Worcester Ranked Among 100 Best Places To Live List

WORCESTER, MA — One mid-sized city in Massachusetts is among the best places to live, according to a new ranking.

The rankings and city guide from Livability.com, in its report on the 100 Best Places to Live in the U.S. in 2026, emphasize affordability and quality of life in small- to mid-sized cities at a time when Americans are contending with rising living costs.

The 2026 list highlights communities with populations between 75,000 and 500,000 and excludes cities where median home values exceed $500,000, aiming to spotlight places where residents can realistically afford to live.

The Massachusetts city that made the list is Worcester, coming in at No. 84.

Worcester has a population of approximately 212,034 people and a student population of 35,000, supported by about a dozen higher education institutions, including College of the Holy Cross, Clark University, UMass Chan Medical School, and Worcester State University.

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Livability says the top reasons to move to Worcester are that it's one of the hottest housing markets in New England, a hub for colleges and universities, has easy commuting options, and offers no shortage of activities.

Topping this year’s list is Huntsville, Alabama, followed by Carmel, Indiana; Sugar Land, Texas; Naperville, Illinois; and Plano, Texas.

Researchers evaluated more than 2,000 cities using over 100 data points across key categories, including economy, housing, amenities, transportation, environment, safety, education and health.

Livability says the list is designed to reflect places where residents can “thrive,” pointing to shorter commutes, accessible amenities and strong community infrastructure. Unlike traditional rankings, this list is intended to be interactive, allowing users to weigh factors differently based on personal priorities.

The report continues a broader trend of highlighting smaller cities as desirable alternatives to larger, more expensive metropolitan areas, particularly for people seeking a balance between economic opportunity and cost of living.

See Also:

• Here Are The Best Places To Live In MA, New Ranking Says
• Massachusetts Has One Of Most Beautiful Small Towns In US, Condé Nast Says
• Which Cape Community Made The List Of New England's Best Small Towns?
• Can You Afford To Live In Boston? Here’s How Much You Need To Make To Live Comfortably In The City