Massachusetts city named best place to live in the US - and it’s not Boston

A city in Massachusetts has claimed the title of the best place to live in the US , and its not the one you might think.

Northampton is a small city in Western Massachusetts that has beaten out all other cities in the state for the top spot. A list posted by Money Magazine cited a number of reasons for the selection, which confused some people who were unfamiliar with what Northampton has to offer.

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The city has just half the population of Boston - around 300,000 compared to Boston's 650,000 - and is approximately 2 hours drive away. The city has a bustling downtown area and a vibrant arts scene, having produced many great writers throughout history. There is also a wealth of independently owned businesses, like restaurants, coffee shops and bars.

On the flip, there is also an expansive landscape with an abundance of walking and biking trails - something Western Massachusetts is known for. Large areas of Western Mass are dedicated to agriculture, and the city is home to the oldest continuously running agricultural fair in the United States.

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The Money Magazine list informs readers that housing in Northampton has a median listing price of $469,000 - a significant difference from Boston’s $969.7 median. Northampton has a low unemployment rate and an above average school district.

The city has earned recognition as an attractive place to live for families as it has a reasonably affordable cost of living.

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