How’d MA Cities Do: New England’s Best Cities 2012

Tuesday, April 03, 2012

GoLocal Features Team

Massachusetts’ cities were all over the place in the rankings, claiming both the top spot (Cambridge), and second to last (Springfield).

Worcester was close to the bottom, coming in at number 25.

Cambridge

Cambridge earned top honors overall by placing first in MA in several categories and first overall in others, including median income, wifi hotspots, educated residents and a thriving arts community.

With a median income of $64,684, Cambridge boasts the highest percentage of adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (72.4%), and the lowest unemployment rate of the five cities.

From a livability perspective, Cambridge also comes out on top, with the highest score in New England for walkability (89 out of 100), and the best statewide score for wifi hotspots, percentage of arts-related businesses and air quality. Residents average a 22 minute commute.

Boston

Across the river from Cambridge is Boston, which just squeaked into the top 10. With the highest number of physicians per 100,000 people, and the second highest walkability score, Boston has a lot going for it.

Boston has the second highest median household income ($50,684) and the second highest education level (44.9% with BA or higher)

Its violent crime rate and its 27 minute commute kept the city out of contention for top honors.

Lowell

Lowell, the smallest city in MA, fell in the middle at # 19. While the city does have the most city parks and recreation areas per capita in our survey and the best air quality, it also has the highest unemployment rate and a high violent crime rate.

Worcester

Coming in at #25, Worcester has some things going for it, but falls short of Cambridge and Boston. The city is second statewide in the number of art related businesses, and only Springfield has a longer commute.

Worcester falls squarely in the middle of most of the statewide rankings: 3rd in the unemployment rate, education levels (30.1% of adults have a BA or higher), number of academic institutions per capita and in number of wifi hotspots.

Worcester’s median income of $45,036 is next to the bottom, and its property crime rate is the highest of Massachusetts cities.

Springfield

Springfield rounds out the MA cities, at #29, driven by a high unemployment rate (only Lowell is higher in state) and a high violent crime rate. A surprising plus: Springfield boasts the highest number of accredited academic institutions per capita in MA.

Massachusetts’ Cities Rankings:
1. Cambridge, MA
10. Boston, MA
19. Lowell, MA
25. Worcester, MA
29. Springfield, MA

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