Department of Numbers

Housing Units, Population and Cost Rank Measures for Massachusetts

Here we explore the evolution and dynamics of the housing supply in Massachusetts, the relative cost of Massachusetts housing, the housing mix and the change in Massachusetts population. Housing supply here is defined as the number of housing units (i.e: houses, condos, apartments etc..). For this analysis, the Massachusetts population number we're most interested in is the 18 and over population since the under 18 population typically isn't a buyer or renter in the housing market. All data on this page comes from the Census ACS 1 year survey. Jump to Massachusetts sections: housing units, housing cost, housing mix, population.

Housing Units and 18+ Population for Massachusetts

The data below track the total number of housing units in Massachusetts, the total 18 and over population in Massachusetts and the ratio of the 18 and over Massachusetts population to the number of housing units. Over the past 5 years, the number of Massachusetts housing units increased by 3.54% while the 18 and over population increased by 3.47%. As a result, the ratio of the 18 and over population to housing units decreased from 1.893 to 1.892. A lower population to housing units ratio means there are more housing units available per person in the region.

2019 1 Year Change 5 Year Change
Massachusetts Housing Units 2,928,818 +0.47% +3.54%
Massachusetts 18+ Population 5,540,726 +0.10% +3.47%
Massachusetts 18+ Pop. / Units 1.892 -0.007 -0.001

Massachusetts 18+ Population to Units Ratio Trends: Massachusetts, US

Massachusetts Housing Units and 18+ Population History

Date Massachusetts Housing Units Massachusetts 18+ Population Massachusetts 18+ Pop. / Units
2019 2,928,818 5,540,726 1.892
2018 2,915,043 5,535,023 1.899
2017 2,894,590 5,489,235 1.896
2016 2,858,087 5,432,832 1.901
2015 2,845,805 5,407,228 1.900
2014 2,828,592 5,354,723 1.893
2013 2,813,641 5,299,869 1.884
2012 2,810,394 5,244,889 1.866
2011 2,819,028 5,182,429 1.838
2010 2,808,727 5,140,133 1.830
2009 2,748,475 5,160,707 1.878
2008 2,735,645 5,069,241 1.853

more history ...

Massachusetts Relative Housing Cost Percentile by Price and Rent

This data shows where Massachusetts falls in the distribution of home prices and rent compared to other states (and D.C.). The higher the percentile, the more expensive the region is compared to the rest of the country. In 2019, Massachusetts was at the 94.12% percentile for home prices and the 88.24% percentile for the cost of rent. Over the past 5 years, Massachusetts home prices have become less expensive compared to the rest of the country and rent in Massachusetts has become more expensive over the past 5 years relative to the rest of the country.

Massachusetts Home Price and Rent Percentile

2019 1 Year Change
(delta)		 5 Year Change
(delta)
Massachusetts Home Price Percentile 94.12% 0.00% 0.00%
Massachusetts Rent Percentile 88.24% 0.00% +3.93%

Massachusetts Trends in Home Price and Rent Percentile: Massachusetts, US

Massachusetts Home Price and Rent Percentile History

Date Massachusetts Home Price Percentile Massachusetts Rent Percentile
2019 94.12% 88.24%
2018 94.12% 88.24%
2017 94.12% 84.31%
2016 94.12% 86.27%
2015 94.12% 88.24%
2014 94.12% 84.31%
2013 94.12% 84.31%
2012 94.12% 84.31%
2011 94.12% 84.31%
2010 92.16% 86.27%
2009 92.16% 82.35%
2008 92.16% 88.24%

more history ...

Massachusetts Housing Units: Owner Occupied, Renter Occupied and Vacant

The data below shows the number of housing units in Massachusetts by type. Over the past 5 years, the number of housing units held by owner occupiers increased by 4.93% while the total number of rented units in Massachusetts increased by 2.44%. Units that were vacant1 decreased by 0.40% over the last 5 years.

Massachusetts Changes in Owned, Rented and Vacant Units

2019 1 Year Change 5 Year Change
Massachusetts Owner Occ. Units 1,647,747 +1.67% +4.93%
Massachusetts Renter Occ. Units 1,002,933 -0.06% +2.44%
Massachusetts Vacant Units 278,138 -4.34% -0.40%

Massachusetts Housing Share Trends: Owned, Rented and Vacant: Owned, Rented, Vacant

The chart below shows the share of each housing type in Massachusetts as a fraction of total housing units.

Massachusetts Owned, Rented and Vacant Units History

Date Massachusetts Owner Occ. Units Massachusetts Renter Occ. Units Massachusetts Vacant Units
2019 1,647,747 1,002,933 278,138
2018 1,620,712 1,003,582 290,749
2017 1,623,515 981,439 289,636
2016 1,598,930 980,468 278,689
2015 1,579,953 979,998 285,854
2014 1,570,332 979,004 279,256
2013 1,560,809 975,512 277,320
2012 1,570,055 952,339 288,000
2011 1,573,279 958,788 286,961
2010 1,568,382 952,037 288,308
2009 1,589,421 886,071 272,983
2008 1,592,324 874,999 268,322

more history ...

Massachusetts Population

This data shows the population of Massachusetts for the under 18 category and the 18 and over category. In the last 5 years the under 18 population has decreased by 2.80% while the 18 and over population has increased by 3.47%.The total population of Massachusetts has increased by 2.18% in the last 5 years.

Changes in Massachusetts Population

2019 1 Year Change 5 Year Change
Massachusetts Population Under 18 1,351,777 -1.12% -2.80%
Massachusetts Population 18+ 5,540,726 +0.10% +3.47%
Massachusetts Total Population 6,892,503 -0.14% +2.18%

Massachusetts Population Age Share: Under 18, 18 and Over: 18+, Under 18

Massachusetts Population History

Date Massachusetts Population Under 18 Massachusetts Population 18+ Massachusetts Total Population
2019 1,351,777 5,540,726 6,892,503
2018 1,367,126 5,535,023 6,902,149
2017 1,370,584 5,489,235 6,859,819
2016 1,378,947 5,432,832 6,811,779
2015 1,387,194 5,407,228 6,794,422
2014 1,390,685 5,354,723 6,745,408
2013 1,392,955 5,299,869 6,692,824
2012 1,401,255 5,244,889 6,646,144
2011 1,405,107 5,182,429 6,587,536
2010 1,417,121 5,140,133 6,557,254
2009 1,432,880 5,160,707 6,593,587
2008 1,428,726 5,069,241 6,497,967

more history ...

1. The Census defines a vacant unit as belonging to the following set: For rent, Rented not occupied, For sale only, Sold not occupied, For seasonal or recreational or other occasional use, For migrant workers, Other vacant. ↩

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