Home Buying

The best place to live in Greater Boston, according to Boston magazine

The magazine ranked the best places in eastern Massachusetts based on numerous factors, including housing, safety, entertainment, and more.

An aerial view of Cambridge looking toward Kendall Square and the Boston skyline in November 2019. David L. Ryan / The Boston Globe, File

By Claudie Bellanger

March 4, 2025

1 minute to read

For those looking for a new place to call home in Massachusetts, Boston magazine has you covered.

The publication released its list of the top 15 places to live in Greater Boston, with Cambridge taking the No. 1 spot. A SmartAsset report also recently ranked Cambridge No. 2 out of 271 U.S. cities based on the number of millennials that recently moved in.

“They come for the fabulous dining scene and easy access to Boston, but many stay long after in family-friendly neighborhoods,” Boston magazine wrote.

The publication’s list is created from research by DataJoe, which analyzes cities in their CityScore system based on eight factors: housing, safety, mobility, healthcare, community, education, employment, and entertainment.

Cambridge is followed by Wellesley (No. 2), Brookline (No. 3), Newton (No. 4), and Somerville (No. 5) on the list.

Check out the full rankings of all 141 cities within the limits of I-495.