My experience is that the hides on a spring bear are much better then fall bears. A bear's fur continues to grow in hibernation, and they aren't rubbing on every tree around. Spring bears are generally much lighter than they will be in the fall after gorging themselves on the bait piles and other food sources.
Massachusetts is close enough to Canada that I'd look there. New Brunswick has many outfitters. I've taken a number of good bears there.
If you want a shot at a really heavy bear, it's hard to compete with the coastal outfitters in Hyde, NC. They've got many bruisers in that area. But .... the cost is a lot higher than it is in other areas.
Bring a camera and enjoy the action on a good bait pile.
