Demographics and Diversity
Change in Total Population
Increasing
Change in Total Population
What does this measure?
The percent change in number of residents of a geographic area since 2010.
Why is this important?
Population measures provide insight on the changing size and face of communities. Changes in total population are a measure of the overall health of a community and its ability to attract and retain residents.
How is our region doing?
Since 2010, the overall population in MetroWest has grown 7.8%, higher than the state rate of 6.6%, and lower than the nation's increase of 7.9%. From 2010 to 2022, the region's population increased from roughly 2,972,000 to 3,206,000. Middlesex is the largest county, with about 1,617,000 residents, followed by Worcester at 863,000 and Norfolk at 726,000. Norfolk and Worcester had the highest percentage of growth since 2010, both at 8.1%, with Middlesex at 7.6%.
The largest locality is Framingham, with 71,000 residents. It is followed by Waltham, at 64,000 and Marlborough at 41,000 residents. Natick, Lexington, Franklin, Needham, Wellesley and Milford round out the list of towns with more than 30,000 in population, with 36,000, 34,000, 34,000, 32,000 and 31,000 residents, respectively.
The fastest growing places since 2010 were Hopkinton (which grew 29.1%), Westborough (17.7%), Littleton (13.8%) and Millis (11.8%). The population only increased slightly in Dedham and Concord (1.1% and 1.5%, respectively).
Notes about the data
Rate is percentage change from 2000. Data for this indicator are released annually in July.
Change in Total Population
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 0.0% | 0.9% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 3.1% | 3.8% | 4.6% | 5.3% | 5.8% | 6.3% | 7.3% | 7.5% | 7.9% |
| Massachusetts | 0.0% | 1.0% | 1.8% | 2.5% | 3.3% | 3.8% | 4.2% | 4.8% | 5.1% | 5.3% | 7.4% | 6.7% | 6.6% |
| Region | 0.0% | 1.2% | 2.0% | 2.9% | 3.7% | 4.2% | 4.7% | 5.3% | 5.7% | 5.9% | 8.3% | 7.8% | 7.8% |
| Middlesex County | 0.0% | 1.4% | 2.6% | 3.8% | 4.8% | 5.5% | 6.1% | 6.7% | 7.0% | 7.2% | 8.6% | 7.6% | 7.6% |
| Norfolk County | 0.0% | 1.0% | 1.8% | 2.6% | 3.2% | 3.5% | 3.9% | 4.4% | 4.8% | 5.3% | 8.2% | 8.0% | 8.1% |
| Worcester County | 0.0% | 0.7% | 1.1% | 1.6% | 2.1% | 2.5% | 2.7% | 3.4% | 3.8% | 4.0% | 8.0% | 8.0% | 8.1% |
| Acton town, Middlesex County | 0.0% | 1.7% | 3.5% | 4.6% | 6.1% | 7.2% | 7.7% | 8.2% | 8.0% | 8.0% | 9.6% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Ashland town, Middlesex County | 0.0% | 1.4% | 2.6% | 3.5% | 4.4% | 5.7% | 5.9% | 7.0% | 7.2% | 7.2% | 13.3% | 11.8% | 11.1% |
| Bedford town, Middlesex County | 0.0% | 1.6% | 3.3% | 5.0% | 5.2% | 5.8% | 6.1% | 6.4% | 6.4% | 6.1% | 8.0% | 6.6% | 6.3% |
| Bellingham town, Norfolk County | 0.0% | 0.5% | 1.3% | 2.2% | 2.7% | 3.2% | 3.7% | 4.4% | 4.5% | 5.2% | 3.3% | 3.1% | 6.1% |
| Boxborough town, Middlesex County | 0.0% | 1.3% | 2.2% | 2.7% | 3.4% | 3.8% | 4.1% | 15.9% | 15.6% | 15.6% | 9.9% | 8.4% | 8.0% |
| Carlisle town, Middlesex County | 0.0% | 1.5% | 2.7% | 3.7% | 4.7% | 7.1% | 7.5% | 7.7% | 7.8% | 8.2% | 8.1% | 6.8% | 6.3% |
| Concord town, Middlesex County | 0.0% | 6.1% | 7.1% | 8.6% | 9.4% | 10.7% | 7.9% | 7.9% | 7.1% | 7.0% | 4.6% | 2.6% | 1.5% |
| Dedham town, Norfolk County | 0.0% | 0.7% | 1.5% | 2.5% | 3.0% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 2.2% | 2.1% | 2.0% | 2.6% | 1.7% | 1.1% |
| Dover town, Norfolk County | 0.0% | 1.4% | 2.5% | 3.6% | 5.1% | 6.3% | 7.0% | 8.2% | 9.0% | 9.6% | 6.0% | 5.4% | 4.8% |
| Framingham city, Middlesex County | 0.0% | 2.0% | 2.5% | 3.1% | 3.6% | 3.8% | 4.6% | 5.1% | 6.7% | 8.9% | 5.9% | 4.3% | 3.9% |
| Franklin town, Norfolk County | 0.0% | 1.7% | 2.2% | 3.1% | 3.7% | 4.0% | 4.2% | 4.8% | 5.0% | 7.8% | 5.2% | 4.8% | 6.4% |
| Groton town, Middlesex County | 0.0% | 2.6% | 3.7% | 4.5% | 5.4% | 5.9% | 6.2% | 6.5% | 6.6% | 6.4% | 6.4% | 5.0% | 4.9% |
| Harvard town, Worcester County | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.3% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.4% | 0.7% | 1.3% | 1.5% | 4.9% | 5.0% | 5.4% |
| Holliston town, Middlesex County | 0.0% | 2.3% | 3.6% | 4.7% | 6.2% | 7.0% | 7.6% | 8.7% | 9.8% | 10.1% | 10.7% | 9.7% | 9.7% |
| Hopkinton town, Middlesex County | 0.0% | 2.2% | 3.6% | 6.2% | 8.7% | 10.8% | 13.1% | 20.5% | 22.1% | 23.9% | 25.9% | 27.2% | 29.1% |
| Hudson town, Middlesex County | 0.0% | 1.3% | 2.3% | 3.0% | 3.7% | 4.1% | 4.3% | 4.4% | 4.3% | 4.1% | 5.3% | 3.9% | 3.5% |
| Lexington town, Middlesex County | 0.0% | 1.8% | 3.0% | 4.5% | 5.4% | 6.2% | 6.6% | 6.5% | 6.0% | 5.5% | 9.7% | 8.5% | 8.5% |
| Lincoln town, Middlesex County | 0.0% | 1.2% | 2.2% | 2.9% | 3.4% | 6.1% | 6.2% | 6.4% | 6.5% | 10.7% | 10.0% | 8.2% | 7.6% |
| Littleton town, Middlesex County | 0.0% | 1.4% | 2.5% | 3.8% | 5.4% | 10.9% | 12.3% | 13.1% | 14.3% | 14.8% | 13.7% | 13.2% | 13.8% |
| Marlborough city, Middlesex County | 0.0% | 1.1% | 2.1% | 2.5% | 3.1% | 3.4% | 3.3% | 3.4% | 3.2% | 2.8% | 8.6% | 6.9% | 6.4% |
| Maynard town, Middlesex County | 0.0% | 1.0% | 2.1% | 2.9% | 3.7% | 4.6% | 4.9% | 5.3% | 5.2% | 12.1% | 6.3% | 4.7% | 4.3% |
| Medfield town, Norfolk County | 0.0% | 0.8% | 1.7% | 2.3% | 3.0% | 5.4% | 7.0% | 7.0% | 7.1% | 7.7% | 6.4% | 7.4% | 8.7% |
| Medway town, Norfolk County | 0.0% | 0.4% | 1.3% | 1.9% | 2.8% | 3.2% | 3.7% | 4.6% | 5.2% | 5.7% | 2.8% | 3.0% | 5.0% |
| Milford town, Worcester County | 0.0% | 0.4% | 0.8% | 1.2% | 2.0% | 2.3% | 2.7% | 3.4% | 3.8% | 4.0% | 8.5% | 8.3% | 7.9% |
| Millis town, Norfolk County | 0.0% | 0.9% | 1.5% | 2.1% | 2.7% | 3.3% | 3.6% | 4.2% | 4.5% | 5.2% | 7.1% | 9.8% | 11.8% |
| Natick town, Middlesex County | 0.0% | 1.3% | 2.6% | 7.0% | 8.2% | 9.7% | 9.3% | 9.6% | 9.4% | 9.2% | 12.1% | 10.3% | 9.9% |
| Needham town, Norfolk County | 0.0% | 1.1% | 1.8% | 3.0% | 4.5% | 5.2% | 5.9% | 7.1% | 7.8% | 8.3% | 10.8% | 10.7% | 10.8% |
| Sherborn town, Middlesex County | 0.0% | 1.3% | 2.1% | 2.9% | 3.9% | 4.2% | 4.2% | 4.7% | 5.0% | 5.2% | 6.9% | 6.6% | 6.1% |
| Southborough town, Worcester County | 0.0% | 0.5% | 0.9% | 1.3% | 1.7% | 2.5% | 3.3% | 3.8% | 3.9% | 4.5% | 7.0% | 7.0% | 6.6% |
| Stow town, Middlesex County | 0.0% | 2.6% | 4.2% | 5.2% | 7.0% | 7.2% | 7.3% | 7.6% | 9.2% | 9.9% | 9.0% | 7.3% | 7.0% |
| Sudbury town, Middlesex County | 0.0% | 1.5% | 2.5% | 3.7% | 5.6% | 6.2% | 6.5% | 6.5% | 10.6% | 11.2% | 7.1% | 7.8% | 7.3% |
| Walpole town, Norfolk County | 0.0% | 1.3% | 2.3% | 2.8% | 3.6% | 4.3% | 4.1% | 4.5% | 4.4% | 4.7% | 9.6% | 9.8% | 9.2% |
| Waltham city, Middlesex County | 0.0% | 1.2% | 2.3% | 2.8% | 4.1% | 3.9% | 3.8% | 3.6% | 3.2% | 3.1% | 7.5% | 6.2% | 5.7% |
| Wayland town, Middlesex County | 0.0% | 1.3% | 2.5% | 3.7% | 4.3% | 5.2% | 6.7% | 7.2% | 7.0% | 6.9% | 7.8% | 6.2% | 5.6% |
| Wellesley town, Norfolk County | 0.0% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 2.8% | 2.7% | 3.0% | 3.5% | 3.1% | 2.9% | 2.8% | 5.9% | 9.2% | 9.4% |
| Westborough town, Worcester County | 0.0% | 0.7% | 0.6% | 1.8% | 2.7% | 3.3% | 3.7% | 4.5% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 18.0% | 17.7% | 17.7% |
| Westford town, Middlesex County | 0.0% | 2.3% | 5.9% | 7.7% | 9.4% | 9.8% | 10.3% | 10.5% | 10.3% | 13.0% | 12.2% | 11.4% | 10.9% |
| Weston town, Middlesex County | 0.0% | 2.2% | 3.8% | 5.1% | 5.8% | 7.1% | 7.4% | 7.9% | 7.7% | 7.7% | 5.4% | 3.7% | 3.6% |
| Westwood town, Norfolk County | 0.0% | 0.6% | 1.2% | 1.9% | 2.8% | 9.6% | 9.7% | 10.1% | 10.2% | 12.1% | 11.2% | 11.1% | 11.0% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Notes: Rate is percentage change since 2000.
Notes: Rate is percentage change since 2000.
Total Population
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 308,758,105 | 311,556,874 | 313,830,990 | 315,993,715 | 318,301,008 | 320,635,163 | 322,941,311 | 324,985,539 | 326,687,501 | 328,239,523 | 331,449,520 | 332,031,554 | 333,287,557 |
| Massachusetts | 6,547,785 | 6,613,583 | 6,663,005 | 6,713,315 | 6,762,596 | 6,794,228 | 6,823,608 | 6,859,789 | 6,882,635 | 6,892,503 | 7,029,949 | 6,989,690 | 6,981,974 |
| Region | 2,972,426 | 3,006,693 | 3,032,674 | 3,059,395 | 3,082,758 | 3,098,051 | 3,112,063 | 3,130,291 | 3,140,754 | 3,149,096 | 3,220,100 | 3,203,923 | 3,205,563 |
| Middlesex County | 1,503,133 | 1,524,848 | 1,542,867 | 1,560,204 | 1,574,993 | 1,585,432 | 1,594,664 | 1,603,943 | 1,608,470 | 1,611,699 | 1,632,002 | 1,617,099 | 1,617,105 |
| Norfolk County | 670,910 | 677,782 | 682,865 | 688,345 | 692,239 | 694,502 | 697,079 | 700,599 | 703,230 | 706,775 | 725,999 | 724,692 | 725,531 |
| Worcester County | 798,383 | 804,063 | 806,942 | 810,846 | 815,526 | 818,117 | 820,320 | 825,749 | 829,054 | 830,622 | 862,099 | 862,132 | 862,927 |
| Acton town, Middlesex County | 21,912 | 22,274 | 22,676 | 22,928 | 23,256 | 23,488 | 23,607 | 23,716 | 23,675 | 23,662 | 24,016 | 23,848 | 23,829 |
| Ashland town, Middlesex County | 16,615 | 16,847 | 17,042 | 17,190 | 17,339 | 17,565 | 17,587 | 17,784 | 17,811 | 17,807 | 18,829 | 18,579 | 18,466 |
| Bedford town, Middlesex County | 13,316 | 13,531 | 13,753 | 13,982 | 14,003 | 14,082 | 14,126 | 14,168 | 14,162 | 14,123 | 14,383 | 14,197 | 14,161 |
| Bellingham town, Norfolk County | 16,411 | 16,498 | 16,623 | 16,765 | 16,854 | 16,932 | 17,022 | 17,127 | 17,156 | 17,270 | 16,947 | 16,917 | 17,407 |
| Boxborough town, Middlesex County | 5,012 | 5,076 | 5,124 | 5,147 | 5,183 | 5,200 | 5,216 | 5,808 | 5,795 | 5,793 | 5,508 | 5,431 | 5,412 |
| Carlisle town, Middlesex County | 4,852 | 4,924 | 4,985 | 5,033 | 5,079 | 5,197 | 5,216 | 5,224 | 5,231 | 5,252 | 5,244 | 5,184 | 5,157 |
| Concord town, Middlesex County | 17,680 | 18,754 | 18,929 | 19,193 | 19,345 | 19,567 | 19,080 | 19,077 | 18,928 | 18,918 | 18,491 | 18,148 | 17,954 |
| Dedham town, Norfolk County | 24,723 | 24,891 | 25,094 | 25,349 | 25,459 | 25,383 | 25,398 | 25,255 | 25,231 | 25,219 | 25,365 | 25,148 | 24,997 |
| Dover town, Norfolk County | 5,591 | 5,667 | 5,733 | 5,795 | 5,874 | 5,942 | 5,980 | 6,051 | 6,093 | 6,127 | 5,924 | 5,895 | 5,860 |
| Framingham city, Middlesex County | 68,323 | 69,656 | 70,061 | 70,411 | 70,786 | 70,938 | 71,459 | 71,784 | 72,909 | 74,416 | 72,381 | 71,289 | 70,963 |
| Franklin town, Norfolk County | 31,633 | 32,166 | 32,333 | 32,611 | 32,814 | 32,886 | 32,977 | 33,166 | 33,201 | 34,087 | 33,272 | 33,136 | 33,656 |
| Groton town, Middlesex County | 10,643 | 10,916 | 11,032 | 11,117 | 11,217 | 11,267 | 11,307 | 11,335 | 11,349 | 11,325 | 11,321 | 11,177 | 11,162 |
| Harvard town, Worcester County | 6,521 | 6,530 | 6,538 | 6,550 | 6,549 | 6,538 | 6,549 | 6,568 | 6,603 | 6,620 | 6,839 | 6,845 | 6,870 |
| Holliston town, Middlesex County | 13,546 | 13,858 | 14,037 | 14,177 | 14,388 | 14,488 | 14,577 | 14,727 | 14,872 | 14,912 | 15,001 | 14,856 | 14,856 |
| Hopkinton town, Middlesex County | 14,909 | 15,237 | 15,451 | 15,834 | 16,208 | 16,512 | 16,863 | 17,969 | 18,203 | 18,470 | 18,763 | 18,967 | 19,249 |
| Hudson town, Middlesex County | 19,075 | 19,327 | 19,506 | 19,654 | 19,779 | 19,857 | 19,890 | 19,918 | 19,900 | 19,864 | 20,082 | 19,814 | 19,744 |
| Lexington town, Middlesex County | 31,406 | 31,966 | 32,352 | 32,810 | 33,102 | 33,338 | 33,493 | 33,463 | 33,302 | 33,132 | 34,456 | 34,083 | 34,074 |
| Lincoln town, Middlesex County | 6,371 | 6,448 | 6,509 | 6,555 | 6,588 | 6,761 | 6,764 | 6,779 | 6,785 | 7,052 | 7,011 | 6,891 | 6,855 |
| Littleton town, Middlesex County | 8,910 | 9,038 | 9,137 | 9,250 | 9,395 | 9,877 | 10,003 | 10,078 | 10,188 | 10,227 | 10,134 | 10,085 | 10,139 |
| Marlborough city, Middlesex County | 38,501 | 38,940 | 39,307 | 39,468 | 39,691 | 39,797 | 39,782 | 39,791 | 39,716 | 39,597 | 41,799 | 41,142 | 40,971 |
| Maynard town, Middlesex County | 10,112 | 10,212 | 10,328 | 10,409 | 10,488 | 10,582 | 10,604 | 10,643 | 10,634 | 11,336 | 10,746 | 10,587 | 10,546 |
| Medfield town, Norfolk County | 12,027 | 12,120 | 12,230 | 12,303 | 12,386 | 12,672 | 12,864 | 12,870 | 12,884 | 12,955 | 12,800 | 12,914 | 13,072 |
| Medway town, Norfolk County | 12,754 | 12,803 | 12,917 | 12,990 | 13,105 | 13,156 | 13,232 | 13,347 | 13,412 | 13,479 | 13,112 | 13,137 | 13,393 |
| Milford town, Worcester County | 27,989 | 28,114 | 28,218 | 28,319 | 28,537 | 28,633 | 28,737 | 28,932 | 29,051 | 29,101 | 30,382 | 30,308 | 30,196 |
| Millis town, Norfolk County | 7,900 | 7,969 | 8,015 | 8,066 | 8,110 | 8,161 | 8,186 | 8,233 | 8,259 | 8,310 | 8,461 | 8,675 | 8,836 |
| Natick town, Middlesex County | 33,012 | 33,442 | 33,877 | 35,317 | 35,726 | 36,222 | 36,088 | 36,175 | 36,126 | 36,050 | 37,013 | 36,416 | 36,272 |
| Needham town, Norfolk County | 28,973 | 29,286 | 29,506 | 29,841 | 30,264 | 30,493 | 30,686 | 31,026 | 31,221 | 31,388 | 32,103 | 32,079 | 32,114 |
| Sherborn town, Middlesex County | 4,119 | 4,172 | 4,204 | 4,240 | 4,279 | 4,291 | 4,294 | 4,314 | 4,325 | 4,335 | 4,402 | 4,389 | 4,372 |
| Southborough town, Worcester County | 9,767 | 9,817 | 9,851 | 9,894 | 9,935 | 10,016 | 10,085 | 10,136 | 10,151 | 10,208 | 10,451 | 10,446 | 10,409 |
| Stow town, Middlesex County | 6,584 | 6,756 | 6,863 | 6,927 | 7,043 | 7,059 | 7,067 | 7,083 | 7,189 | 7,234 | 7,177 | 7,066 | 7,042 |
| Sudbury town, Middlesex County | 17,675 | 17,947 | 18,116 | 18,322 | 18,661 | 18,765 | 18,816 | 18,827 | 19,555 | 19,655 | 18,932 | 19,061 | 18,965 |
| Walpole town, Norfolk County | 24,069 | 24,375 | 24,632 | 24,754 | 24,936 | 25,094 | 25,051 | 25,150 | 25,138 | 25,200 | 26,377 | 26,430 | 26,277 |
| Waltham city, Middlesex County | 60,638 | 61,382 | 62,047 | 62,327 | 63,114 | 63,003 | 62,939 | 62,822 | 62,563 | 62,495 | 65,213 | 64,393 | 64,065 |
| Wayland town, Middlesex County | 12,940 | 13,111 | 13,259 | 13,413 | 13,497 | 13,615 | 13,804 | 13,867 | 13,850 | 13,835 | 13,944 | 13,741 | 13,664 |
| Wellesley town, Norfolk County | 27,898 | 28,543 | 28,547 | 28,692 | 28,643 | 28,735 | 28,876 | 28,765 | 28,710 | 28,670 | 29,553 | 30,464 | 30,524 |
| Westborough town, Worcester County | 18,278 | 18,414 | 18,389 | 18,609 | 18,779 | 18,873 | 18,949 | 19,103 | 19,142 | 19,144 | 21,570 | 21,512 | 21,506 |
| Westford town, Middlesex County | 21,962 | 22,473 | 23,248 | 23,646 | 24,030 | 24,125 | 24,223 | 24,269 | 24,219 | 24,817 | 24,638 | 24,460 | 24,353 |
| Weston town, Middlesex County | 11,260 | 11,511 | 11,693 | 11,839 | 11,916 | 12,061 | 12,094 | 12,144 | 12,124 | 12,124 | 11,863 | 11,671 | 11,661 |
| Westwood town, Norfolk County | 14,625 | 14,713 | 14,805 | 14,905 | 15,028 | 16,036 | 16,043 | 16,099 | 16,113 | 16,400 | 16,264 | 16,253 | 16,231 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Demographics and Diversity Indicators
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| INDICATORS | REGIONAL TREND |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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