Life in the Pioneer Valley

The Best of Western Massachusetts

The Pioneer Valley stretches from the city of Springfield to the hilltowns bordering Vermont—encompassing a metropolitan area of more than half a million and the surrounding villages, former milltowns and farming communities that lie along the Connecticut River.

Life here can can be summed up in two words: diversity and convenience.

Springfield boasts many of the amenities of larger cities, but with a more relaxed, small-town feeling.

Explore..

• the prestigious colleges in Amherst and Northampton

• historic New England at Sturbridge Village or Historic Deerfield

• eccentric farmers at Mike's corn maze and Tregelly's fiber farm

• museums that celebrate basketball, the Springfield rifle and Dr. Seuss.

...or go hiking, kayaking, skiing, golfing, fly fishing, biking, x-country skiing or even scuba diving in the great outdoors.

It's easy to see why so many of our residents choose to stay on and make a life here!

#4 on Country Home Magazine's 2007 list of "Best Green Cities"

Judged on its:

• air and watershed quality

• miles of mass transit

• green power

• farmers markets, organic producers and groceries

• ... and more
  Read Best Green Cities Report

  compiled with the help of Sperling’s BestPlaces

Fireworks in downtown Springfield

About the Springfield Area

Population

Metro Area: 600,000
Springfield City: 157,000

MA sales tax 5%

Average home price

Metro Area: $87,300

County: $117,400

Average commute time 21 min

Average temperatures

January 27°

July 75°

Springfield Interactive Map

Trivia

• It was the first city in the U.S. to be named Springfield.

• Basketball was invented here in 1891, using peach baskets and a soccer ball.

• It was chosen by General George Washington to be the site of the nation's first armory.

• It's the birthplace of Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel).