How many people live in the Boston, MA area?
Updated Mar. 4, 2026Refreshed annually
In 2024 there were 5.03 million people in the Boston, MA area. That makes the Boston, MA metropolitan statistical area the 11th populous metro area in the US. It is home to 1.5% of the nation's population.
5.03M
population of Boston, MA area (2024)
1.5%
Boston, MA area share of US population (2024)
Between 2010 and 2024, the population of the Boston, MA area increased from 4.57 million to 5.03 million—a 10% increase. During that same period, the US population grew 9.9%.
About 5.03 million people lived in the Boston, MA area in 2024.
Population estimates of the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area, 2010–2024
What are the age demographics of the Boston, MA area?
About 17.9% of the Boston, MA area's population in 2024 was aged 65 years or older, lower than the 18% share in the nation overall. Children (under 18) account for 19% of the Boston, MA area population, below the 21.6% population share of children nationwide.
A lower share of the Boston, MA area population is 65 and older than the US overall.
Population share by age group in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area and the US overall (2024)
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of the Boston, MA area?
Non-Hispanic white residents make up 66.6% of the Boston, MA area population, higher than the national share of 57.5%.
Racial and ethnic make up differ based on location. These figures reflect how people identified their race alone (not in combination with other races), and separate out Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, following Census reporting standards.
A higher share of the Boston, MA area population is non-Hispanic white than the US overall.
Population share by race and ethnicity in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area and the US overall (2024)
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Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
The analysis was generated with the help of AI and reviewed by USAFacts for accuracy.
Page sources
USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
