Massachusetts · 58 places of 5,000+
Fastest-growing cities in Massachusetts, 2020 to 2024
Short answer
- Fastest
- +47.4%
- Growing
- 46
- Shrinking
- 12
The 20 fastest-growing
Amherst Town grew fastest, from 27,806 in July 2020 to 40,989 in July 2024, +47.4%. It is the 35th largest of the 58 places ranked. 46 places grew and 12 shrank or held flat; the median change was +1.2%.
By raw numbers the biggest gain was in Amherst Town, +13,183 people. At the other end, Winthrop Town changed by -2.7%. Growth is measured between the July 2020 and July 2024 estimates for places with 5,000 or more residents in 2024, so fast growth from a small base can outrank larger absolute gains.
- 01Amherst Town+47.4%
- 02Bridgewater Town+8.9%
- 03Woburn+7.5%
- 04Northampton+7.0%
- 05Everett+5.9%
- 06Newburyport+4.7%
- 07Weymouth Town+4.7%
- 08Salem+4.6%
- 09Franklin Town+4.4%
- 10Worcester+4.4%
- 11Taunton+4.3%
- 12Lowell+4.0%
- 13Cambridge+2.5%
- 14Waltham+2.5%
- 15Gloucester+2.5%
- 16Methuen+2.5%
- 17Lynn+2.4%
- 18Southbridge Town+2.3%
- 19Newton+2.1%
- 20Barnstable Town+2.0%
Dots: the 20 places in the chart. Orange pin: Amherst Town, ranked first.
All 58 places of 5,000+ ranked
| # | Place | 2024 | Since 2020 | County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amherst Town | 40,989 | +47.4% | Hampshire County |
| 2 | Bridgewater Town | 29,167 | +8.9% | Plymouth County |
| 3 | Woburn | 43,895 | +7.5% | Middlesex County |
| 4 | Northampton | 31,315 | +7.0% | Hampshire County |
| 5 | Everett | 51,825 | +5.9% | Middlesex County |
| 6 | Newburyport | 19,163 | +4.7% | Essex County |
| 7 | Weymouth Town | 60,159 | +4.7% | Norfolk County |
| 8 | Salem | 45,677 | +4.6% | Essex County |
| 9 | Franklin Town | 33,742 | +4.4% | Norfolk County |
| 10 | Worcester | 211,286 | +4.4% | Worcester County |
| 11 | Taunton | 61,936 | +4.3% | Bristol County |
| 12 | Lowell | 120,418 | +4.0% | Middlesex County |
| 13 | Cambridge | 121,186 | +2.5% | Middlesex County |
| 14 | Waltham | 65,849 | +2.5% | Middlesex County |
| 15 | Gloucester | 30,491 | +2.5% | Essex County |
| 16 | Methuen | 54,272 | +2.5% | Essex County |
| 17 | Lynn | 103,489 | +2.4% | Essex County |
| 18 | Southbridge Town | 18,106 | +2.3% | Worcester County |
| 19 | Newton | 90,700 | +2.1% | Middlesex County |
| 20 | Barnstable Town | 49,831 | +2.0% | Barnstable County |
| 21 | Quincy | 103,434 | +1.9% | Norfolk County |
| 22 | Peabody | 55,418 | +1.9% | Essex County |
| 23 | Watertown | 35,985 | +1.7% | Middlesex County |
| 24 | Framingham | 73,361 | +1.7% | Middlesex County |
| 25 | Amesbury | 17,617 | +1.6% | Essex County |
| 26 | Somerville | 82,149 | +1.5% | Middlesex County |
| 27 | Beverly | 43,223 | +1.5% | Essex County |
| 28 | Attleboro | 47,085 | +1.3% | Bristol County |
| 29 | North Attleborough Town | 31,210 | +1.3% | Bristol County |
| 30 | Marlborough | 42,169 | +1.2% | Middlesex County |
| 31 | Fitchburg | 42,145 | +1.1% | Worcester County |
| 32 | Leominster | 44,209 | +1.0% | Worcester County |
| 33 | Haverhill | 68,291 | +1.0% | Essex County |
| 34 | Malden | 66,693 | +0.9% | Middlesex County |
| 35 | West Springfield Town | 29,028 | +0.9% | Hampden County |
| 36 | Fall River | 94,689 | +0.8% | Bristol County |
| 37 | Gardner | 21,381 | +0.7% | Worcester County |
| 38 | Melrose | 29,938 | +0.7% | Middlesex County |
| 39 | Medford | 59,898 | +0.6% | Middlesex County |
| 40 | Westfield | 40,403 | +0.6% | Hampden County |
| 41 | Lawrence | 89,332 | +0.5% | Essex County |
| 42 | Agawam Town | 28,749 | +0.4% | Hampden County |
| 43 | Randolph Town | 35,114 | +0.4% | Norfolk County |
| 44 | New Bedford | 101,318 | +0.4% | Bristol County |
| 45 | Brockton | 105,788 | +0.3% | Plymouth County |
| 46 | Braintree Town | 39,134 | +0.2% | Norfolk County |
| 47 | Chicopee | 55,381 | -0.1% | Hampden County |
| 48 | Springfield | 154,888 | -0.2% | Hampden County |
| 49 | Palmer Town | 12,388 | -0.2% | Hampden County |
| 50 | Boston | 673,458 | -0.3% | Suffolk County |
| 51 | Greenfield | 17,633 | -0.4% | Franklin County |
| 52 | Chelsea | 40,245 | -0.7% | Suffolk County |
| 53 | Holyoke | 37,838 | -0.8% | Hampden County |
| 54 | Easthampton | 16,020 | -0.9% | Hampshire County |
| 55 | Pittsfield | 43,121 | -1.6% | Berkshire County |
| 56 | Revere | 60,702 | -2.0% | Suffolk County |
| 57 | North Adams | 12,492 | -2.1% | Berkshire County |
| 58 | Winthrop Town | 18,739 | -2.7% | Suffolk County |
Questions people ask
What is the fastest-growing city in Massachusetts?
Amherst Town, up 47.4% from July 2020 to July 2024 among places of 5,000+, to 40,989 residents.
Which Massachusetts city added the most people?
Amherst Town, which gained 13,183 residents from July 2020 to July 2024.
How many Massachusetts cities are shrinking?
12 of 58 places of 5,000+ had the same or fewer residents in July 2024 than in July 2020.
Why use places of 5,000 or more?
Small towns can swing by double-digit percentages from a few new homes, and Census estimates for them carry more uncertainty. The 5,000 floor keeps the ranking to places where a percentage means something.
Sources and data as of
Data as of: Census Vintage 2024 population estimates, 2024 Gazetteer land area and internal points, SAIPE 2023 median household income.
How every number is computed: methodology. Spotted a wrong figure? Report an error.