See the fastest growing and shrinking cities in Mass.; look up your town
The U.S. Census has released brand new data on population change in Massachusetts and some clear trends have emerged.
Cities and towns in Western Massachusetts as well as Cape Cod largely saw declines while Central Massachusetts and the Boston metro area saw gains.
The recent Census release gave population estimates for July 1, 2024, which can be compared to previous years.
From the previous year, 282 of the 351 Massachusetts cities and towns saw increases to their population. Seven communities remained exactly the same and 62 saw declines.
But the communities were not evenly distributed across the state. Nearly all of Cape Cod and Western Massachusetts saw declines.
Meanwhile, the northern suburbs of Boston had three of the top fastest growing communities in the state.
Below are the fastest growing and shrinking cities and towns in Massachusetts, as well as a map showing the population changes across the state, and a table where you can look up your own city or town.
1. Stoneham in Middlesex County
Stoneham, a town in the northern suburbs of Boston, was the fastest growing Massachusetts community in 2024, according to the Census. Three of the fastest growing communities were all in this same region. Starting in 2023 with a population of 23,098, it grew 1,452 people or 6.3% to a new population of 24,550.
2. Pelham in Hampshire County
The rule was that population declined in Western Massachusetts, but this community just east of Amherst bucked the trend by being one of the fastest growing by percentage. At a population of 1,343 in 2024, it remains a small town, but it grew by 71 people or 5.6% in the past year.
3. Woburn in Middlesex County
The city of Woburn borders Stoneham in Boston's northern suburbs and saw a population increase of 1,812 from 2023 to 2024. That was about the same number that Cambridge saw, and Woburn is less than half its size at 43,895. That increase was 4.3%
4. Wakefield in Middlesex County
On the other side of Stoneham from Woburn, Wakefield also saw a significant growth of 3.9%. Its population grew from 28,110 in 2023 to 29,216 in 2024.
5. North Reading in Middlesex County
North Reading (distinct from Reading!) is a bit further from Boston, but nearby the other Middlesex County growth leaders of 2024. The town saw an increase of 511 people, good enough for a 3.2% increase from its 2023 population of 15,868 to a 2024 population of 16,379.
1. Concord in Middlesex County
Massachusetts communities were far more likely to grow than shrink in 2024, and those that shrunk only did so a bit. The community of Concord — of Battle of Lexington and Concord as well as Walden Pond fame — shrunk the most. It lost 1% of its population or 181 people, leaving it with a population of 18,092 in 2024.
2. Southampton in Hampshire County
While most communities that shrunk were already quite small and didn't shrink by much, many that shrunk the most were in Hampshire county. The fastest shrinking of these was Southampton, which lost 42 people or 0.7% of its population. In 2024, it had a population of 6,181.
3. Dennis in Barnstable County
Other than Western Massachusetts, the region of Cape Cod saw most of its communities shrink slightly in 2024. Dennis lost 100 people or 0.7% of its population, and wound up with a population of 14,862.
4 and 5. Goshen and Cummington in Hampshire County
The small Hampshire County towns of Goshen and Cummington only lost a handful of people — 6 and 4 respectively — but that was enough for them to crack the top five fastest shrinking Massachusetts communities. Goshen had a 2024 population of 942 and Cummington had 819.
All 351 Massachusetts communities are represented on the table below. Find your own city or town. If the table does not show up below, visit this link.
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