Explore Jobs in the Best Places to Live in Massachusetts

From the sandy beaches of Cape Cod to the Boston metro area and the mountains and farms of the Berkshires, Massachusetts offers a huge variety of livable communities—as long as you don’t mind the long New England winters.

The Bay State also has one of the most robust economies in the United States, with a business-friendly environment and lower-than-average unemployment rate. Plus, you could receive a Massachusetts essential worker bonus if you work in healthcare, public safety, food services, or any other critical sector.

If you’re planning on moving here, Monster can help you explore the best places to live in Massachusetts.

In the meantime, here are some more good reasons to consider living and working in Massachusetts:

• Massachusetts is family friendly.
• Essential worker pay in Massachusetts is generous.
• Massachusetts has access to high-quality healthcare.
• It’s home to some of the oldest top colleges and universities in the country.
• It’s also among the best states for pre-K through 12th-grade education.

Boston

Boston is hands-down one of the best cities to live in Massachusetts. People from all over the world move here because of its vibrant and diverse culture, high-quality education, and ample job opportunities. Getting around Boston is easy with the MBTA train system, bike paths, and walkable streets. Plus, you can find plenty of places to dine, enjoy entertainment, get artisanal coffee, shop, and browse art galleries in every neighborhood of the city.

Some parts of the Greater Boston Area have consistently ranked among the best places to live in Massachusetts for families, particularly Newton, Wayland, and Cochituate. Boston is also home to many of the best companies to work for in Massachusetts, including Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Akamai Technologies, Inc., Hubspot, and Wayfair. Most jobs here can be found in the city’s key industries—higher education, life sciences, healthcare, and finance.

Find Boston jobs on Monster.

Cambridge

Cambridge is an integral part of the Boston metropolitan area. It’s home to two of the world’s most prestigious universities: Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). You’ll never get bored if you choose to live and work in Cambridge. The Harvard Museum of National History, Harvard Art Museum, and Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology are just a few of the museums Cambridge has to offer. Harvard Square is the city’s lively center, with restaurants, cafes, bars, and shops packed with students year-round. It’s no surprise that Cambridge has ranked among the best places to live in Massachusetts.

And Cambridge is on the up—it has a projected job growth rate of more than 42% over the next ten years. If you’re looking for work here, you can find plenty of higher ed jobs at the city’s universities. Plus, Cambridge is a hub for biotechnology, healthcare, research and development, and information technology.

Find Cambridge jobs on Monster.

Lowell

The mill town of Lowell is known for its historical park and old mill buildings repurposed as art studios and condos. It also has an extensive canal system and several city parks. Lowell’s close proximity to Boston has made it a popular option for Boston-area residents looking to cut their housing costs since it offers a mix of city life and suburbia.

Manufacturing is still one of the most common economic sectors, but you can also find many jobs here in healthcare, construction, and food services. Lowell is also home to many startups in medtech due to the presence of the Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center.

Discover Lowell jobs on Monster.

New Bedford

New Bedford is the largest city in southern Massachusetts and is just a stone’s throw from Cape Cod and Rhode Island. If you prefer to be by the coast, New Bedford is one of the best places to live in southern Massachusetts. Residents here have access to beaches, fishing ports, and a ferry to Martha’s Vineyard.

The economy of New Bedford relies largely on the fishing and manufacturing industries. However, tourism also thrives here due to the city’s historic whaling industry, festivals, and unique sites. People looking for jobs in New Bedford can also find them in healthcare, retail, education, food services, and social services.

Find New Bedford jobs on Monster.

Barnstable

Barnstable is in the center of Cape Cod and is the largest community in the region. It’s known for its sandy beaches—a rarity in rocky New England—Cape Cod Bay, Keyes Memorial Beach, and Sandy Neck Beach. Many residents fall in love with Barnstable’s historical sites, including the Coast Guard Heritage Museum, Cahoon Museum of American Art, and the Barnstable Old Goal jail. And if you’re looking for a chance to get on the water, Barnstable offers plenty of harbor tours and fishing charters.

People looking for work in Barnstable often find jobs in local government, education, tourism and hospitality, transportation, and professional and business services.

Find Barnstable jobs on Monster.

Worcester

What makes Worcester one of the best places to live in Massachusetts? For starters, it’s centrally located between Boston, Providence, Hartford, Springfield, and the New Hampshire border. Many people who want to live in a city move to Worcester for its relatively lower cost of living than the rest of Massachusetts and the Boston area. Those who call Worcester their home enjoy its up-and-coming arts and culture scene, local entertainment, and lush parks.

Worcester’s growing economy offers plenty of opportunities for healthcare workers, with several major hospitals and tons of primary care offices and clinics. Plus, Worcester has tons of engineering jobs in the professional, scientific, and technical sectors.

Find Worcester jobs on Monster.

Springfield

Known as the “City of Homes,” Springfield remains one of the best places to live in Massachusetts because of its low cost of living, urban amenities, and proximity to many outdoor attractions. Springfield is home to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, where you can delve into the history of one of America’s most popular sports. When you venture outside the city limits, you’ll tons of places to go hiking and biking, including Mount Tom and Ashley Reservoir.

MassMutual—which has been ranked among the best companies to work for in Massachusetts—is based in Springfield and supports thousands of local jobs. People looking for healthcare jobs can find plenty of them at Baystate Medical Center, Mercy Hospital, and several other medical facilities.

Find Springfield jobs on Monster.

Pittsfield

Pittsfield is nestled in the Berkshire Mountains, close to Vermont and upstate New York. Pittsfield has been ranked among the best places to live in Massachusetts for families because of its thriving real estate market, outdoor recreation, school diversity, and low crime rate. Plus, Pittsfield is among the most affordable places to live in Massachusetts.

When you come to Pittsfield, try browsing the art and history displays at the Berkshire Museum, hiking up Bousquet Mountain, or enjoying a drink at Wondering Start Craft Brewery. If you’re looking to live and work in the Berkshires, Pittsfield has tons of opportunities in manufacturing, retail, and healthcare.

Find Pittsfield jobs on Monster.

Convinced the Bay State Is Right for You? Sign Up Today to Find Opportunities Here!

Ready to move to one of the best places to live in Massachusetts? First, you’ll need to find a job. You can get started by setting up a Monster profile. Once you upload your resume, we’ll make it easily accessible to job recruiters in Massachusetts. Plus, you can always be an early applicant when you sign up to receive free job notifications that align with your career goals and location.