I had the interesting experience of living in Massachusetts for a few years, and what non-residents should know is that the cost of living is ridiculously high, and the taxes are outrageous. The climate runs to extremes: hot and muggy in the summer, very cold and heavy, HEAVY snow in winter.
The politics, in general, lie somewhere to the Left of Mao-Tse Tung. The unemployment rate is a little under 6 percent, which ranks it at about the current national average.
There is some natural charm. The state consists of small towns - most of them no more than a village or hamlet - connected by country roads through heavily-wooded areas. The minor cities - Wooster, Fitchburg, etc.- are rather dirty, bleak and unimpressive. Boston - the only major city - is impressive, but impossible to reside in unless you make one heck of a lot of money.
Most of the commonwealth is populated by families that have resided there for generations, with the exception of Boston, which consists of mostly resettled uber-liberals from other states.