Racial Equity
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity

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Change in Total Population by Race/Ethnicity, 2018-22

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 2008-12. Its Asian population grew fastest, gaining 46%, while the African American population increased 25%, and Hispanic residents grew 43%. The white population was largely stable and still makes up a large majority, with 2,353,600 residents. The White majority has fallen from 81% of the population in 2008-12 to 75% in 2018-22.

Massachusetts experienced similar changes, but compared to MetroWest, it had smaller increases in its Asian, African American, and Hispanic populations (36%, 12% and 39%, 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 2018-22, but some localities experienced large increases in other racial groups since 2008-12. Of the areas with samples large enough for statistically reliable measurements, the largest Asian population increases were in Westford, at 130%, and Natick, at 111%. Lexington, Westborough and Needham follow, with 67%, 58%, and 58% increases in their Asian populations since 2008-12. Waltham has the largest percentage increase of African Americans, at 45% of its population. Overall, Marlborough, at 72%, has the highest percentage increase of Hispanic residents, followed by Framingham and Milford, at 38% and 33%, 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, 2018-22
AsianBlack or African AmericanHispanicWhite
United States29%6%22%-5%
Massachusetts36%12%39%-4%
Region46%25%43%-4%
Middlesex County48%17%38%-5%
Norfolk County46%30%68%-5%
Worcester County37%38%43%-3%
Acton town, Middlesex County54%280%***73%*-12%
Ashland town, Middlesex County238%*113%***213%*-9%
Bedford town, Middlesex County128%*-21%***80%**-10%
Bellingham town, Norfolk County-7%***-53%***293%***-6%
Boxborough town, Middlesex County28%*1,289%***38%***-8%
Carlisle town, Middlesex County27%*-90%***0%***3%
Concord town, Middlesex County2%*31%**34%**-7%
Dedham town, Norfolk County-11%**20%*50%*-3%
Dover town, Norfolk County106%*209%***222%***-9%
Framingham city, Middlesex County4%-20%*38%-15%
Franklin town, Norfolk County23%*38%***85%**-2%
Groton town, Middlesex County143%***-54%***256%***-4%
Harvard town, Worcester County41%***7%***132%***-1%
Holliston town, Middlesex County149%*-31%***132%**1%
Hopkinton town, Middlesex County390%*4,767%***172%**1%
Hudson town, Middlesex County165%***27%***114%**-5%
Lexington town, Middlesex County67%69%***62%*-15%
Lincoln town, Middlesex County74%*-64%***111%**-2%
Littleton town, Middlesex County99%**3,000%***132%**6%
Marlborough city, Middlesex County12%*23%**72%-16%
Maynard town, Middlesex County66%***63%***-32%***-0%
Medfield town, Norfolk County96%*283%***15%**2%
Medway town, Norfolk County27%***513%***42%***-6%
Milford town, Worcester County7%**157%***33%-11%
Millis town, Norfolk County-28%***0%***-51%***3%
Natick town, Middlesex County111%-41%**29%*1%
Needham town, Norfolk County56%12%**19%**5%
Sherborn town, Middlesex County40%**0%***-3%***-5%
Southborough town, Worcester County48%*-66%***145%**-3%
Stow town, Middlesex County101%***715%***-54%***-4%
Sudbury town, Middlesex County46%*150%***-22%**-1%
Walpole town, Norfolk County61%*38%***70%**2%
Waltham city, Middlesex County29%45%15%-8%
Wayland town, Middlesex County38%38%***423%**-3%
Wellesley town, Norfolk County37%14%*30%*-4%
Westborough town, Worcester County58%33%***37%*-1%
Westford town, Middlesex County130%103%***85%***-7%
Weston town, Middlesex County35%*36%***38%***-7%
Westwood town, Norfolk County197%*268%***144%***-6%

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, 2018-22
AsianBlack or African AmericanHispanicWhite
United States19,112,97941,288,57261,755,866218,123,424
Massachusetts487,600498,785879,2965,075,525
Region340,771177,808281,1032,353,615
Middlesex County210,78481,837136,4571,154,437
Norfolk County86,08451,31137,445527,921
Worcester County43,90344,660107,201671,257
Acton town, Middlesex County6,029886***852*15,071
Ashland town, Middlesex County2,598*856***1,543*13,585
Bedford town, Middlesex County2,789*352***637**10,165
Bellingham town, Norfolk County199***141***1,218***14,449
Boxborough town, Middlesex County958*514***76***3,798
Carlisle town, Middlesex County548*3***61***4,396
Concord town, Middlesex County867*658**1,009**15,034
Dedham town, Norfolk County588**1,498*1,916*21,272
Dover town, Norfolk County770*99***158***4,640
Framingham city, Middlesex County5,4004,583*12,57643,158
Franklin town, Norfolk County1,855*489***1,357**28,921
Groton town, Middlesex County536***50***459***9,780
Harvard town, Worcester County361***418***670***5,603
Holliston town, Middlesex County810*86***639**13,005
Hopkinton town, Middlesex County3,077*146***515**14,251
Hudson town, Middlesex County961***167***1,179**16,660
Lexington town, Middlesex County10,822596***1,091*20,085
Lincoln town, Middlesex County507*79***782**5,557
Littleton town, Middlesex County715**62***255**8,833
Marlborough city, Middlesex County2,138*1,418**7,01026,801
Maynard town, Middlesex County460***49***385***9,238
Medfield town, Norfolk County536*199***636**11,394
Medway town, Norfolk County721***196***493***11,128
Milford town, Worcester County755**1,196***3,53822,133
Millis town, Norfolk County222***156***101***7,671
Natick town, Middlesex County4,978592**1,365*29,153
Needham town, Norfolk County3,055751**1,021**26,794
Sherborn town, Middlesex County342**9***86***3,664
Southborough town, Worcester County1,691*51***411**7,987
Stow town, Middlesex County400***212***119***5,950
Sudbury town, Middlesex County1,911*297***296**15,570
Walpole town, Norfolk County1,185*636***1,351**22,814
Waltham city, Middlesex County8,4124,5999,90442,432
Wayland town, Middlesex County1,799120***691**11,056
Wellesley town, Norfolk County3,965635*1,589*22,634
Westborough town, Worcester County5,741704***1,387*13,276
Westford town, Middlesex County5,553201***717***17,505
Weston town, Middlesex County1,560*361***441***9,007
Westwood town, Norfolk County1,800*449***601***12,724

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
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity
Children Living in Poverty
Children Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity
Single-Parent Families
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity
Disengaged Youth
Reports of Domestic Violence
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Establishments
Households Without Vehicles
Means of Transportation to Work
Households With Internet Access
Voter Participation Rate
Average Charitable Contribution
People Without Health Insurance
Opioid Overdose Mortality Rate
Crimes Against People
Incarceration Rates, by Race/Ethnicity
Change in Total Population
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity
Foreign-Born Population
Language Diversity
Population by Age
Change in Population by Age/Gender
Seniors Living Alone
People with Disabilities
Change in Total Jobs by Sector
Business Ownership by Race/Ethnicity
Unemployment Rate
Share of Workers who are Professionals, by Race/Ethnicity
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity
Average Salary by Sector
High-Tech Jobs
Female to Male Earnings Ratio
Prekindergarten Participation
Student Performance on Grade 3 English, by Student Group
School Spending Per Student
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group
Chronically Absent Students
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group
Education Levels of Adults
College Admission Rate, by Race/Ethnicity
Education Levels of Adults, by Race/Ethnicity
People Living in Poverty
People Living in Poverty, by Education Level
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity
Households Receiving Temporary Assistance
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity
Median Household Income
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity
Living Wage
80/20 Income Ratio
Access to Financial Services, by Race/Ethnicity
Homeownership Rates
Homeownership Rates, by Race/Ethnicity
Cost of Homeownership
Cost of Homeownership, by Race/Ethnicity
Cost of Rent
Cost of Rent, by Race/Ethnicity
Homelessness
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity
Children Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity
Incarceration Rates, by Race/Ethnicity
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity
Business Ownership by Race/Ethnicity
Share of Workers who are Professionals, by Race/Ethnicity
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity
Student Performance on Grade 3 English, by Student Group
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group
College Admission Rate, by Race/Ethnicity
Education Levels of Adults, by Race/Ethnicity
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity
Access to Financial Services, by Race/Ethnicity
Homeownership Rates, by Race/Ethnicity
Cost of Homeownership, by Race/Ethnicity
Cost of Rent, by Race/Ethnicity


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