Bristol County, Massachusetts, is being highlighted as a more affordable coastal option for retirees seeking an alternative to Boston, according to a travel publication.
Islands.com described Boston as busy and expensive, with a cost of living 49% higher than the national average, according to Payscale. The report noted that cities in Bristol County, such as New Bedford and Fall River, have a lower cost of living than Boston, according to Salary.com, while still offering access to coastal living, forests, beaches, and easy day trips into nearby Rhode Island.
The county is home to several state parks suited for outdoor activities. Demarest Lloyd State Park features sandy and rocky beaches, grassy hills, and forests, with opportunities for swimming, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing. Gray seals can be seen in winter, and the area supports birding for species including egrets, herons, ospreys, terns, and hawks.
The Freetown-Fall River State Forest covers 5,000 acres with 25 miles of trails and free parking.
West Island State Reservation, a 300-acre island park near Fairhaven also on Buzzards Bay, includes beaches, wetlands, and forests. Its main 1.7-mile West Island Trail loop provides ocean views and passes expansive wetlands of cordgrass. Reviewers on AllTrails have noted the park is typically uncrowded.
Island.com described Fall River as blending 19th-century industrial character with Portuguese culture, featuring bakeries, cafés, and Portuguese restaurants. The city is rated “very walkable” by Walk Score. They highlighted the Lizzie Borden House and the Fall River Waterfront Cultural District along the Taunton River.
New Bedford was highlighted for its maritime and whaling heritage, once known as the “City that Lit the World” and linked to the novel Moby-Dick. The New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park includes 19th-century architecture, Seamen’s Bethel, and the Mariners’ Home. The New Bedford Whaling Museum features large whale and squid statues and a replica whale heart that visitors can crawl through.
