Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 population estimates and 2024 Gazetteer. Rankings among the 50 states.
Historical data
Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.
Population
1790–2024U.S. Census (decennial), 1790–2020 + estimates.
Population pyramid
Massachusetts's civilian population by sex and five-year age group. Choose a year to see how the age structure has changed.
Tap an age group in the pyramid to see its detail.
Under 15
1,103,848 (15.5%)
15 to 64
4,691,965 (65.8%)
65 and older
1,336,934 (18.7%)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, SC-EST2020 and SC-EST2024 age and sex estimates (civilian population, July 1).
Age, sex and longevity
The main indicators describing Massachusetts's age structure, sex distribution and life expectancy.
| Median age | 40.2 years | |
| Female | 51.4% | |
| Male | 48.6% | |
| Under 18 | 19.2% | |
| 65 and older | 18.1% | |
| Life expectancy | 79.6 years | Top 5 in the U.S. |
Population, households and density
How many people and households live in Massachusetts, how concentrated they are and how the population is changing.
| Total population | 7.03 M | 16th in the U.S. |
| Density | 354 /km² | 3rd in the U.S. |
| Households | 2.77 M | |
| Urban population | 91.3% | |
| Largest metro | Boston–Cambridge–Newton (≈ 4.92 M) | |
| Growth | +0.3%/yr | 2020–2024 |
Race, ethnicity and origin
Massachusetts is majority White but has diversified quickly: its Hispanic population — mostly Puerto Rican and Dominican — has more than doubled since 2000, and the Asian share is above the national average.
| White (non-Hispanic) | 68.2% | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 13.1% | ≈ 920,000 |
| Black or African American | 7.4% | |
| Asian | 7.6% | |
| Two or more races | 3.2% | |
| Native American | 0.2% | |
| Pacific Islander | 0.1% | |
| Puerto Rican origin | ≈ 5.0% | Largest Hispanic subgroup |
| Dominican origin | ≈ 2.5% | |
| Irish ancestry | ≈ 19% | Highest share in the U.S. |