Profile written by local expert: Andy Castillo

Resting along the banks of the Connecticut River, Springfield, Massachusetts, is located on the southern doorstep of the Pioneer Valley in Western Massachusetts, a region that's loved by outdoorsy types for its natural beauty and abundant hiking trails.

Springfield is also the region's economic hub and an academic center. Several companies are headquartered in the metro area, including Fortune 500 financial services firm MassMutual. Meanwhile, higher education institutions like Springfield College and Western New England University bring in college students who diversify the city's population.

What's more, all the various recreational and employment opportunities that Springfield offers are within easy reach of other major East Coast metro areas. Springfield is about three hours from New York City, 90 minutes from Boston and roughly 30 minutes from Hartford, Connecticut.