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METRO AREA

Boston Metro

Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH · 7 counties · 5,034,221 residents (2025 est.) · 3,486.097 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#8Most densely populatedof 9251,444#9Highest median household incomeof 925$116,759#11Largest by populationof 9255,034,221#16Highest median rentof 925$2,008
The short version

Boston is significantly wealthier than the US average, with a median household income of $116,759. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 52% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $656,837. It ranks in the top 1% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.6
US median: 38.9
More educated
52% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 70%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
4,953,354
+13%since 2000
from 4,391,344 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,421 / sq mi
+13%since 2000
from 1,260 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
39.6
+10%since 2000
from 36.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:5,034,221 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
4.1M4.3M4.5M4.8M5.0M1990201020202024Boston
20245.0M
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55%(249,042)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.2%(256,944)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145.6%(275,919)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.5%(320,792)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246.9%(340,052)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3414.8%(733,549)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4413.3%(661,160)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.3%(611,679)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6413.3%(659,882)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7410%(495,014)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845%(247,719)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.1%(101,602)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$116,759
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $55,174 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$63,282
+126%since 2000
from $28,016 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
66.3%
+19.6 ptssince 2009
from 46.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
9.0%
+0.4 ptssince 2000
from 8.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.480
+3%since 2010
from 0.464 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information9.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade8.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services7.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration6.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Wholesale trade5.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance3.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food2.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$656,837
+70%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $212,436 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$2,008
+43%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $773 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
61.9%
+0.6 ptssince 2000
from 61.3% in 2000
38.1% rent
Vacancy rate
5.7%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 6.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
26.4%
−10.4 ptssince 2009
from 36.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
48.5%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 46.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
5.7
Unchangedsince 2009
from 5.7 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
78
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Boston on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic80.7%(3,545,277)
Black5.6%(247,524)
Hispanic / Latino6.4%(281,605)
Asian4.6%(200,625)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic65.5%(3,244,435)
Black6.8%(337,292)
Hispanic / Latino12.4%(614,179)
Asian8.7%(432,434)
Other6.6%(325,014)
Diversity Score
64
+43%since 2009
from 45 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
44
−6%since 2020
from 47 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Dominican3.3%(162,289)
Central American2.8%(139,953)
Puerto Rican2.6%(129,188)
South American1.6%(79,682)
Salvadoran1.3%(64,568)
Guatemalan0.9%(46,493)
Mexican0.8%(39,977)
Colombian0.8%(37,964)
Honduran0.3%(16,653)
Ecuadorian0.3%(12,833)
Cuban0.2%(12,100)
Peruvian0.2%(9,901)
+ 10 more hispanic origin groups with data
Spaniard0.2%(9,897)
Venezuelan0.1%(7,298)
Costa Rican0.1%(4,523)
Argentine0.1%(3,969)
Chilean0.1%(3,722)
Nicaraguan0.1%(2,960)
Panamanian0%(2,338)
Bolivian0%(1,494)
Uruguayan0%(902)
Paraguayan0%(729)
Asian origin
Chinese3.3%(161,270)
Asian Indian2.2%(106,650)
Vietnamese0.9%(43,369)
Cambodian0.5%(26,217)
Korean0.5%(24,823)
Filipino0.2%(11,751)
Japanese0.2%(7,900)
Taiwanese0.1%(7,357)
Pakistani0.1%(7,121)
Nepalese0.1%(5,976)
Bangladeshi0.1%(4,150)
Thai0.1%(3,572)
+ 11 more asian origin groups with data
Laotian0.1%(2,338)
Indonesian0%(2,073)
Sri Lankan0%(1,389)
Burmese0%(933)
Malaysian0%(725)
Kazakh0%(519)
Hmong0%(512)
Uzbek0%(332)
Mongolian0%(169)
Bhutanese0%(32)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0%(816)
Chamorro0%(685)
Tongan0%(270)
Guamanian0%(102)
Fijian0%(55)
Ancestry
Irish19.8%(980,874)
Italian11.8%(583,055)
English10.1%(499,378)
German5.7%(282,978)
French3.8%(186,364)
American3.2%(156,036)
Polish3%(147,205)
French Canadian2.5%(125,957)
West Indian2.2%(110,215)
Subsaharan African2.1%(105,316)
Scottish2.1%(103,695)
Portuguese1.9%(95,397)
+ 51 more ancestry groups with data
Brazilian1.4%(68,582)
Russian1.4%(67,054)
Haitian1.3%(66,108)
Swedish1.2%(60,607)
Greek1.2%(59,526)
Arab1.2%(57,183)
Cape Verdean0.9%(42,978)
Scotch-Irish0.6%(31,323)
Canadian0.5%(26,754)
Norwegian0.5%(26,248)
Lithuanian0.5%(24,956)
Lebanese0.5%(24,226)
Dutch0.5%(23,009)
Jamaican0.5%(22,407)
Armenian0.4%(21,426)
Ukrainian0.4%(20,273)
British0.4%(19,154)
Welsh0.3%(16,279)
Hungarian0.3%(13,239)
Nigerian0.3%(13,157)
Finnish0.2%(11,982)
Danish0.2%(10,832)
Moroccan0.2%(9,910)
Iranian0.2%(9,439)
Austrian0.2%(8,997)
Swiss0.2%(8,827)
Czech0.2%(8,045)
Romanian0.2%(7,864)
Turkish0.1%(6,966)
Ethiopian0.1%(6,793)
Barbadian0.1%(6,223)
Kenyan0.1%(5,165)
Syrian0.1%(5,049)
Slovak0.1%(4,955)
Egyptian0.1%(4,936)
Belgian0.1%(4,267)
Israeli0.1%(3,789)
Bulgarian0.1%(3,708)
Latvian0.1%(3,221)
Croatian0.1%(2,996)
Ghanaian0.1%(2,672)
Serbian0%(2,046)
Australian0%(1,939)
Iraqi0%(1,920)
Guyanese0%(1,871)
Palestinian0%(1,563)
Somali0%(1,414)
Slovene0%(1,337)
Jordanian0%(1,104)
Macedonian0%(990)
RANKED:Largest Irish population · Largest Italian population · Largest English population · Largest German population · Largest French population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
51.9%
+15.1 ptssince 2000
from 36.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.2%
+5.6 ptssince 2000
from 86.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
24.2%
+8.9 ptssince 2000
from 15.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
30.3 min
+49%since 2000
from 20.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
57.3%
−12.1 ptssince 2009
from 69.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.4%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 8.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
8.2%
−3.7 ptssince 2009
from 11.9% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
20.8%
+16.8 ptssince 2009
from 4.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
4.5%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
1.0%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
12.3%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 12.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.9%
−2.7 ptssince 2011
from 7.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
68.8%
−0.4 ptssince 2011
from 69.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.7%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
54.3%
−15.8 ptssince 2009
from 70.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.9%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
Female
51.1%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 51.4% in 2009
Foreign born
20.0%
+4.3 ptssince 2009
from 15.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.0%
−43.9 ptssince 2009
from 47.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
11.1%
+0.9 ptssince 2012
from 10.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
2.7%
−92.8 ptssince 2013
from 95.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
93.6%
+8.6 ptssince 2017
from 85.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
74.0%
−2.3 ptssince 2016
from 76.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
9.4%
+0.9 ptssince 2016
from 8.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married39.9%(806,704)
Married50.9%(1,029,599)
Widowed2.2%(44,679)
Divorced7%(141,895)
Women 15+
Never married36%(773,631)
Married46.6%(1,001,017)
Widowed7.2%(155,077)
Divorced10.2%(218,847)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
In this metro

Largest cities

BostonCENTRAL672,973CambridgeCENTRAL122,588Lowell119,971Brockton106,134Lynn104,236Quincy103,173NewtonCENTRAL90,741Lawrence89,320Somerville84,211FraminghamCENTRAL73,021Haverhill68,361Malden66,370WalthamCENTRAL65,037Brookline63,266Revere60,141Medford59,834Weymouth59,759Peabody55,953Everett53,572Arlington46,350Salem45,381Woburn43,962Beverly43,363Marlborough42,772Chelsea40,130Braintree38,957Randolph34,948Dover34,623Lexington34,295Franklin33,955

The 30 most populous of 128 cities and towns in this metro. CENTRAL marks the metro's principal cities.

What's inside

7 component counties

Middlesex CountyCENTRAL1,669,979Essex CountyCENTRAL826,653Suffolk CountyCENTRAL791,891Norfolk CountyCENTRAL739,749Plymouth CountyCENTRAL546,829Rockingham CountyCENTRAL324,077Strafford County135,043
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Boston

Seattle
Pop 4,161,883
San Francisco
Pop 4,630,041
Washington
Pop 6,465,724
Riverside
Pop 4,769,007
Places similar to Boston
Head to head

Compare Boston side by side

BOSTON VS
Seattle
Income$116,172−1%
Home value$749,490+14%
Population4,161,883−17%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BOSTON VS
San Francisco
Income$136,713+17%
Home value$1,186,704+81%
Population4,630,041−8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BOSTON VS
Washington
Income$130,074+11%
Home value$613,108−7%
Population6,465,724+28%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BOSTON VS
Riverside
Income$89,505−23%
Home value$532,724−19%
Population4,769,007−5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?

Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH has about 4,953,354 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?

The typical household in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH earns about $116,759 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH expensive?

In Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, the median home is worth about $656,837, and the typical rent is about $2,008 a month.

How educated are people in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?

About 51.9% of adults age 25 and over in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?

About 9.0% of people in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH live below the federal poverty line.

Has Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH grown since 1990?

Yes, Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH has grown since 1990. The population has added about 819,459 residents, a change of about 20 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →