles River runs through Franklin, offering outdoor lovers options for kayaking and fishing, and there’s ample hiking available in nearby Wrentham State Forest. “Leaf peepers” (tourists visiting to see the fall leaves) often visit the Franklin area in the autumn.
Shrewsbury
Often mentioned among the top 5 cities in Massachusetts is Shrewsbury, MA. Though this city of 38,291 residents is only 45 miles west of Boston, it is more closely associated with centrally located Worcester, MA (“Heart of the Commonwealth”). Shrewsbury’s recent house costs are around $650,000- median rents $2,199/month, about 11% higher than the national average. While family-friendly, young professionals also appreciate the city’s bars, restaurants, parks (and skiing). Shrewsbury retains a historic feel, with a town center laid out in 1721. One unique plus here is they are served by municipally-operated Shrewsbury Electric and Cable Operations (SELCO) which provides electricity, phone, TV, and internet services at below average costs.
Hopkinton
Known as the traditional start point of the Boston Marathon, Hopkinton is 30 miles north of Boston. This city has a suburban and rural feel, with a tech/engineering slant to its job market, due to major employer Dell EMC being here. 78% of residents own their homes in Hopkinton. Average home values here are high at $904,537, with average 1 br rents of $1,797/mo. Crime rates are low– both violent and property crimes are lower than national averages- and excellent schools, abundant outdoor activities, and high quality of life are all pluses. One drawback to life in Hopkinton is their harsh winters with both cold and snow, impacting any already challenging commutes.
Westfield
When asking both where is the cheapest AND safest place to live in Massachusetts, Westfield is often mentioned. Set in western MA’s rolling hills, Westfield (nicknamed “Whip City”since buggy whips were once crafted here) now has other businesses, such as HVAC manufacturer Mestek, or a growing brewery industry. Total crime rate is 11 per 1,000 (lower than the state and national average). Median home values are $357,493 and median rents are $1,800/month. This medium sized city has 41k residents, who enjoy the area parks, shopping, and reputable schools. However there is no commuter rail here, only local PVTA bus service, making car commuting the primary means of transport (via Mass Pike I-90).
Norton
This city is located about halfway between Boston and Providence RI, convenient for Norton residents to access amenities from either of these major cities. Providence in particular has a strong job market- especially in healthcare companies like Lifespan, Care New England or finance jobs at Citizens Bank headquarters. Norton is a family-friendly rural area with a population of 19,202- its crime rate is 50% lower than the state average and 70% lower than the national average. Home prices are higher than the nation’s average of ~$400k, hovering around $532k to $551k, with rents ranging from $1,765 to $2,656. First settled in 1710, Norton retains a historic New England feel due to its many colonial-era homes and landmarks.
Ludlow
One of the safest communities in western MA, suburban Ludlow is notable for its easy access to historic Springfield and university-packed Worcester. Many professionals commute to higher-paying jobs in these two cities, while enjoying Ludlow’s lower living costs. Ludlow’s 21,000 residents pay median home sale prices around $395k, and median rents of $1,141/mo for 1 bedroom apartments. Located near the Chicopee River, this city has a textile manufacturing history. Portuguese immigrants came to work at Ludlow Manufacturing Company in 1868- and today many Ludlow residents still trace their roots to the Azores (Ludlow’s beloved annual “Our Lady of Fatima Festival” reflects this). Overall crime rate in Ludlow is 14.5, lower than the national average of 33.37 (violent and property crime rates are also lower than the national rate).
What are the safest suburbs in Massachusetts?
Additionally here are the top safest suburbs in Massachusetts. Both are northwest suburbs of the capital city of Boston, and they are often mentioned for their low crime rates, great schools, and family-friendly environments- Weston and Lexington. However, safety comes with a BIG price tag in these two communities. Both suburbs are home to the very wealthy- Lexington has 421 million-dollar earners among their residents. And 5 Weston residents came up on a recent list of the wealthiest Bay Staters (hint- the poorest of them came in only worth a mere 600 million, the others were billionaires). Median cost of a house in Weston is $3,188,000/a 1 br rental apartment costs $2,385/month. Lexington homes sell at $1.6M here, monthly rents are about $3,000.
So we’ve explored the safest cities and most peaceful suburbs in Massachusetts- all with the lowest crime rates, so you can be sure to relocate securely. Plus due to continuing interest in relocating to the East Coast, there will soon be upcoming articles exploring the safest best cities in Rhode Island, the safest cities in Connecticut, and the safest cities in Vermont. Also there will be a review of the safest neighborhoods in Boston– yah huh! (that’s “yes indeed” in Boston-speak!)
