Demographics and Diversity
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity

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Change in Total Population by Race/Ethnicity, 2016-20

What does this measure?

The percentage change of residents within a geographic area, broken down by racial and ethnic groups.

Why is this important?

Population measures provide insight on the changing size and face of communities. The racial and ethnic composition of a community can offer insight into its levels of diversity, which can bring with it challenges and opportunities.

How is our region doing?

MetroWest has grown more diverse since 2000. Its Asian population grew fastest, gaining 118%, while the African American population increased 95%, and Hispanic residents grew 101%. The white population was largely stable and still makes up a large majority, with 2,423,500 residents. The white majority has fallen from 88% of the population in 2000 to 76% in 2016-20.

Massachusetts experienced similar changes, but compared to MetroWest, it had smaller increases in its Asian, African American, and Hispanic populations (96%, 49% and 93%, respectively). Racial and ethnic minority populations also increased at the national level, but at a slower pace than either MetroWest or Massachusetts.

White residents were the largest racial group in every municipality in MetroWest in 2016-20, but some localities experienced large increases in other racial groups since 2000. The areas with the largest Asian population were Lexington, at 30%, and Acton and Westford, both at 23%. Westborough, Bedford and Boxborough follow, with 22%, 17%, and 16% of their populations being Asian, respectively. Dedham has the largest percentage of African Americans, at 8% of its population. Overall, Framingham, at 17%, has the highest percentage of Hispanic residents, followed by Waltham and Marlborough at 14% and 13%, respectively.

Why do these disparities exist?

The composition of the U.S. population is becoming more racially and ethnically diverse as people of color grow in representation and will be a majority within the next two decades. Latino, Asian and multiracial groups are experiencing the largest growth with Latino's rapid increase caused largely by immigration. Latino immigrants who enter the U.S. tend to be younger and of child-bearing age. Latinas in the U.S. have higher fertility rates than Black and white women. Black, Latino and multiracial populations are also experiencing higher rates of births relative to deaths, while whites are experiencing the opposite.

Notes about the data

Rate is percentage change from 2000. The multiyear figures are from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey. The bureau combined 5 years of responses to the survey to provide estimates for smaller geographic areas and increase the precision of its estimates. However, because the information came from a survey, the samples responding to the survey were not always large enough to produce reliable results, especially in small geographic areas. CGR has noted on data tables the estimates with relatively large margins of error. Estimates with three asterisks have the largest margins, plus or minus 50% or more of the estimate. Two asterisks mean plus or minus 35%-50%, and one asterisk means plus or minus 20%-35%. For all estimates, the confidence level is 90%, meaning there is 90% probability the true value (if the whole population were surveyed) would be within the margin of error (or confidence interval). The survey provides data on characteristics of the population that used to be collected only during the decennial census.

The Census Bureau asks people to identify their race (white, African-American, etc.) separate from their ethnicity (Hispanic or non-Hispanic). So the totals for these categories cannot be added together, as people show up in both a racial and ethnic group. Data for this indicator are released annually in December.

Change in Total Population by Race/Ethnicity, 2016-20
AsianBlack or African AmericanHispanicWhite
United States80%19%68%9%
Massachusetts96%49%93%-2%
Region118%95%101%-3%
Middlesex County117%72%94%-4%
Norfolk County123%144%177%-7%
Worcester County110%103%92%1%
Acton town, Middlesex County220%525%***212%**-11%
Ashland town, Middlesex County528%*245%***171%**3%
Bedford town, Middlesex County260%*80%***90%***-7%
Bellingham town, Norfolk County6%***231%***260%***2%
Boxborough town, Middlesex County118%*1,531%***275%***-2%
Carlisle town, Middlesex County108%*-100%***-14%***5%
Concord town, Middlesex County216%**99%**165%*0%
Dedham town, Norfolk County69%*431%*317%*-3%
Dover town, Norfolk County253%*-100%***244%***-6%
Framingham city, Middlesex County75%33%65%-7%
Groton town, Middlesex County423%***21%***228%***10%
Harvard town, Worcester County97%***89%***49%***-0%
Holliston town, Middlesex County360%*28%***162%**2%
Hopkinton town, Middlesex County983%*295%***218%**15%
Hudson town, Middlesex County171%***-27%***140%**7%
Lexington town, Middlesex County208%28%***45%**-20%
Lincoln town, Middlesex County19%**-73%***203%***-18%
Littleton town, Middlesex County449%**46%***94%***14%
Marlborough city, Middlesex County55%*118%**156%*-7%
Maynard town, Middlesex County170%***63%***9%***-4%
Medfield town, Norfolk County155%**166%***205%***1%
Medway town, Norfolk County251%***196%***290%***0%
Milford town, Worcester County65%**189%***223%-8%
Millis town, Norfolk County57%***168%***185%***-0%
Natick town, Middlesex County312%52%*89%*-3%
Needham town, Norfolk County165%*328%***141%**-2%
Sherborn town, Middlesex County234%**50%***11%***-9%
Southborough town, Worcester County424%-6%***136%***-2%
Stow town, Middlesex County356%***600%***-20%***4%
Sudbury town, Middlesex County232%*54%***131%**2%
Walpole town, Norfolk County397%**45%***233%**2%
Waltham city, Middlesex County71%82%78%-10%
Wayland town, Middlesex County133%*-1%***409%**-5%
Wellesley town, Norfolk County131%97%*140%-6%
Westborough town, Worcester County233%149%***126%*-21%
Westford town, Middlesex County471%140%***175%***-8%
Weston town, Middlesex County110%58%***144%***-7%
Westwood town, Norfolk County377%*180%***304%***1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Notes: Rate is percentage change from 2000. The Census Bureau asks people to identify their race (white, African-American, etc.) separate from their ethnicity (Hispanic or non-Hispanic). So the totals for these categories cannot be added together, as people show up in both a racial and ethnic group. Multiyear results are from rolling American Community Survey. * Margin of error between 20% & 35% of estimate; ** margin of error between 35% & 50%; *** margin of error greater than 50%.




Total Population by Race/Ethnicity, 2016-20
AsianBlack or African AmericanHispanicWhite
United States18,421,63741,227,38459,361,020229,960,813
Massachusetts466,044513,369828,1405,261,787
Region320,322176,704260,0532,423,535
Middlesex County199,16184,630129,3131,208,237
Norfolk County79,81250,50833,262535,717
Worcester County41,34941,56697,478679,581
Acton town, Middlesex County5,625888***1,122**15,937
Ashland town, Middlesex County2,278*904***1,159**13,884
Bedford town, Middlesex County2,447*374***432***10,723
Bellingham town, Norfolk County139***464***663***15,210
Boxborough town, Middlesex County899*261***206***4,233
Carlisle town, Middlesex County475*0***48***4,619
Concord town, Middlesex County1,553**755**1,257*15,574
Dedham town, Norfolk County743*1,923*2,363*21,423
Dover town, Norfolk County714*0***227***4,982
Framingham city, Middlesex County6,1634,52012,01249,538
Groton town, Middlesex County486***40***357***10,252
Harvard town, Worcester County233***508***543***5,478
Holliston town, Middlesex County759*158***498**13,578
Hopkinton town, Middlesex County2,394*363***563**14,767
Hudson town, Middlesex County688***120***1,331**18,223
Lexington town, Middlesex County10,199440***620**21,008
Lincoln town, Middlesex County399**104***725***5,736
Littleton town, Middlesex County768**41***153***9,037
Marlborough city, Middlesex County2,111*1,713**5,626*29,675
Maynard town, Middlesex County457***176***315***9,483
Medfield town, Norfolk County550**165***336***11,995
Medway town, Norfolk County421***210***409***12,199
Milford town, Worcester County779**1,045***3,76723,012
Millis town, Norfolk County141***150***211***7,648
Natick town, Middlesex County5,114800*1,197*28,696
Needham town, Norfolk County2,716*860***822**26,853
Sherborn town, Middlesex County337**24***52***3,692
Southborough town, Worcester County1,61844***311***8,132
Stow town, Middlesex County547***147***67***5,861
Sudbury town, Middlesex County2,077*207***481**16,150
Walpole town, Norfolk County1,277**526***1,536**22,305
Waltham city, Middlesex County7,3784,7528,93844,130
Wayland town, Middlesex County1,628*97***768**11,476
Wellesley town, Norfolk County3,910838*1,48122,441
Westborough town, Worcester County4,844644***1,324*12,543
Westford town, Middlesex County5,673149***630***17,957
Weston town, Middlesex County1,639213***533***9,629
Westwood town, Norfolk County1,670*196***533***13,624

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Notes: The Census Bureau asks people to identify their race (white, African-American, etc.) separate from their ethnicity (Hispanic or non-Hispanic). So the totals for these categories cannot be added together, as people show up in both a racial and ethnic group. Multiyear results are from rolling American Community Survey. * Margin of error between 20% & 35% of estimate; ** margin of error between 35% & 50%; *** margin of error greater than 50%.




INDICATORS REGIONAL TREND
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Children Living in Poverty Maintaining
Children Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families Increasing
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Disengaged Youth Decreasing
Reports of Domestic Violence Maintaining
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Establishments Increasing
Households Without Vehicles Maintaining
Means of Transportation to Work Not Applicable
Households With Internet Access Not Applicable
Voter Participation Rate Increasing
Average Charitable Contribution Maintaining
People Without Health Insurance Decreasing
Drug Poisoning Mortality Rate Increasing
Crimes Against People Decreasing
Incarceration Rates, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Change in Total Population Increasing
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Foreign-Born Population Increasing
Language Diversity Increasing
Population by Age Not Applicable
Change in Population by Age/Gender Not Applicable
Seniors Living Alone Decreasing
People with Disabilities Maintaining
Change in Total Jobs by Sector Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate Increasing
Business Ownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Share of Workers who are Professionals, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Average Salary by Sector Not Applicable
High-Tech Jobs Maintaining
Female to Male Earnings Ratio Maintaining
Prekindergarten Participation Not Applicable
School Spending Per Student Maintaining
Student Performance on Grade 3 English, by Student Group Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group Not Applicable
Chronically Absent Students Increasing
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
College Admission Rate, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty Increasing
People Living in Poverty, by Education Level Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Households Receiving Temporary Assistance Maintaining
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income Maintaining
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Living Wage Not Applicable
80/20 Income Ratio Maintaining
Access to Financial Services, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeownership Rates Increasing
Homeownership Rates, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Homeownership Increasing
Cost of Homeownership, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Rent Not Applicable
Cost of Rent, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homelessness Increasing
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Children Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Incarceration Rates, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Business Ownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Share of Workers who are Professionals, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 3 English, by Student Group Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group Not Applicable
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
College Admission Rate, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Access to Financial Services, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeownership Rates, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Homeownership, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Rent, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable


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