AreaProfile

Massachusetts Area Profiles

4 published city profiles across Massachusetts, each built from the same authoritative sources and compared on the same terms.

Statewide signals

affordability41st of 51 states70
OpportunityTop 32% of 51 states56
Growth37th of 51 states42
ClimateTop 48% of 51 states63
Physical resilienceTop 8% of 51 states87
AccessTop 18% of 51 states87
Economic stabilityTop 12% of 51 states83

Cities

CityPopulationOpportunityGrowthArea Score
Boston666,442684773
Boston666,442684769
Worcester207,055586768
Worcester207,055586767

Strongest opportunity

  1. Boston 68
  2. Boston 68
  3. Worcester 58
  4. Worcester 58

Fastest development

  1. Worcester 67
  2. Worcester 67
  3. Boston 47
  4. Boston 47

Statewide physical risk

HurricaneElevated
EarthquakeModerate
Ice stormModerate
Coastal floodingModerate

Low or minimal exposure: inland flooding, lightning, heat wave, strong wind, cold wave, tornado, landslide, drought, winter weather, wildfire, hail, avalanche.

Population-weighted across every county in Massachusetts, derived from the FEMA National Risk Index. Exposure varies substantially within a state — check the individual city and ZIP profiles.

Statewide data

MetricValueCompared with peersSource period
Average household size ±0.012.44Bottom 39%2024 ACS 5-Year
Households ±5,1822,785,042Top 29%2024 ACS 5-Year
Median age ±0.140.0Top 33%2024 ACS 5-Year
Population7,044,056Top 29%2024 ACS 5-Year
Population density903/sq miTop 8%2024 ACS 5-Year
Home price to income5.41Top 14%2024 ACS 5-Year
Homeownership rate62.5%Bottom 8%2024 ACS 5-Year
Housing units ±4533,030,406Top 29%2024 ACS 5-Year
Median gross rent ±$9$1,762Top 6%2024 ACS 5-Year
Median home value ±$2,169$562,100Top 8%2024 ACS 5-Year
Rent as a share of income20.3%Top 33%2024 ACS 5-Year
Vacancy rate8.1%Bottom 18%2024 ACS 5-Year
Median household income ±$527$103,960Top 2%2024 ACS 5-Year
Per capita income ±$291$57,897Top 2%2024 ACS 5-Year
Poverty rate10.0%Bottom 18%2024 ACS 5-Year
Average commute31.4 minTop 8%2024 ACS 5-Year
Bachelor's degree or higher47.3%Top 2%2024 ACS 5-Year
Employment3,737,820Top 26%July 2026
Employment change (3 years)0.3%Top 44%July 2026
Employment change (year over year)-1.8%Bottom 32%July 2026
Labor force3,920,287Top 26%July 2026
Labor force participation67.0%Top 16%2024 ACS 5-Year
Unemployment change (year over year)0.0%Top 28%July 2026
Unemployment rate4.7%Top 22%July 2026