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MAMassachusetts Map
Massachusetts on the US map
Massachusetts sits in the Northeast region of the United States — specifically the new england subregion as defined by the US Census Bureau. With an area ranking of #44 of 50, Massachusetts is one of the smallest US states by total area. The map above highlights Massachusetts in gold and color-codes the 49 other states by region.
Whether you're a student studying US geography, a traveler planning a road trip, a teacher building a lesson plan, or simply curious, the goal of this page is to give you a complete picture of where Massachusetts is and what surrounds it. Click any other state on the map above to navigate to its dedicated page.
Capital and largest city
The capital of Massachusetts is Boston — which is also the largest city in the state. About 17 of the 50 US state capitals also hold the title of largest city; Massachusetts is one of them.
The historical reason for these mismatches dates to the late 18th and 19th centuries. When state founders chose capitals, they often deliberately picked smaller, more centrally located towns to avoid concentrating political and commercial power in the same place. They worried that a capital in a major port or commercial city would be too vulnerable to mob influence (a real concern at the time) and would skew political decisions toward commercial interests.
Borders and neighbors
Massachusetts shares land borders with 5 other US states: New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island. Each link goes to that state's dedicated page where you can see its own map, history, and facts.
Geographic features at a glance
- Total area rank: #44 of 50
- Population: 5 to 10 million
- Coastline: atlantic
- Mountain ranges: appalachians
- Time zone: Eastern
- Region: Northeast — new england subregion
- Appalachian range: yes
Major highways and transportation
Massachusetts is connected to the rest of the country by the federal Interstate Highway System (planned by President Eisenhower in the 1950s). Major airports serve Boston, with regional connections to the rest of the state. Amtrak rail service connects parts of Massachusetts to the national passenger rail network, though geographic isolation and population density vary.
Massachusetts notable firsts
- Site of the first public school in America (Boston Latin, 1635) and Harvard (1636)
- One of the 13 original colonies
🌟 Massachusetts trivia
- The first public school (Boston Latin, 1635) and first university (Harvard, 1636) in the US were both founded here.
- Basketball was invented in Springfield, MA by James Naismith in 1891 — using a soccer ball and two peach baskets.
- Boston's "Big Dig" was the most expensive highway project in US history ($24 billion when finished in 2007).
- Cape Cod's lobster rolls, Boston cream pie, and Fluffernutter sandwiches all originated here.
Massachusetts vs similar states
How does Massachusetts compare with 3 other states in the same region and size category?
| State | Capital | Pop | Area rank | Admitted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | Boston | 5 to 10 million | #44 | 1788 |
| Connecticut | Hartford | 1 to 5 million | #48 | 1788 |
| Delaware | Dover | 1 to 5 million | #49 | 1787 |
| Maine | Augusta | 1 to 5 million | #39 | 1820 |
Bordering states (5)
Massachusetts shares borders with 5 other US states, listed alphabetically below. Each link goes to the dedicated state page.
Practice US geography daily — free
Statedoku is a 3×3 daily geography puzzle. Massachusetts appears as an answer or constraint clue on most days that match its region, borders, time zone, or quirks. Five minutes a day.
Play today's puzzle →Similar states to Massachusetts
If this page interested you, you may also want to explore states with similar geography, history, or culture. These states share Massachusetts's region (Northeast) and similar size category: