Massachusetts

Population
	2000	2008
Population	6,349,097	6,497,967
State Rank	13	15
Median Age	36.5	38.6
Total 8 year-olds	86,868	76,435
Boys	44,448	39,112
Girls	42,420	37,323
Total 9 year-olds	90,298	76,437
Boys	46,448	39,015
Girls	43,850	37,422
Total 10 year-olds	90,706	77,645
Boys	46,613	39,467
Girls	44,093	38,178
Total 11 year-olds	86,781	78,027
Boys	44,206	39,847
Girls	42,575	38,180
Total 12 year-olds	86,425	79,669
Boys	44,328	40,818
Girls	42,097	38,851

How People Get to Work:
Drive Alone	74%	72%
Car Pool	9%	9%
Public Transportation	9%	9%

Geography
Capital	Boston
Largest City	Boston
Second Largest City	Worcester
Persons per square mile	810

Business
	2000	2007
Dentist Offices	2,946	3,118
Amusement Parks	19	7
FastFood Restaurants	5,806	6,589
Toy Stores	306	244
Video/Disc Rental Stores	481	302
Zoos & Botanical Gardens	11	19
Candy & Nut Stores	136	107
Pet & Pet Supply Stores	195	177
Ice Cream & Frozen Dessert Makers	24	23

Note: As is the case with all surveys, statistics from sample surveys are subject to sampling and nonsampling error.

A value of NA indicates that data are not available for the indicated time period, or is not applicable for the current region.

For the following combo box, to make a selection, press enter then alt plus down arrow and use the up and down arrows.

May I have another state, please?

Skip top of page navigation

Select a state to begin

History

Date of Statehood: February 6, 1788
Population 1800: 422,845
Population 1850: 994,514
Population 1900: 2,805,346
Population 1950: 4,690,514

I never knew that! *

Nickname: Bay State
Flower: Mayflower
Tree: American Elm
Bird: Chickadee
Dessert: Boston Cream Pie
Cookie: Chocolate Chip Cookie
Fruit: Cranberry

Teachers: Download the Picture Your State lesson plan. [pdf]

Who told you this stuff?

The U.S. Census Bureau takes a census of the population every 10 years, and censuses of economic activity and governments every five years. And every year, the Census Bureau conducts more than 100 other surveys. Data on this page come from Population Estimates, the Census of Population and Housing, the American Community Survey, and County Business Patterns.

How are these data collected?

The U.S. Census Bureau sends questionnaires in the mail or contacts businesses and households to participate in its surveys.

* State symbol information was obtained from various non-Census Bureau resources including state web sites, educational web sites, and commercial entities.