SNAPSHOT: CHANGE IN POPULATION, 1950-2010
By Matt Carroll, Boston Globe | Jan. 5, 2011
The state population between 1950 and 2010 grew the most in the suburbs around Boston, along the South Shore and Cape, and in some other scattered communities. Mashpee, Boxborough, and Brewster are among those at the top. Communities such as North Adams, Somerville, and Boston are among communities that had the greatest losses. The information is from the Donahue Institute at UMass.
Community | Pop % change 1950-2010 | Rank | Population 2010 | Population 1950 |
ABINGTON | 124% | 180 | 15,985 | 7,152 |
ACTON | 525% | 16 | 21,924 | 3,510 |
ACUSHNET | 134% | 166 | 10,303 | 4,401 |
ADAMS | -29% | 349 | 8,485 | 12,034 |
AGAWAM | 180% | 127 | 28,438 | 10,166 |
ALFORD | 133% | 169 | 494 | 212 |
AMESBURY | 50% | 261 | 16,283 | 10,851 |
AMHERST | 248% | 77 | 37,819 | 10,856 |
ANDOVER | 167% | 132 | 33,201 | 12,437 |
AQUINNAH | 253% | 76 | 311 | 88 |
ARLINGTON | -3% | 327 | 42,844 | 44,353 |
ASHBURNHAM | 134% | 168 | 6,081 | 2,603 |
ASHBY | 110% | 190 | 3,074 | 1,464 |
ASHFIELD | 78% | 221 | 1,737 | 977 |
ASHLAND | 374% | 31 | 16,593 | 3,500 |
ATHOL | 0% | 322 | 11,584 | 11,554 |
ATTLEBORO | 83% | 214 | 43,593 | 23,809 |
AUBURN | 83% | 213 | 16,188 | 8,840 |
AVON | 63% | 243 | 4,356 | 2,666 |
AYER | 29% | 290 | 7,427 | 5,740 |
BARNSTABLE | 331% | 39 | 45,193 | 10,480 |
BARRE | 58% | 249 | 5,398 | 3,406 |
BECKET | 136% | 164 | 1,779 | 755 |
BEDFORD | 154% | 145 | 13,320 | 5,234 |
BELCHERTOWN | 226% | 94 | 14,649 | 4,487 |
BELLINGHAM | 298% | 53 | 16,332 | 4,100 |
BELMONT | -10% | 335 | 24,729 | 27,381 |
BERKLEY | 399% | 28 | 6,411 | 1,284 |
BERLIN | 112% | 187 | 2,866 | 1,349 |
BERNARDSTON | 91% | 210 | 2,129 | 1,117 |
BEVERLY | 37% | 279 | 39,502 | 28,884 |
BILLERICA | 263% | 68 | 40,243 | 11,101 |
BLACKSTONE | 82% | 217 | 9,026 | 4,968 |
BLANDFORD | 107% | 194 | 1,233 | 597 |
BOLTON | 412% | 27 | 4,897 | 956 |
BOSTON | -23% | 346 | 617,594 | 801,444 |
BOURNE | 319% | 43 | 19,754 | 4,720 |
BOXBOROUGH | 1038% | 2 | 4,996 | 439 |
BOXFORD | 760% | 4 | 7,965 | 926 |
BOYLSTON | 156% | 144 | 4,355 | 1,700 |
BRAINTREE | 54% | 253 | 35,744 | 23,161 |
BREWSTER | 895% | 3 | 9,820 | 987 |
BRIDGEWATER | 179% | 128 | 26,563 | 9,512 |
BRIMFIELD | 205% | 110 | 3,609 | 1,182 |
BROCKTON | 49% | 264 | 93,810 | 62,860 |
BROOKFIELD | 116% | 185 | 3,390 | 1,567 |
BROOKLINE | 2% | 320 | 58,732 | 57,589 |
BUCKLAND | 19% | 305 | 1,902 | 1,605 |
BURLINGTON | 654% | 10 | 24,498 | 3,250 |
CAMBRIDGE | -13% | 338 | 105,162 | 120,740 |
CANTON | 189% | 122 | 21,561 | 7,465 |
CARLISLE | 454% | 21 | 4,852 | 876 |
CARVER | 652% | 11 | 11,509 | 1,530 |
CHARLEMONT | 48% | 265 | 1,266 | 855 |
CHARLTON | 314% | 49 | 12,981 | 3,136 |
CHATHAM | 149% | 149 | 6,125 | 2,457 |
CHELMSFORD | 259% | 72 | 33,802 | 9,407 |
CHELSEA | -10% | 334 | 35,177 | 38,912 |
CHESHIRE | 60% | 246 | 3,235 | 2,022 |
CHESTER | 3% | 318 | 1,337 | 1,292 |
CHESTERFIELD | 146% | 152 | 1,222 | 496 |
CHICOPEE | 12% | 307 | 55,298 | 49,211 |
CHILMARK | 373% | 32 | 866 | 183 |
CLARKSBURG | 4% | 316 | 1,702 | 1,630 |
CLINTON | 11% | 309 | 13,606 | 12,287 |
COHASSET | 102% | 198 | 7,542 | 3,731 |
COLRAIN | 8% | 312 | 1,671 | 1,546 |
CONCORD | 105% | 196 | 17,668 | 8,623 |
CONWAY | 117% | 183 | 1,897 | 873 |
CUMMINGTON | 41% | 270 | 872 | 620 |
DALTON | 42% | 268 | 6,756 | 4,772 |
DANVERS | 69% | 234 | 26,493 | 15,720 |
DARTMOUTH | 206% | 109 | 34,032 | 11,115 |
DEDHAM | 34% | 286 | 24,729 | 18,487 |
DEERFIELD | 66% | 239 | 5,125 | 3,086 |
DENNIS | 469% | 20 | 14,207 | 2,499 |
DIGHTON | 140% | 160 | 7,086 | 2,950 |
DOUGLAS | 223% | 96 | 8,471 | 2,624 |
DOVER | 225% | 95 | 5,589 | 1,722 |
DRACUT | 240% | 79 | 29,457 | 8,666 |
DUDLEY | 116% | 184 | 11,390 | 5,261 |
DUNSTABLE | 509% | 17 | 3,179 | 522 |
DUXBURY | 375% | 30 | 15,059 | 3,167 |
EAST BRIDGEWATER | 213% | 104 | 13,794 | 4,412 |
EAST BROOKFIELD | 76% | 225 | 2,183 | 1,243 |
EASTHAM | 476% | 19 | 4,956 | 860 |
EASTHAMPTON | 50% | 260 | 16,053 | 10,694 |
EAST LONGMEADOW | 222% | 98 | 15,720 | 4,881 |
EASTON | 270% | 62 | 23,112 | 6,244 |
EDGARTOWN | 170% | 130 | 4,067 | 1,508 |
EGREMONT | 68% | 236 | 1,225 | 731 |
ERVING | 36% | 282 | 1,800 | 1,322 |
ESSEX | 95% | 203 | 3,504 | 1,794 |
EVERETT | -9% | 332 | 41,667 | 45,982 |
FAIRHAVEN | 24% | 299 | 15,873 | 12,764 |
FALL RIVER | -21% | 344 | 88,857 | 111,963 |
FALMOUTH | 264% | 66 | 31,531 | 8,662 |
FITCHBURG | -6% | 330 | 40,318 | 42,691 |
FLORIDA | 57% | 250 | 752 | 479 |
FOXBOROUGH | 140% | 161 | 16,865 | 7,030 |
FRAMINGHAM | 143% | 156 | 68,318 | 28,086 |
FRANKLIN | 294% | 56 | 31,635 | 8,037 |
FREETOWN | 322% | 42 | 8,870 | 2,104 |
GARDNER | 3% | 319 | 20,228 | 19,581 |
GEORGETOWN | 239% | 80 | 8,183 | 2,411 |
GILL | 40% | 271 | 1,500 | 1,070 |
GLOUCESTER | 14% | 306 | 28,789 | 25,167 |
GOSHEN | 228% | 93 | 1,054 | 321 |
GOSNOLD | 34% | 285 | 75 | 56 |
GRAFTON | 115% | 186 | 17,765 | 8,281 |
GRANBY | 235% | 83 | 6,240 | 1,861 |
GRANVILLE | 112% | 189 | 1,566 | 740 |
GREAT BARRINGTON | 6% | 315 | 7,104 | 6,712 |
GREENFIELD | 1% | 321 | 17,456 | 17,349 |
GROTON | 269% | 64 | 10,646 | 2,889 |
GROVELAND | 176% | 129 | 6,459 | 2,340 |
HADLEY | 99% | 200 | 5,250 | 2,639 |
HALIFAX | 696% | 7 | 7,518 | 944 |
HAMILTON | 181% | 126 | 7,764 | 2,764 |
HAMPDEN | 289% | 57 | 5,139 | 1,322 |
HANCOCK | 61% | 245 | 717 | 445 |
HANOVER | 310% | 50 | 13,879 | 3,389 |
HANSON | 213% | 103 | 10,209 | 3,264 |
HARDWICK | 27% | 294 | 2,990 | 2,348 |
HARVARD | 64% | 242 | 6,520 | 3,983 |
HARWICH | 362% | 33 | 12,243 | 2,649 |
HATFIELD | 50% | 258 | 3,279 | 2,179 |
HAVERHILL | 29% | 291 | 60,879 | 47,280 |
HAWLEY | 38% | 277 | 337 | 244 |
HEATH | 131% | 172 | 706 | 305 |
HINGHAM | 108% | 193 | 22,157 | 10,665 |
HINSDALE | 30% | 289 | 2,032 | 1,560 |
HOLBROOK | 170% | 131 | 10,791 | 4,004 |
HOLDEN | 190% | 120 | 17,346 | 5,975 |
HOLLAND | 558% | 15 | 2,481 | 377 |
HOLLISTON | 261% | 69 | 13,547 | 3,753 |
HOLYOKE | -27% | 348 | 39,880 | 54,661 |
HOPEDALE | 70% | 231 | 5,911 | 3,479 |
HOPKINTON | 328% | 41 | 14,925 | 3,486 |
HUBBARDSTON | 286% | 59 | 4,382 | 1,134 |
HUDSON | 132% | 171 | 19,063 | 8,211 |
HULL | 205% | 111 | 10,293 | 3,379 |
HUNTINGTON | 73% | 226 | 2,180 | 1,257 |
IPSWICH | 91% | 209 | 13,175 | 6,895 |
KINGSTON | 265% | 65 | 12,629 | 3,461 |
LAKEVILLE | 413% | 26 | 10,602 | 2,066 |
LANCASTER | 124% | 179 | 8,055 | 3,601 |
LANESBOROUGH | 49% | 263 | 3,091 | 2,069 |
LAWRENCE | -5% | 329 | 76,377 | 80,536 |
LEE | 23% | 301 | 5,943 | 4,820 |
LEICESTER | 82% | 215 | 10,970 | 6,029 |
LENOX | 39% | 276 | 5,025 | 3,627 |
LEOMINSTER | 69% | 232 | 40,759 | 24,075 |
LEVERETT | 134% | 167 | 1,851 | 791 |
LEXINGTON | 81% | 219 | 31,394 | 17,335 |
LEYDEN | 132% | 170 | 711 | 306 |
LINCOLN | 162% | 139 | 6,362 | 2,427 |
LITTLETON | 280% | 61 | 8,924 | 2,349 |
LONGMEADOW | 143% | 157 | 15,784 | 6,508 |
LOWELL | 10% | 311 | 106,519 | 97,249 |
LUDLOW | 144% | 155 | 21,103 | 8,660 |
LUNENBURG | 158% | 143 | 10,086 | 3,906 |
LYNN | -9% | 333 | 90,329 | 99,738 |
LYNNFIELD | 195% | 117 | 11,596 | 3,927 |
MALDEN | -1% | 324 | 59,450 | 59,804 |
MANCHESTER-BY-THE-SEA | 79% | 220 | 5,136 | 2,868 |
MANSFIELD | 223% | 97 | 23,184 | 7,184 |
MARBLEHEAD | 44% | 267 | 19,808 | 13,765 |
MARION | 118% | 182 | 4,907 | 2,250 |
MARLBOROUGH | 144% | 154 | 38,499 | 15,756 |
MARSHFIELD | 669% | 9 | 25,132 | 3,267 |
MASHPEE | 3098% | 1 | 14,006 | 438 |
MATTAPOISETT | 167% | 133 | 6,045 | 2,265 |
MAYNARD | 45% | 266 | 10,106 | 6,978 |
MEDFIELD | 164% | 135 | 12,024 | 4,549 |
MEDFORD | -15% | 341 | 56,173 | 66,113 |
MEDWAY | 241% | 78 | 12,752 | 3,744 |
MELROSE | 0% | 323 | 26,983 | 26,988 |
MENDON | 261% | 70 | 5,839 | 1,619 |
MERRIMAC | 126% | 176 | 6,338 | 2,804 |
METHUEN | 93% | 206 | 47,255 | 24,477 |
MIDDLEBOROUGH | 127% | 174 | 23,116 | 10,164 |
MIDDLEFIELD | 77% | 224 | 521 | 295 |
MIDDLETON | 208% | 107 | 8,987 | 2,916 |
MILFORD | 81% | 218 | 27,999 | 15,442 |
MILLBURY | 59% | 248 | 13,261 | 8,347 |
MILLIS | 209% | 106 | 7,891 | 2,551 |
MILLVILLE | 89% | 211 | 3,190 | 1,692 |
MILTON | 21% | 303 | 27,003 | 22,395 |
MONROE | -30% | 350 | 121 | 174 |
MONSON | 40% | 272 | 8,560 | 6,125 |
MONTAGUE | 8% | 313 | 8,437 | 7,812 |
MONTEREY | 162% | 140 | 961 | 367 |
MONTGOMERY | 434% | 24 | 838 | 157 |
MOUNT WASHINGTON | 391% | 29 | 167 | 34 |
NAHANT | 27% | 295 | 3,410 | 2,679 |
NANTUCKET | 192% | 119 | 10,172 | 3,484 |
NATICK | 66% | 237 | 33,006 | 19,838 |
NEEDHAM | 77% | 222 | 28,886 | 16,313 |
NEW ASHFORD | 93% | 205 | 228 | 118 |
NEW BEDFORD | -13% | 339 | 95,072 | 109,189 |
NEW BRAINTREE | 109% | 192 | 999 | 478 |
NEWBURY | 234% | 85 | 6,666 | 1,994 |
NEWBURYPORT | 23% | 300 | 17,416 | 14,111 |
NEW MARLBOROUGH | 53% | 254 | 1,509 | 989 |
NEW SALEM | 153% | 146 | 990 | 392 |
NEWTON | 4% | 317 | 85,146 | 81,994 |
NORFOLK | 315% | 47 | 11,227 | 2,704 |
NORTH ADAMS | -36% | 351 | 13,708 | 21,567 |
NORTHAMPTON | -2% | 326 | 28,549 | 29,063 |
NORTH ANDOVER | 234% | 86 | 28,352 | 8,485 |
NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH | 136% | 163 | 28,712 | 12,146 |
NORTHBOROUGH | 353% | 34 | 14,155 | 3,122 |
NORTHBRIDGE | 50% | 262 | 15,707 | 10,476 |
NORTH BROOKFIELD | 36% | 283 | 4,680 | 3,444 |
NORTHFIELD | 35% | 284 | 3,032 | 2,246 |
NORTH READING | 238% | 81 | 14,892 | 4,402 |
NORTON | 332% | 38 | 19,031 | 4,401 |
NORWELL | 318% | 45 | 10,506 | 2,515 |
NORWOOD | 72% | 229 | 28,602 | 16,636 |
OAK BLUFFS | 198% | 115 | 4,527 | 1,521 |
OAKHAM | 318% | 44 | 1,902 | 455 |
ORANGE | 33% | 287 | 7,839 | 5,894 |
ORLEANS | 235% | 84 | 5,890 | 1,759 |
OTIS | 349% | 37 | 1,612 | 359 |
OXFORD | 134% | 165 | 13,709 | 5,851 |
PALMER | 27% | 293 | 12,140 | 9,533 |
PAXTON | 351% | 36 | 4,806 | 1,066 |
PEABODY | 126% | 175 | 51,251 | 22,645 |
PELHAM | 128% | 173 | 1,321 | 579 |
PEMBROKE | 592% | 13 | 17,837 | 2,579 |
PEPPERELL | 232% | 88 | 11,497 | 3,460 |
PERU | 492% | 18 | 847 | 143 |
PETERSHAM | 52% | 255 | 1,234 | 814 |
PHILLIPSTON | 164% | 137 | 1,682 | 638 |
PITTSFIELD | -16% | 343 | 44,737 | 53,348 |
PLAINFIELD | 184% | 124 | 648 | 228 |
PLAINVILLE | 296% | 54 | 8,264 | 2,088 |
PLYMOUTH | 315% | 48 | 56,468 | 13,608 |
PLYMPTON | 305% | 52 | 2,820 | 697 |
PRINCETON | 231% | 91 | 3,413 | 1,032 |
PROVINCETOWN | -22% | 345 | 2,942 | 3,795 |
QUINCY | 10% | 310 | 92,271 | 83,835 |
RANDOLPH | 222% | 99 | 32,112 | 9,982 |
RAYNHAM | 452% | 22 | 13,383 | 2,426 |
READING | 77% | 223 | 24,747 | 14,006 |
REHOBOTH | 214% | 102 | 11,608 | 3,700 |
REVERE | 41% | 269 | 51,755 | 36,763 |
RICHMOND | 100% | 199 | 1,475 | 737 |
ROCHESTER | 294% | 55 | 5,232 | 1,328 |
ROCKLAND | 95% | 204 | 17,489 | 8,960 |
ROCKPORT | 64% | 241 | 6,952 | 4,231 |
ROWE | 97% | 201 | 393 | 199 |
ROWLEY | 231% | 89 | 5,856 | 1,768 |
ROYALSTON | 50% | 259 | 1,258 | 838 |
RUSSELL | 37% | 280 | 1,775 | 1,298 |
RUTLAND | 161% | 141 | 7,973 | 3,056 |
SALEM | -1% | 325 | 41,340 | 41,880 |
SALISBURY | 207% | 108 | 8,283 | 2,695 |
SANDISFIELD | 109% | 191 | 915 | 437 |
SANDWICH | 755% | 5 | 20,675 | 2,418 |
SAUGUS | 55% | 252 | 26,628 | 17,162 |
SAVOY | 138% | 162 | 692 | 291 |
SCITUATE | 203% | 113 | 18,133 | 5,993 |
SEEKONK | 125% | 177 | 13,722 | 6,104 |
SHARON | 263% | 67 | 17,612 | 4,847 |
SHEFFIELD | 51% | 256 | 3,257 | 2,150 |
SHELBURNE | 8% | 314 | 1,893 | 1,756 |
SHERBORN | 231% | 90 | 4,119 | 1,245 |
SHIRLEY | 69% | 233 | 7,211 | 4,271 |
SHREWSBURY | 236% | 82 | 35,608 | 10,594 |
SHUTESBURY | 731% | 6 | 1,771 | 213 |
SOMERSET | 112% | 188 | 18,165 | 8,566 |
SOMERVILLE | -26% | 347 | 75,754 | 102,351 |
SOUTHAMPTON | 318% | 46 | 5,792 | 1,387 |
SOUTHBOROUGH | 254% | 75 | 9,767 | 2,760 |
SOUTHBRIDGE | -5% | 328 | 16,719 | 17,519 |
SOUTH HADLEY | 73% | 227 | 17,514 | 10,145 |
SOUTHWICK | 233% | 87 | 9,502 | 2,855 |
SPENCER | 66% | 238 | 11,688 | 7,027 |
SPRINGFIELD | -6% | 331 | 153,060 | 162,399 |
STERLING | 260% | 71 | 7,808 | 2,166 |
STOCKBRIDGE | -16% | 342 | 1,947 | 2,311 |
STONEHAM | 62% | 244 | 21,437 | 13,229 |
STOUGHTON | 142% | 158 | 26,962 | 11,146 |
STOW | 288% | 58 | 6,590 | 1,700 |
STURBRIDGE | 230% | 92 | 9,268 | 2,805 |
SUDBURY | 580% | 14 | 17,659 | 2,596 |
SUNDERLAND | 307% | 51 | 3,684 | 905 |
SUTTON | 189% | 121 | 8,963 | 3,102 |
SWAMPSCOTT | 19% | 304 | 13,787 | 11,580 |
SWANSEA | 159% | 142 | 15,865 | 6,121 |
TAUNTON | 39% | 273 | 55,874 | 40,109 |
TEMPLETON | 68% | 235 | 8,013 | 4,757 |
TEWKSBURY | 286% | 60 | 28,961 | 7,505 |
TISBURY | 105% | 197 | 3,949 | 1,930 |
TOLLAND | 353% | 35 | 485 | 107 |
TOPSFIELD | 331% | 40 | 6,085 | 1,412 |
TOWNSEND | 217% | 101 | 8,926 | 2,817 |
TRURO | 203% | 112 | 2,003 | 661 |
TYNGSBOROUGH | 448% | 23 | 11,292 | 2,059 |
TYRINGHAM | 39% | 274 | 327 | 235 |
UPTON | 184% | 125 | 7,542 | 2,656 |
UXBRIDGE | 92% | 207 | 13,457 | 7,007 |
WAKEFIELD | 27% | 297 | 24,932 | 19,633 |
WALES | 270% | 63 | 1,838 | 497 |
WALPOLE | 164% | 136 | 24,070 | 9,109 |
WALTHAM | 28% | 292 | 60,632 | 47,187 |
WARE | 31% | 288 | 9,872 | 7,517 |
WAREHAM | 188% | 123 | 21,822 | 7,569 |
WARREN | 51% | 257 | 5,135 | 3,406 |
WARWICK | 82% | 216 | 780 | 429 |
WASHINGTON | 91% | 208 | 538 | 281 |
WATERTOWN | -15% | 340 | 31,915 | 37,329 |
WAYLAND | 195% | 118 | 12,994 | 4,407 |
WEBSTER | 27% | 296 | 16,767 | 13,194 |
WELLESLEY | 36% | 281 | 27,982 | 20,549 |
WELLFLEET | 145% | 153 | 2,750 | 1,123 |
WENDELL | 148% | 150 | 848 | 342 |
WENHAM | 197% | 116 | 4,875 | 1,644 |
WESTBOROUGH | 148% | 151 | 18,272 | 7,378 |
WEST BOYLSTON | 198% | 114 | 7,669 | 2,570 |
WEST BRIDGEWATER | 70% | 230 | 6,916 | 4,059 |
WEST BROOKFIELD | 121% | 181 | 3,701 | 1,674 |
WESTFIELD | 96% | 202 | 41,094 | 20,962 |
WESTFORD | 415% | 25 | 21,951 | 4,262 |
WESTHAMPTON | 256% | 73 | 1,607 | 452 |
WESTMINSTER | 163% | 138 | 7,277 | 2,768 |
WEST NEWBURY | 165% | 134 | 4,235 | 1,598 |
WESTON | 124% | 178 | 11,261 | 5,026 |
WESTPORT | 211% | 105 | 15,532 | 4,989 |
WEST SPRINGFIELD | 39% | 275 | 28,391 | 20,438 |
WEST STOCKBRIDGE | 12% | 308 | 1,306 | 1,165 |
WEST TISBURY | 690% | 8 | 2,740 | 347 |
WESTWOOD | 150% | 147 | 14,618 | 5,837 |
WEYMOUTH | 64% | 240 | 53,743 | 32,690 |
WHATELY | 59% | 247 | 1,496 | 939 |
WHITMAN | 72% | 228 | 14,489 | 8,413 |
WILBRAHAM | 255% | 74 | 14,219 | 4,003 |
WILLIAMSBURG | 21% | 302 | 2,482 | 2,056 |
WILLIAMSTOWN | 25% | 298 | 7,754 | 6,194 |
WILMINGTON | 217% | 100 | 22,325 | 7,039 |
WINCHENDON | 56% | 251 | 10,300 | 6,585 |
WINCHESTER | 38% | 278 | 21,374 | 15,509 |
WINDSOR | 142% | 159 | 899 | 372 |
WINTHROP | -10% | 336 | 17,497 | 19,496 |
WOBURN | 86% | 212 | 38,120 | 20,492 |
WORCESTER | -11% | 337 | 181,045 | 203,486 |
WORTHINGTON | 150% | 148 | 1,156 | 462 |
WRENTHAM | 105% | 195 | 10,955 | 5,341 |
YARMOUTH | 622% | 12 | 23,793 | 3,297 |