Three Massachusetts communities made Livability’s Top 25 Best Places to Live in the Northeast list. 

Lowell, Worcester and Fall River all made the publication’s ranking of best places to live, which described the region as boasting a “shockingly impressive diversity in food, culture and landscape. 

“From the iconic fisheries of Maine and farmlands of Pennsylvania to the City That Never Sleeps, the Northeast is full of attractions, amenities and aesthetics that draw people in from all around the world,” the report said. “About 85% of the region’s residents live in urban settings, but you can also find beautiful farmlands, peaceful beach communities and plenty of suburbs.”

The three Bay State communities on the list are all cities and they placed pretty high. 

Lowell ranked eighth on the list. Located 35 minutes north of Boston, the city was noted for being known as the “cradle of the Industrial Revolution” in the U.S. At its peak, Lowell had 20 operating mills in 1836 and until the late 19th century when industry moved south. 

Livability said Lowell made the list for its ability to “weave its industrial history into modern amenities” citing examples including Lowell National Historic Park, the refurbishment of old mill buildings into modern apartments, as well as the amount of history throughout the city. Plus, it’s a college city home to UMass Lowell and Middlesex Community College. 

Worcester came in at No. 11 on the list, as a bustling college town. Located in the western part of the state and just under an hour from Boston, it’s home to 35,000 students from colleges including College of the Holy Cross, Clark University, Worcester Polytechnic Institution and Clark University. It also boasts research and biotech firms, quite apt for a city that is known for innovation as the publication noted both the birth control pill and rocket were invented in Worcester. It also boasts loads of amenities including museums, concert halls and four minor-league sports teams. 

Fall River ranked 13th, close to Providence and also under an hour from Boston, and the publication called it a quintessential New England community. Like Lowell, it has a rich mill history, but could be more infamously known for being the home of Lizzie Borden. People come from all over the country to visit the Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast. Additionally, Fall River boasts the largest Portuguese population in the entire country, with half of its residents having Portugal roots. 

No. 1 on the list was Clifton, N.J.