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Today's Population and Households

An overview of who is living in Massachusetts today and the many kinds of households in the state.

The first step in developing an effective housing plan is to clearly identify and understand the population it aims to serve. Our initial household assessment addresses three critical questions: Who is living in Massachusetts? What are their housing needs? What specific challenges do some households face that require deeper insight to fully assess the current crisis? In addition, we examined the demographic trends that have driven growth and demand over the past two decades. This section examines what we know about Massachusetts residents and households, and explores the implications for our current and future housing needs.

Population and Households—Highlights

  • Growth of New Millennial Households. Massachusetts has seen strong growth in housing demand over the past 15 years as over 300,000 younger Millennials – many born and raised in Massachusetts – formed new households.
  • Changing Family Dynamics: While Baby Boomer families dominated the housing market in Massachusetts 25 years ago, most of those householders are now empty nesters. During this period, the number of families and children in Massachusetts has steadily declined.
  • High Earners Driving Up Prices. Massachusetts has seen rapid growth of both low-and high-income jobs, while middle-income occupations have decreased. With limited housing available, high earners often outbid all others, driving prices higher. 

Who Comprises Massachusetts’ Households? 

Tenure and Housing Type 

Household Income 

Race and Ethnicity 

Households identified in the Affordable Homes Act

The Affordable Homes Act established specialized commissions to address the distinct needs of three vulnerable groups: Extremely Low-Income households, Older Adults, and People with Disabilities. 

Extremely Low-Income Households 

Households in need of Accessible Housing 

Older Adult (aged 65+) Households 

Other Household Topics

Immigrant Households 

Families with Children 

People in need of supportive housing 

Veterans and Their Households 

Multigenerational Households 

Seasonal workers, temporary housing needs, and non-traditional housing arrangements 

The Households Who Aren’t There  

Population and Households Table of Contents

Explore all the sections of this chapter

See the full table of contents

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