Fastest growing cities in Massachusetts
Population growth in the United States is slowing. From 2010 to 2020, the population grew by just 7.4%—the lowest rate since the 1930s. Declining birth rates, an aging population, and fewer immigrants are all contributing to historically slow growth rates. But depending on where you are in the country, it might not always feel that way.
In every state, there were cities that experienced cumulative population gains over the course of the decade. But when you look at the growth rates from year to year, cities across the country are following a similar trajectory. Small, medium, and large cities all saw declining growth since 2016. Some of the largest cities—those with populations over 1 million—have actually seen a decrease in overall population, not just slower population growth.
Stacker compiled a list of the fastest-growing cities in Massachusetts using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Cities are ranked by the highest population growth from 2010 to 2020.
Many cities experienced their most significant growth within the first few years of the decade. Experts postulate that the housing bubble burst in tandem with economic hardships of the Great Recession pushed many people of home-buying age to the cities. A decade later, in the wake of the pandemic, the U.S. is in a similar position.
#20. Newton
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +4,974
--- #1,017 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 5.9%
--- #125 among cities in Massachusetts, #11,023 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 88,923
--- #12 largest city in Massachusetts, #403 largest city nationwide
#19. Framingham
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +5,023
--- #1,009 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 7.5%
--- #102 among cities in Massachusetts, #10,170 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 72,362
--- #14 largest city in Massachusetts, #536 largest city nationwide
#18. Brookline
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +5,238
--- #967 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 9.0%
--- #84 among cities in Massachusetts, #9,335 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 63,191
--- #18 largest city in Massachusetts, #644 largest city nationwide
#17. Waltham
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +5,447
--- #929 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 9.1%
--- #83 among cities in Massachusetts, #9,302 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 65,218
--- #17 largest city in Massachusetts, #618 largest city nationwide
#16. Somerville
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +5,830
--- #875 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 7.8%
--- #96 among cities in Massachusetts, #9,992 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 81,045
--- #13 largest city in Massachusetts, #456 largest city nationwide
#15. New Bedford
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +6,134
--- #836 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 6.5%
--- #120 among cities in Massachusetts, #10,679 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 101,079
--- #9 largest city in Massachusetts, #329 largest city nationwide
#14. Chelsea
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +6,255
--- #822 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 18.1%
--- #30 among cities in Massachusetts, #6,100 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 40,787
--- #38 largest city in Massachusetts, #1,068 largest city nationwide
#13. Methuen Town
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +6,666
--- #781 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 14.4%
--- #38 among cities in Massachusetts, #7,158 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 53,059
--- #25 largest city in Massachusetts, #806 largest city nationwide
#12. Haverhill
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +7,584
--- #690 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 12.6%
--- #49 among cities in Massachusetts, #7,771 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 67,787
--- #15 largest city in Massachusetts, #592 largest city nationwide
#11. Malden
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +8,083
--- #646 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 13.9%
--- #42 among cities in Massachusetts, #7,314 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 66,263
--- #16 largest city in Massachusetts, #608 largest city nationwide
#10. Everett
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +8,515
--- #612 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 21.0%
--- #23 among cities in Massachusetts, #5,393 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 49,075
--- #26 largest city in Massachusetts, #882 largest city nationwide
#9. Lowell
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +10,465
--- #492 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 10.0%
--- #74 among cities in Massachusetts, #8,908 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 115,554
--- #5 largest city in Massachusetts, #257 largest city nationwide
#8. Quincy
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +10,856
--- #477 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 12.0%
--- #58 among cities in Massachusetts, #8,026 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 101,636
--- #7 largest city in Massachusetts, #325 largest city nationwide
#7. Lynn
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +11,628
--- #442 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 13.0%
--- #48 among cities in Massachusetts, #7,655 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 101,253
--- #8 largest city in Massachusetts, #327 largest city nationwide
#6. Brockton
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +11,774
--- #434 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 12.5%
--- #51 among cities in Massachusetts, #7,788 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 105,643
--- #6 largest city in Massachusetts, #310 largest city nationwide
#5. Revere
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +12,178
--- #414 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 24.4%
--- #20 among cities in Massachusetts, #4,700 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 62,186
--- #19 largest city in Massachusetts, #657 largest city nationwide
#4. Lawrence
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +13,966
--- #344 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 18.6%
--- #28 among cities in Massachusetts, #5,977 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 89,143
--- #11 largest city in Massachusetts, #400 largest city nationwide
#3. Cambridge
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +14,897
--- #321 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 14.4%
--- #37 among cities in Massachusetts, #7,151 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 118,403
--- #4 largest city in Massachusetts, #247 largest city nationwide
#2. Worcester
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +26,524
--- #129 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 14.7%
--- #36 among cities in Massachusetts, #7,060 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 206,518
--- #2 largest city in Massachusetts, #116 largest city nationwide
#1. Boston
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +73,038
--- #33 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 12.1%
--- #54 among cities in Massachusetts, #7,962 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 675,647
--- #1 largest city in Massachusetts, #24 largest city nationwide
