I can rate it only as a visitor, and even then as a visitor only to certain parts of it. My late cousin lived in Chelmsford, near Boston, and we visited his family a number of times. I always liked Boston, and always wished it was closer to NJ, so I could explore it at greater length. I also spent some time in Salem, Peabody, and the surrounding region, and enjoyed it as much for its quirky New England seaport feel as for its ambiance of "witchcraft" and deviltry (which is what draws the tourists, I guess). I was more familiar with northwestern Massachusetts; the Berkshire region, which is absolutely lovely, whatever the season, but exquisitely so in the Fall, when the leaves are changing color. There was a point where NY, Connecticut, and Massachusetts all came together, and I'd drive through from Hillsdale, NY, to Egremont, Massachusetts, to Great Barrington, which had some great book stores and record shops. Of course, the natural beauty of the region, with its soaring mountains, shimmering lakes, and rolling fields, was what made it an indispensable part of my itinerary whenever I was anywhere near the area (along with its rich history and the architecture of its age-old homes and buildings). On the other side of the state, I have a great aunt who lives in Cape Cod, and the beauty and class of that area makes a joke of those who extoll the "beauty" of the Jersey Shore, let's say, or parts of Florida. And it's liberal, so what's not to love?