Metro area profile · Massachusetts
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area market data
How the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro area compares with other metro areas for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 5,034,221
- +2.3% since 2020
- Households
- 1,940,688
- Median household income
- $115,863
- +28.3% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $646,300
- Jobs located here
- 2,811,395
- Highest market score
- 82
- Home inspectors, #3 of 243 scored metro areas
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro area has an estimated 5,034,221 people and 1,940,688 households. Population estimates show the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro area grew 2.3% from 2020 to 2025, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro area is $115,863, 44% above the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 28.3%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro area runs highest on child care and other personal services (an index of 150, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on gasoline and other fuels (71).
Of the business types scored in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro area, home inspectors (82), roofing and gutter companies (76) and fast food and sandwich shops (76) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For home inspectors, that ranks #3 of 243 scored metro areas.
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro area takes in 7 counties: Middlesex County, MA; Essex County, MA; Suffolk County, MA; Norfolk County, MA; and 3 more. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for yoga, Pilates and fitness studios (88% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for tire shops (42% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro area with other metro areas for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among metro areas | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home inspectors | 82 | #3 of 243 | 94 | 0.5 | Index only | 168 | 69 |
| Roofing and gutters | 76 | #17 of 381 | 685 | 3.5 | $11M | 130 | 292 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 76 | #38 of 387 | 1,656 | 8.5 | $5.8M | 190 | 3,920 |
| Pest control | 73 | #30 of 345 | 235 | 1.2 | $12.9M | 127 | 186 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 73 | #48 of 387 | 1,154 | 5.9 | $2.4M | 137 | 2,237 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | 71 | #25 of 197 | 84 | 0.4 | $33.6M | 137 | 124 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 71 | #39 of 386 | 744 | 3.8 | $3.8M | 121 | 283 |
| Chiropractors | 71 | #44 of 386 | 847 | 4.4 | $3.3M | 139 | 478 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 69 | #59 of 387 | 14,765 | 76.1 | $191K | 125 | 6,258 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 66 | #82 of 387 | 3,281 | 16.9 | $1.7M | 131 | 1,668 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 64 | #101 of 387 | 21,147 | 109.0 | $454K | 122 | 10,567 |
| Tire shops | 64 | #105 of 386 | 430 | 2.2 | $3.8M | 152 | 208 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 63 | #82 of 387 | 1,300 | 6.7 | $5.8M | 122 | 2,169 |
| Home repair trades | 63 | #88 of 387 | 2,684 | 13.8 | $2.8M | 115 | 4,274 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 63 | #107 of 387 | 3,448 | 17.8 | $4.3M | 127 | 2,168 |
| Grocery stores | 61 | #114 of 387 | 1,306 | 6.7 | $11.3M | 122 | 920 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 60 | #99 of 373 | 827 | 4.3 | Index only | 128 | 368 |
| Veterinarians | 60 | #115 of 384 | 555 | 2.9 | $2.9M | 106 | 419 |
| Convenience stores | 60 | #125 of 387 | 1,421 | 7.3 | $10.4M | 132 | 1,248 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 59 | #99 of 387 | 6,765 | 34.9 | Index only | 112 | 1,704 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 59 | #116 of 387 | 12,172 | 62.7 | $788K | 119 | 4,652 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 59 | #130 of 387 | 5,137 | 26.5 | $1.1M | 121 | 2,285 |
| Real estate | 57 | #121 of 387 | 8,364 | 43.1 | Index only | 114 | 4,217 |
| Laundromats | 57 | #130 of 364 | 363 | 1.9 | $15.1M | 121 | 204 |
| Child care and preschools | 57 | #146 of 387 | 1,528 | 7.9 | $1.1M | 110 | 1,766 |
| Barbershops | 56 | #141 of 387 | 1,142 | 5.9 | $2.1M | 110 | 142 |
| Funeral homes | 56 | #142 of 377 | 360 | 1.9 | $772K | 114 | 229 |
| Pizza | 56 | #145 of 387 | 2,011 | 10.4 | $4.8M | 94 | 3,920 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 55 | #125 of 290 | 91 | 0.5 | $17.9M | 130 | 129 |
| Hair salons | 55 | #137 of 387 | 4,970 | 25.6 | $478K | 111 | 2,025 |
| Gyms | 55 | #139 of 387 | 1,897 | 9.8 | $1.4M | 107 | 1,010 |
| Physical therapy | 55 | #155 of 386 | 1,269 | 6.5 | $2.2M | 93 | 717 |
| Gas stations | 54 | #167 of 387 | 1,303 | 6.7 | $2.7M | 114 | 1,263 |
| Property management | 52 | #167 of 374 | 678 | 3.5 | Index only | 110 | 1,670 |
| Car washes and detailing | 49 | #195 of 387 | 605 | 3.1 | $2.7M | 107 | 314 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 49 | #197 of 387 | 4,180 | 21.5 | $634K | 96 | 1,927 |
| Electricians | 49 | #202 of 383 | 699 | 3.6 | $10.8M | 90 | 1,813 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 49 | #205 of 387 | 10,473 | 54.0 | $227K | 107 | 3,694 |
| Pet stores | 47 | #213 of 382 | 347 | 1.8 | $4.6M | 102 | 161 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 47 | #216 of 387 | 2,543 | 13.1 | $3.8M | 102 | 1,961 |
| Spas and skin care | 47 | #219 of 387 | 2,720 | 14.0 | $874K | 100 | 572 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 47 | #224 of 387 | 1,408 | 7.3 | $1.9M | 93 | 917 |
| Insurance agencies | 45 | #217 of 387 | 2,129 | 11.0 | $1.3M | 103 | 1,502 |
| Nail salons | 45 | #239 of 387 | 1,408 | 7.3 | $1.7M | 101 | 907 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 45 | #245 of 387 | 2,342 | 12.1 | $4.1M | 99 | 2,178 |
| Auto repair and car care | 44 | #244 of 387 | 5,766 | 29.7 | $283K | 105 | 2,885 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 43 | #247 of 387 | 2,930 | 15.1 | $963K | 98 | 2,419 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 42 | #247 of 387 | 2,322 | 12.0 | $1.3M | 78 | 4,422 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 41 | #247 of 385 | 1,417 | 7.3 | $2.1M | 73 | 2,876 |
| Pet businesses | 41 | #266 of 387 | 2,021 | 10.4 | $790K | 90 | 1,168 |
| House cleaning | 40 | #271 of 375 | 670 | 3.5 | $4.5M | 71 | 1,360 |
| Auto repair shops | 35 | #299 of 387 | 3,822 | 19.7 | $427K | 96 | 2,194 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 35 | #305 of 347 | 875 | 4.5 | $3M | 75 | 1,010 |
| Dry cleaners | 34 | #218 of 272 | 465 | 2.4 | $11.8M | 75 | 413 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 26 | #349 of 386 | 886 | 4.6 | $1.8M | 71 | 588 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 17 | #366 of 381 | 734 | 3.8 | $2.2M | 72 | 720 |
Household spending in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro area
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $1.6B | $841 | 88 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $3.6B | $1,830 | 71 |
| Food away from home | $9.6B | $4,945 | 121 |
| Groceries | $14.8B | $7,622 | 121 |
| Personal care products and services | $2.4B | $1,225 | 122 |
| Child care and other personal services | $1.7B | $870 | 150 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $2.6B | $1,365 | 139 |
| Medical and dental services | $2.8B | $1,454 | 113 |
| Pets | $1.6B | $823 | 90 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $5.5B | $2,822 | 137 |
| Vehicle insurance | $2.8B | $1,419 | 73 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $7.5B | $3,877 | 128 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $3B | $1,567 | 111 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $41.4B | $21,309 | 128 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 5,034,221+2.3% since 2020
- Households
- 1,940,688
- Median age
- 40.8
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 62%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.6
- Land area
- 3,486 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 1,421
- Median household income
- $115,863+28.3% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $159,721
- Median home value
- $646,300
- Jobs located here
- 2,811,395
- Daytime population
- 5,216,901Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro area?
These figures cover the whole metro area. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Counties in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro area 7
- Middlesex County, MA1,638,365 people
- Essex County, MA813,054 people
- Suffolk County, MA785,121 people
- Norfolk County, MA730,082 people
- Plymouth County, MA535,075 people
- Rockingham County, NH319,082 people
- Strafford County, NH132,575 people
Other markets based in Massachusetts 8
- Worcester, MA metro area867,788 people
- Springfield, MA metro area462,815 people
- Barnstable Town, MA metro area231,668 people
- Amherst Town-Northampton, MA metro area162,028 people
- Pittsfield, MA metro area129,430 people
- Greenfield, MA area70,944 people
- Vineyard Haven, MA area20,933 people
- Nantucket, MA area14,483 people
Questions
How fast is the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area growing?
Population estimates put the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro area at 5,034,221 people in 2025, up 2.3% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 1,940,688 households. Median household income rose 28.3% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area spend?
Households in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro area spend about $41.4B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $14.8B on groceries and $9.6B on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro area spend the most on child care and other personal services (an index of 150, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on gasoline and other fuels (71).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area?
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro area are for home inspectors (82), roofing and gutter companies (76) and fast food and sandwich shops (76). The Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro area ranks #3 of 243 scored metro areas for home inspectors.
How does the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro area is $115,863 a year, 44% above the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 2.3% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $646,300, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for yoga, Pilates and fitness studios (88% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for tire shops (42% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. All 56 business types have a score in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro area, each ranked against other metro areas.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro area. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in Massachusetts · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro area?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.