Population 84,610 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Somerville
Household size in Somerville
| Period | Somerville | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.30 | 2.54 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.37 | 2.59 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.38 | 2.60 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.27 | 2.55 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.03 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Somerville are small: just 2.27 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has edged down from 2.30 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Somerville
| Period | Somerville | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.3 | 38.9 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 32.4 | 39.7 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 32.5 | 40.4 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 32.9 | 40.8 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.6 | +1.9 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
Somerville is young: half of its residents are under 32.9, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young adults, many of them living alone or as couples. Since 2006–10, the median age has crept up from 32.3, a smaller shift than nationally. Only five of the 275 Massachusetts cities with 5,000+ people are younger.
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 Somerville
| Period | Somerville | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.0% | 10.4% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.7% | 10.2% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.6% | 9.6% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.9% | 9.7% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −4.1 pts | −0.7 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Somerville: 3.9% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has fallen 4.1 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of the 275 Massachusetts cities with 5,000+ people, only 13 have a lower share of single-parent households.
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 Somerville
Renters in Somerville
| Period | Somerville | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 66.3% | 36.8% | 36.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 65.3% | 38.5% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 66.1% | 38.3% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 65.7% | 38.4% | 37.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in Somerville: 65.7% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. More than a quarter of owners (27.6%) have paid off their mortgages, well below the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged down 0.6 points, even as the national share rose. Only five of the 275 Massachusetts cities with 5,000+ people 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 Somerville
| Period | Somerville | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.7% | 8.1% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 5.1% | 7.4% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.5% | 7.3% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.6% | 6.7% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.1 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Somerville than nationally: 6.6%, against 9.6% for the U.S. That is in line with the rest of the Boston area. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 3.1 points, mirroring the country.
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 Somerville
| Period | Somerville | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1939 | 1958 | 1958 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1940 | 1959 | 1959 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1941 | 1961 | 1961 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1945 | 1964 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +6 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Somerville is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1945, 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 1939 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the east, while the north has the oldest housing. Only four of the 275 Massachusetts cities with 5,000+ people 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 Somerville
| Period | Somerville | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,313 | $1,171 | $1,085 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,479 | $1,251 | $1,157 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,887 | $1,537 | $1,398 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,529 | $2,051 | $1,860 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,216 | +$881 | +$775 | +$606 |
Rent in Somerville runs $2,529 a month at the median, utilities included, well above the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $1,216 a month since 2006–10, up 93%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 25.8% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Rents run highest in the west and lowest in the southeast.
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 Somerville
Bachelor's degrees in Somerville
| Period | Somerville | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 52.6% | 42.2% | 38.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 56.0% | 44.1% | 40.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 65.2% | 48.2% | 43.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 70.5% | 51.9% | 47.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +18.0 pts | +9.7 pts | +8.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
Somerville is highly educated: about seven in ten adults 25 and older (70.5%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 18.0 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the west and least in the southeast.
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 Somerville
| Period | Somerville | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.9% | 89.8% | 88.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.4% | 90.6% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.2% | 91.5% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.3% | 91.8% | 91.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.4 pts | +2.1 pts | +2.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Somerville is above the national rate: 93.3% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. That is in line with the rest of the Boston area. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 4.4 points, in line with the national trend.
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 Somerville
| Period | Somerville | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.6% | 7.0% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.7% | 8.0% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.5% | 4.6% | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.2% | 4.9% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.4 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Somerville has been low: just 3.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 3.4 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. 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).
Somerville compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Somerville | 2.27 | 32.9 | 3.9% | 65.7% | 6.6% | 1945 | $2,529 | 70.5% | 93.3% | 3.2% |
| Cambridge | 2.07 | 32.1 | 6.3% | 66.6% | 11.0% | 1959 | $2,761 | 81.4% | 96.4% | 3.3% |
| Medford | 2.42 | 38.0 | 7.9% | 45.4% | 7.1% | 1950 | $2,421 | 59.6% | 94.1% | 3.9% |
| Charlestown | 2.14 | 36.7 | 9.4% | 49.3% | 6.3% | 1954 | $2,333 | 72.5% | 91.7% | 4.0% |
| Allston | 2.21 | 28.4 | 6.2% | 87.6% | 10.5% | 1955 | $2,483 | 73.5% | 95.3% | 5.9% |
| Watertown | 2.47 | 43.4 | 12.3% | 49.8% | 3.6% | 1938 | $3,082 | 80.7% | 99.7% | 3.2% |
| Everett | 2.95 | 36.8 | 16.4% | 62.8% | 9.1% | 1949 | $2,022 | 24.7% | 77.7% | 5.0% |
| Arlington | 2.41 | 42.6 | 5.2% | 38.4% | 5.6% | 1947 | $2,047 | 76.9% | 98.1% | 2.8% |
| Belmont | 2.61 | 44.3 | 7.1% | 34.7% | 5.9% | 1946 | $2,468 | 80.9% | 97.6% | 4.5% |
| Malden | 2.57 | 36.9 | 10.4% | 58.7% | 8.9% | 1955 | $2,246 | 46.0% | 85.9% | 4.7% |
| Chelsea | 3.11 | 34.8 | 19.9% | 74.0% | 5.3% | 1955 | $1,958 | 21.3% | 69.9% | 9.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Richmond, TX · Richardson, TX · Rio Rancho, NM · Rochester Hills, MI · Redondo Beach, CA · Richmond, CA · Rockford, IL · Riverview, FL · Rialto, CA · Riverside, CA
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 Somerville. 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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