Massachusetts Region Descriptions

Regions are generally ordered from north-to-south and west-to-east beginning in the northwest corner of the state.

Mount Greylock

This region comprises the communities around Mount Greylock in northwestern Massachusetts. It includes communities in northern Berkshire County as defined by the Registry of Deeds and encompasses towns as part of the Mount Greylock Regional School.

Region CITIES and Towns(Overlapping Region(s)):
Adams(Mohawk Trail), Cheshire, Clarksburg(Mohawk Trail), Florida(Mohawk Trail), Hancock, Lanesborough, New Ashford(Mohawk Trail), NORTH ADAMS(Mohawk Trail), Savoy(Mohawk Trail), Williamstown(Mohawk Trail), Windsor(Hill Towns).

Region Color: Mount Greylock Sunset Pink

Central Berkshires

This region comprises the middle third of communities in Berkshire County around the city of Pittsfield and Lenox as defined by the Registry of Deeds. It includes the Wahconah High School as part of the Central Berkshire Regional School District. Much of the region is part of the Upper Housatonic River Valley.

Region CITIES and Towns(Overlapping Region(s)):
Becket(Hill Towns), Dalton(Hill Towns), Hinsdale(Hill Towns), Lee, Lenox, Otis(Hill Towns), Peru(Hill Towns), PITTSFIELD, Richmond, Stockbridge, Tyringham, Washington(Hill Towns).

Region Color: Tanglewood Green

Southern Berkshires

This region comprises the southern communities in Berkshire County around Great Barrington as defined by the Registry of Deeds and the Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce. It includes the Southern Berkshire and Monument Mountain regional school districts. Many of its towns are part of the Upper Housatonic River Valley.

Region CITIES and Towns(Overlapping Region(s)):
Alford, Egremont, Great Barrington, Monterey(Hill Towns), Mount Washington, New Marlborough, Sandisfield(Hill Towns), Sheffield, West Stockbridge.

Region Color: Great Barrington Moss Green

Mohawk Trail

This region comprises communities that make up the Mohawk Trail region in northwestern Massachusetts.

Region CITIES and Towns(Overlapping Region(s)):
Bernardston, Buckland(Hill Towns), Charlemont, Colrain, Deerfield, Erving, Gill, GREENFIELD, Hawley(Hill Towns), Heath, Leyden, Monroe, Montague, Northfield, Rowe, Shelburne, Warwick, Wendell.

Region CITIES and Towns Primarily Listed in Another Region:
Adams(Mount Greylock), Clarksburg(Mount Greylock), Florida(Mount Greylock), New Ashford(Mount Greylock), NORTH ADAMS(Mount Greylock), Orange(North Central), Savoy(Mount Greylock), Westminster(North Central), Whately(Five College), Williamstown(Mount Greylock).

Region Color: Mohawk Trail Scenery Gold

Hill Towns

This region comprises the large number of Hill Towns between the Berkshires and the Connecticut River Valley.

Region CITIES and Towns(Overlapping Region(s)):
Ashfield, Blandford, Chester, Chesterfield, Conway, Cummington, Goshen, Granville, Huntington, Middlefield, Montgomery, Plainfield, Russell, Tolland, Worthington.

Region CITIES and Towns Primarily Listed in Another Region:
Becket(Central Berkshires), Buckland(Mohawk Trail), Dalton(Central Berkshires), Hawley(Mohawk Trail), Hinsdale(Central Berkshires), Monterey(Southern Berkshires), Otis(Central Berkshires), Peru(Central Berkshires), Sandisfield(Southern Berkshires), Southampton(Five College), Washington(Central Berkshires), Westhampton(Five College), Williamsburg(Five College), Windsor(Mount Greylock).

Region Color: Hill Towns Scenery Orange

Five College

This region in the Pioneer Valley centered around the communities Amherst/Northampton and the colleges in the Five College Consortium. Surrounding towns are included through membership in regional organizations such as the Greater Northampton Chamber and Amherst Regional High School.

Region CITIES and Towns(Overlapping Region(s)):
AMHERST, EASTHAMPTON, Granby, Hadley, Hatfield, Leverett, NORTHAMPTON, Pelham(Quabbin Valley), Shutesbury(Quabbin Valley), South Hadley, Southampton(Hill Towns), Sunderland, Westhampton(Hill Towns), Whately(Mohawk Trail), Williamsburg(Hill Towns).

Region Color: UMass Amherst Official Color Maroon

Greater Springfield

This region comprises communities in southern Pioneer Valley centered around the city of Springfield. It includes nearby Hampden County cities and towns part of the Springfield Metropolitan Area.

Region CITIES and Towns(Overlapping Region(s)):
AGAWAM, CHICOPEE, EAST LONGMEADOW, Hampden, HOLYOKE, Longmeadow, Ludlow, Southwick, SPRINGFIELD, WEST SPRINGFIELD, WESTFIELD, Wilbraham.

Region Color: Springfield Flag Blue

North Central

This region is centered around the cities of Fitchburg, Leominster and Gardner largely spanning northern Worcester County as defined by the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. The member communities of the Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School District are similar in definition of the region.

Region CITIES and Towns(Overlapping Region(s)):
Ashburnham, Athol, FITCHBURG, GARDNER, LEOMINSTER, Lunenburg, Orange(Mohawk Trail), Phillipston, Royalston, Templeton, Westminster(Mohawk Trail), Winchendon.

Region CITIES and Towns Primarily Listed in Another Region:
Ashby(Nashoba Valley), Clinton(Wachusett), Townsend(Nashoba Valley).

Region Color: North Central Chamber Green

Quabbin Valley

This central Massachusetts region comprises communities in the area of the Quabbin Reservoir, which includes those towns that are part of the Quabbin Regional High School.

Region CITIES and Towns(Overlapping Region(s)):
Barre, Belchertown(Quaboag Hills), Hardwick, Hubbardston, New Salem, Oakham, Petersham, Ware(Quaboag Hills).

Region CITIES and Towns Primarily Listed in Another Region:
Pelham(Five College), Shutesbury(Five College).

Region Color: Quabbin Resevoir Blue

Quaboag Hills

This region comprises communities in Hamden and Worcester Counties as identified by the Quaboag Hills Chamber of Commerce, Quaboag Valley Community Development Corporation and the Quaboag Regional School District.

Region CITIES and Towns(Overlapping Region(s)):
Brimfield(South County), Brookfield, East Brookfield, Holland(South County), Monson, New Braintree, North Brookfield, PALMER, Spencer, Wales(South County), Warren, West Brookfield.

Region CITIES and Towns Primarily Listed in Another Region:
Belchertown(Quabbin Valley), Ware(Quabbin Valley).

Region Color: Quaboag Hills Chamber Slate Green

Nashoba Valley

This region comprises communities in northwestern Middlesex and northeastern Worcester counties. Notable namesakes that identify towns in the region include the Nashoba Valley Chamber of Commerce Nashoba Regional High School, UMass Memorial Medical Center at Nashoba Valley and Nashoba Valley Technical High School.

Region CITIES and Towns(Overlapping Region(s)):
Ashby(North Central), Ayer, Bolton, Boxborough(Minuteman), Dunstable, Groton, Harvard, Lancaster, Littleton, Pepperell, Shirley, Stow, Townsend(North Central), Westford.

Region CITIES and Towns Primarily Listed in Another Region:
Acton(Minuteman), Maynard(Metro West).

Region Color: Nashoba Regional High School Gold

Wachusett

This central Massachusetts region comprises communities in the area of Mount Wachusett and the Wachusett Reservoir. Its towns are identified by DiscoverCentralMa.org, the Wachusett Area Chamber of Commerce and Wachusetts Regional High School.

Region CITIES and Towns(Overlapping Region(s)):
Berlin(Metro West), Boylston, Clinton(North Central), Holden(Greater Worcester), Paxton(Greater Worcester), Princeton, Rutland, Sterling, West Boylston(Greater Worcester).

Region Color: Wachusett Scenery Blue

Greater Worcester

This region comprises the city of Worcester and its surrounding towns in Central Massachusetts.

Region CITIES and Towns(Overlapping Region(s)):
Auburn, Leicester, Shrewsbury, WORCESTER.

Region CITIES and Towns Primarily Listed in Another Region:
Holden(Wachusett), Millbury(Blackstone Valley), Paxton(Wachusett), West Boylston(Wachusett).

Region Color: Worcester's Smiley Face Yellow

South County

This region comprises communities in the Sturbridge area of southern Worcester County. Its towns are part of the Chamber of Central Mass South. The region is also part of the Quinebaug River Valley and The Last Green Valley region extending into Connecticut.

Region CITIES and Towns(Overlapping Region(s)):
Charlton, Dudley, Oxford, SOUTHBRIDGE, Sturbridge, Webster.

Region CITIES and Towns Primarily Listed in Another Region:
Brimfield(Quaboag Hills), Holland(Quaboag Hills), Wales(Quaboag Hills).

Region Color: Quinebaug River Blue

Merrimack Valley

This region comprises communities around the cities of Lowell and Lawrence along the Merrimack River and identifed by regional groups such as the Merrimack Valley Regional Planning Commission.

Region CITIES and Towns(Overlapping Region(s)):
AMESBURY(North Shore), Andover, Billerica, Chelmsford, Dracut, Groveland(North Shore), HAVERHILL, LAWRENCE, LOWELL, Merrimac, METHUEN, North Andover, Tewksbury, Tyngsborough, West Newbury(North Shore).

Region CITIES and Towns Primarily Listed in Another Region:
Boxford(North Shore), Georgetown(North Shore), Middleton(North Shore).

Region Color: Merrimack Valley Scenery Green

Minuteman

This region comprises communities in the area of the Minute Man National Historical Park. It also includes member communities of the Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical High School, towns along the Minuteman Commuter Bikeway and communities of the Minuteman Advisory Group on Interlocal Coordination.

Region CITIES and Towns(Overlapping Region(s)):
Acton(Nashoba Valley), Bedford, Carlisle, Concord, Lexington(Inner West), Lincoln(Metro West).

Region CITIES and Towns Primarily Listed in Another Region:
Boxborough(Nashoba Valley).

Region Color: Captain William Smith House Minute Man National Historical Park Orange

North Suburban

This region comprises inland north suburban Boston cities and towns as largely defined by the North Suburban Planning Council. Its cities and towns are the northern area of a larger Metro North region as identified by the Metro North Regional Employment Board and the MassHire Metro North Workforce Board, which also includes communities in the Greater Boston region.

Region CITIES and Towns(Overlapping Region(s)):
Burlington, Lynnfield, MELROSE, North Reading, Reading, Stoneham, Wakefield, Wilmington, Winchester, WOBURN.

Region Color: Metropolitan Area Planning Council Green

Metro West

This region comprises communities west of Boston centered around Framingham and Natick as identified by the Metro West Chamber of Commerce. The MetroWest Economic Research Center and the MetroWest Regional Collaborative identify overlapping cities and towns in the region.

Region CITIES and Towns(Overlapping Region(s)):
Ashland(Neponset/Tri Valley), FRAMINGHAM, Hudson, MARLBOROUGH, Maynard(Nashoba Valley), Natick, Northborough, Southborough, Sudbury, Wayland, Westborough.

Region CITIES and Towns Primarily Listed in Another Region:
Berlin(Wachusett), Dover(Neponset/Tri Valley), Lincoln(Minuteman), Sherborn(Neponset/Tri Valley), Wellesley(Inner West), Weston(Inner West).

Region Color: Metro West Visitors Guide Salmon

Blackstone Valley

This region comprises communities in the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor. It also includes member communities of the Blackstone Valley Technical School

Region CITIES and Towns(Overlapping Region(s)):
Blackstone, Douglas, Grafton, Mendon(Tri-County), Millbury(Greater Worcester), Millville, Northbridge, Sutton, Upton(Tri-County), Uxbridge.

Region CITIES and Towns Primarily Listed in Another Region:
Hopedale(Tri-County).

Region Color: Blackstone Valley Tech Purple

Tri-County

This region comprises communities in the I-495 corridor southwest of Boston as identified by the Tri-County Chamber and the Tri-County Regional Vocational School District. It also includes communities in the headwaters and and upper portions of the Charles River.

Region CITIES and Towns(Overlapping Region(s)):
Bellingham(Neponset/Tri Valley), FRANKLIN(Hockomock), Holliston(Neponset/Tri Valley), Hopedale(Blackstone Valley), Hopkinton(Neponset/Tri Valley), Medway(Neponset/Tri Valley), Milford, Millis(Neponset/Tri Valley).

Region CITIES and Towns Primarily Listed in Another Region:
Mendon(Blackstone Valley), Upton(Blackstone Valley).

Region Color: Tri-County Regional Chamber Green

North Shore

This region generally comprises communities between Boston and New Hampshire along the coast of Massachusetts. A strictly coastal definition is made by the Massachusetts Coastal Zone Map with inland towns included in definitions such as the North Shore Alliance for Economic Development.

Region CITIES and Towns(Overlapping Region(s)):
BEVERLY, Boxford(Merrimack Valley), Danvers, Georgetown(Merrimack Valley), Hamilton, Ipswich, LYNN, Marblehead, Middleton(Merrimack Valley), Nahant, Newbury, NEWBURYPORT, PEABODY, REVERE(Greater Boston), Rowley, SALEM, Salisbury, Saugus, Swampscott, Topsfield, Wenham, WINTHROP.

Region CITIES and Towns Primarily Listed in Another Region:
AMESBURY(Merrimack Valley), Groveland(Merrimack Valley), West Newbury(Merrimack Valley).

Region Color: North Shore Weathered Cedar Gray

Cape Ann

The Cape Ann region is a coastal peninsula on the north shore around the city of Gloucester.

Region CITIES and Towns(Overlapping Region(s)):
Essex, GLOUCESTER, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Rockport.

Region Color: Rockport's Motif #1 Barn Red

Inner West

This region comprises inner western suburban communities around and inside the Route 128/I-95 corridor along the Charles River as identifed by the Charles River Regional Chamber, the lower portion of the Charles River Watershed and the Upper Charles River Reservation.

Region CITIES and Towns(Overlapping Region(s)):
Arlington, Belmont, Needham, NEWTON(Greater Boston), WALTHAM, WATERTOWN, Wellesley(Metro West), Weston(Metro West).

Region CITIES and Towns Primarily Listed in Another Region:
Lexington(Minuteman).

Region Color: Wellesley Flag Green

Greater Boston

This region comprises inner core communities in the Greater Boston region with MBTA subway stations.

Region CITIES and Towns(Overlapping Region(s)):
BOSTON, Brookline, CAMBRIDGE, CHELSEA, EVERETT, MALDEN, MEDFORD, SOMERVILLE.

Region CITIES and Towns Primarily Listed in Another Region:
BRAINTREE(South Shore), Milton(Neponset/Tri Valley), NEWTON(Inner West), QUINCY(South Shore), REVERE(North Shore).

Region Color: Boston Official Color Continental Blue

Neponset/Tri Valley

This region comprises communities in the Neponset and Tri-Valley region southwest of Boston as named and identified by the Neponset River Regional Chamber, the Neponset Valley Regional Coordinating Council and the Tri-Valley League. It also includes the Blue Hills region as defined by the Blue Hills Regional Technical School.

Region CITIES and Towns(Overlapping Region(s)):
Canton(Hockomock), Dedham, Dover(Metro West), Medfield, Milton(Greater Boston), Norwood, Sharon(Hockomock), Sherborn(Metro West), Walpole, Westwood.

Region CITIES and Towns Primarily Listed in Another Region:
Ashland(Metro West), Bellingham(Tri-County), Foxborough(Hockomock), Holliston(Tri-County), Hopkinton(Tri-County), Medway(Tri-County), Millis(Tri-County), Stoughton(Metro South).

Region Color: Blue Hills Powder Blue

Hockomock

This region is named for the Hockomock Swamp and comprises communities in its freshwater wetland system. This region also includes those communities that are part of the Hockomock High School Athletics League and the Hockomock Area YMCA.

Region CITIES and Towns(Overlapping Region(s)):
ATTLEBORO, BRIDGEWATER(Metro South), Easton(Metro South), Foxborough(Neponset/Tri Valley), Mansfield, Norfolk, NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH, Norton, Plainville, Raynham, TAUNTON, West Bridgewater(Metro South), Wrentham.

Region CITIES and Towns Primarily Listed in Another Region:
Canton(Neponset/Tri Valley), FRANKLIN(Tri-County), Sharon(Neponset/Tri Valley), Stoughton(Metro South).

Region Color: Hockomock YMCA Purple

Metro South

This region comprises communities south of Boston centered around the city of Brockton as identified by the Metro South Chamber of Commerce.

Region CITIES and Towns(Overlapping Region(s)):
Abington, Avon, BROCKTON, East Bridgewater, Halifax(Cranberry), Hanson, Holbrook(South Shore), RANDOLPH, Rockland(South Shore), Stoughton(Neponset/Tri Valley), Whitman.

Region CITIES and Towns Primarily Listed in Another Region:
BRIDGEWATER(Hockomock), Canton(Neponset/Tri Valley), Easton(Hockomock), Sharon(Neponset/Tri Valley), West Bridgewater(Hockomock).

Region Color: Metro South Chamber Green

South Shore

This region generally comprises communities stretching south from Boston to Cape Cod along the shores of Massachusetts Bay and Cape Cod Bay. Inland towns are also included by some definitions such as the South Shore Chamber of Commerce.

Region CITIES and Towns(Overlapping Region(s)):
BRAINTREE(Greater Boston), Cohasset, Duxbury, Hanover, Hingham, Hull, Kingston, Marshfield, Norwell, Pembroke, Plymouth, QUINCY(Greater Boston), Scituate, WEYMOUTH.

Region CITIES and Towns Primarily Listed in Another Region:
Carver(Cranberry), Holbrook(Metro South), Plympton(Cranberry), Rockland(Metro South).

Region Color: Plymouth Blue

Cranberry

This region comprises communities around the Plymouth County town of Middleborough, proclaimed as the "Cranberry Capital of the World." The region includes inland towns in southeastern Massachusetts with Cranberry agritourism and growers.

Region CITIES and Towns(Overlapping Region(s)):
Carver(South Shore), Lakeville(South Coast), Middleborough, Plympton(South Shore), Rochester(South Coast).

Region CITIES and Towns Primarily Listed in Another Region:
Halifax(Metro South).

Region Color: Cranberry

South Coast

This region comprises southeastern Massachusetts communities centered around the cities of Fall River and New Bedford bordering Buzzard's Bay. A similar region is defined by the One SouthCoast Chamber of Commerce.

Region CITIES and Towns(Overlapping Region(s)):
Acushnet, Berkley, Dartmouth, Dighton, Fairhaven, FALL RIVER, Freetown, Marion, Mattapoisett, NEW BEDFORD, Rehoboth, Seekonk, Somerset, Swansea, Wareham, Westport.

Region CITIES and Towns Primarily Listed in Another Region:
Lakeville(Cranberry), Rochester(Cranberry).

Region Color: South Coast Sea Foam

Upper Cape

This region comprises communities in upper Cape Cod as identified by the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce. The region is also defined by towns as part of the Upper Cape Technical High School.

Region CITIES and Towns(Overlapping Region(s)):
Bourne, Falmouth, Mashpee, Sandwich.

Region Color: Cape Guide Regions Map Yellow

Mid Cape

This region comprises communities in mid Cape Cod as identified by the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce.

Region CITIES and Towns(Overlapping Region(s)):
BARNSTABLE, Dennis, Yarmouth.

Region Color: Cape Guide Regions Map Blue

Lower Cape

This region comprises communities in lower Cape Cod as identified by the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce.

Region CITIES and Towns(Overlapping Region(s)):
Brewster, Chatham, Harwich, Orleans.

Region Color: Cape Guide Regions Map Green

Outer Cape

This region comprises communities in outer peninsula of Cape Cod as identified by the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce.

Region CITIES and Towns(Overlapping Region(s)):
Eastham, Provincetown, Truro, Wellfleet.

Region Color: Cape Guide Regions Map Orange

Islands

This region comprises communities on the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.

Region CITIES and Towns(Overlapping Region(s)):
Chilmark, Edgartown, Aquinnah, Gosnold, Nantucket, Oak Bluffs, Tisbury, West Tisbury.

Region Color: Oak Bluff's Ginger Bread Cottages Pink

Other Massachusetts Region Definitions (Sorted by Number of Regions)