Demographics and Diversity
Seniors Living Alone

Decreasing


People 65 or Older Living Alone

What does this measure?

The share of residents 65 or older in a geographic area who are living alone.

Why is this important?

Population measures provide insight on the changing size and face of communities, and the distribution of population among ages affects the character of and challenges faced by a community. Older people may need more supports, particularly those living alone.

How is our region doing?

In 201-22, 38% of residents in the MetroWest region ages 65 and older lived alone, a decline of 1 percentage point from 2013-17. That's about 141,600 people in MetroWest, and very similar to the state and national rates. Every locality had less than 50%, but more than 20%, of its 65 or older population living alone.

Notes about the data

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. Data for this indicator are released annually in December.

People 65 or Older Living Alone
2008-122013-172018-22
United States39%38%37%
Massachusetts42%40%39%
Region41%39%38%
Middlesex County40%39%38%
Norfolk County42%39%38%
Worcester County42%40%38%
Acton town, Middlesex County37%*32%*37%*
Ashland town, Middlesex County43%*35%*40%*
Bedford town, Middlesex County39%*32%*48%*
Bellingham town, Norfolk County38%*51%*39%**
Boxborough town, Middlesex County48%**46%**33%***
Carlisle town, Middlesex County13%***24%**24%**
Concord town, Middlesex County44%37%*39%*
Dedham town, Norfolk County45%43%42%
Dover town, Norfolk County28%**22%**20%**
Framingham city, Middlesex County44%42%36%
Franklin town, Norfolk County41%*32%*34%*
Groton town, Middlesex County45%*27%*36%*
Harvard town, Worcester County18%***33%**22%***
Holliston town, Middlesex County35%*32%*26%*
Hopkinton town, Middlesex County39%*25%**32%*
Hudson town, Middlesex County38%*33%42%
Lexington town, Middlesex County34%33%33%
Lincoln town, Middlesex County26%***45%*48%*
Littleton town, Middlesex County38%*29%*26%*
Marlborough city, Middlesex County46%41%44%
Maynard town, Middlesex County56%*44%*45%**
Medfield town, Norfolk County28%**25%**42%*
Medway town, Norfolk County45%*39%*30%**
Milford town, Worcester County32%38%38%
Millis town, Norfolk County22%**29%**23%**
Natick town, Middlesex County46%44%41%*
Needham town, Norfolk County41%39%33%*
Sherborn town, Middlesex County25%**20%***29%***
Southborough town, Worcester County41%*38%*36%*
Stow town, Middlesex County29%**28%**20%**
Sudbury town, Middlesex County23%*27%*23%*
Walpole town, Norfolk County42%*33%35%*
Waltham city, Middlesex County40%43%43%
Wayland town, Middlesex County38%*40%28%*
Wellesley town, Norfolk County38%36%36%
Westborough town, Worcester County45%*39%*31%*
Westford town, Middlesex County26%*29%*29%*
Weston town, Middlesex County35%*35%*28%*
Westwood town, Norfolk County47%43%35%*

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Notes: 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%.




Number of People 65 or Older Living Alone
2008-122013-172018-22
United States11,087,41712,510,53114,433,125
Massachusetts274,760300,786336,484
Region116,592126,651141,643
Middlesex County57,14262,61669,963
Norfolk County29,36030,66834,206
Worcester County30,09033,36737,474
Acton town, Middlesex County627*672*981*
Ashland town, Middlesex County564*653*926*
Bedford town, Middlesex County508*525*850*
Bellingham town, Norfolk County545*863*707**
Boxborough town, Middlesex County154**227**166***
Carlisle town, Middlesex County59***147**173**
Concord town, Middlesex County1,029898*1,060*
Dedham town, Norfolk County1,4061,4811,556
Dover town, Norfolk County157**133**139**
Framingham city, Middlesex County2,8152,9482,876
Franklin town, Norfolk County897*900*1,028*
Groton town, Middlesex County345*302*442*
Harvard town, Worcester County81***213**136***
Holliston town, Middlesex County458*456*491*
Hopkinton town, Middlesex County322*257**547*
Hudson town, Middlesex County820*8741,173
Lexington town, Middlesex County1,2641,3601,541
Lincoln town, Middlesex County156***381*473*
Littleton town, Middlesex County333*274*298*
Marlborough city, Middlesex County1,6541,6121,875
Maynard town, Middlesex County545*525*505**
Medfield town, Norfolk County230**262**479*
Medway town, Norfolk County469*423*383**
Milford town, Worcester County7251,0721,333
Millis town, Norfolk County135**277**285**
Natick town, Middlesex County1,5361,7211,967*
Needham town, Norfolk County1,3211,4931,278*
Sherborn town, Middlesex County100**89***130***
Southborough town, Worcester County354*354*344*
Stow town, Middlesex County171**236**165**
Sudbury town, Middlesex County331*481*467*
Walpole town, Norfolk County1,173*9391,055*
Waltham city, Middlesex County2,0852,5533,331
Wayland town, Middlesex County587*690474*
Wellesley town, Norfolk County9751,0441,138
Westborough town, Worcester County745*577*613*
Westford town, Middlesex County371*592*651*
Weston town, Middlesex County421*508*456*
Westwood town, Norfolk County953898723*

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Notes: 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 Increasing
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Establishments Increasing
Households Without Vehicles Maintaining
Means of Transportation to Work Not Applicable
Households With Internet Access Increasing
Voter Participation Rate Decreasing
Average Charitable Contribution Maintaining
People Without Health Insurance Decreasing
Opioid Overdose 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
Business Ownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate Maintaining
Share of Workers who are Professionals, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Average Salary by Sector Not Applicable
High-Tech Jobs Decreasing
Female to Male Earnings Ratio Maintaining
Prekindergarten Participation Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 3 English, by Student Group Not Applicable
School Spending Per Student Maintaining
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
College Admission Rate, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty Maintaining
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 Maintaining
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
Share of Workers who are Professionals, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate 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
College Admission Rate, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults, 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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