1. Stow

Yes, the apple picking is great—but Stow has more going on than fall foliage and cider doughnuts. The town’s scores climbed in nearly every category this year, including diversity, employment, and education. On that last front, a big addition is coming: The $83 million Masters Academy International, a private school focused on athletic excellence, is set to open in the former Bose headquarters this September. And then there’s the land itself. “You definitely get more rolling land and kind of a country feel,” says Kathleen Newton of Advisors Living. “It’s all farms and very beautiful, lush land.” Translation: space to breathe, less than an hour from Boston.

Essex, Mass. / Photo by Denis Tangney Jr/Getty Images

2. Essex

This former shipbuilding community may be known as America’s Antique Capital, but it’s anything but old-fashioned. “Essex is becoming a destination for food enthusiasts, families, and lifestyle-focused buyers,” says Compass agent Amanda Armstrong of the eponymous group, who works in the area. “It is experiencing a remarkable revival.” The numbers back her up: The postcard-perfect town saw a nearly 35 percent increase in median single-family home prices over the past year, pointing to rising demand. Overall, it’s “an ideal choice for buyers seeking a balanced mix of tradition, modern convenience, and long-term value,” she says.

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3. Scituate

Talk about a place on the rise—since last year, this seaside enclave has improved its scores in education, safety, and housing, vaulting a whopping 45 spots in the ranking. Residents appreciate the range of neighborhoods—from North Scituate’s easy transit access to Humarock’s waterfront seclusion and the opportunity to shop (and eat) local in Scituate Harbor, with newcomers joining old standbys like Salt Society and Galley Kitchen & Bar. But mostly, says Scituate-based Coldwell Banker Realtor Elaine Cole, they appreciate its “coastal charm, commuter convenience, and community character.” Luckily, she says, shifting market conditions are starting to favor buyers here, with a recent softening of prices opening up more opportunities. Translation: Get in now before everyone else does.

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4. Maynard

Priced out of tony Sudbury? Its neighbor to the northwest has a median price that’s more than $622,000 lower—and a ranking that jumped 30 spots this year, thanks to gains in housing, diversity, and education scores. “It’s a very quaint downtown that they’re revamping,” says Kathleen Newton, who often drives over from Wayland just for dinner. “It’s been getting a little fancier over the past couple of years.” Exhibit A: Barrels and Vines, a new self-pour wine bar where you can sample by the ounce. Lots tend to run smaller than nearby Stow, and homes skew older, but you get a lot of house for the money—like the four-bedroom, 4,000-plus-square-foot home on a dead-end street that sold in November for $835,000.

Millis. / Photo by Battikha Media; Listing Agent: Mary Crane/Berkshire Hathaway

5. Millis

Yearning for a small-town feel—the kind of place where town hall, a park, and all the schools are clustered together—without the big-ticket prices? Millis, which jumped 41 spots to #57, could be your spot. The town is seeing an influx of buyers priced out of closer-in ’burbs, attracted by shiny new-construction single-families priced around a million bucks, just about 5 miles from the train to Boston. “Millis is nice because we’re not too far from Patriot Place and Foxborough, and the Norfolk commuter rail is right in the town next to us,” says broker Jennifer Colella of Team Signature, who works in the town. Schools are a draw, too—especially with the renowned Spanish-language immersion program. Spend a summer weekend at Tangerini’s Farm with the rest of the families, and you’ll be hooked, too.