Massachusetts: Where History Gets Interesting
Think you really know Massachusetts? Dunkin is everywhere! And in some towns you might find a Dunkin across the street from another Dunkin! We love our coffee, our history, and our intellectual debates. Let's run through the facts, stats, and wicked good nonsense that showcase what makes Massachusetts's revolutionary attitude worth every dropped R.
Candice, Our Local Expert Guiding Your Move
Candice has called Massachusetts home for 15 years, which started with a Texas to New England road trip in a Honda Civic, three cats, zero plans, and just enough confidence to assume it would all work out. She has lived all over the state which means she knows Massachusetts is really several states pretending to be one. She has been a writing professor, a software designer, a piano and sax player, and a mom to 2 pre teen kids and a very elderly cat. She lives for brunch, needs regular nature fixes to stay sane, and knows exactly which Mass stereotypes are true. At Snappy Scout, Candice keeps Massachusetts guides fast, sharp, and painfully accurate.
Read moreWritten with local insight from Snappy Scout relocation experts
What Makes Massachusetts Massachusetts?
The weird, useful, and surprisingly relevant facts that shape everyday life here.
Common nicknames for Massachusetts
The Bay State; Mass; Taxachusetts
Local Reality Check
We're not all snobby, There's a group for everyone. Whether you're into books, hiking, bar-hopping, or bird-watching, you'll find a place with like-minded folks.
You're most likely moving from
Texas, California, New Hampshire looking for city energy.
Strangely large concentration of
Dunkin' locations, elite universities, rotaries that confuse everyone.
Music scene
Boston rock clubs, indie folk in Cambridge, legacy punk venues.
You'll have to see it to believe it
The 'Cheers' bar that looks nothing like the TV show.
Unique Geography
Cape Cod's sandy arm, Berkshire mountains, island gems like Nantucket.
Massachusetts is home to
Harvard, MIT, Fenway Park, the first American public school.
Well known for its
Clam chowder, Patriot dominance, Revolutionary War sites, wicked accents.
Fun history fact
First state to legalize same-sex marriage in 2004.
Celebrity sightings
Mark Wahlberg family dinners; occasional Affleck/Damon sighting in Boston.
Noteworthy Census stat
Highest percentage of residents with graduate degrees in U.S.
Most interesting sub-culture within Massachusetts
Hardcore Cape Cod summer people vs. year-round locals feud.
Population
15th by population, 44th by land size
Massachusetts is roughly the same geographic size as
El Salvador
Locals Know Best
We get through our days with iced coffee. We've mastered the art of holding our iced coffees from the top -- over the lid... it's just a thing we do. But even with Dunkin everywhere, our local coffee shops thrive!
— Candice Hallsett
Massachusetts Local Expert
Ready to See If Massachusetts Fits You?
Compare cities, check the routes, or head back to the full Massachusetts guide for the bigger picture.