Massachusetts Massachusetts Massachusetts (, ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is the most populous state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It borders on the Atlantic Ocean to the east, the states of Connecticut and Rhode Island to the south, New Hampshire and Vermont to the north, and New York to the west. The state is named after the Massachusett tribe, which once inhabited the east side of the area, and is one of the original thirteen states. The capital of Massachusetts is Boston, which is also the most populous city in New England. Over 80% of
Transportation in New England commuter rail service throughout eastern Massachusetts and parts of Rhode Island. The New York City Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Metro-North Railroad provides commuter rail service in southwestern Connecticut, while the Connecticut Department of Transportation operates the Shore Line East commuter rail service along the Connecticut coastline east of New Haven. Amtrak provides interstate rail service throughout New England. Boston is the northern terminus of the Northeast Corridor line. The "Vermonter" connects Vermont to Massachusetts and Connecticut, while the "Downeaster" links Maine to Boston. The largest and busiest airport in New England is Logan International Airport in Boston, which has many daily