The Changing Demographics of MA & the North Shore
May 31, 2023 9:44 amThe United States is undergoing shifts in demographics and diversity that are mirrored in Massachusetts. Over the last decade, according to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau report (2020), Massachusetts became significantly more diverse. Since the diversity of the Commonwealth is one of its major assets, support of diversity-owned businesses should be a priority now and in the future.
Let’s take a broad look at the changing demographics of Massachusetts, and then delve deeper into the specifics of the changes in the North Shore region.
2020 U.S. Census Bureau Reports
The population of Massachusetts has increased by 7.4 percent since the 2010 Census Report, bringing it above 7 million, according to the most recent data in the 2020 U.S. Census Bureau report.
Not only is the population increasing, but the diversity of that population is rising as well. For instance, “the portion of white residents dropped from 76.1 to 67.6 percent over the last decade. Populations of color are rising, with the biggest changes reflected among Hispanic and Latino (9.6 percent in 2010 to 12.6 percent in 2020), Asian (5.3 to 7.2 percent), and multiracial residents (1.9 to 4.7 percent).” (Source: US Census)
It bears looking at how the national numbers are changing in similar ways as the Commonwealth’s demographics are changing. At the national level, residents who identified themselves as more than one race went from approximately 9 million to 33.8 million, a 276 percent increase, and the Hispanic or Latino population grew by 23 percent.
Graphic courtesy of US Facts
The Largest Change In Population
The largest demographic change is in the Hispanic/Latino population group. In 2021, the largest racial or ethnic group in Massachusetts was the white (non-Hispanic) group, which had a population of 4.9 million. The white (non-Hispanic) population had the largest decrease dropping 6.7 percentage points to 70.1%.
Between 2010 and 2021, the Hispanic/Latino population had the most growth increasing by 263,414 from 633,935 in 2010 to 897,349 in 2021. (Source: US Facts)
North Shore Examples of Demographic Shifts
The 30 communities that make up the North Shore of Massachusetts have undergone similar shifts as the state and nation. For instance, Lynn, Massachusetts, a Gateway City, saw its population rise by over 12%. The largest demographic group in the city is Hispanic and Latino residents who exceed the white/non-Hispanic residents at 44%. (Source: Item Live)
Another example of a demographic shift toward increased diversity was evident in Peabody, Massachusetts, another Gateway City, where a rise in population by 6.3 increase over 2010 was due in part to a rise in the number of Black residents, a figure which almost doubled to 1,775 (3.3% of the total), and the number of multiracial residents, which more than quadrupled, rising to 2,719 (5%). (Source: Item Live)
One of the North Shore cities that saw the largest increase in population was Revere, Massachusetts with a 20.2% increase in its total population. While white residents are still the largest demographic in the City, they make up less than half the population for the first time. Hispanic and Latino residents are up 37%. Asian residents are at 5.5% while Blacks are at 4.7%, and multiracial residents are at 4.9%.
To examine your specific community and see graphics showing the evolving demographics between the 2010 Census and the most recent 2020 census visit the US Census Bureau and US Facts for more information.
Categorised in: diversity, diversity directory