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Population Review

Census ACS · #11 MSA

Boston Metro Area

The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, Ma-Nh Metropolitan Statistical Area has 4,917,661 residents across 2 states. The median household income is $112,484 and the median home value is $610,900.

4,917,661

Population

1411

People / sq mi

$112,484

Median Income

$610,900

Median Home Value

The Boston CBSA covers 3,486 sq mi of land at 1410.6 people per square mile.

Race & Ethnicity

White69.2%
Black or African American7.5%
Asian0.0%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)0.9%

Economy & Income

$112,484

Median Household Income

$61,389

Per Capita Income

5.7%

Poverty Rate

3.3%

Unemployment

Cost of Living

The Boston metro's price level is 108.3 on the BEA Regional Price Parity index (US average = 100), meaning prices are 8.3% higher the US average. The local median income of $112,484 has the buying power of $103,896 in average-priced US metros.

108.3

Price Level (US = 100)

$103,896

COL-Adjusted Median Income

$112,484

Nominal Median Income

Housing

$610,900

Median Home Value

$1,940

Median Rent

61.8%

Homeownership

Education

92.3%

High School+

51.2%

Bachelor's+

Commute

9.0%

Drive Alone

18.7%

Work From Home

30.5 min

Avg Commute

23.9%

Foreign Born

Boston spans these states

Nearby metros

Largest cities in Massachusetts

Largest counties in Massachusetts

Part of Massachusetts

Other metros

Metro areas in Massachusetts

Metro rankings

Frequently Asked Questions

The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, Ma-Nh Metropolitan Statistical Area has a population of 4,917,661 according to Census ACS 5-Year estimates, making it the #11 largest CBSA in the US.

The median household income in the Boston metro area is $112,484, with a per capita income of $61,389.

The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, Ma-Nh CBSA spans 2 states: Massachusetts, New Hampshire.

Where to stay near Boston

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Data for the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, Ma-Nh CBSA (14460) from the American Community Survey 5-Year estimates. Core-Based Statistical Areas combine cities, suburbs, and surrounding counties tied together by commuting patterns.

What distinguishes Boston is density: among the most densely settled of US metro areas, around 1,411 people per square mile. With 4,917,661 residents, Boston is a metro area in MA, NH.

Earnings sit at the high end: a median household income of $112,484, above the US median of $78,538. Poverty is relatively low for US metro areas at 5.7%, below the national 12.4%. Home prices are steep, with the typical property valued at $610,900, with typical rent around $1,940.

Boston is among the best-educated US metro areas: 51.2% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree, above the national 35.0%.

That density explains much of the rest of the profile in Boston: denser places lean toward renting, shorter commutes by transit, and a younger working-age mix.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.