Nonmetropolitan Massachusetts vs. Massachusetts
Comparative Trends Analysis:
Population Growth and Change, 1969-2022
Introduction
Nonmetropolitan Massachusetts vs. Massachusetts
Nonmetropolitan Massachusetts:
2022 Population = 35,289
2022 Percent of State = 0.51%
Massachusetts:
2022 Population = 6,981,974
2022 Percent of U.S. = 2.09%
Attracting and retaining people to live, work, raise a family, and retire underlies the economic vitality of any region. Population growth is both a cause--and a consequence--of economic growth. Patterns of population growth and change reflect differences among regions to attract and retain people both as producers and consumers in their economy.
The following graphs offer a broad overview of trends in the pattern of population growth and change of Nonmetropolitan Massachusetts with comparisons to Massachusetts and the nation at large. This analysis features alternative approaches toward discussing, diagnosing and comparing Nonmetropolitan Massachusetts vs. Massachusetts' population growth over 1969-2022. The data used are those compiled by the Regional Income and Product Divisions of the Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce.
Population, 1969-2022
Population, 1969-2022
Figure 1.
Figure 1 traces Nonmetropolitan Massachusetts' annual population for the period 1969-2022 to illustrate population patterns over time. During this 54-year period, Nonmetropolitan Massachusetts' population rose from 9,874 in 1969 to 35,289 in 2022, for a net gain of 25,415, or 257.39%.
NOTE: The county and state population totals reported by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) are from the Bureau of Census midyear (July 1) estimates. These estimates may differ from those prepared independently in some states by various agencies and/or universities.
Population, 1969-2022
Population, 1969-2022
Figure 2.
Figure 2 tracks Massachusetts' annual population for the period 1969-2022 to illustrate population patterns over time. During this 54-year period, Massachusetts' population rose from 5,650,000 in 1969 to 6,981,974 in 2022, for a net gain of 1,331,974, or 23.57%.
NOTE: The county and state population totals reported by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) are from the Bureau of Census midyear (July 1) estimates. These estimates may differ from those prepared independently in some states by various agencies and/or universities.
Population Indices (1969=100): 1969-2022
Population Indices (1969=100): 1969-2022
Figure 3.
Figure 3 shows Nonmetropolitan Massachusetts' population growth in a broader context by offering direct comparisons across time with Massachusetts, the United States. The growth indices shown here express each region's population in 1969 as a base figure of 100, and the populations in later years as a percentage of the 1969 base figure. This method allows for more direct comparison of differences in population growth between regions that may differ vastly in size.
Nonmetropolitan Massachusetts' overall population growth was 257.39% over 1969-2022 outpaced Massachusetts' increase of 23.57%, and outpaced the United States' increase of 65.57%.
Population as a Percent of the Massachusetts Total: 1969-2022
Population as a Percent of the Massachusetts Total: 1969-2022
Figure 4.
Another interesting and insightful way of highlighting the population growth of Nonmetropolitan Massachusetts is to trace its individual percentage contributions to Massachusetts' statewide population over time, as shown in Figure 4. A rising share means a region's population grew faster, or declined less, than Massachusetts' population, while a declining share shows it grew more slowly.
In 1969, Nonmetropolitan Massachusetts' population totaled 0.17% of Massachusetts' population, while in 2022 it comprised 0.51% thereby yielding a +0.33% share-shift.
   
 
Population Share-Shift
2022 vs. 1969
 
Share-
Shift*
 
2022
vs.
1969
+0.33%
=
0.51%
-
0.17%
 
   
Nonmetropolitan Massachusetts Population:
Annual Percent Change, 1970-2022
Nonmetropolitan Massachusetts Population:
Annual Percent Change, 1970-2022
Figure 5.
Figure 5 highlights the short-run pattern of Nonmetropolitan Massachusetts' population growth by tracking the year-to-year percent change over 1970-2022. The average annual percent change for the entire 53-year period is also illustrated on this chart to provide a benchmark for gauging periods of relative high--and relative low--growth against the backdrop of the long-term average.
On average, Nonmetropolitan Massachusetts' population grew at an annual rate of 2.47% over 1970-2022. Nonmetropolitan Massachusetts posted its highest growth in 1974 (14.95%) and posted its lowest growth in 1976 (-3.27%). In 2022, Nonmetropolitan Massachusetts' population declined by -0.90%
Nonmetropolitan Massachusetts Population:
Annual Percent Change and Decade Averages Over 1970-2022
Nonmetropolitan Massachusetts Population:
Annual Percent Change and Decade Averages Over 1970-2022
Figure 6.
Over the past five decades some nonmetropolitan regions have experienced extreme swings in growth, and often such swings have tended to coincide with the decades themselves. Figure 6 again depicts the annual percent change in Nonmetropolitan Massachusetts' population since 1970, but this time they are displayed with average growth rates for the decade of the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, and 2020-2022.
During the 1970s, Nonmetropolitan Massachusetts' annual population growth rate averaged 4.02%. It averaged 2.00% in the 1980s, 3.14% throughout the 1990s, 1.07% during the 2000s, 2.54% throughout the 2010s, 1.10% thus far this decade (2020-2022).
Population Growth:
Average Annual Percent Change by Decade
Population Growth:
Average Annual Percent Change by Decade
Figure 7.
Figure 7 compares the decade average growth rates for Nonmetropolitan Massachusetts noted in the previous graph with the corresponding decade averages for Massachusetts and the nation. As the chart reveals, Nonmetropolitan Massachusetts' average annual population growth outpaced Massachusetts' average during the 1970s (4.02% vs. 0.17%), topped Massachusetts' average throughout the 1980s (2.00% vs. 0.46%), topped Massachusetts' average throughout the 1990s (3.14% vs. 0.49%), recorded above Massachusetts' average in the 2000s (1.07% vs. 0.31%), surpassed Massachusetts' average during the 2010s (2.54% vs. 0.74%), and topped Massachusetts' average over the 3 year period of the current decade, 2020-2022 (1.10% vs. -0.16%).
Finally, relative to nationwide population growth trends, Nonmetropolitan Massachusetts led the nation in the 1970s (4.02% vs. 1.10%), surpassed the nation in the 1980s (2.00% vs. 0.95%), outpaced the nation over the 1990s (3.14% vs. 1.23%), led the nation during the 2000s (1.07% vs. 0.95%), outperformed the nation over the 2010s (2.54% vs. 0.74%), and outpaced the nation over 2020-2022 (1.10% vs. 0.31%).
   
 
Population Growth:
Average Annual Percent Change
 
 
 
2.47
4.02
2.00
3.14
1.07
2.54
1.10
-0.90
 
0.40
0.17
0.46
0.49
0.31
0.74
-0.16
-0.11
 
0.96
1.10
0.95
1.23
0.95
0.74
0.31
0.38
 
   

Interactive TableTip: To augment your analysis click on the column headers in the following table to rank and/or sort the data.

   
 
Nonmetropolitan Massachusetts:
Population, 1969-2022
 
1969
 
9,874
100.0
N
0.17
1970
 
10,002
101.3
1.30
0.18
1971
 
10,270
104.0
2.68
0.18
1972
 
10,131
102.6
-1.35
0.18
1973
 
11,458
116.0
13.10
0.20
1974
 
13,171
133.4
14.95
0.23
1975
 
13,865
140.4
5.27
0.24
1976
 
13,412
135.8
-3.27
0.23
1977
 
13,951
141.3
4.02
0.24
1978
 
14,394
145.8
3.18
0.25
1979
 
14,435
146.2
0.28
0.25
1980
 
14,095
142.7
-2.36
0.25
1981
 
14,329
145.1
1.66
0.25
1982
 
14,823
150.1
3.45
0.26
1983
 
15,168
153.6
2.33
0.26
1984
 
15,724
159.2
3.67
0.27
1985
 
15,998
162.0
1.74
0.27
1986
 
16,367
165.8
2.31
0.28
1987
 
16,775
169.9
2.49
0.28
1988
 
17,335
175.6
3.34
0.29
1989
 
17,577
178.0
1.40
0.29
1990
 
17,742
179.7
0.94
0.29
1991
 
18,057
182.9
1.78
0.30
1992
 
18,414
186.5
1.98
0.31
1993
 
18,960
192.0
2.97
0.31
1994
 
19,884
201.4
4.87
0.33
1995
 
20,677
209.4
3.99
0.34
1996
 
21,580
218.6
4.37
0.35
1997
 
22,304
225.9
3.35
0.36
1998
 
23,195
234.9
3.99
0.37
1999
 
23,920
242.3
3.13
0.38
2000
 
24,593
249.1
2.81
0.39
2001
 
24,676
249.9
0.34
0.39
2002
 
25,038
253.6
1.47
0.39
2003
 
25,259
255.8
0.88
0.39
2004
 
25,436
257.6
0.70
0.40
2005
 
25,446
257.7
0.04
0.40
2006
 
25,579
259.1
0.52
0.40
2007
 
25,904
262.3
1.27
0.40
2008
 
26,302
266.4
1.54
0.41
2009
 
26,598
269.4
1.13
0.41
2010
 
26,860
272.0
0.99
0.41
2011
 
27,461
278.1
2.24
0.41
2012
 
28,298
286.6
3.05
0.42
2013
 
29,444
298.2
4.05
0.44
2014
 
30,436
308.2
3.37
0.45
2015
 
31,090
314.9
2.15
0.45
2016
 
31,906
323.1
2.62
0.46
2017
 
32,672
330.9
2.40
0.47
2018
 
33,278
337.0
1.85
0.48
2019
 
34,160
346.0
2.65
0.49
2020
 
34,816
352.6
1.92
0.50
2021
 
35,608
360.6
2.27
0.51
2022
 
35,289
357.4
-0.90
0.51
Source: Calculations by the Massachusetts Regional Economic Analysis Project (MA-REAP)
with data provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis
November 2023
REAP_PI_CA1400_100_PSN
 
   

Interactive TableTip: To augment your analysis click on the column headers in the following table to rank and/or sort the data.

   
 
Massachusetts:
Population, 1969-2022
 
1969
 
5,650,000
100.0
N
2.81
1970
 
5,703,706
101.0
0.95
2.80
1971
 
5,738,589
101.6
0.61
2.77
1972
 
5,762,122
102.0
0.41
2.75
1973
 
5,783,809
102.4
0.38
2.74
1974
 
5,776,992
102.2
-0.12
2.71
1975
 
5,762,138
102.0
-0.26
2.67
1976
 
5,748,868
101.7
-0.23
2.64
1977
 
5,744,097
101.7
-0.08
2.61
1978
 
5,742,923
101.6
-0.02
2.59
1979
 
5,746,188
101.7
0.06
2.56
1980
 
5,746,075
101.7
0.00
2.53
1981
 
5,768,685
102.1
0.39
2.51
1982
 
5,771,222
102.1
0.04
2.49
1983
 
5,799,405
102.6
0.49
2.48
1984
 
5,840,774
103.4
0.71
2.48
1985
 
5,880,734
104.1
0.68
2.47
1986
 
5,902,677
104.5
0.37
2.46
1987
 
5,935,205
105.0
0.55
2.45
1988
 
5,979,983
105.8
0.75
2.45
1989
 
6,015,478
106.5
0.59
2.44
1990
 
6,022,639
106.6
0.12
2.41
1991
 
6,018,470
106.5
-0.07
2.38
1992
 
6,028,709
106.7
0.17
2.35
1993
 
6,060,569
107.3
0.53
2.33
1994
 
6,095,241
107.9
0.57
2.32
1995
 
6,141,445
108.7
0.76
2.31
1996
 
6,179,756
109.4
0.62
2.29
1997
 
6,226,058
110.2
0.75
2.28
1998
 
6,271,838
111.0
0.74
2.27
1999
 
6,317,345
111.8
0.73
2.26
2000
 
6,361,104
112.6
0.69
2.25
2001
 
6,397,634
113.2
0.57
2.25
2002
 
6,417,206
113.6
0.31
2.23
2003
 
6,422,565
113.7
0.08
2.21
2004
 
6,412,281
113.5
-0.16
2.19
2005
 
6,403,290
113.3
-0.14
2.17
2006
 
6,410,084
113.5
0.11
2.15
2007
 
6,431,559
113.8
0.34
2.14
2008
 
6,468,967
114.5
0.58
2.13
2009
 
6,517,613
115.4
0.75
2.12
2010
 
6,569,537
116.3
0.80
2.12
2011
 
6,629,863
117.3
0.92
2.13
2012
 
6,692,712
118.5
0.95
2.13
2013
 
6,756,583
119.6
0.95
2.13
2014
 
6,819,480
120.7
0.93
2.14
2015
 
6,865,334
121.5
0.67
2.13
2016
 
6,908,516
122.3
0.63
2.13
2017
 
6,958,374
123.2
0.72
2.13
2018
 
6,994,054
123.8
0.51
2.13
2019
 
7,016,618
124.2
0.32
2.12
2020
 
6,995,729
123.8
-0.30
2.11
2021
 
6,989,690
123.7
-0.09
2.11
2022
 
6,981,974
123.6
-0.11
2.09
Source: Calculations by the Massachusetts Regional Economic Analysis Project (MA-REAP)
with data provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis
November 2023
REAP_PI_CA1400_100_PSN
 
   

Interactive TableTip: To augment your analysis click on the column headers in the following table to rank and/or sort the data.

   
 
United States:
Population, 1969-2022
 
1969
 
201,298,000
100.0
N
1970
 
203,798,722
101.2
1.24
1971
 
206,817,509
102.7
1.48
1972
 
209,274,882
104.0
1.19
1973
 
211,349,205
105.0
0.99
1974
 
213,333,635
106.0
0.94
1975
 
215,456,585
107.0
1.00
1976
 
217,553,859
108.1
0.97
1977
 
219,760,875
109.2
1.01
1978
 
222,098,244
110.3
1.06
1979
 
224,568,579
111.6
1.11
1980
 
227,224,719
112.9
1.18
1981
 
229,465,744
114.0
0.99
1982
 
231,664,432
115.1
0.96
1983
 
233,792,014
116.1
0.92
1984
 
235,824,907
117.2
0.87
1985
 
237,923,734
118.2
0.89
1986
 
240,132,831
119.3
0.93
1987
 
242,288,936
120.4
0.90
1988
 
244,499,004
121.5
0.91
1989
 
246,819,222
122.6
0.95
1990
 
249,622,814
124.0
1.14
1991
 
252,980,941
125.7
1.35
1992
 
256,514,224
127.4
1.40
1993
 
259,918,588
129.1
1.33
1994
 
263,125,821
130.7
1.23
1995
 
266,278,393
132.3
1.20
1996
 
269,394,284
133.8
1.17
1997
 
272,646,925
135.4
1.21
1998
 
275,854,104
137.0
1.18
1999
 
279,040,168
138.6
1.15
2000
 
282,162,411
140.2
1.12
2001
 
284,968,955
141.6
0.99
2002
 
287,625,193
142.9
0.93
2003
 
290,107,933
144.1
0.86
2004
 
292,805,298
145.5
0.93
2005
 
295,516,599
146.8
0.93
2006
 
298,379,912
148.2
0.97
2007
 
301,231,207
149.6
0.96
2008
 
304,093,966
151.1
0.95
2009
 
306,771,529
152.4
0.88
2010
 
309,378,433
153.7
0.85
2011
 
311,841,632
154.9
0.80
2012
 
314,344,331
156.2
0.80
2013
 
316,735,375
157.3
0.76
2014
 
319,270,047
158.6
0.80
2015
 
321,829,327
159.9
0.80
2016
 
324,367,742
161.1
0.79
2017
 
326,623,063
162.3
0.70
2018
 
328,542,157
163.2
0.59
2019
 
330,233,102
164.1
0.51
2020
 
331,511,512
164.7
0.39
2021
 
332,031,554
164.9
0.16
2022
 
333,287,557
165.6
0.38
Source: Calculations by the Massachusetts Regional Economic Analysis Project (MA-REAP)
with data provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis
November 2023
REAP_PI_CA1400_100_PN
 
   
Copyright © 2023. Pacific Northwest Regional Economic Analysis Project (PNREAP). All Rights Reserved.

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