Snapshot: one person households 2010

SNAPSHOT: ONE-PERSON HOUSEHOLDS

By Matt Carroll, Boston Globe | March 1, 2012

The communities with the most one-person households are scattered across the Cape, western Mass., and around Greater Boston. Provincetown, Gosnold, and Cambridge are among those with the highest percent of single-person households, according to the UMass Donahue Institute, which looked at Census data from 2010.

COMMUNITY	Percent households with 1 person, 2010	Rank	Total households 2010	Total households 1 person
ABINGTON	25.1	174	6,080	1,527
ACTON	23	217	8,187	1,886
ACUSHNET	22.2	240	3,934	874
ADAMS	35	26	3,907	1,366
AGAWAM	30	78	11,664	3,503
ALFORD	27.8	119	223	62
AMESBURY	30	78	6,642	1,991
AMHERST	27.3	125	9,259	2,530
ANDOVER	22.3	238	11,851	2,645
AQUINNAH	37.9	7	145	55
ARLINGTON	34.1	33	18,969	6,463
ASHBURNHAM	16.9	318	2,148	362
ASHBY	15.5	333	1,105	171
ASHFIELD	27.1	127	760	206
ASHLAND	22.9	223	6,385	1,464
ATHOL	28.4	110	4,656	1,323
ATTLEBORO	26.4	139	16,884	4,461
AUBURN	27.9	117	6,542	1,822
AVON	26.6	134	1,709	454
AYER	33.6	37	3,118	1,048
BARNSTABLE	29	100	19,225	5,572
BARRE	24.1	192	2,025	488
BECKET	27.7	120	763	211
BEDFORD	25.6	162	5,130	1,313
BELCHERTOWN	21.7	253	5,595	1,216
BELLINGHAM	21.4	257	6,155	1,320
BELMONT	24.2	189	9,651	2,333
BERKLEY	12.2	347	2,109	258
BERLIN	21.8	244	1,125	245
BERNARDSTON	24.3	187	890	216
BEVERLY	31.3	62	15,850	4,960
BILLERICA	19.7	280	14,034	2,770
BLACKSTONE	22.7	229	3,403	772
BLANDFORD	20.9	264	492	103
BOLTON	12.1	348	1,670	202
BOSTON	37.1	13	252,699	93,701
BOURNE	29.8	85	7,866	2,341
BOXBOROUGH	25.6	162	1,949	499
BOXFORD	11.4	351	2,688	307
BOYLSTON	22.8	225	1,698	387
BRAINTREE	27.4	124	13,736	3,757
BREWSTER	30.2	75	4,383	1,325
BRIDGEWATER	20.7	268	7,995	1,654
BRIMFIELD	23.7	196	1,429	339
BROCKTON	26.9	132	33,303	8,955
BROOKFIELD	25.7	158	1,375	353
BROOKLINE	33.4	39	25,092	8,389
BUCKLAND	27.9	117	823	230
BURLINGTON	23.2	214	9,269	2,155
CAMBRIDGE	40.7	3	44,032	17,933
CANTON	27	128	8,378	2,261
CARLISLE	11.5	350	1,695	195
CARVER	21.8	244	4,297	935
CHARLEMONT	30.8	68	561	173
CHARLTON	16.9	318	4,608	780
CHATHAM	36.5	14	3,085	1,127
CHELMSFORD	25.5	168	13,313	3,391
CHELSEA	29.3	94	11,831	3,465
CHESHIRE	26.4	139	1,403	370
CHESTER	25.8	156	543	140
CHESTERFIELD	23.5	202	511	120
CHICOPEE	34.3	31	23,739	8,136
CHILMARK	31.7	57	398	126
CLARKSBURG	20.3	274	675	137
CLINTON	33.4	39	5,831	1,950
COHASSET	22.7	229	2,722	619
COLRAIN	26.5	137	683	181
CONCORD	27.2	126	6,484	1,763
CONWAY	23.5	202	770	181
CUMMINGTON	35.4	19	404	143
DALTON	27	128	2,737	738
DANVERS	29.2	95	10,615	3,104
DARTMOUTH	23.8	194	11,237	2,669
DEDHAM	28.7	107	9,651	2,768
DEERFIELD	26.3	142	2,053	539
DENNIS	36.4	16	6,928	2,521
DIGHTON	19.1	292	2,472	472
DOUGLAS	16.9	318	3,000	506
DOVER	13.2	344	1,869	247
DRACUT	22.3	238	10,956	2,446
DUDLEY	22.8	225	4,062	927
DUNSTABLE	12.8	345	1,063	136
DUXBURY	19.5	282	5,344	1,044
EAST BRIDGEWATER	19.2	290	4,750	911
EAST BROOKFIELD	18.7	297	828	155
EASTHAM	30.4	72	2,388	727
EASTHAMPTON	33.9	35	7,224	2,447
EAST LONGMEADOW	23.7	196	5,851	1,388
EASTON	22.4	237	7,865	1,758
EDGARTOWN	31.5	59	1,794	565
EGREMONT	30.2	75	563	170
ERVING	29.1	97	745	217
ESSEX	28	116	1,402	393
EVERETT	27.7	120	15,543	4,309
FAIRHAVEN	31.4	60	6,672	2,096
FALL RIVER	34.9	27	38,457	13,428
FALMOUTH	32.5	46	14,069	4,578
FITCHBURG	29.8	85	15,165	4,523
FLORIDA	21.8	244	308	67
FOXBOROUGH	24.7	178	6,504	1,604
FRAMINGHAM	28.4	110	26,173	7,438
FRANKLIN	20.8	267	10,995	2,284
FREETOWN	14.7	341	3,162	465
GARDNER	32.1	51	8,224	2,641
GEORGETOWN	17.8	307	2,937	522
GILL	28.3	112	568	161
GLOUCESTER	32.8	43	12,486	4,098
GOSHEN	19.5	282	416	81
GOSNOLD	46.2	2	39	18
GRAFTON	24.2	189	6,892	1,665
GRANBY	21.9	243	2,374	519
GRANVILLE	20.9	264	608	127
GREAT BARRINGTON	35.2	23	2,879	1,013
GREENFIELD	38	6	7,852	2,982
GROTON	19.4	286	3,753	728
GROVELAND	18.5	301	2,346	435
HADLEY	27.6	122	2,107	581
HALIFAX	23.5	202	2,863	673
HAMILTON	15.7	331	2,692	422
HAMPDEN	17.9	306	1,898	339
HANCOCK	26.4	139	299	79
HANOVER	17.4	312	4,709	821
HANSON	17.3	314	3,468	599
HARDWICK	24.3	187	1,094	266
HARVARD	16	327	1,893	302
HARWICH	33	42	5,623	1,857
HATFIELD	31.2	65	1,483	462
HAVERHILL	29.6	90	24,150	7,149
HAWLEY	22.7	229	128	29
HEATH	26.5	137	302	80
HINGHAM	26.6	134	8,465	2,253
HINSDALE	25.9	149	868	225
HOLBROOK	25.3	172	4,102	1,038
HOLDEN	19.4	286	6,394	1,243
HOLLAND	22.1	241	994	220
HOLLISTON	18.7	297	4,940	924
HOLYOKE	32	52	15,361	4,909
HOPEDALE	22.6	232	2,194	495
HOPKINTON	16	327	4,957	794
HUBBARDSTON	16.6	324	1,566	260
HUDSON	25.9	149	7,528	1,946
HULL	34.1	33	4,630	1,581
HUNTINGTON	23.3	210	868	202
IPSWICH	28.8	103	5,462	1,572
KINGSTON	24.4	185	4,665	1,139
LAKEVILLE	16.8	322	3,725	627
LANCASTER	21.8	244	2,409	526
LANESBOROUGH	25.4	169	1,291	328
LAWRENCE	24.5	182	25,181	6,169
LEE	32.4	47	2,560	829
LEICESTER	22.8	225	4,021	915
LENOX	40.3	4	2,283	921
LEOMINSTER	30	78	16,767	5,033
LEVERETT	23.4	206	762	178
LEXINGTON	21	262	11,530	2,416
LEYDEN	18.4	302	288	53
LINCOLN	21.6	254	2,404	520
LITTLETON	22	242	3,297	724
LONGMEADOW	20.9	264	5,741	1,202
LOWELL	29.4	92	38,470	11,307
LUDLOW	26.3	142	8,080	2,124
LUNENBURG	20.7	268	3,835	793
LYNN	30.6	70	33,310	10,206
LYNNFIELD	18.8	295	4,179	784
MALDEN	30	78	23,673	7,112
MANCHESTER-BY-THE-SEA	28.8	103	2,147	619
MANSFIELD	23	217	8,399	1,934
MARBLEHEAD	28.8	103	8,144	2,347
MARION	25.6	162	1,896	485
MARLBOROUGH	28.7	107	15,395	4,411
MARSHFIELD	22.6	232	9,526	2,151
MASHPEE	30.6	70	6,118	1,871
MATTAPOISETT	25	175	2,505	627
MAYNARD	30.7	69	4,239	1,301
MEDFIELD	17	317	4,117	698
MEDFORD	29.6	90	22,810	6,747
MEDWAY	18.7	297	4,435	828
MELROSE	31.3	62	11,213	3,509
MENDON	15.2	336	2,022	307
MERRIMAC	22.6	232	2,417	547
METHUEN	24.9	176	17,529	4,373
MIDDLEBOROUGH	20.7	268	8,468	1,755
MIDDLEFIELD	23.4	206	218	51
MIDDLETON	23.2	214	2,898	673
MILFORD	25.4	169	10,872	2,764
MILLBURY	25.9	149	5,294	1,370
MILLIS	23.6	201	3,030	716
MILLVILLE	15.9	329	1,094	174
MILTON	23	217	9,274	2,131
MONROE	35.1	24	57	20
MONSON	23	217	3,279	753
MONTAGUE	32.6	45	3,694	1,206
MONTEREY	28.6	109	426	122
MONTGOMERY	20.6	272	330	68
MOUNT WASHINGTON	31.1	66	74	23
NAHANT	33.5	38	1,540	516
NANTUCKET	29.7	88	4,229	1,257
NATICK	29.1	97	13,406	3,896
NEEDHAM	21.8	244	10,341	2,258
NEW ASHFORD	21.1	261	95	20
NEW BEDFORD	32.4	47	38,761	12,550
NEW BRAINTREE	17.6	311	370	65
NEWBURY	23	217	2,594	597
NEWBURYPORT	34.4	29	7,622	2,621
NEW MARLBOROUGH	25.9	149	630	163
NEW SALEM	23.3	210	404	94
NEWTON	25.6	162	31,168	7,993
NORFOLK	12.4	346	3,049	379
NORTH ADAMS	37.3	10	5,868	2,189
NORTHAMPTON	37.2	12	12,000	4,466
NORTH ANDOVER	25.6	162	10,516	2,688
NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH	24.9	176	10,943	2,725
NORTHBOROUGH	19.2	290	5,110	983
NORTHBRIDGE	24.7	178	5,896	1,459
NORTH BROOKFIELD	25.3	172	1,862	472
NORTHFIELD	24.6	180	1,226	302
NORTH READING	21.8	244	5,439	1,183
NORTON	21.6	254	6,416	1,387
NORWELL	17.1	316	3,553	607
NORWOOD	31.3	62	11,917	3,730
OAK BLUFFS	35.1	24	1,989	699
OAKHAM	15	338	685	103
ORANGE	28.8	103	3,172	913
ORLEANS	37.5	9	2,950	1,107
OTIS	23.7	196	708	168
OXFORD	25.7	158	5,272	1,353
PALMER	29.8	85	5,099	1,518
PAXTON	15.9	329	1,546	246
PEABODY	31.4	60	21,313	6,682
PELHAM	21.3	259	549	117
PEMBROKE	19.3	288	6,298	1,217
PEPPERELL	20.3	274	4,197	850
PERU	19.3	288	336	65
PETERSHAM	23.3	210	493	115
PHILLIPSTON	17.7	309	633	112
PITTSFIELD	35.3	20	19,653	6,947
PLAINFIELD	25.7	158	269	69
PLAINVILLE	27	128	3,303	891
PLYMOUTH	23.7	196	21,269	5,050
PLYMPTON	17.8	307	1,006	179
PRINCETON	14.9	339	1,279	190
PROVINCETOWN	54.3	1	1,765	959
QUINCY	37.7	8	40,658	15,340
RANDOLPH	24.5	182	11,551	2,833
RAYNHAM	20.6	272	4,875	1,004
READING	23.5	202	9,305	2,189
REHOBOTH	15.5	333	4,101	634
REVERE	32	52	20,454	6,545
RICHMOND	25.7	158	657	169
ROCHESTER	14.9	339	1,813	271
ROCKLAND	26.6	134	6,697	1,780
ROCKPORT	36.5	14	3,213	1,174
ROWE	26.3	142	167	44
ROWLEY	18.6	300	2,155	401
ROYALSTON	26.1	146	498	130
RUSSELL	16.3	325	656	107
RUTLAND	19.1	292	2,791	534
SALEM	35.3	20	17,842	6,301
SALISBURY	29.9	83	3,441	1,030
SANDISFIELD	28.1	114	377	106
SANDWICH	21.3	259	7,776	1,657
SAUGUS	25.8	156	10,318	2,661
SAVOY	28.2	113	298	84
SCITUATE	24.4	185	6,859	1,675
SEEKONK	17.7	309	5,071	897
SHARON	16.1	326	6,219	1,003
SHEFFIELD	31.1	66	1,424	443
SHELBURNE	33.7	36	849	286
SHERBORN	15.1	337	1,438	217
SHIRLEY	24.5	182	2,264	555
SHREWSBURY	24.6	180	13,424	3,297
SHUTESBURY	23.4	206	714	167
SOMERSET	23.4	206	7,087	1,657
SOMERVILLE	32	52	32,105	10,276
SOUTHAMPTON	20.3	274	2,249	456
SOUTHBOROUGH	15.4	335	3,332	514
SOUTHBRIDGE	30.4	72	6,866	2,090
SOUTH HADLEY	32.2	50	6,793	2,189
SOUTHWICK	24.2	189	3,710	898
SPENCER	26.9	132	4,744	1,278
SPRINGFIELD	30	78	56,752	17,013
STERLING	18.1	305	2,810	510
STOCKBRIDGE	39.8	5	919	366
STONEHAM	31.9	55	8,994	2,872
STOUGHTON	25.6	162	10,295	2,632
STOW	17.4	312	2,429	422
STURBRIDGE	22.6	232	3,611	817
SUDBURY	11.9	349	5,771	684
SUNDERLAND	29	100	1,648	478
SUTTON	16.9	318	3,213	544
SWAMPSCOTT	25.9	149	5,520	1,427
SWANSEA	21.4	257	6,079	1,298
TAUNTON	28.9	102	22,332	6,465
TEMPLETON	19.8	278	2,882	571
TEWKSBURY	21.5	256	10,492	2,256
TISBURY	35.9	17	1,806	649
TOLLAND	21.8	244	197	43
TOPSFIELD	16.7	323	2,090	348
TOWNSEND	18.4	302	3,240	596
TRURO	33.3	41	984	328
TYNGSBOROUGH	18.2	304	3,999	727
TYRINGHAM	23.9	193	138	33
UPTON	19.5	282	2,733	534
UXBRIDGE	21.8	244	5,056	1,102
WAKEFIELD	28.1	114	9,994	2,812
WALES	27	128	736	199
WALPOLE	22.9	223	8,730	1,997
WALTHAM	34.9	27	23,690	8,267
WARE	29.1	97	4,120	1,198
WAREHAM	29.7	88	9,071	2,698
WARREN	25.4	169	2,021	514
WARWICK	23.7	196	329	78
WASHINGTON	19.6	281	225	44
WATERTOWN	35.8	18	14,709	5,260
WAYLAND	20.2	277	4,808	973
WEBSTER	31.6	58	7,088	2,237
WELLESLEY	20.7	268	8,695	1,798
WELLFLEET	37.3	10	1,366	509
WENDELL	30.4	72	391	119
WENHAM	23.2	214	1,358	315
WESTBOROUGH	25.9	149	6,924	1,791
WEST BOYLSTON	25.9	149	2,616	677
WEST BRIDGEWATER	23.3	210	2,571	599
WEST BROOKFIELD	26.2	145	1,479	387
WESTFIELD	27.5	123	15,335	4,210
WESTFORD	14.6	342	7,498	1,092
WESTHAMPTON	17.2	315	623	107
WESTMINSTER	18.8	295	2,716	511
WEST NEWBURY	13.9	343	1,508	209
WESTON	19.8	278	3,776	747
WESTPORT	22.8	225	6,154	1,404
WEST SPRINGFIELD	34.3	31	12,124	4,158
WEST STOCKBRIDGE	29.2	95	593	173
WEST TISBURY	29.4	92	1,197	352
WESTWOOD	22.6	232	5,249	1,188
WEYMOUTH	32.3	49	22,435	7,246
WHATELY	26	148	626	163
WHITMAN	23	217	5,300	1,217
WILBRAHAM	21	262	5,309	1,115
WILLIAMSBURG	30.2	75	1,118	338
WILLIAMSTOWN	32.8	43	2,542	833
WILMINGTON	15.7	331	7,532	1,183
WINCHENDON	23.8	194	3,810	906
WINCHESTER	21.8	244	7,645	1,665
WINDSOR	19	294	369	70
WINTHROP	34.4	29	7,783	2,680
WOBURN	29.9	83	15,524	4,649
WORCESTER	31.8	56	68,613	21,846
WORTHINGTON	26.1	146	522	136
WRENTHAM	19.5	282	3,703	723
YARMOUTH	35.3	20	11,229	3,965

SOURCE: UMass Donahue Institute