Massachusetts Population in 2024 – What’s The Data Telling Us

As of 2024, the population of Massachusetts stands at approximately 7,020,060, making it the third most densely populated state in the country, despite being the seventh smallest in land area according to the World Population Review.

The state has a steady annual population growth rate of about 0.75%, ranking it 28th in growth nationwide.

Massachusetts is bordered by New Hampshire to the north, Vermont to the northwest, New York to the west, Connecticut and Rhode Island to the south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east.

Age Distribution

According to the 2018-2022 ACS 5-Year Estimates, the median age in Massachusetts is 39.8 years.

Of the total population, 15.98% are under the age of 15, 20.64% are between 15 and 29 years old, 46.26% fall within the 30 to 64 age group, 14.83% are aged 65 to 84, and 2.30% are 85 years or older.

Gender Composition

The population of Massachusetts is slightly skewed toward females, who make up 51.04% of the total population, compared to males at 48.96%.

This gender distribution is typical, with a slight majority of females, often attributed to higher life expectancy among women.

Racial Composition

The majority of Massachusetts’s population is White, accounting for 72.67%, followed by multiracial individuals at 7.98%, and Black or African American at 7.14% according to the Neilsbergs article.

Asians comprise 6.98%, while smaller groups include “Some other race” at 4.98%, American Indian and Alaska Native at 0.21%, and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander at 0.04%, reflecting the state’s diverse racial composition.

Massachuset Counties Population 2024

Massachusetts has 14 counties, with Middlesex County being the most populous, housing 1,614,614 residents in 2019, a 7.1% increase since 2010 as per WPR notes.

Worcester (830,839), Suffolk (807,252), Essex (790,638), and Norfolk (705,388) follow as the largest counties.

Suffolk County experienced the highest growth among these, at 11.22%.

Nantucket County, the smallest, grew fastest at 11.41%, reaching 11,327 residents in 2019.

Other sparsely populated counties include Dukes (17,352), Franklin (70,963), and Berkshire (126,348), with Berkshire seeing the largest decline, at -3.79%.

Rapid growth counties include Suffolk (11.22%), Middlesex (7.1%), and Essex (6.06%).

Income Levels

Household incomes in Massachusetts are significantly higher than the national average, with the average being 27% higher and the median 28% higher, reflecting the state’s overall affluence according to the Income By Zip Code.

Richest Zip Codes in Massachusetts

Massachusetts’s wealthiest zip code is 02030 (Dover) with an average household income of $436,767. The top 10 richest zip codes all exceed a mean income of $300,000, reflecting significant concentrations of wealth.

Salary Data

Salaries in Massachusetts are high, with the average salary surpassing $100,000. This reflects a robust economy, high demand for skilled labor, and the inclusion of self-employed individuals in the dataset.

Individual Incomes

The median income for single-person households is $43,774, while the per capita income of $53,513 highlights disparities as it includes non-earning individuals.

Family Income

Families in Massachusetts enjoy high incomes, with the average surpassing $160,000, indicating a strong economic environment for households with multiple earners.

Educational Attainment

Massachusetts has a significantly higher percentage of individuals with post-secondary degrees (+27.2%) compared to the national average.

The state also has fewer individuals without a high school diploma (-23.6%), reflecting higher educational attainment levels overall.

Massachusetts outperforms the national average in advanced degrees, with 90.7% more doctorates, 55.9% more master’s degrees, and 22.6% more bachelor’s degrees according to the Statistical Atlas.

The state also has fewer residents in lower educational categories, such as those with only “Some High School” (-29.0%) or “Less than High School” (-21.0%), emphasizing its strong educational infrastructure and focus on higher education.

Employment Statistics

From May 2024 to October 2024, Massachusetts’s labor force and employment showed steady growth, with the civilian labor force increasing from 3,782.8k to 3,853.6k and employment rising from 3,667.5k to 3,704.0k according to the BLS.

However, unemployment also rose during this period, from 115.3k to 149.7k, pushing the unemployment rate up from 3.0% to 3.9%.

This indicates a mixed trend of workforce expansion alongside growing unemployment, possibly reflecting broader economic shifts or labor market adjustments.

Massachusetts unemployment claims declined last week https://t.co/Y1cD9NeqQj

— The Herald News (@HNNow) November 25, 2024

Housing Market

The median home sale price in Massachusetts rose by 3.3%, reaching $630,600, reflecting a moderately strengthening housing market as per Redfin notes.

The number of homes sold increased significantly by 10.1%, while the median time on the market rose slightly by 2 days, indicating balanced buyer and seller activity.

Top 10 Massachusetts Metros with Fastest-Growing Sales Prices

Wellesley leads Massachusetts metros with a 44.8% surge in home prices, followed by Gloucester at 40.5%. Other fast-growing areas, such as Dracut, Natick, and Westford, show price increases exceeding 30%, reflecting high demand and competitive markets in these regions.

Housing Supply Metrics

The number of homes for sale in Massachusetts increased by 18.6%, and newly listed homes grew by 14.2%, suggesting improving housing supply. Despite this growth, the months of supply remained at 2 months, indicating a market still favoring sellers.

Birth and Death Rates

Massachusetts exhibits a low teen birth rate (5.8) and a high life expectancy (79.6 years), reflecting strong public health outcomes.

The infant mortality rate (3.32) is below the national average, indicating effective neonatal care.

However, the drug overdose death rate (37.4) highlights a significant public health concern, while rates for firearm injuries and homicides remain low compared to national averages.