Best Counties in Massachusetts — 2026 Rankings
14 of 14 counties scored across 12 dimensions
14
14 scored
49/100
composite score
61.3/100
32.8—61.3
lowest to highest
Rankings
Top Counties in Massachusetts
State Overview
Understanding County Scores in Massachusetts
Massachusetts Ranks Just Below the National Median
The Commonwealth holds an average composite livability score of 48.6, placing it slightly behind the national median of 50.0. While the state excels in quality-of-life metrics, extreme affordability challenges across all 14 counties suppress its overall standing.
Elite Health and Wealth Lead the Nation
Massachusetts delivers powerhouse performances in human capital with a health score of 91.1 and an income score of 89.7. These metrics indicate a resident base that is among the healthiest and highest-earning in the United States.
High Costs Create Significant Barriers
A staggering cost score of 6.6 out of 100 reveals that Massachusetts is one of the most expensive states to live in. Combined with a low risk score of 21.2 and a tax score of 38.8, the state presents a high financial and environmental hurdle for many families.
Coastal Regions Claim Top Livability Honors
Dukes County leads the state with a 61.3 composite score, followed by Barnstable at 58.0 and Nantucket at 55.7. These areas thrive by combining high income scores near 95.0 with much more favorable local tax structures than mainland counties.
A High-Reward Destination for High Earners
Massachusetts is ideal for wealthy professionals and families who prioritize world-class healthcare and high salaries over low cost of living. While the 48.6 composite score reflects a steep price of admission, the state’s health and economic outcomes remain difficult to beat.
All County Rankings in Massachusetts
Search, sort, and filter all 14 ranked counties
Showing 1–14 of 14 counties
| Rank | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dukes County | 61.3 | 86.1 | 5.2 | 95.9 | 37 | 97.7 | 83.7 | 83.2 | 86 | 68.7 | 36.3 | 63.9 | |
| 2 | Barnstable County | 58 | 62 | 5.2 | 93.6 | 55.7 | 96.1 | 85.3 | 10.9 | 71.5 | 67.7 | 47.4 | 46.9 | |
| 3 | Nantucket County | 55.7 | 99.7 | 0.5 | 98.5 | 19.2 | 99.1 | 66.5 | 61.3 | 86 | 68.3 | 34.9 | 49 | |
| 4 | Norfolk County | 51.1 | 31.8 | 0.8 | 99.1 | 54.5 | 98 | 77.7 | 8 | 63.8 | 56.1 | 69.7 | ||
| 5 | Middlesex County | 50.7 | 34.2 | 0.8 | 99.1 | 46.8 | 98.8 | 83.7 | 3.1 | 68 | 52.8 | 64.5 | 42.6 | |
| 6 | Hampshire County | 49.4 | 14.7 | 8.5 | 89.7 | 46.7 | 95.5 | 83.1 | 30.1 | 67.5 | 53.9 | 51.1 | ||
| 7 | Plymouth County | 48.7 | 23.9 | 2.8 | 97.5 | 50.7 | 92 | 77.7 | 9.6 | 64.5 | 59.5 | 43.5 | 54.7 | |
| 8 | Essex County | 48.3 | 33 | 2.6 | 95.1 | 52.4 | 91.7 | 66 | 4.4 | 70.4 | 54.4 | 52.1 | ||
| 9 | Worcester County | 46.8 | 19.6 | 6.8 | 93.2 | 46.3 | 90.2 | 74.9 | 6.5 | 63.5 | 54.9 | 52.2 | ||
| 10 | Franklin County | 46.2 | 12.3 | 14.8 | 72.9 | 53.6 | 95.9 | 52.3 | 39.3 | 53.4 | 54.2 | 66.9 | 43.4 | |
| 11 | Bristol County | 45 | 30.4 | 9.9 | 87.9 | 35.3 | 80.6 | 72.7 | 10.1 | 60.4 | 58.7 | 69.3 | ||
| 12 | Berkshire County | 44.1 | 18.3 | 18.6 | 72.8 | 31.8 | 87.4 | 69.3 | 16 | 60.6 | 55.4 | 61.8 | 62.7 | |
| 13 | Suffolk County | 43 | 66.8 | 1.1 | 92.9 | 15 | 86.3 | 51 | 6.5 | 86 | 56.3 | 73.3 | ||
| 14 | Hampden County | 32.8 | 10 | 14.3 | 67.7 | 13.4 | 66.3 | 57.4 | 7.2 | 66.4 | 50.5 | 64.3 |
Dukes County
Barnstable County
Nantucket County
Norfolk County
Middlesex County
Hampshire County
Plymouth County
Essex County
Worcester County
Franklin County
Bristol County
Berkshire County
Suffolk County
Hampden County
Frequently Asked Questions about Counties in Massachusetts
Common questions about county rankings and scores in Massachusetts.
What is the best county in Massachusetts?
Dukes County is the top-ranked county in Massachusetts with a CountyScore of 61.3/100. It leads the state across the available scoring dimensions, which include Property Tax, Cost of Living, Income & Jobs, Safety, Health, Schools, Disaster Risk, Water Quality, Weather & Climate, Soil Quality, Lawn Care, Farmers Markets.
How many counties are ranked in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts has 14 counties in total. Of those, 14 have been ranked with a composite score based on available data dimensions. The remaining 0 counties do not yet have enough data for a full score.
What factors determine a county's score?
Each county is scored 0–100 across up to eight data dimensions: Property Tax, Cost of Living, Income & Jobs, Safety, Health, Schools, Disaster Risk, and Water Quality. The composite score is a weighted average of whichever dimensions have data. Currently available dimensions are: Property Tax, Cost of Living, Income & Jobs, Safety, Health, Schools, Disaster Risk, Water Quality, Weather & Climate, Soil Quality, Lawn Care, Farmers Markets. Higher scores are always better — a score of 100 represents the best possible performance for that dimension.
What is the average county score in Massachusetts?
The average composite CountyScore across all ranked counties in Massachusetts is 49/100. The national average is 50/100, so Massachusetts counties score 1 points below the national average.
How does Massachusetts compare to other states?
Massachusetts's average county score of 49/100 is 1 points below the national average of 50/100. You can compare Massachusetts counties to counties in any other state using the county detail pages or the CountyScore compare tool.
Explore County Data by Category
Dive deeper into specific dimensions for counties in Massachusetts.
Best counties in other states
Data: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS, 2019–2023 ACS — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.