One Of The Best States To Live In 2025 Has The Second-Highest Cost Of Living In America

When deciding where to live, people often consider two factors: the quality of life and the cost of living. At least one state — Massachusetts — comes with high rankings in both: quality and costs.

As far as the quality of life, U.S. News & World Report lists Massachusetts as the ninth best state to live in 2025. Specific areas where the Bay State ranks in the top 10 include in health care (#2), providing residents with the best health care access in the country and being third in public health. Massachusetts ranks third in the natural environment, coming in second for the subcategory of air and water quality. The state ranks fifth in both crime & corrections and education. Ranking second in the educational subcategory of pre-K through 12th grade, Massachusetts' high school graduation rate comes in at 89.2%, more than 3% above the national average. National Assessment of Educational Progress' math scores average 283, 10 points above the national average (just missing top 10 rankings: the economy at #11). So, if a family desires excellent healthcare and education, a clean environment, a place with good corrections systems in place, and a solid economy, then Massachusetts can make the short list.

Having sufficient income to cover expenses with enough left over to also enjoy life can contribute to its quality. When looking at states where people earned the highest average household income, the United States Census Bureau lists three states at a statistical median tie in 2023: Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Maryland. Massachusetts figures come in at $99,858. This relatively higher income allows Bay State families to participate in the many activities available in their state, which includes baseball games at Fenway Park, surf and turf and other fine dining, the Faneuil Hall Marketplace on Boston's historic trail, and much more. Massachusetts history goes way back, well before the Mayflower, and serves as the heart of Revolutionary War sites, making it an intriguing state for history lovers.

Natural beauty abounding in the state includes the Halibut Point State Park in Rockport: poised on granite looming over the Atlantic Ocean, families can indulge in picnic food, hike the trails, gaze on the tide pools, and more while also learning about the area's World War II history. Deerfield, meanwhile, features the Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory & Gardens. In this tropic ambiance, families can spot as many of the 4,000-plus species of butterflies, both domestic and exotic, as they can. From mid-April through October, people of all ages like to watch for spectacular whales in Gloucester.

According to real estate and financial information experts, The Warren Group, Massachusetts experienced an all-time high in housing prices for the state with the median single-family home price increasing to $615,000in 2024.This data dovetails with information citing how Massachusetts serves as one of the most expensive states, cost of living-wise. According to The Council for Community and Economic Research in their Cost of Living Index (COLI), as shared by the Missouri Economic Research and Development Center, Massachusetts came in with the second highest cost of living in the nation in Q1 2025. A key factor in this index echoes the theme being presented: how Massachusetts has the second highest housing prices. A separate COLI report indicates how Boston's expensive housing feeds into these higher numbers.

In the Q1 2025 COLI reporting, Massachusetts, came in second in healthcare costs, meaning that residents benefit from excellent healthcare but at a price. Other items that contribute to Massachusetts' high cost of living ranking include these: #3 in utilities that includes high electricity bills in the Bay State. Massachusetts also falls at #16 in both grocery prices and transportation costs. Plus, it's fourth in expenses for miscellaneous goods and services. As a summation, when deciding where to move, consider this: costs may be higher than what people typically pay elsewhere, but many people in Massachusetts will tell you that living there is well worth what you pay.