Financial Security
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity

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Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity, 2018-22

What does this measure?

Median household income, in 2022 dollars. Half of incomes are below the median and half are above.

Why is this important?

Median household income is a gauge of overall economic health of the region and the financial resources of households. Examining income for different racial and ethnic groups is important as a measure of inequity.

How is our region doing?

In 2018-22, median incomes were substantially lower among African American ($78,769) and Hispanic ($73,935) households, and higher among white ($113,337) and Asian ($132,857) households. Racial/ethnic income disparities were similar at the state and national level. Hispanic incomes experienced the largest increase in income (27%) between 2008-12 and 2018-22. During the same time, African American incomes rose 18%, followed by Asians at 15% and whites at 11%. In 2018-2022, the median household income varied across the region. African Americans experienced the lowest median income, $82,774, in the city of Framingham, followed by Hispanics earning $62,611 in the town of Marlborough. In contrast, Asian Americans and whites living in the town of Sudbury had the highest median incomes both at $250,001.

Why do these disparities exist?

These large and persistent disparities in income are the result of historic and current policies and practices that disadvantaged people of color. Research has connected slavery and the inability of black Americans even after emancipation to fully participate in economic life to the wealth and income gaps still present today. Structural racism perpetuated by policies and practices that systematically disadvantage African American and Latino communities include inequitable education, low wages, job and wage discrimination, lack of access to capital, and globalization. Even when a recovery from the current economic crisis occurs, it is not expected to make up for the pre-existing racial disparities experienced over time unless policies are enacted to address these gaps.

Notes about the data

Figures are in constant 2022 dollars. 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 3 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.

Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity, 2018-22
AsianBlack or African AmericanHispanic or LatinoWhite
United States$107,637$50,901$64,936$80,042
Massachusetts$118,767$67,044$59,292$102,701
Region$132,857$78,769$73,935$113,337
Middlesex County$137,922$81,178$82,217$125,537
Norfolk County$128,730$86,492$111,090$124,266
Worcester County$119,329$70,034$57,914$91,164
Acton town, Middlesex County$235,000$44,586**$148,421$130,206
Ashland town, Middlesex County$242,431$0***$86,117**$117,727
Bedford town, Middlesex County$193,164$0***$191,125**$136,440
Bellingham town, Norfolk County$152,625*$0***$102,083*$111,773
Boxborough town, Middlesex County$206,538*$250,001$173,750*$147,443
Carlisle town, Middlesex County$250,001$0***$0***$240,556
Concord town, Middlesex County$200,188*$0***$250,001$182,199
Dedham town, Norfolk County$236,296$108,952***$112,176***$122,679
Dover town, Norfolk County$250,001$0***$250,001$250,001
Framingham city, Middlesex County$124,355$82,774$64,058*$106,263
Franklin town, Norfolk County$183,909$0***$116,067*$137,449
Groton town, Middlesex County$250,001$0***$250,001$181,029
Harvard town, Worcester County$220,547*$0***$250,001$192,784
Holliston town, Middlesex County$248,750$0***$0***$152,632
Hopkinton town, Middlesex County$240,867*$0***$0***$190,889
Hudson town, Middlesex County$212,500***$0***$44,141***$104,239
Lexington town, Middlesex County$239,375$162,946***$123,400**$197,627
Lincoln town, Middlesex County$0***$195,750**$0***$154,375
Littleton town, Middlesex County$250,001$0***$0***$149,762
Marlborough city, Middlesex County$124,476$125,364**$62,611$93,207
Maynard town, Middlesex County$158,618***$0***$111,433*$111,301
Medfield town, Norfolk County$224,420$0***$250,001$210,938
Medway town, Norfolk County$0***$0***$0***$166,000
Milford town, Worcester County$151,458**$76,351*$76,215*$97,700
Millis town, Norfolk County$0***$147,986***$0***$140,500
Natick town, Middlesex County$160,933$0***$109,615*$130,891
Needham town, Norfolk County$236,923*$0***$242,823***$204,185
Sherborn town, Middlesex County$250,001$0***$0***$226,912*
Southborough town, Worcester County$250,001$0***$168,839$175,982
Stow town, Middlesex County$0***$0***$250,001$169,297
Sudbury town, Middlesex County$250,001$218,971***$250,001$228,578
Walpole town, Norfolk County$250,001$105,417***$134,886**$150,306
Waltham city, Middlesex County$130,970$95,411**$83,313*$114,206
Wayland town, Middlesex County$250,001$0***$250,001$196,042
Wellesley town, Norfolk County$243,750*$0***$229,350**$250,001
Westborough town, Worcester County$181,315$96,638***$125,057**$122,431
Westford town, Middlesex County$207,443$0***$174,931***$161,156
Weston town, Middlesex County$239,861*$214,205*$113,273*$250,001
Westwood town, Norfolk County$250,001$0***$0***$181,039

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Notes: Figures in 2022 dollars. 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%. 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.








Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity, 2008-12
AsianBlack or African AmericanHispanic or LatinoWhite
United States$91,405$45,332$53,528$71,640
Massachusetts$95,925$54,398$43,452$89,908
Region$112,301$64,990$53,820$100,379
Middlesex County$116,042$61,580$60,446$107,379
Norfolk County$113,416$75,543$89,035*$109,513
Worcester County$108,248$62,814$40,190$86,499
Acton town, Middlesex County$174,788$160,564*$42,529***$136,068
Ashland town, Middlesex County$187,258$82,110**$82,666***$118,703
Bedford town, Middlesex County$229,562**$191,410***$202,353***$127,802
Bellingham town, Norfolk County$120,425***$107,399*$61,842***$101,717
Boxborough town, Middlesex County$243,096*$0***$0***$126,078
Carlisle town, Middlesex County$257,513**$0***$208,248***$199,513
Concord town, Middlesex County$187,625**$141,275*$193,296***$167,674
Dedham town, Norfolk County$221,473**$93,475**$96,348**$105,703
Dover town, Norfolk County$266,263**$318,667$318,667$225,798
Framingham city, Middlesex County$129,334$61,454$54,199**$91,930
Franklin town, Norfolk County$180,704$113,232$95,889***$121,278
Groton town, Middlesex County$214,086***$143,494***$0***$153,342
Harvard town, Worcester County$272,724$27,641***$192,528$177,125
Holliston town, Middlesex County$192,395*$147,436***$144,993***$134,870
Hopkinton town, Middlesex County$239,572*$0***$163,581**$161,239
Hudson town, Middlesex County$122,118***$64,299***$73,236**$91,245
Lexington town, Middlesex County$202,656$152,192*$272,619**$171,484
Lincoln town, Middlesex County$135,787***$63,082***$61,271*$155,533
Littleton town, Middlesex County$235,200**$0***$147,838$134,978
Marlborough city, Middlesex County$131,545$99,037***$55,982$90,207
Maynard town, Middlesex County$155,495***$318,667$76,032***$102,962
Medfield town, Norfolk County$119,818*$0***$154,362$167,228
Medway town, Norfolk County$180,896*$0***$129,673***$136,367
Milford town, Worcester County$132,246***$92,094*$61,343*$89,852
Millis town, Norfolk County$177,562***$0***$122,049***$117,168
Natick town, Middlesex County$150,753*$131,577**$81,260***$120,268
Needham town, Norfolk County$198,979**$29,516***$248,294***$160,170
Sherborn town, Middlesex County$281,713*$0***$0***$193,147
Southborough town, Worcester County$190,597*$0***$225,917$169,412
Stow town, Middlesex County$309,525***$0***$171,466***$138,497
Sudbury town, Middlesex County$213,430***$37,692***$147,974$212,658
Walpole town, Norfolk County$168,008**$34,383***$93,210***$111,621
Waltham city, Middlesex County$123,961$48,119*$82,164$93,259
Wayland town, Middlesex County$158,126**$148,604***$173,009**$160,284
Wellesley town, Norfolk County$157,740**$96,769***$98,521***$201,074
Westborough town, Worcester County$141,328$100,978**$96,698***$120,695
Westford town, Middlesex County$222,331$0***$107,550***$145,912
Weston town, Middlesex County$173,141**$318,667$318,667$232,702
Westwood town, Norfolk County$307,757$134,796***$0***$160,229

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Notes: Figures in 2022 dollars. 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%. 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.








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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