Massachusetts cities and towns have a certain charm to them — and Livability agrees.
![a tall building: The 1897 building located at 340 Main St. in Downtown Worcester could be receiving a $54.5 million renovation that includes commercial space and 312 market rate residential units.](https://www.msn.com/{"default":{"load":"default","w":"80","h":"53","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BB19PtOC.img?h=533&w=799&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f"},"size3column":{"load":"default","w":"62","h":"42","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BB19PtOC.img?h=416&w=624&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f"},"size2column":{"load":"default","w":"62","h":"42","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BB19PtOC.img?h=416&w=624&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f"}})
© Michael Bonner | [email protected]/masslive.com/TNS
The 1897 building located at 340 Main St. in Downtown Worcester could be receiving a $54.5 million renovation that includes commercial space and 312 market rate residential units.
The website ranked its top 100 small to mid-sized cities and included two Massachusetts locations. Framingham came in at number 24 and Worcester was number 53 on the list.
The website only looks at small to mid-sized cities and excludes bigger cities, it said. Worcester is the second-largest city in New England.
“A lot of people ask us, ‘Why only small to mid-sized cities?’ And it’s a good question,” the website states. “Our philosophy is this: Those who want to live in big cities (NY, LA, etc.) can easily find all the info they want online. It’s the small and mid-sized cities (Asheville, Chattanooga, etc.) that are hard to get up-to-date information on.”
It calculates each city based on more than 40 data points. Those include amenities, demographics, economy, education, health care, housing, transportation and more.
It noted Framingham’s big-name companies, including Bose Corporation and Staples. But it says it’s so much more than that.
“Situated off the Mass. Pike and between Boston and Worcester, Framingham has gone through a growth spurt in recent years,” the website states. “The city has dozens of parks and three public beaches. Plus, residents here can also fill up their weekends exploring downtown Framingham, with an array of diverse businesses including Asian, Hispanic, Brazilian and Eastern European restaurants and shops.”
The highest points Framingham got were in the civic, health, demographics and economy sections.
Worcester was also highlighted for its thriving economy and that it’s “known for having a young, skilled workforce, who appreciate the relative affordability of the housing market.”
“Located in the heart of New England, Worcester strikes an intriguing balance: It’s full of historic charm, but is also a modern hub for innovation,” the website states. “Artists open their galleries and studios in converted factories, and the city practically doubles as an urban art gallery with dozens of eye-popping murals. A restaurant renaissance, hiking and biking trails (and nearby skiing), plus beloved parks make this Central Massachusetts city a fun place to live.”
The highest points Worcester got were in the health, demographics and infrastructure sections.
The website also pointed out some of the businesses in Worcester they suggest visiting, including Wormtown Brewery and the Worcester Public Market.
For the full list of Livability’s 2020 ‘Top 100 Best Places to Live’, click here.
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