Demographics and Diversity
Change in Total Population

Increasing


Change in Total Population

What does this measure?

The percent change in number of residents of a geographic area since 2010.

Why is this important?

Population measures provide insight on the changing size and face of communities. Changes in total population are a measure of the overall health of a community and its ability to attract and retain residents.

How is our region doing?

Since 2010, the overall population in MetroWest has grown 7.8%, higher than the state rate of 6.6%, and lower than the nation's increase of 7.9%. From 2010 to 2022, the region's population increased from roughly 2,972,000 to 3,206,000. Middlesex is the largest county, with about 1,617,000 residents, followed by Worcester at 863,000 and Norfolk at 726,000. Norfolk and Worcester had the highest percentage of growth since 2010, both at 8.1%, with Middlesex at 7.6%.

The largest locality is Framingham, with 71,000 residents. It is followed by Waltham, at 64,000 and Marlborough at 41,000 residents. Natick, Lexington, Franklin, Needham, Wellesley and Milford round out the list of towns with more than 30,000 in population, with 36,000, 34,000, 34,000, 32,000 and 31,000 residents, respectively.

The fastest growing places since 2010 were Hopkinton (which grew 29.1%), Westborough (17.7%), Littleton (13.8%) and Millis (11.8%). The population only increased slightly in Dedham and Concord (1.1% and 1.5%, respectively).

Notes about the data

Rate is percentage change from 2000. Data for this indicator are released annually in July.

Change in Total Population
2010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022
United States0.0%0.9%1.6%2.3%3.1%3.8%4.6%5.3%5.8%6.3%7.3%7.5%7.9%
Massachusetts0.0%1.0%1.8%2.5%3.3%3.8%4.2%4.8%5.1%5.3%7.4%6.7%6.6%
Region0.0%1.2%2.0%2.9%3.7%4.2%4.7%5.3%5.7%5.9%8.3%7.8%7.8%
Middlesex County0.0%1.4%2.6%3.8%4.8%5.5%6.1%6.7%7.0%7.2%8.6%7.6%7.6%
Norfolk County0.0%1.0%1.8%2.6%3.2%3.5%3.9%4.4%4.8%5.3%8.2%8.0%8.1%
Worcester County0.0%0.7%1.1%1.6%2.1%2.5%2.7%3.4%3.8%4.0%8.0%8.0%8.1%
Acton town, Middlesex County0.0%1.7%3.5%4.6%6.1%7.2%7.7%8.2%8.0%8.0%9.6%8.8%8.7%
Ashland town, Middlesex County0.0%1.4%2.6%3.5%4.4%5.7%5.9%7.0%7.2%7.2%13.3%11.8%11.1%
Bedford town, Middlesex County0.0%1.6%3.3%5.0%5.2%5.8%6.1%6.4%6.4%6.1%8.0%6.6%6.3%
Bellingham town, Norfolk County0.0%0.5%1.3%2.2%2.7%3.2%3.7%4.4%4.5%5.2%3.3%3.1%6.1%
Boxborough town, Middlesex County0.0%1.3%2.2%2.7%3.4%3.8%4.1%15.9%15.6%15.6%9.9%8.4%8.0%
Carlisle town, Middlesex County0.0%1.5%2.7%3.7%4.7%7.1%7.5%7.7%7.8%8.2%8.1%6.8%6.3%
Concord town, Middlesex County0.0%6.1%7.1%8.6%9.4%10.7%7.9%7.9%7.1%7.0%4.6%2.6%1.5%
Dedham town, Norfolk County0.0%0.7%1.5%2.5%3.0%2.7%2.7%2.2%2.1%2.0%2.6%1.7%1.1%
Dover town, Norfolk County0.0%1.4%2.5%3.6%5.1%6.3%7.0%8.2%9.0%9.6%6.0%5.4%4.8%
Framingham city, Middlesex County0.0%2.0%2.5%3.1%3.6%3.8%4.6%5.1%6.7%8.9%5.9%4.3%3.9%
Franklin town, Norfolk County0.0%1.7%2.2%3.1%3.7%4.0%4.2%4.8%5.0%7.8%5.2%4.8%6.4%
Groton town, Middlesex County0.0%2.6%3.7%4.5%5.4%5.9%6.2%6.5%6.6%6.4%6.4%5.0%4.9%
Harvard town, Worcester County0.0%0.1%0.3%0.4%0.4%0.3%0.4%0.7%1.3%1.5%4.9%5.0%5.4%
Holliston town, Middlesex County0.0%2.3%3.6%4.7%6.2%7.0%7.6%8.7%9.8%10.1%10.7%9.7%9.7%
Hopkinton town, Middlesex County0.0%2.2%3.6%6.2%8.7%10.8%13.1%20.5%22.1%23.9%25.9%27.2%29.1%
Hudson town, Middlesex County0.0%1.3%2.3%3.0%3.7%4.1%4.3%4.4%4.3%4.1%5.3%3.9%3.5%
Lexington town, Middlesex County0.0%1.8%3.0%4.5%5.4%6.2%6.6%6.5%6.0%5.5%9.7%8.5%8.5%
Lincoln town, Middlesex County0.0%1.2%2.2%2.9%3.4%6.1%6.2%6.4%6.5%10.7%10.0%8.2%7.6%
Littleton town, Middlesex County0.0%1.4%2.5%3.8%5.4%10.9%12.3%13.1%14.3%14.8%13.7%13.2%13.8%
Marlborough city, Middlesex County0.0%1.1%2.1%2.5%3.1%3.4%3.3%3.4%3.2%2.8%8.6%6.9%6.4%
Maynard town, Middlesex County0.0%1.0%2.1%2.9%3.7%4.6%4.9%5.3%5.2%12.1%6.3%4.7%4.3%
Medfield town, Norfolk County0.0%0.8%1.7%2.3%3.0%5.4%7.0%7.0%7.1%7.7%6.4%7.4%8.7%
Medway town, Norfolk County0.0%0.4%1.3%1.9%2.8%3.2%3.7%4.6%5.2%5.7%2.8%3.0%5.0%
Milford town, Worcester County0.0%0.4%0.8%1.2%2.0%2.3%2.7%3.4%3.8%4.0%8.5%8.3%7.9%
Millis town, Norfolk County0.0%0.9%1.5%2.1%2.7%3.3%3.6%4.2%4.5%5.2%7.1%9.8%11.8%
Natick town, Middlesex County0.0%1.3%2.6%7.0%8.2%9.7%9.3%9.6%9.4%9.2%12.1%10.3%9.9%
Needham town, Norfolk County0.0%1.1%1.8%3.0%4.5%5.2%5.9%7.1%7.8%8.3%10.8%10.7%10.8%
Sherborn town, Middlesex County0.0%1.3%2.1%2.9%3.9%4.2%4.2%4.7%5.0%5.2%6.9%6.6%6.1%
Southborough town, Worcester County0.0%0.5%0.9%1.3%1.7%2.5%3.3%3.8%3.9%4.5%7.0%7.0%6.6%
Stow town, Middlesex County0.0%2.6%4.2%5.2%7.0%7.2%7.3%7.6%9.2%9.9%9.0%7.3%7.0%
Sudbury town, Middlesex County0.0%1.5%2.5%3.7%5.6%6.2%6.5%6.5%10.6%11.2%7.1%7.8%7.3%
Walpole town, Norfolk County0.0%1.3%2.3%2.8%3.6%4.3%4.1%4.5%4.4%4.7%9.6%9.8%9.2%
Waltham city, Middlesex County0.0%1.2%2.3%2.8%4.1%3.9%3.8%3.6%3.2%3.1%7.5%6.2%5.7%
Wayland town, Middlesex County0.0%1.3%2.5%3.7%4.3%5.2%6.7%7.2%7.0%6.9%7.8%6.2%5.6%
Wellesley town, Norfolk County0.0%2.3%2.3%2.8%2.7%3.0%3.5%3.1%2.9%2.8%5.9%9.2%9.4%
Westborough town, Worcester County0.0%0.7%0.6%1.8%2.7%3.3%3.7%4.5%4.7%4.7%18.0%17.7%17.7%
Westford town, Middlesex County0.0%2.3%5.9%7.7%9.4%9.8%10.3%10.5%10.3%13.0%12.2%11.4%10.9%
Weston town, Middlesex County0.0%2.2%3.8%5.1%5.8%7.1%7.4%7.9%7.7%7.7%5.4%3.7%3.6%
Westwood town, Norfolk County0.0%0.6%1.2%1.9%2.8%9.6%9.7%10.1%10.2%12.1%11.2%11.1%11.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Notes: Rate is percentage change since 2000.




Total Population
2010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022
United States308,758,105311,556,874313,830,990315,993,715318,301,008320,635,163322,941,311324,985,539326,687,501328,239,523331,449,520332,031,554333,287,557
Massachusetts6,547,7856,613,5836,663,0056,713,3156,762,5966,794,2286,823,6086,859,7896,882,6356,892,5037,029,9496,989,6906,981,974
Region2,972,4263,006,6933,032,6743,059,3953,082,7583,098,0513,112,0633,130,2913,140,7543,149,0963,220,1003,203,9233,205,563
Middlesex County1,503,1331,524,8481,542,8671,560,2041,574,9931,585,4321,594,6641,603,9431,608,4701,611,6991,632,0021,617,0991,617,105
Norfolk County670,910677,782682,865688,345692,239694,502697,079700,599703,230706,775725,999724,692725,531
Worcester County798,383804,063806,942810,846815,526818,117820,320825,749829,054830,622862,099862,132862,927
Acton town, Middlesex County21,91222,27422,67622,92823,25623,48823,60723,71623,67523,66224,01623,84823,829
Ashland town, Middlesex County16,61516,84717,04217,19017,33917,56517,58717,78417,81117,80718,82918,57918,466
Bedford town, Middlesex County13,31613,53113,75313,98214,00314,08214,12614,16814,16214,12314,38314,19714,161
Bellingham town, Norfolk County16,41116,49816,62316,76516,85416,93217,02217,12717,15617,27016,94716,91717,407
Boxborough town, Middlesex County5,0125,0765,1245,1475,1835,2005,2165,8085,7955,7935,5085,4315,412
Carlisle town, Middlesex County4,8524,9244,9855,0335,0795,1975,2165,2245,2315,2525,2445,1845,157
Concord town, Middlesex County17,68018,75418,92919,19319,34519,56719,08019,07718,92818,91818,49118,14817,954
Dedham town, Norfolk County24,72324,89125,09425,34925,45925,38325,39825,25525,23125,21925,36525,14824,997
Dover town, Norfolk County5,5915,6675,7335,7955,8745,9425,9806,0516,0936,1275,9245,8955,860
Framingham city, Middlesex County68,32369,65670,06170,41170,78670,93871,45971,78472,90974,41672,38171,28970,963
Franklin town, Norfolk County31,63332,16632,33332,61132,81432,88632,97733,16633,20134,08733,27233,13633,656
Groton town, Middlesex County10,64310,91611,03211,11711,21711,26711,30711,33511,34911,32511,32111,17711,162
Harvard town, Worcester County6,5216,5306,5386,5506,5496,5386,5496,5686,6036,6206,8396,8456,870
Holliston town, Middlesex County13,54613,85814,03714,17714,38814,48814,57714,72714,87214,91215,00114,85614,856
Hopkinton town, Middlesex County14,90915,23715,45115,83416,20816,51216,86317,96918,20318,47018,76318,96719,249
Hudson town, Middlesex County19,07519,32719,50619,65419,77919,85719,89019,91819,90019,86420,08219,81419,744
Lexington town, Middlesex County31,40631,96632,35232,81033,10233,33833,49333,46333,30233,13234,45634,08334,074
Lincoln town, Middlesex County6,3716,4486,5096,5556,5886,7616,7646,7796,7857,0527,0116,8916,855
Littleton town, Middlesex County8,9109,0389,1379,2509,3959,87710,00310,07810,18810,22710,13410,08510,139
Marlborough city, Middlesex County38,50138,94039,30739,46839,69139,79739,78239,79139,71639,59741,79941,14240,971
Maynard town, Middlesex County10,11210,21210,32810,40910,48810,58210,60410,64310,63411,33610,74610,58710,546
Medfield town, Norfolk County12,02712,12012,23012,30312,38612,67212,86412,87012,88412,95512,80012,91413,072
Medway town, Norfolk County12,75412,80312,91712,99013,10513,15613,23213,34713,41213,47913,11213,13713,393
Milford town, Worcester County27,98928,11428,21828,31928,53728,63328,73728,93229,05129,10130,38230,30830,196
Millis town, Norfolk County7,9007,9698,0158,0668,1108,1618,1868,2338,2598,3108,4618,6758,836
Natick town, Middlesex County33,01233,44233,87735,31735,72636,22236,08836,17536,12636,05037,01336,41636,272
Needham town, Norfolk County28,97329,28629,50629,84130,26430,49330,68631,02631,22131,38832,10332,07932,114
Sherborn town, Middlesex County4,1194,1724,2044,2404,2794,2914,2944,3144,3254,3354,4024,3894,372
Southborough town, Worcester County9,7679,8179,8519,8949,93510,01610,08510,13610,15110,20810,45110,44610,409
Stow town, Middlesex County6,5846,7566,8636,9277,0437,0597,0677,0837,1897,2347,1777,0667,042
Sudbury town, Middlesex County17,67517,94718,11618,32218,66118,76518,81618,82719,55519,65518,93219,06118,965
Walpole town, Norfolk County24,06924,37524,63224,75424,93625,09425,05125,15025,13825,20026,37726,43026,277
Waltham city, Middlesex County60,63861,38262,04762,32763,11463,00362,93962,82262,56362,49565,21364,39364,065
Wayland town, Middlesex County12,94013,11113,25913,41313,49713,61513,80413,86713,85013,83513,94413,74113,664
Wellesley town, Norfolk County27,89828,54328,54728,69228,64328,73528,87628,76528,71028,67029,55330,46430,524
Westborough town, Worcester County18,27818,41418,38918,60918,77918,87318,94919,10319,14219,14421,57021,51221,506
Westford town, Middlesex County21,96222,47323,24823,64624,03024,12524,22324,26924,21924,81724,63824,46024,353
Weston town, Middlesex County11,26011,51111,69311,83911,91612,06112,09412,14412,12412,12411,86311,67111,661
Westwood town, Norfolk County14,62514,71314,80514,90515,02816,03616,04316,09916,11316,40016,26416,25316,231

Source: U.S. Census Bureau




INDICATORS REGIONAL TREND
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Children Living in Poverty Maintaining
Children Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families Increasing
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Disengaged Youth Decreasing
Reports of Domestic Violence Increasing
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Establishments Increasing
Households Without Vehicles Maintaining
Means of Transportation to Work Not Applicable
Households With Internet Access Increasing
Voter Participation Rate Increasing
Average Charitable Contribution Maintaining
People Without Health Insurance Decreasing
Drug Poisoning Mortality Rate Increasing
Crimes Against People Decreasing
Incarceration Rates, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Change in Total Population Increasing
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Foreign-Born Population Increasing
Language Diversity Increasing
Population by Age Not Applicable
Change in Population by Age/Gender Not Applicable
Seniors Living Alone Decreasing
People with Disabilities Maintaining
Change in Total Jobs by Sector Not Applicable
Business Ownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate Maintaining
Share of Workers who are Professionals, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Average Salary by Sector Not Applicable
High-Tech Jobs Decreasing
Female to Male Earnings Ratio Maintaining
Prekindergarten Participation Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 3 English, by Student Group Not Applicable
School Spending Per Student Maintaining
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group Not Applicable
Chronically Absent Students Increasing
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults Not Applicable
College Admission Rate, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty Maintaining
People Living in Poverty, by Education Level Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Households Receiving Temporary Assistance Maintaining
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income Maintaining
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Living Wage Not Applicable
80/20 Income Ratio Maintaining
Access to Financial Services, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeownership Rates Maintaining
Homeownership Rates, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Homeownership Increasing
Cost of Homeownership, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Rent Not Applicable
Cost of Rent, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homelessness Increasing
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Children Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Incarceration Rates, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Business Ownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Share of Workers who are Professionals, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 3 English, by Student Group Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group Not Applicable
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group Not Applicable
College Admission Rate, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Access to Financial Services, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeownership Rates, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Homeownership, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Rent, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable


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