This Mass. city is one of the best places to live in the country, according to Niche

The site also released a list of the top 10 communities in Massachusetts. Did your city or town make the list? Continue reading at realestate.boston.com.

An aerial view of Cambridge City Hall. David L. Ryan/Globe staff

March 17, 2021

One of the best cities to live in the country is none other than Cambridge.

Niche just released its rankings for 2021, and the city came in at fifth place, according to the website, a slight climb from eighth place last year.

Cambridge also came in first place for best cities for young professionals. Boston was sixth in that category

“Living in Cambridge offers residents an urban feel, and most residents rent their homes,” the website said. “In Cambridge, there are a lot of bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and parks.”

The city received top marks for being good for families, outdoor activities, health and fitness, nightlife, and the commute, according to Niche. It received lower marks in housing, crime and safety, and cost of living.

“Cambridge is great, wouldn’t change a thing! I grew up here and have never had a bad experience…..EVER!” a reviewer recently wrote, giving Cambridge a five-star rating. “It is also a really great city to raise children.”

Niche also considered the best places to buy a home in Massachusetts. The top five communities and their median home value, according to Zillow:

Pelham (Hampshire County); $406,049
Wayland (Middlesex County); $806,645
Longmeadow (Hampden County); $393,242
Harvard (Worcester County); $691,246
Sterling (Worcester County); $413,857

The rest of the top 10:

6. Paxton

7. Bolton

8. Lanesborough

9. Cordaville, a section of Southborough

10. Northborough

Each year, Niche devises a list of the best places to live in the country overall, and then breaks the data down even further into various categories. Niche considers various factors, and then weighs them by allocating a certain percentage of the ranking. Categories such as the cost of living and higher education carry the most weight – 12.5 percent each. The site also considers things such as housing, diversity, public schools, crime and safety, jobs, families, and other factors.

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