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Four out of five cities and towns in Massachusetts added residents between 2023 and 2024, with the state’s population rising 1.9% since 2020, according to new Census Bureau estimates, offering a counterpoint to fears of decline.
While experts credit immigration for the growth, they caution it may be short-lived as federal policies grow more restrictive.
“When you look at statewide figures as longer term trends, immigration has been saving our butts,” said Peter Ciurczak, a senior research analyst at Boston Indicators.
In 2024, according to a summary by UMass Amherst based on Census Bureau data, approximately 90,000 international immigrants arrived in Massachusetts from abroad, compared to roughly 27,500 domestic migrants who left Massachusetts.
From July 1, 2023, to 2024, the state population increased by 69,603 people, representing an increase of just under 1%, the most significant rise in annual percentage the state has seen in over a decade.
The annual estimates of the resident population for cities and towns in Massachusetts from April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2024. Data is from the U.S. Census Bureau.
| City / Town | 2023 Population | 2024 Population | Number of residents gained | Percent Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | 664,603 | 673,458 | 8,855 | 1.3% |
| Worcester | 209,211 | 211,286 | 2,075 | 1% |
| Cambridge | 119,315 | 121,186 | 1,871 | 1.6% |
| Woburn | 42,083 | 43,895 | 1,812 | 4.3% |
| Revere | 58,966 | 60,702 | 1,736 | 2.9% |
| Lynn | 101,868 | 103,489 | 1,621 | 1.6% |
| Stoneham | 23,098 | 24,550 | 1,452 | 6.3% |
| Newton | 89,261 | 90,700 | 1,439 | 1.6% |
| Lowell | 119,153 | 120,418 | 1,265 | 1.1% |
| Quincy | 102,304 | 103,434 | 1,130 | 1.1% |
Population growth is essential because it leads to increased federal appropriations for funding resources and greater representation in Congress.
However, with new federal immigration policies slowing down border crossings, cutting research grants that sponsor international students, and even revoking student visas outright, experts say that the next round of numbers in the fall should come as no surprise if they decline.
“It’s hard to say where we’re going to wind up,” said Ciurczak. “I think we’re in uncharted territory in terms of all of the potential impacts.”
Mark Melnik, director of economic and public policy research at UMass Donahue Institute, agrees, saying, “Immigration drives so much of the story in Massachusetts.”
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, policymakers expressed concerns that the state’s population was declining due to domestic outmigration, primarily among young adults, and a decrease in immigration resulting from COVID-19 restrictions.
Foreign-born workers have driven nearly 80% of the state’s labor force growth since the 1990s.
So the increase in outmigration and slowdown in immigration was a “double whammy,” said Melnik.
The annual estimates of the resident population for cities and towns in Massachusetts from April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2024. Data is from the U.S. Census Bureau.
| City or Town | 2023 Population | 2024 Population | Population Difference | Percent Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concord | 18,273 | 18,092 | -181 | -1.0% |
| Barnstable | 49,958 | 49,831 | -127 | -0.3% |
| Dennis | 14,962 | 14,862 | -100 | -0.7% |
| South Hadley | 18,104 | 18,031 | -73 | -0.4% |
| Pittsfield | 43,193 | 43,121 | -72 | -0.2% |
| Northampton | 31,384 | 31,315 | -69 | -0.2% |
| Amherst | 41,049 | 40,989 | -60 | -0.1% |
| Sandwich | 20,555 | 20,507 | -48 | -0.2% |
| Southampton | 6,223 | 6,181 | -42 | -0.7% |
| Easthampton | 16,057 | 16,020 | -37 | -0.2% |
The increase in population also comes with a caveat — some of the numbers may be skewed slightly due to the method the Census Bureau used to interpret the data.
The Census Bureau made revisions in December to improve the representation of humanitarian migrants by incorporating additional data in proportion to where immigrants have historically settled.
As a result, Massachusetts, a significant destination for immigrants, appeared to experience an increase in its total population.
There was no surprise in seeing that places that tend to host a lot of immigrants, such as Boston, Cambridge, and gateway cities, also experienced an uptick in population relative to other parts of the state.
But Melnik believes that once the numbers are revised, the total will decrease.
Massachusetts has a demographic problem, Melnik said. It has a relatively low birth rate and is an aging state. It is also a highly educated state, with the highest proportion of the population holding a college degree in the nation. The state also has the highest female labor force participation rates.
When all of this adds up, it means later family formations, smaller household sizes, and lower birth rates.
Immigration is a key part of replenishing the population and the labor market, Melnik said.
On a side note, demographic maps outlining the shift in populations by county in the state show that during the pandemic, people moved away from major cities into the western portions of the state and to the Cape and Islands.
That trend has since reversed course, Melnik said, and is back to levels seen before the pandemic.
Ciurczak said people move for opportunities. People are moving to Massachusetts to improve their lives, their families, and their economic situations. And Massachusetts has a lot going for it, especially in the knowledge economy and schools.
Concerns over slowing or declining population growth are troublesome, he said.
“It’s hard to say population growth isn’t beneficial generally, and … to our economy and our culture and to the diaspora of citizens who come here,” Ciurczak said.
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Two people were seriously injured in a stabbing at the Cedar’s Mediterranean Foods manufacturing facility in Haverhill, Massachusetts, on Tuesday morning.
Haverhill police said they responded to the Cedar’s plan on Foundation Avenue around 10:30 a.m. for a report of a disturbance involving a weapon. When they arrived, they found two people suffering from apparent stab wounds.
Both people were provided with medical assistance on scene and taken to area hospitals with what police described as serious injuries. Their names have not been released, and no update on their conditions was immediately available.
Preliminary investigation determined that the two people knew each other, and police said there is no ongoing threat to the public. They said their investigation into the incident remains active.
Two Plymouth, Massachusetts teens were saved from the summit of Mount Washington after a leg injury stranded them.
Khang Nguyen,17, said he and his friend, 18-year-old Vaughn Webb, thought they were well prepared for their hike on Saturday. They brought trekking poles, layers, microspikes for their boots and more.
But halfway up the trail, Nguyen feared the worst when his leg began to hurt.
“It was just incredibly painful to lift up my right leg,” he explained. “I told [Vaughn] to leave me behind so I could go on my own pace and for him to reach the summit to get help at first.”
The pair managed to reach the top of the mountain but had to seek shelter next to a building as wind gusts increased, and the air temperature reached 38 degrees. Nguyen said they also ran out of food and water. The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department received the 911 call around 7:30 p.m. and quickly alerted a State Park employee who began to search for the two teens.
“Conservation Officers then began responding in four-wheel-drive pickup trucks to try and get to the summit and back ahead of incoming snow,” the game department said in a statement.
After around 30 minutes of reaching both Webb and Nguyen were found. They were taken inside a building and Nguyen was being treated for his injury.
“The worker that was up there, [said] that they came in record time, and we appreciate their help a lot. It saved our lives potentially,” Nguyen explained.
The pair was successfully taken off the mountain by 10 p.m. The two teens are now safely back in Massachusetts and are incredibly grateful to their rescuers.
As libraries across western Massachusetts celebrate National Library Week from April 19 to April 25, they are honoring “the last real third space where everyone is welcome,” in the words of Greenfield Public Library Assistant Director Lisa Prolman.
According to the American Library Association, National Library Week is “an annual celebration highlighting the valuable role libraries and library professionals play in transforming lives and strengthening our communities.” This year, several libraries in the region will be hosting events to highlight the roles they play in their communities.
The Athol Public Library is among the venues engaging in National Library Week festivities, with a whole host of events starting on Tuesday, April 21, with Silly Goose Story Time at 10:30 a.m. The library will hold multiple events each day, including “Free Book Friday” on April 24, which Assistant Director Robin Shtulman said is “really fantastic.”
Shtulman said the week celebrates and emphasizes the “freedom to read, community outreach and celebrating the staff, without whom nothing would happen.”
The Athol Public Library said in an event announcement that “whatever brings you joy, the library has something for everyone,” and that aspect is being emphasized this National Library Week. To name a few of the events on tap, on Tuesday, April 21, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., there’s a volunteer opportunity where teens will make greeting cards for senior citizens; “A Minecraft Movie” will be shown at the same date and time; and on Thursday, April 23, the library will host Scavenger Hunt Bingo for all ages. For a full list of events at the Athol Public Library, visit atholpubliclibrary.com.
In Shelburne Falls, the Arms Library will feature a gallery from the Carlos Heiligmann Collection, a series of photos of public libraries across western Massachusetts. Also in collaboration with the Arms Library, Pothole Pictures and the Shelburne Falls Area Women’s Club will partner for a screening of “Free For All: The Public Library” on Saturday, April 25, at 2 p.m. at the Shelburne Falls Theater at Memorial Hall.
The documentary focuses on the evolution of the public library from its origins in the 19th century and the challenges it faces today, with modern-day issues such as book bans, funding cuts and debates over censorship.
It also explores the role that women’s clubs, like the one in Shelburne Falls, played in creating the modern library system. To serve their communities, women’s clubs took the lead in fundraising, collecting books and advocating for library legislation.
“Our women’s club in this town started with a group of 60 women who were gathering for lessons. … Because of the support of women in the U.S., we established over 80% of the public libraries [in the country],” said Christin Couture, program chair for the Shelburne Falls Area Women’s Club. “This film … I hear it’s so fascinating.”
Following the film’s screening, there will be a panel of local librarians who will engage in “lively conversation” about the history and future of public libraries. Tickets are $6, though school-age children will be admitted for free.
In Charlemont, Tyler Memorial Library will host an open house on Saturday, April 25, from noon to 2 p.m. featuring refreshments, a tour of the library and sun catcher crafting.
The Greenfield Public Library, meanwhile, is taking National Library Week in a bit of a different direction, as it is offering a book repair demonstration with Tom Hutcheson on Thursday, April 23, at 3:30 p.m. The day marks William Shakespeare’s birthday.
Although the book repair session required registration and is currently full, those who are interested may be placed on a waiting list at greenfieldpl.libcal.com/event/16460179.
Greenfield Public Library Director Anna Bognolo recognized the hard work that everyone has put into making the library a success, offering a “huge thank you” to the volunteers and staff who make its varied offerings possible.
“Stop by and support your library,” Bognolo said.
“Libraries, especially in this economy, are more important than ever,” Prolman said. Referencing the library’s role as a place where community members can go that is not work or home, she added, “They are the last real third space where everyone is welcome, and we don’t charge you for being here.”
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