
Census shows recent growth in most Mass. cities and towns
Some smaller communities expanded at higher rates. Stoneham added 1,452 people over the one-year period, a nearly 6.3 percent growth rate that led all 351 cities and towns. Among larger municipalities with at least 50,000 residents, the most significant population change was in Revere, which grew 2.94 percent.
Get Starting Point
A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday.
Enter Email
Sign Up
Sixty-one communities lost population year over year. The biggest loss, both in terms of raw total and percent change, was Concord, whose population shrunk 181 people or roughly 1 percent.
Advertisement
Secretary of State William Galvin's office said most of the towns with population decreases were concentrated in western Massachusetts or Barnstable County.
It appears Massachusetts is part of a larger regional trend.
'In 2024, the Northeast experienced population growth after years of steady decline, with rates ranging from an average growth of 0.1 percent in cities and towns with fewer than 5,000 people (a shift from the 0.3 percent average decline in 2023) to 1.0 percent average growth in cities with populations of 50,000 or more — five times higher than their growth rate during 2023,' the Census Bureau wrote in a news release last week.
Advertisement
Nationally, the largest average population growth was in the South, the Census Bureau said, while the western part of the country also saw increases and the Midwest experienced 'modest population growth.'
The new municipal data build on statewide totals
Thousands of people continue to leave Massachusetts for other states, but newly incoming immigrants have more than made up for it in recent years, the data show. From July 1, 2023 to July 1, 2024, the Census Bureau reported that about 27,500 people decamped Massachusetts for another state -- down from 36,500 the prior year and 54,800 the year before that.
In each of those years, international migration to the Bay State surpassed 72,000, climbing to 90,200 from July 1, 2023 to July 1, 2024.
The UMass Donahue Institute previously called the 2023-to-2024 trend the Bay State's
Beacon Hill has been closely watching migration patterns, especially as business groups and others warn of people leaving Massachusetts due to the state's high cost of living.
Galvin's office echoed the Donahue Institute analysis last week, attributing the year-over-year growth to slowing domestic outmigration to other states as well as 'record levels of international migration.'
Advertisement
'Accurate population counts are crucial for state and local governments, because they dictate federal funding for things like schools, transportation, and health care,' Galvin, a Democrat who is the state's 2030 US Census Liaison, said. 'If people are living in Massachusetts, using those resources, and contributing to our local economy, we must push back against any efforts to exclude them from the count.'
From July 1, 2020 to July 1, 2024, the Census Bureau's Vintage series counts an increase in the Bay State's population of about 141,000 people or 2 percent.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


San Francisco Chronicle
7 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee promises ‘relentless effort' at community inauguration
Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee promised during a community inauguration Sunday to lead with 'openness, honesty and relentless effort' and invited the community to join her to make the city better. 'If we match hope with hard work, there's nothing that this city can't do, so let's do it,' Lee said on a stage at Jack London Square. 'Let's grab whatever you can grab — a paintbrush, a policy idea, a neighbor's hand, because the next chapter of Oakland starts now.' She added: 'All of you are co-authors of this next chapter.' Lee was elected in April and sworn in last month. The former congresswoman replaced former Mayor Sheng Thao, whom voters ousted in November in a recall fueled by a federal investigation that resulted in bribery charges against her. Thao pleaded not guilty to the charges. Lee takes over as the city confronts a historic budget deficit, public safety concerns, homelessness and illegal dumping, among other issues. By the end of this month, the city must balance its budget, which includes an annual deficit of about $140 million. Lee previously said the city will address the deficit through both short- and long-term solutions, though she did not provide specifics. During her remarks Sunday, after she again took the oath of office, Lee spoke of her work in the first few weeks of her administration. The goal from the start was to 'turn hope into action,' the Democrat told the crowd, which included faith leaders, business owners and other dignitaries, including California Attorney General Rob Bonta, California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis and San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie. Already she's met with faith and business leaders to discuss public safety strategies. She acknowledged that despite violence prevention efforts and a decrease in homicides last year, some residents still don't feel safe. 'We've got to work to change this narrative in Oakland,' she said. Lee also said she traveled to the state Capitol to advocate for the city, 'because Oakland deserves its fair share of state resources,' she said. 'I made it clear: Investing in Oakland lifts the entire Bay Area.' State Sen. Jesse Arreguín, a Democrat whose district includes Oakland, said the city needs a 'proven leader with integrity and experience' to unite the city and region. 'That leader is Mayor Barbara Lee,' he said. Arreguín, who serves as chair of the public safety standing committee, said he's committed to working with Lee to curb crime in Oakland and make the city safer. He pledged to support the city's Ceasefire strategy and other violence-prevention programs. Oakland City Council President Kevin Jenkins called Sunday 'a beautiful day in Oakland.' He noted that Lee is the city's fourth mayor in two years. 'But I think we got it right this time,' he quipped. Jenkins described Lee as a mayor for all, especially Oakland residents 'who don't know where City Hall is.' 'The way she campaigned is the way she's going to govern: with integrity,' he added. Selena Wilson, CEO of the East Oakland Youth Development Center, urged the public to support Lee. 'We must continue to stand with her.' Barbara Leslie, president and CEO of the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, picked by Lee as a co-chair of her transition team, said she can attest that Lee 'hit the ground running.' 'Frankly, my goal is just to keep up,' Leslie said, joined by members of the Rotary Club of Oakland #3 and Oakland Restaurant Collective. 'We are here to support you, as your success is Oakland's success,' Leslie said.

USA Today
8 hours ago
- USA Today
California gov describes Trump's deployment of National Guard as 'the acts of a dictator'
California gov describes Trump's deployment of National Guard as 'the acts of a dictator' By calling in the National Guard to quell protests in Los Angeles, Trump is 'inciting and provoking violence,' Newsom says. Show Caption Hide Caption Trump sends National Guard to LA as ICE protests escalate Crowds converged in downtown L.A. after National Guard troops arrived to quell any protests opposing President Trump's immigration policies. California Gov. Gavin Newsom accused President Donald Trump of 'the acts of a dictator' for deploying National Guard troops to quell violent protests in Los Angeles. Newsom posted to socia media a video of Trump saying he would charge state and local officials federally if they interfere with the immigration enforcement that sparked the protests June 6, 7 and 8. Gavin accused Trump of 'inciting and provoking violence,' 'creating mass chaos' and 'militarizing cities.' 'These are the acts of a dictator, not a President,' Newsom said. The two men have long been at odds. Trump said on social media June 7 that federal authorities needed to step in because of the inaction of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Newsom, who Trump has nicknamed. "If Governor Gavin Newscum, of California, and Mayor Karen Bass, of Los Angeles, can't do their jobs, which everyone knows they can't, then the Federal Government will step in and solve the problem, RIOTS & LOOTERS, the way it should be solved!!!" Trump said in the post. The two have repeatedly clashed, most recently in late May, when Trump threatened to cut California's federal funding after a transgender high school athlete qualified for the state championship. "Large scale Federal Funding will be held back, maybe permanently," Trump said at the time, if California fails to follow an executive order he signed Feb. 5 seeking to bar transgender student athletes from playing women's sports. Newsom, a Democrat with presidential aspirations, has also sparred with Trump over tariffs, fighting fires and the management of water and environmental resources, though he has also criticized his own party.


USA Today
9 hours ago
- USA Today
Bengals' Trey Hendrickson contract standoff gets a hot take from VP JD Vance
Bengals' Trey Hendrickson contract standoff gets a hot take from VP JD Vance Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson now has politicians talking about his contract standoff with the team. Appearing on Theo Von's podcast this week, Vice President JD Vance joked around about the contract standoff, with the Middletown, Ohio, politician expressing optimism about the Bengals in the process. "Trey, if you're watching this show: If you're a Republican, I will show up to a Bengals game and take a photo with you if you sign on with the Bengals," Vance joked. "And if you're a Democrat, I'll stay the hell away. Just sign with the Bengals, because we've got a chance, man." RELATED: Bengals news: Jermaine Burton buzz, practice urgency and more As Bengals fans know all too well, though, outside noise doesn't really have a way of impacting how the team does business. That's a rule that will certainly apply to an office as high as Vance's right now, even if he does happen to hail from Ohio. Joe Burrow and others have commented on Hendrickson's standoff with the team recently, too. The next entry in the saga will happen soon when it's revealed if the star pass-rusher shows up to mandatory minicamp or gets fined by the team. RELATED: Bengals' Andrei Iosivas adds 15 pounds while eyeing breakout season