How’d MA Cities Do: New England’s Best Cities 2013

Monday, April 15, 2013

Tracey Minkin, GoLocalWorcester Features Editor

Up and comer: Lowell moved up 7 spots to claim #12 in New England's Best Cities 2013 and 2nd best in MA behind powerhouse Cambridge.

The numbers are crunched, the rankings are in… how did Massachusetts' five largest cities do in GoLocalWorcester's 2nd annual ranking of New England's Best Cities?

#1 Cambridge: Best in Show

Not only is Cambridge the best city in Massachusetts, it's the #1 city in New England, and for the second year in the row. Cambridge gets the balance just right, with numerous top rankings across GoLocal's categories. Consider that this home to some of the nation's most prestigious colleges is also the home of the highest percentage of college-educated residents, has the most WiFI hotspots per capita in New England, and ranked #1 in the region for Walkability. Cambridge also scored the top public school quality rating (#9 overall) as well as air quality score for MA (#15 overall). Cambridge also had the lowest violent crime rate in MA and the second-lowest property crime rate.

#2 Lowell: Up and comer

Lowell moved up 7 spots in the overall rankings this year to claim the #12 and the 2nd best finish in MA. Among its Bay State peers, this city of 106,519 had lowest property crime rate in group (and #8 overall), and the 2nd best violent crime rate. Lowell also scored points for its WiFi per capita (#3 overall), and placed in New Englands' Top 10 in both Walkability and Well-Being Index ranking.

To see all of New England's Best Cities 2013, go here.

#3 Boston: Drop to #16

Worcester hung in for the 2013 ranking, but needs to improve its crime rates to beat out the local competition.

The Hub enjoyed a Top 10 finish in GoLocal's 1st annual ranking, but dropped this year to #16 as other cities surged past it with lower crime rates. Tugging at Boston's ranking: the worst average commute time in the group, at 32.5 minutes. Still, this shining capital city has much to be proud of, including the #3 Walkability ranking in New England, as well as Top 10 rankings overall in Arts-Related Businesses per capita and Well-Being Index rankings.

#4 Worcester: Hanging in

The state's second-largest city dropped one spot since its 2012 debut at #25, and much of that is due to its violent crime rates being in the Bottom 5 in the region. Although Worcester's property crime rates were right in the middle of the New England pack at #15, it was the 4th worst in the state. Worcester also doesn't see as much sun as its counterparts in other parts of the state, and had a fairly high average commute time.

#5 Springfield: Moving forward

Springfield managed to move one spot up to #28 in 2013, up from #29. With the state's worst crime rates in both violent and property crimes and a low median household income of $35,603, and even fewer sunny days than Worcester (189 per year), Springfield has numerous challenges. Bright spots, however--11 public libraries--a bright spot indeed, and the shortest average commute in the Bay State.