Massachusetts City Ranks Among 100 Best Places to Live

One Massachusetts community has been recognized as one of the best places to live, according to a new quality-of-life ranking.

In its report on the 100 Best Places to Live in the U.S. in 2026, Livability.com ranked Worcester, Massachusetts, No. 84. The website highlighted its strong New England housing market, role as a higher-education hub, commuting options, and a wide range of activities.

According to a Patch of Massachusetts report, Worcester has an approximate population of 212,034 and about 35,000 students. It's supported by around a dozen higher education institutions, such as College of the Holy Cross, Clark University, UMass Chan Medical School, and Worcester State University.

This year, the Livability list evaluated more than 2,000 cities. Experts from Livability considered more than 100 data points across economy, housing, amenities, transportation, environment, safety, education, and health to reflect places where residents can "thrive," according to its report.

The Livability ranking emphasizes affordability and quality of life for small- to mid-sized cities. Its ranking focuses on populations of 75,000 to 500,000 people, excluding places with median home values above $500,000, to spotlight affordable options.

Livability's ranking continues a broader trend of spotlighting smaller cities as appealing alternatives to larger, pricier metros.