Hampden
Located in Southwest Massachusett’s Pioneer Valley, Hampden County borders Connecticut to the south and is roughly an hour and a half from Boston to the east. If you live in Hampden County, there’s a good chance you live in the city of Springfield. The largest city in the Connecticut River Valley, it’s not only the economic and cultural capital of the region but, along with Hartford, it’s part of the Knowledge Corridor where over 32 universities and 150,000 college students can be found. Surrounding Springfield is smaller cities such as Chicopee and Holyoke as well as charming New England towns such as Ludlow and Longmeadow.
If you’re looking for a lifestyle that’s a bit more laidback but close to all of the cultural trappings of the city, you should consider taking a closer look at Hampden County.