The MetroWest region is home to more than 3 million residents, with small but fast-growing minority groups, a high proportion of foreign-born residents in some local areas, and an overall aging population. Demographic trends are important to understand because they impact the economy, health care needs and outcomes, what services government and nonprofits provide, and many other local and national concerns.

"MetroWest" is not a formal set of government boundaries, but a name adopted for a set of communities lying west of Boston. Different groups have their own definitions of what is included, but our definition of MetroWest encompasses 39 cities and towns: Acton, Ashland, Bedford, Bellingham, Boxborough, Carlisle, Concord, Dedham, Dover, Framingham, Franklin, Groton, Harvard, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hudson, Lexington, Lincoln, Littleton, Marlborough, Maynard, Medfield, Medway, Milford, Millis, Natick, Needham, Sherborn, Southborough, Stow, Sudbury, Walpole, Waltham, Wayland, Wellesley, Westborough, Westford, Weston, and Westwood.

Though Framingham, with 73,000 people, and Waltham, with 63,000, are the largest localities in MetroWest, they are not the fastest growing: Hopkinton, and Ashland both grew more than 25% between 2000 and 2020.

Lexington, Framingham, and Westborough are all centers of diversity and immigration, with foreign-born residents making up between 28-29% of the population. Immigration is a driver of population growth, and the diversity of these communities reflects a need to continue and increase engagement of diverse populations in local government and decision-making.

The region’s population overall has grown 10% since 2000, similar to the state but below the national rate of growth (16%). Growth was fastest among Asian residents (118%), African Americans (95%) and Latinos (101%), though the region as a whole remained majority white. Overall, the region’s population was 74% white, 10% Asian, 7% Latino and 3% African American.

Overall, 18% of the region’s population was foreign-born and 24% spoke a foreign language at home – both a bit higher than state and national rates and up since 2000.

Like the state and nation, the region’s population is aging, with the fastest growing group being people ages 60-84. This group increased in size by 43% from 2000 to 2016-20, illustrating the need for robust social and health-related support services for aging residents to live in their homes or have access to affordable alternatives and care. The population between 20 and 39 has increased by 9% nationally but increased by 1% in MetroWest.

The percentage of residents over 65 living alone is 38%, consistent with state and national rates.