Trying to figure out where to retire in Massachusetts? Forbes Magazine has two suggestions.

Forbes has just released a state-by-state list of the best places to retire in the United States, with a runner-up and a first-place winner for best place to retire in the state.

To make their selections, Forbes looked at factors like home prices, health care, the cultural scene and how likely people are to experience a natural disaster.

Here’s the top pick and runner up.

Northampton rated best MA city to retire to by Forbes

If you’re looking to retire, head to Western Mass.

Northampton’s median home price is $285,000. It also has no state income tax on Social Security earnings and has a high rank on the Milken Institute’s list of best cities for successful aging, according to Forbes.

With a population of 28,000, Northampton has good air quality and a high number of doctors per capita, the website said. It is also somewhat walkable and very much bikeable.

However, Northampton also has a crime rate above the national average. It also has a state estate and inheritance tax.

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Pittsfield named second best MA city to retire to by Forbes

The runner-up for best place to retire in Massachusetts is another Western Mass city, Pittsfield.

Pittsfield has a good ratio of primary care physicians, a large culture scene in the summer and a very low FEMA natural hazard, according to Forbes.

Forbes also said Pittsfield’s median home price is $283,000, which is 28% below the national median, and the city is pretty walkable and bikeable with good air quality and a population of 43,000.

However, Forbes says Pittsfield does have its demerits. It has a severe crime rate that is above the national average and a millionaire’s surtax of 4% that includes capital gains from the sale of a house.

Rin Velasco is a trending reporter. She can be reached at rvelasco@gannett.com.

A Massachusetts man attending college is among 4 killed in a fiery wrong-way highway crash.

According to Connecticut State Police, on Thursday at approximately 1:45 a.m., Troop G dispatch received 911 calls of a wrong way driver traveling on RT. 15 South, south of exit 53. Troop G dispatch was then notified the vehicle was involved in a head on collision and was engulfed in flames.

Preliminary investigation revealed that a vehicle occupied by Steven Rowland, 65, Thomas Lucian Vitale, 80, and Olga Vitale, 81 (all from Easton), was traveling on Route 15 South, in the right lane. 21-year-old Alexander Dennis of Wayland, MA was traveling northbound in the southbound travel lanes (wrong way), resulting in a head on collision. The vehicle being driven by Dennis became fully engulfed in flames.

All 4 occupants died at the scene. Dennis’ body was so unrecognizable, he wasn’t identified until today.

According to Fairfield University, Dennis had just completed his junior year on campus and was traveling home to Massachusetts for the summer when the car accident occurred. As a student in the College of Arts and Sciences, Alex was a visual and performing arts major with a special interest in film.

“At a time of year when we are actively engaged in the celebration of our students and their accomplishments, a loss like this seems inconceivable. Those who knew and loved Alex will be especially impacted by his passing, and his loss will be felt across campus. Our Jesuit colleagues are available to our community, as are staff members from Campus Ministry and the Counseling Center. For employees, the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) may also be a helpful resource at this time.” -President Mark R. Nemec PhD

C.A.R.S., Stratford Fire Department, Trumbull Fire Department, Stratford E.M.S. and D.O.T. assisted on scene.

Route 15 South was closed for approximately seven hours.

The case is currently being investigated. Contact Troop G at (203) 696-2500 if you witnessed this collision. 

WESTBOROUGH, MA — Scores of turtles will converge on Westborough on Wednesday.

Why? To celebrate the 40th year of one of the longest-running conservation efforts in the U.S. to reinvigorate the endangered red-bellied cooter species.

Starting in 1984, the state Division of Fisheries and Wildlife embarked on an effort to increase the cooter population from a low of 300. Part of that effort involved a “head start” program where schools, museums and research groups helped raise the turtles in captivity for their eventual release.

Many of those conservation partners will head to the MassWildlife headquarters in Westborough on Wednesday to deliver their red-bellied cooters. The state expects to tag the 5,000th turtle raised in the head start program. The celebration will also mark Endangered Species Day, which will officially be observed Friday.

“Over the past forty years, MassWildlife has ‘headstarted’ over 5,000 turtles. As a result, the estimated population of northern red-bellied cooters in Massachusetts has grown from just 300 in the 1980s to over 2,000 adults today,” the agency said in a news release.

Massachusetts has the only population of red-bellied cooters in New England, with the next closest group in New Jersey. The turtles, which can live up to 50 years, and are still listed as endangered by state and federal governments.

Wednesday’s event will feature remarks by federal and state conservation officials, the Massachusetts state herpetologist Mike Jones and participants in the head start program. The event begins at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the MassWildlife headquarters, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough.