10 Best Places to Retire in Massachusetts

8. Barnstable

Score: 20

Median home price: $337,600

Cost of living index: 141.2

Average commute time: 24.49

Crime rate: 35

Doctors per 100K: 261

Southern down in the state is Barnstable County, with a population of over 215,000 people. Although water is a big part of the entire state, it makes up 70 percent of this county’s territory of 1,306 square miles. Among the national protected areas are the Cape Cod National Seashore and the Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge.

Houses go for north of $337,000 in this county, but they’re not the only things that are expensive here since the cost of living index is 141.2. The crime rate is pretty low, so you should be quite safe here.