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Yearly population growth both in the metro area and statewide was dramatically lower in 2025 than any year since 2021.
New data from the U.S. Census Bureau showed that Massachusetts’ population growth slowed dramatically in 2025. John Rauox/AP Photo
March 29, 2026 | 10:35 AM
1 minute to read
Massachusetts and the Boston metro area both saw their slowest population growth last year since the COVID-19 pandemic, newly released census data shows.
After a dip in 2021, the Greater Boston population’s year-over-year growth steadily increased through 2024. From 2023 to 2024, the population grew by 51,573, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
However, that growth rate dropped dramatically last year to a population increase of only 11,991 from 2024 to 2025. By comparison, the second-smallest post-pandemic increase was 25,798 from 2021 to 2022, data shows.
Statewide findings have shown a similar trend. Unlike the Greater Boston area, Massachusetts’ population grew slightly from 2020 to 2021, but last year marked the smallest increase since then, with a growth of only 15,524 from 2024 to 2025.
Like the metro area, Massachusetts was previously experiencing an increasing year-to-year growth rate post-pandemic. From 2023 to 2024, the statewide population increased by 65,081, more than four times last year’s increase.
Naturally, every county in Massachusetts saw smaller population growth, if any, in 2025 compared to 2024, according to the data. In fact, several counties saw marginal decreases in their populations, including Suffolk County, Barnstable County, and Hampshire County, among others.
The largest growths by county came in Middlesex County, with 6,050, and Worcester County, with 4,780. Still, these increases were way down from 19,736 and 9,497, respectively, in 2024.
Research experts previously cited immigration as the main driver behind the commonwealth’s population growth. A UMass Amherst summary based on Census Bureau data found that in 2024, approximately 90,000 immigrants arrived in Massachusetts, while about 27,500 domestic migrants left.
Previously-released census data showed that Massachusetts ranked fifth nationally for out-migration, behind only New Jersey, Illinois, New York, and California. Top factors that have been driving residents out-of-state include high taxes, housing costs, and health care expenses.
Last year, experts told Boston.com that it would not be surprising if a decline in population growth was on the way. Based on the new data, it seems their predictions were proven right.
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