Find a Job You Really Want In
If you’re feeling unfulfilled in your current career but love your hometown, you might be contemplating a job search within your community. But how challenging will it be to secure employment in your area? To assist you, we’ve compiled a list of cities in Massachusetts that boast the strongest job markets, determined by their unemployment rates.
Many individuals settle in a location due to job opportunities, but if you’re contemplating a move to Massachusetts for personal reasons—or if you’re planning to relocate before securing a job—the robustness of the local job market is crucial.
For our analysis, we turned to the Census Bureau, the go-to source for demographic data, to identify the cities with the lowest unemployment rates. We established a threshold based on city population and gathered data from various municipalities across the Bay State to pinpoint the most promising job markets:
- Melrose(Jobs)
- Newton(Jobs)
- Cambridge(Jobs)
- Marlborough(Jobs)
- Somerville(Jobs)
- Peabody(Jobs)
- Amesbury Town(Jobs)
- Medford(Jobs)
- Agawam Town(Jobs)
- Waltham(Jobs)
Even if you’re an employer searching for a thriving community to settle in, a low unemployment rate is a strong indicator of a city’s overall vitality. In this respect, Melrose stands out as the city in Massachusetts with the lowest unemployment rate.
Continue reading to discover how we identified these cities with the most robust job markets in Massachusetts.
For additional job-related information in Massachusetts, explore the following resources:
- Search For Jobs In Massachusetts
- Highest Paying Jobs in Massachusetts
- Fastest Growing Jobs In Massachusetts
How We Determined The Cities In Massachusetts With The Lowest Unemployment Rates
Before examining the cities with the lowest unemployment in Massachusetts, we needed to establish our criteria. We selected areas with populations exceeding 12,000 that had data available on unemployment rates.
This analysis encompassed 53 cities in Massachusetts.
We then evaluated the unemployment rates to highlight the top performers, using data from the most recent American Community Survey from the Census Bureau.
We believe that the unemployment rate serves as a reliable indicator of each city’s job market, reflecting the likelihood of securing a job whether you’re relocating within the state, moving from another state, or transitioning between cities.
We ranked the cities from one to 53, with one representing the “most employed city in Massachusetts.” In cases of a tie, the larger city received the higher ranking.
If your city or town isn’t among the top ten, scroll to the bottom of this post for a detailed chart. Otherwise, read on to learn more about how the top ten cities achieved their favorable employment conditions.
1. Melrose
Population: 27,509
Unemployment Rate: 4.4%
Melrose tops our list with an impressive unemployment rate of just 4.4%, easily outpacing its competitors.
Being in the leading position comes with advantages, including a strong job market.
2. Newton
Population: 86,945
Unemployment Rate: 4.5%
Newton, in second place, boasts a low unemployment rate of 4.5%. While some may see second place as a disappointment, it remains a strong contender in the job market.
3. Cambridge
Population: 106,844
Unemployment Rate: 5.0%
Cambridge secures the bronze medal with an unemployment rate of 5.0%, underscoring its vibrant job market.
4. Marlborough
Population: 39,141
Unemployment Rate: 5.3%
Marlborough, with a population of 39,141, ranks fourth, making it a desirable location for those starting their career search in Massachusetts.
5. Somerville
Population: 77,560
Unemployment Rate: 5.5%
Somerville claims the fifth spot with a commendable unemployment rate of 5.5% and a population of approximately 77,560.
6. Peabody
Population: 51,868
Unemployment Rate: 5.7%
Ranked sixth, Peabody presents solid employment numbers, making it an attractive option for potential movers.
7. Amesbury Town
Population: 16,554
Unemployment Rate: 5.8%
Amesbury Town takes the seventh position with a 5.8% unemployment rate, showing promise in the job market.
8. Medford
Population: 56,981
Unemployment Rate: 5.8%
Medford, also at an unemployment rate of 5.8%, ranks eighth, boasting a competitive job market that appeals to job seekers.
9. Agawam Town
Population: 28,626
Unemployment Rate: 5.9%
Agawam Town finishes strong at ninth, with a 5.9% unemployment rate, making it a noteworthy consideration for those seeking work.
10. Waltham
Population: 61,908
Unemployment Rate: 6.1%
Waltham rounds out our list at number ten, with a 6.1% unemployment rate. Despite being last in this top ten, it remains a strong contender among the 53 cities analyzed.
There You Have It – Unemployment Across Massachusetts
Here are the ten cities with the lowest unemployment rates in Massachusetts, demonstrating the strength of their job markets.
If you’re considering a move to the Bay State and are willing to take the leap of relocating before securing a job, focus on the cities in our top ten.
For more insights on cities and states across the U.S., visit www.zippia.com to address all your inquiries, especially if you’re a recent college graduate contemplating a move; check out which states college grads tend to stay in and which they leave.
Lastly, here’s a brief overview of cities in Massachusetts with the highest unemployment rates:
- Fall River
- Springfield
- Holyoke
Detailed List Of Cities With The Lowest Unemployment In Massachusetts
| City | Rank | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|
| Melrose | 1 | 4.4% |
| Newton | 2 | 4.5% |
| Cambridge | 3 | 5.0% |
| Marlborough | 4 | 5.3% |
| Somerville | 5 | 5.5% |
| Peabody | 6 | 5.7% |
| Amesbury Town | 7 | 5.8% |
| Medford | 8 | 5.8% |
| Agawam Town | 9 | 5.9% |
| Waltham | 10 | 6.1% |
| Franklin Town | 11 | 6.5% |
| Woburn | 12 | 6.6% |
| Greenfield Town | 13 | 6.6% |
| Beverly | 14 | 6.7% |
| Braintree Town | 15 | 6.8% |
| Newburyport | 16 | 6.8% |
| Winthrop Town | 17 | 7.0% |
| Easthampton Town | 18 | 7.2% |
| Barnstable Town | 19 | 7.2% |
| Watertown Town | 20 | 7.4% |
| Salem | 21 | 7.7% |
| Attleboro | 22 | 7.7% |
| Quincy | 23 | 7.9% |
| Methuen Town | 24 | 7.9% |
| Northampton | 25 | 8.1% |
| Boston | 26 | 8.7% |
| Weymouth Town | 27 | 8.7% |
| Revere | 28 | 8.8% |
| Haverhill | 29 | 8.8% |
| Everett | 30 | 8.9% |
| Westfield | 31 | 8.9% |
| Taunton | 32 | 8.9% |
| Lynn | 33 | 9.1% |
| Gloucester | 34 | 9.1% |
| Leominster | 35 | 9.2% |
| Chelsea | 36 | 9.4% |
| Palmer Town | 37 | 9.8% |
| Malden | 38 | 9.8% |
| Southbridge Town | 39 | 9.9% |
| Worcester | 40 | 9.9% |
| North Adams | 41 | 10.0% |
| Chicopee | 42 | 10.0% |
| Gardner | 43 | 10.1% |
| West Springfield Town | 44 | 10.6% |
| Pittsfield | 45 | 10.9% |
| Lowell | 46 | 11.1% |
| New Bedford | 47 | 11.2% |
| Brockton | 48 | 12.1% |
| Fitchburg | 49 | 12.6% |
| Lawrence | 50 | 13.1% |
| Holyoke | 51 | 13.2% |
| Springfield | 52 | 13.3% |
| Fall River | 53 | 13.3% |
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
