Northampton Awards

AwardAward OrganizationYear 
Best Downtown Shopping in MassachusettsNewEngland.com from the editors at Yankee2023
Tree City USA (Honoring Northampton's commitment to effective urban forest management.)Arbor Day Foundation2022
LEED for Cities GOLD CertificationU.S. Green Building Council2022
Certificate of Alignment with the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear WeaponsNuclearBan.US and International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN)2019
Small Home Hero AwardPioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity2019
Loving Action Dragon AwardClimate Action NOW2018
Tree City USA & Growth Award
Department of Conservation and Recreation
2017
Paul Winske Access Award - Pulaski Park
(for going the extra mile in offering access to persons with disabilities)
Stavros Center for Independent Living2017
Audubon A AwardMassachusetts Audubon Society
2017
America's Top 10 Towns for Craft LoversAmerican Craft Week2016
Municipal Website AwardMassachusetts Municipal Association2015
8th Best Small City in AmericaWalletHub2015
5-Star Community RatingSTAR Communities2014
Walk-Friendly Community (Bronze)Walk-Friendly Communities2012
Bicycle Friendly Community (Bronze)League of American Bicyclists2011
Green Community DesignationMass. Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs2010
Top 25 Arts DestinationsAmerican Style Magazine2000 - 2009
Campaign for Open GovernmentCommon Cause E-Government Award2007, 2008, 2009
Tree City U.S.A. Designation
Arbor Day Foundation2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Great Cities for the Simple LifeAARP magazine2009
Healthy Motion Award
(for commitment to improving bike and pedestrian access)
Mass. Executive Office of Health & Human Services and Transportation & Public Works2007
Great Places in AmericaAmerican Planning Association for Main Street2007
Top Adventure Town in MassachusettsNational Geographic Adventure Magazine2007
Number One Best Place for RetireesNew York Times2007
Top-scoring Commonwealth Capital CommunityCommonwealth on Smart Growth measures2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
Best Downtown Shopping DistrictRetailers Association of Massachusetts Award of Excellence2006
Ten Great Places to Revel in Cinematic GrandeurAcademy of Music Theatre in Northampton, as reported in USA Today 2005's review of Cinema Treasures: A New Look At Classic Movie Theaters by Ross Melnick and Andreas Fuchs2005
Top 100 Best Places to Live
(Ranked number 80)
CNN Money Magazine2005
Most Liberal Place, Medium Sized Cities (25,000-99,000)ePodunk2004
Excellence in Community Development and Affordable HousingMassachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations to Northampton Mayor, Mary Clare Higgins2002
Great Public Houses
Main Street, Northampton, MA
Utne Reader2002
Outstanding Planning Award for Social AdvocacyAmerican Planning Association2002
Great Public Spaces
Main Street, Northampton, MA
Project for Public Spaces2001
Best Places To Live – Big Small TownsBoston Magazine2001
America’s Great Outside Towns – Dream Towns 2001Outside Magazine2001
A Dozen Distinctive DestinationsNational Trust for Historic Preservation2001
100 Best School Districts in the U.S.Offspring: The Magazine of Smart Parenting2000
Number One Best Small Arts Town in AmericaJohn Villani2000
Top 10 Family Friendly TownsParenting Magazine1997