Massachusetts Demographics 2026: Population, Income, Race & Trends Explained, Population Review

Population & Growth

Massachusetts's 6,992,395 residents make it the 15th-most populous US state. Over the long term, the state has been gaining population — +112.0% from 1910 to 2024.

Population density: 896 people per square mile. By comparison, the US national average is roughly 94/sq mi, while New Jersey leads with ~1,260/sq mi and Alaska is the lowest at ~1.3/sq mi.

Race & Ethnicity

By Census ACS classification, Massachusetts is:

70.7% White (alone)
7.0% Black or African American
0.0% Asian
1.0% Hispanic or Latino (any race)
0.0% two or more races

Hispanic/Latino is counted as an ethnicity separate from race under Census methodology, so totals can exceed 100% in some breakdowns. The full racial composition (including Native Hawaiian, American Indian, etc.) is available on the Massachusetts state page.

Income & Economy

Median household income in Massachusetts is $101,341, with per-capita income at $56,284. 6.6% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Unemployment rate: 3.5%.

Income is concentrated in metro counties — see the county-level rankings on the cities ranking page and counties ranking page for sub-state variation.

Age & Households

Median age in Massachusetts: 40.0 years (US median ~39). The population is 48.9% male and 51.1% female.

Largest Cities in Massachusetts

Boston city — population 663,972
Worcester city — population 205,501
Springfield city — population 154,751
Cambridge city — population 117,794
Lowell city — population 114,799

Largest Counties in Massachusetts

Middlesex County — population 1,622,896
Worcester County — population 861,664
Essex County — population 807,258
Suffolk County — population 782,172
Norfolk County — population 724,540

How Massachusetts Compares Nationally

By population: ranked 15th of 50 states. By median household income: see the richest states ranking. By population growth: see fastest growing states. By cost of living: see cheapest states to live.

See the complete Massachusetts state page with full demographic breakdown, age pyramid, languages, education, housing, and commute data →

Frequently Asked Questions

Massachusetts has a population of 6,992,395 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, ranking 15th among the 50 states. Population density is 896 people per square mile.

Massachusetts is gaining population, with a +112.0% change since 1910 (3,366,416 → 6,992,395). This is reported via Census ACS rolling 5-year estimates; for monthly/annual estimates between Census years, see the Census Population Estimates Program.

70.7% of Massachusetts's population identifies as White, 7.0% as Black or African American, 0.0% as Asian, and 1.0% as Hispanic or Latino (any race). Hispanic/Latino is counted as an ethnicity separate from race under Census methodology, so totals may exceed 100%.

Median household income in Massachusetts is $101,341 per the 2023 ACS. Per-capita income: $56,284. 6.6% of residents live below the federal poverty line.

The median age in Massachusetts is 40.0 years. The population is 48.9% male and 51.1% female. Age distribution and population pyramids by 5-year age bands are visible on the Massachusetts state page.

The largest cities in Massachusetts by population: Boston city (663,972), Worcester city (205,501), Springfield city (154,751), Cambridge city (117,794), Lowell city (114,799).

California is the most populous US state at roughly 39 million, followed by Texas (~30M), Florida (~22M), New York (~20M), and Pennsylvania (~13M). Massachusetts ranks 15th. Detailed rankings update each ACS release cycle.

Across recent Census Population Estimates, West Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Illinois have shown the largest sustained population declines. Massachusetts's own trend is gaining. National state-by-state rankings are published annually by the Census Population Estimates Program.

All demographic data on this page comes from the US Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, currently the 2023 release. Historical population figures use Census Population Estimates Program annual estimates. Data is public domain and freely available at census.gov.