A look at population density in Massachusetts, using U.S. Census data from 2010. Data visualization provided by CensusViewer.com.
The city of Boston’s population is now a little shy of 700,000, the highest it has been since 1960, according to federal survey data.
Boston’s population reached about 694,583 on July 1, 2018, a 12.5 percent increase over the 617,594 found as of April 1, 2010, according to the American Community Survey, an arm of the U.S. Census Bureau that produces population estimates that are used to calculate federal grants to local communities.
Boston’s population grew an average of a little less than 1.5 percent per year between 2010 and 2018. (The actual average rate of growth over that period is 1.47701 percent.) If it continues growing at the same rate, the city’s population will reach 804,120 by 2028 – surpassing the city’s all-time high of 801,444 in 1950.
The city of Cambridge’s population surged by 13 percent between 2010 and 2018, according to federal population estimates.
The 13.1 percent growth in the city far outstrips the estimated 5.4 percent population growth in Massachusetts during the same period. The state grew from 6,547,790 to 6,902,149 between 2010 and 2018, according to American Community Survey.
Cambridge’s population surge enabled the city to overtake Lowell as fourth largest city in Massachusetts.
Lowell’s population stood at 111,670 on July 1, 2018, according to the survey estimate. It grew from 106,519 in 2010, an increase of 4.8 percent.
Worcester remains second largest city in Massachusetts , followed by Springfield. Both cities experienced modest growth – 2.7 percent for Worcester, 1.3 percent for Springfield.
The top five cities in Massachusetts — Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Cambridge, and Lowell — are the only ones in the state with a population exceeding 100,000.The next four — Brockton, New Bedford, Lynn, and Quincy — are close together, with between 94,000 and 96,000.
The U.S. Census every 10 years attempts to count every person living in every community. The American Community Survey, run by the U.S. Census Bureau, is based on population estimates, not an actual person-by-person count.
Below are charts showing the populations and population growth of the biggest cities in Massachusetts, along with a graph of Boston’s population growth since 1780.
Top 17 Cities in Massachusetts By Population
2010
2018
Population Growth
Percentage Growth
Population
Population
2010 to 2018
2010 to 2018
1
Boston
617,594
694,583
76,989
12.5
2
Worcester
181,045
185,877
4,832
2.7
3
Springfield
153,060
155,032
1,972
1.3
4
Cambridge
105,176
118,977
13,801
13.1
5
Lowell
106,519
111,670
5,151
4.8
6
Brockton
93,810
95,777
1,967
2.1
7
New Bedford
95,072
95,315
243
0.3
8
Lynn
90,329
94,654
4,325
4.8
9
Quincy
92,271
94,580
2,309
2.5
10
Fall River
88,857
89,661
804
0.9
11
Newton
85,146
88,904
3,758
4.4
12
Somerville
75,754
81,562
5,808
7.7
13
Lawrence
76,377
80,376
3,999
5.2
14
Framingham
68,318
73,123
4,805
7.0
15
Haverhill
60,879
64,041
3,162
5.2
16
Waltham
60,632
62,962
2,330
3.8
17
Malden
59,450
61,036
1,586
2.7
Source: American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau
Boston’s Population Through the Years
Boston’s population is rising sharply for the first time since the first half of the 1900s. Sources: iBoston.com; U.S. Census; American Community Survey
A look at population density in Massachusetts, using U.S. Census data from 2010. Data visualization provided by CensusViewer.com. 
