America's oldest university
Harvard, founded in 1636 in Cambridge, is the oldest institution of higher education in the United States.
Capital: BostonLargest city: BostonNickname: The Bay StateStatehood: 1788
Massachusetts at a glance
The state’s essential figures from the latest official data
Area
27,335 km²
44th largest state
Population
7,136,171
353.2 people/km² of land
July 1, 2024 · 16th in the U.S.
Foreign-born population
17.7%
Share of all residents
ACS 2019–2023
GDP
$814 billion
$98,700 personal income per capita
2025 · BEA
Births
67,851
July 2023–June 2024
Deaths
61,133
July 2023–June 2024
Natural increase
+6,718
Births minus deaths
Population change
+69,603
July 2023–June 2024
Massachusetts data modules
Official information organized by subject
Population
How many people live here, how it's changing and who they are.
Housing
Home prices, rents, supply and how affordable it is to live here.
Economy
GDP, income, output and the industries that drive the economy.
Cost of Living
What it really costs to live here: housing, food, utilities and more.
Jobs & Employment
Employment, unemployment, salaries and the labor force.
Crime & Safety
Crime rates, violent and property crime, and public safety.
Education
Schools, universities, attainment and graduation rates.
Health
Life expectancy, healthcare access, hospitals and insurance.
Taxes
Income, property and sales taxes, plus overall tax burden.
Immigration
Foreign-born population, origins and migration flows.
Energy
Electricity prices, production, renewables and consumption.
Environment
Air quality, wildfires, drought, water and emissions.
Transportation
Vehicles, public transit, airports, traffic and commuting.
Politics & Elections
Election results, representatives and voting trends.
Poverty & Welfare
Poverty, food assistance, Medicaid and social safety net programs.
Retirement & Seniors
Older population, Social Security, retirees and senior living.
Agriculture & Farming
Farms, farmland, crop and livestock output and agricultural exports.
Tourism & Parks
Visitors, tourism spending, national and state parks.
Innovation & Patents
Patents, R&D spending, venture capital and tech employment.
Culture, Media & Gaming
Film, TV, music, theaters, museums and the video game industry.
Pets & Animal Welfare
Pet ownership, shelters, adoptions and veterinary services.
Explore Massachusetts
14 counties, one interactive atlas
Select a county to compare population, income, housing and territory using official U.S. Census Bureau data.
Population (residents)
< 50,000> 3,000,000
Massachusetts, United States
Middlesex County
County seat: Cambridge
1,622,896
Population
$67,471
Income per capita
$687,200
Median home value
4.2%
Unemployment
- Land area
- 818 mi²
- Population density
- 1,984 /mi²
ACS 2023 5-year estimates · Census Gazetteer 2023. Unemployment is calculated from the ACS civilian labor force.
Counties
14 counties · choose how to order them
Middlesex
1,668,956 residents
Worcester
881,248 residents
Essex
823,938 residents
Suffolk
793,144 residents
Norfolk
740,754 residents
Bristol
588,593 residents
Plymouth
542,090 residents
Hampden
464,151 residents
Barnstable
232,570 residents
Hampshire
165,399 residents
Berkshire
128,726 residents
Franklin
70,871 residents
Did you know?
Curious facts about Massachusetts
Where the Revolution began
The first battles of the American Revolution were fought at Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775.
Birthplace of basketball
James Naismith invented basketball in Springfield in 1891.
The first subway
Boston opened the first subway in the United States in 1897.