Population 7,044,056 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Massachusetts
Household size in Massachusetts
| Period | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Massachusetts run a little small, averaging 2.52 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Household size is little changed from 2006–10, while the national average fell.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Massachusetts
| Period | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.0 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Massachusetts are younger than 41.4 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 39.4 in 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Massachusetts
| Period | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in Massachusetts than nationally: 10.6%, against 11.6%. Compared with other states, Massachusetts has a lower share of single-parent households than most.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Massachusetts
Renters in Massachusetts
| Period | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 37.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Massachusetts is about as common as it is nationally: 37.5% of households rent, against 34.8%. Among homeowners, 34.2% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has risen 1.5 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Only four of the 50 states and D.C. have a higher share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Massachusetts
| Period | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Massachusetts than nationally: 7.9%, against 9.6% for the U.S. Vacancy is down 1.6 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Massachusetts has a lower vacancy rate than the great majority of states.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Massachusetts
| Period | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1958 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1959 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1961 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Massachusetts is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1963, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1958 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Of the 50 states and D.C., only three have older homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Massachusetts
| Period | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,085 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,157 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,398 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,860 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$775 | +$606 |
Rent in Massachusetts runs $1,860 a month at the median, utilities included, above the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $775 a month since 2006–10, up 71%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 32.2% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Massachusetts
Bachelor's degrees in Massachusetts
| Period | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 40.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 43.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 47.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
Massachusetts is highly educated: nearly half of adults 25 and older (47.2%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 8.7 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only one other state has a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Massachusetts
| Period | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
About nine in ten adults in Massachusetts have finished high school (91.0%), a bit above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 2.6 points, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Massachusetts
| Period | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Massachusetts is close to the national rate: 5.2% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 2.3 points, in line with the national trend. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Massachusetts compared with nearby states
| State | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 2.52 | 41.4 | 10.6% | 37.5% | 7.9% | 1963 | $1,860 | 47.2% | 91.0% | 5.2% |
| Rhode Island | 2.49 | 41.6 | 11.7% | 36.4% | 9.2% | 1961 | $1,448 | 37.8% | 89.4% | 5.9% |
| New Hampshire | 2.51 | 44.2 | 8.5% | 27.2% | 11.7% | 1976 | $1,597 | 41.1% | 94.5% | 3.4% |
| Connecticut | 2.55 | 42.1 | 11.4% | 33.5% | 7.9% | 1967 | $1,702 | 42.3% | 91.2% | 5.6% |
| Vermont | 2.31 | 44.2 | 8.6% | 26.8% | 15.7% | 1973 | $1,306 | 44.6% | 94.8% | 3.5% |
| New York | 2.65 | 40.8 | 11.6% | 45.7% | 9.7% | 1961 | $1,794 | 39.8% | 87.3% | 6.6% |
| Maine | 2.30 | 45.0 | 8.8% | 25.7% | 16.4% | 1975 | $1,230 | 36.5% | 94.8% | 3.9% |
| New Jersey | 2.76 | 40.9 | 11.3% | 36.2% | 6.6% | 1969 | $1,896 | 43.4% | 90.2% | 6.4% |
| Delaware | 2.58 | 43.0 | 12.3% | 27.0% | 9.6% | 1984 | $1,514 | 35.5% | 91.5% | 5.1% |
| Pennsylvania | 2.46 | 42.0 | 10.7% | 30.7% | 9.1% | 1967 | $1,323 | 35.6% | 91.8% | 5.4% |
| Maryland | 2.68 | 40.6 | 11.7% | 32.4% | 7.1% | 1978 | $1,869 | 43.4% | 90.9% | 5.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
States with similar populations: California · Arkansas · Michigan · Maine · Louisiana · Iowa · Indiana · Idaho · Hawaii · Georgia
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Massachusetts. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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