Racial Equity
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity

N/A


Not Available


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
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
Drug Poisoning 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


Loading...