AreaProfile

Massachusetts Area Profiles

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

Find places in Massachusetts that fit you →

Statewide signals

OpportunityTop 24% of 51 states measured60
Growth37th of 51 states measured42
Housing affordability42nd of 51 states measured58
ClimateTop 48% of 51 states measured63
Physical resilienceTop 8% of 51 states measured87
AccessTop 20% of 51 states measured88
Economic stabilityTop 6% of 51 states measured88

Cities

89 published profiles across 9 areas

Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH

59 cities

CityCountyPopulationArea Score
BostonSuffolk County666,44262
CambridgeMiddlesex County118,79670
LowellMiddlesex County118,36860
BrocktonPlymouth County105,38651
QuincyNorfolk County102,11469
LynnEssex County101,70954
NewtonMiddlesex County89,04472
LawrenceEssex County88,73648
SomervilleMiddlesex County81,03666
FraminghamMiddlesex County72,39963
HaverhillEssex County67,69856
MaldenMiddlesex County65,90663
WalthamMiddlesex County64,90265
BrooklineNorfolk County63,26672
RevereSuffolk County60,01261
MedfordMiddlesex County59,35465
Weymouth TownNorfolk County58,50563
PeabodyEssex County54,69554
MethuenEssex County53,47563
EverettMiddlesex County50,04561
ArlingtonMiddlesex County46,35072
SalemEssex County44,79561
BeverlyEssex County42,66566
WoburnMiddlesex County41,93965
MarlboroughMiddlesex County41,64765
ChelseaSuffolk County39,90858
Braintree TownNorfolk County38,89969
WatertownMiddlesex County35,54367
Randolph TownNorfolk County34,87857
LexingtonMiddlesex County34,29570
Franklin TownNorfolk County33,15475
NeedhamNorfolk County32,45971
NorwoodNorfolk County31,54271
WellesleyNorfolk County30,347—
GloucesterEssex County30,07557
MelroseMiddlesex County29,65072
SaugusEssex County28,77360
MiltonNorfolk County28,58773
Bridgewater TownPlymouth County28,47165
DanversEssex County28,09864
WakefieldMiddlesex County27,79366
BelmontMiddlesex County27,17570
BurlingtonMiddlesex County26,27468
ReadingMiddlesex County25,61271
DedhamNorfolk County25,23769
WinchesterMiddlesex County23,40672
StonehamMiddlesex County23,35569
WilmingtonMiddlesex County23,33669
MarbleheadEssex County20,41367
Winthrop TownSuffolk County18,75967
NewburyportEssex County18,65271
AmesburyEssex County17,40362
AbingtonPlymouth County17,05368
HudsonMiddlesex County15,71964
SwampscottEssex County15,27764
LynnfieldEssex County13,06464
HolbrookNorfolk County11,38067
MaynardMiddlesex County10,71268
HullPlymouth County10,13866

Springfield, MA

8 cities

CityCountyPopulationArea Score
SpringfieldHampden County154,74947
ChicopeeHampden County55,29553
WestfieldHampden County40,37858
HolyokeHampden County37,81350
West Springfield TownHampden County28,77256
Agawam TownHampden County28,53963
LongmeadowHampden County15,69663
Palmer TownHampden County12,38153

Worcester, MA

7 cities

CityCountyPopulationArea Score
WorcesterWorcester County207,05562
LeominsterWorcester County43,90962
FitchburgWorcester County41,79855
MilfordWorcester County27,73163
GardnerWorcester County21,14855
Southbridge TownWorcester County17,92852
WebsterWorcester County12,22857

Providence-Warwick, RI-MA

6 cities

CityCountyPopulationArea Score
New BedfordBristol County100,99849
Fall RiverBristol County94,08252
TauntonBristol County60,43360
AttleboroBristol County46,76263
North Attleborough TownBristol County30,98469
SomersetBristol County18,29866

Amherst Town-Northampton, MA

3 cities

CityCountyPopulationArea Score
Amherst TownHampshire County38,18267
NorthamptonHampshire County30,96265
EasthamptonHampshire County16,08666

Barnstable Town, MA

2 cities

CityCountyPopulationArea Score
Barnstable TownBarnstable County49,56857
South YarmouthBarnstable County11,55250

Pittsfield, MA

2 cities

CityCountyPopulationArea Score
PittsfieldBerkshire County43,45747
North AdamsBerkshire County12,60642

Greenfield, MA

1 city

CityCountyPopulationArea Score
GreenfieldFranklin County17,66444

Nantucket, MA

1 city

CityCountyPopulationArea Score
NantucketNantucket County10,01759

Strongest opportunity

  1. Nantucket 89
  2. Cambridge 71
  3. Somerville 69
  4. Newton 68
  5. Newburyport 66

Fastest development

  1. Taunton 81
  2. Nantucket 78
  3. Franklin Town 77
  4. Newburyport 74
  5. Salem 73

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, tsunami, volcanic activity.

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 nationallySource period
Broadband access ±0.1%2024 ACS 5-Year92.8%Top 12%of 522024 ACS 5-Year
Distance to major airportNASR current cycle29 miTop 24%of 51NASR current cycle
Major airports within 100 milesNASR current cycle6Top 14%of 51NASR current cycle
No internet access ±0.1%2024 ACS 5-Year5.2%Top 16%of 522024 ACS 5-Year
Annual precipitation1991-2020 Normals43.9"68th percentileof 511991-2020 Normals
Average January low1991-2020 Normals21°F48th percentileof 511991-2020 Normals
Average July high1991-2020 Normals86°F36th percentileof 511991-2020 Normals
Comfortable months1991-2020 Normals5Bottom 22%of 511991-2020 Normals
Seasonal temperature swing1991-2020 Normals44°F46th percentileof 511991-2020 Normals
Average household size ±0.012024 ACS 5-Year2.4439th percentileof 522024 ACS 5-Year
Households ±5,1822024 ACS 5-Year2,785,04271st percentileof 522024 ACS 5-Year
Median age ±0.12024 ACS 5-Year40.067th percentileof 522024 ACS 5-Year
Population2024 ACS 5-Year7,044,05671st percentileof 522024 ACS 5-Year
Population change (1 year)July 1, 2024 estimate+1.0%Top 28%of 51July 1, 2024 estimate
Population change (4 years)July 1, 2024 estimate+2.0%Top 50%of 51July 1, 2024 estimate
Population density2024 ACS 5-Year903/sq mi92nd percentileof 522024 ACS 5-Year
Population estimateJuly 1, 2024 estimate7,136,17170th percentileof 51July 1, 2024 estimate
Average permitted value per unit12 months ending July 2026$339,71994th percentileof 5112 months ending July 2026
Housing units permitted (12 months)12 months ending July 202613,951Bottom 40%of 5112 months ending July 2026
Multifamily share of permits12 months ending July 202658.1%94th percentileof 5112 months ending July 2026
Permit change (3 years)12 months ending July 2026−4.9%Bottom 34%of 5112 months ending July 2026
Permit change (year over year)12 months ending July 2026+11.7%Top 18%of 5112 months ending July 2026
Permits per 1,000 residents12 months ending July 20262.0Bottom 8%of 5112 months ending July 2026
Cost of living index2023107.7Bottom 12%of 512023
Home price change (1 year)2026 Q2+3.2%42nd percentileof 512026 Q2
Home price change (5 years)2026 Q2+41.9%44th percentileof 512026 Q2
Home price change (10 years)2026 Q2+91.9%56th percentileof 512026 Q2
Home price to income ±0.02024 ACS 5-Year4.2Bottom 22%of 522024 ACS 5-Year
Homeownership rate ±0.3%2024 ACS 5-Year62.5%8th percentileof 522024 ACS 5-Year
Housing units ±4532024 ACS 5-Year3,030,40671st percentileof 522024 ACS 5-Year
Median gross rent ±$92024 ACS 5-Year$1,762Bottom 6%of 522024 ACS 5-Year
Median home value ±$2,1692024 ACS 5-Year$562,10092nd percentileof 522024 ACS 5-Year
Median property taxes ±$182024 ACS 5-Year$5,99292nd percentileof 522024 ACS 5-Year
Owner household income ±$7702024 ACS 5-Year$135,402Top 2%of 522024 ACS 5-Year
Property tax rate ±0.01%2024 ACS 5-Year1.07%69th percentileof 522024 ACS 5-Year
Rent as a share of income ±0.3%2024 ACS 5-Year30.9%Bottom 25%of 522024 ACS 5-Year
Seasonal and second homes ±2,5042024 ACS 5-Year112,32876th percentileof 522024 ACS 5-Year
Second homes2024 ACS 5-Year3.7%63rd percentileof 522024 ACS 5-Year
Vacancy rate2024 ACS 5-Year4.4%8th percentileof 522024 ACS 5-Year
Vacant housing units ±5,3512024 ACS 5-Year245,36459th percentileof 522024 ACS 5-Year
Median household income ±$5272024 ACS 5-Year$103,960Top 2%of 522024 ACS 5-Year
Per capita income ±$2912024 ACS 5-Year$57,897Top 2%of 522024 ACS 5-Year
Poverty rate ±0.2%2024 ACS 5-Year9.4%Top 16%of 522024 ACS 5-Year
Average commute ±0.1 min2024 ACS 5-Year31.4 minBottom 8%of 522024 ACS 5-Year
Bachelor's degree or higher ±0.3%2024 ACS 5-Year47.3%Top 2%of 522024 ACS 5-Year
Drove alone to work ±0.2%2024 ACS 5-Year61.2%4th percentileof 522024 ACS 5-Year
EmploymentAugust 20263,745,603Top 26%of 51August 2026
Employment change (3 years)August 2026+0.3%Top 46%of 51August 2026
Employment change (year over year)August 2026−1.4%Bottom 36%of 51August 2026
Labor forceAugust 20263,916,26074th percentileof 51August 2026
Labor force participation ±0.2%2024 ACS 5-Year83.2%Top 12%of 522024 ACS 5-Year
Public transit to work ±0.1%2024 ACS 5-Year6.5%94th percentileof 522024 ACS 5-Year
Unemployment change (year over year)August 2026−0.2%Top 50%of 51August 2026
Unemployment rateAugust 20264.4%Bottom 36%of 51August 2026
Worked from home ±0.2%2024 ACS 5-Year18.6%90th percentileof 522024 ACS 5-Year
Math proficiency2018-19 school year51.9%Top 16%of 502018-19 school year
Public schools2024-25 school year1,80360th percentileof 512024-25 school year
Reading proficiency2018-19 school year55.2%Top 31%of 492018-19 school year
Schools behind the staffing ratio2024-25 school year1,77561st percentileof 502024-25 school year
Students per teacher2024-25 school year12.0Top 14%of 502024-25 school year

Counties in Massachusetts

13 published

Some measures are published by county and nowhere finer — death rates by intent among them. On a county page those describe the geography they are printed on.

Middlesex County, MA
1,638,365 residents · 0.9 homicide deaths per 100k
Worcester County, MA
867,788 residents · 2.0 homicide deaths per 100k
Essex County, MA
813,054 residents · 1.7 homicide deaths per 100k
Suffolk County, MA
785,121 residents · 2.9 homicide deaths per 100k
Norfolk County, MA
730,082 residents · 1.0 homicide deaths per 100k
Bristol County, MA
582,270 residents · 1.6 homicide deaths per 100k
Plymouth County, MA
535,075 residents · 3.2 homicide deaths per 100k
Hampden County, MA
462,815 residents · 3.5 homicide deaths per 100k
Barnstable County, MA
231,668 residents · 0.9 homicide deaths per 100k
Hampshire County, MA
162,028 residents · 2.0 homicide deaths per 100k
Berkshire County, MA
129,430 residents · 2.5 homicide deaths per 100k
Franklin County, MA
70,944 residents · 1.8 homicide deaths per 100k
Nantucket County, MA
14,483 residents · 0.0 homicide deaths per 100k