There’s no place like home and living in Massachusetts definitely comes with its own special perks. Bay Staters have some unique privileges that make life in Massachusetts a totally amazing experience. Long-time locals and newcomers alike will agree that this state really does have a charm all its own. 

1. We have the privilege of enjoying the best version of clam chowder.
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Hold the tomatoes, please. Massachusetts clam chowder is thick, creamy, and packed with all the good stuff, like potatoes and tender clams. We don’t have to deal with that thin, brothy stuff they serve in other New England states.
2. We have the best schools in the country.
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With MIT, Harvard University, and Boston University all within a few minutes of each other, Massachusetts is an education powerhouse. Not to mention that we consistently rank among the top states in the nation for public education.
3. Bay Staters get to enjoy the true beauty of fall.
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We feel sorry for states that have to make do with a handful of brown leaves and a bit of rain every autumn. Come September, Massachusetts is a fall wonderland. Corn mazes, pumpkin patches, old-fashioned cider mills, and Halloween celebrations are unmatched in the country (thanks, Salem!) Plus, our foliage is top-rate.
4. We’re the cradle of democracy in America.
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America as we know it was born in Massachusetts. The Bay State was the center of the push for independence from Britain. The Boston Tea Party, the ride of Paul Revere, the Boston Massacre, and the Battles of Lexington and Concord all happened in Massachusetts.
5. We can be proud of the fact that Massachusetts was the first state to totally abolish slavery.
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In 1783, Massachussetts became the first state to abolish slavery outright. Pennsylvania had previously abolished slavery for any slave born after 1780, but Massachusetts did away with the institution of slavery completely with a judicial decree in 1783. We can be proud of being the first state in the nation to take that first necessary step towards equality.

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6. Our summers are unrivaled.
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Okay, we may be biased, but we really think Massachusetts summers are pretty much the best in the world. Between heading down to the Cape for clam shacks and white sand beaches, spending a weekend on Nantucket, and kicking back to the sounds of an outdoor Tanglewood concert in the Berkshires, there’s just something special about summer in the Bay State.
7. We’re basically a factory for famous people.
Wikimedia Commons/Beth Madison
The list of celebrities and famous public figures from Massachusetts is staggering. Bette Davis, Matt Damon, Uma Thurman, Dr. Suess, Leanord Nimoy, Henry David Thoreau, Samuel Adams, and Nancy Kerrigan are all Massachusetts natives.

We can also lay claim to Michael Bloomberg, Jay Leno, Amy Poehler, Barbara Walters, Emily Dickinson, Edgar Allan Poe, John Updike, Donna Summer, Carly Simon, and Billy Squier.
8. You can’t get seafood like this just anywhere.
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One perk to having so much coastline? Fresh seafood is almost always within reach. From juicy lobster to the most succulent fried clams you’ll ever taste, Massachusetts knows a thing or two about seafood.
9. We have a little bit of every kind of natural beauty.
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Mountains? We’ve got ‘em. Gorgeous beaches? Check. Rolling farmland? Plenty of that around. Heck, we even have sand dunes as far as the eye can see up in Provincetown. We may be a little low on rainforest, but the size of our mosquitoes may make you feel like you’re in the tropics.
10. Southern charm may be nice, but a Massachusetts native will always tell it like it is.
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The famed directness of New Englanders is no myth. You can always count on someone from Massachusetts to give it to you straight. We may come off as blunt sometimes, but we’re also some of the friendliest folks in the nation. Just don’t take the parking spot we spent two hours shoveling.
11. There’s always something new to discover.
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Massachusetts definitely isn’t a one-trick pony. You can always find somewhere new to explore in the Bay State. Our countless hiking trails, restaurants, theaters, beaches, and attractions make every day an adventure.

There you have it – just a small handful of the privileges that come with living in Massachusetts. Did we miss any? What are your favorite things about living in the Bay State?

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