Market rankings · Massachusetts
Sit-down restaurants in Massachusetts
Markets across Massachusetts ranked by the Groundwork market score for sit-down restaurants, with competitor counts and household spending for each.
- Listings
- 16,727
- 3,120 chain locations (19%)
- Official establishments
- 6,558
- +1.6% since 2019
- Household spending a year
- $13B
- On food away from home
- Listings per 10k households
- 60.1
- 2% below the U.S.
- Spending per listing
- $780K
- 18% above the U.S.
- Rank among states
- #12 of 51
- Market score 63 · Upper middle
A site report maps the sit-down restaurants on map listings around any address in Massachusetts by name and distance, and the spending within reach.
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
Map listings as of September 2026 show 16,727 sit-down restaurants in Massachusetts. Of those, 3,120 are chain locations, or 19%, against 29% across the U.S. That is 60.1 per 10,000 households, 2% below the U.S. rate of 61.3.
At $4,685 per household (15% above the U.S. average), households in Massachusetts spend about $13B a year on food away from home. That is about $780K of household spending for each restaurant on map listings, 18% above the U.S. figure of $664K. That spending covers all food away from home, which sit-down restaurants share with other businesses in the trade.
In 2023, official counts showed 6,558 businesses with payroll in Massachusetts classed as full-service restaurants, up 1.6% from 2019. That is one for every 425 households, against one for every 500 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 1.5% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 445 SBA-backed loans worth $194.3M have gone to businesses classed as full-service restaurants in Massachusetts.
Among the 50 states and DC, Massachusetts ranks #12 for sit-down restaurants, with a Groundwork market score of 63 (upper middle). Of the 7 scored metro areas in or partly in Massachusetts, the Worcester metro area scores highest (76). Of the 3 scored small-town markets in or partly in Massachusetts, the Greenfield area scores highest (60).
Every market in Massachusetts for sit-down restaurants
Download the ranking (CSV)Numbered by Groundwork market score among the markets based in Massachusetts, highest first; the U.S. rank compares each market with every other of its kind. A metro area that crosses a state line is listed in each state it reaches, and numbered only in the state its page is under. How the score works.
Metro areas
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Worcester, MA | 76 | 1,656 | 49.3 | $900K | +3.7% | #26 of 387 |
| 2Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | 67 | 328 | 52.8 | $797K | +10.4% | #67 of 387 |
| 3Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 59 | 12,172 | 62.7 | $788K | +2.3% | #116 of 387 |
| 4Springfield, MA | 50 | 922 | 50.0 | $755K | +0.2% | #186 of 387 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 45 | 4,068 | 60.2 | $695K | +2.1% | #228 of 387 |
| 5Barnstable Town, MA | 31 | 903 | 85.4 | $525K | +2.4% | #342 of 387 |
| 6Pittsfield, MA | 18 | 415 | 72.1 | $545K | −1.2% | #378 of 387 |
Small-town markets
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Greenfield, MA | 60 | 128 | 40.5 | $932K | −0.3% | #161 of 538 |
| 2Nantucket, MA | 37 | 99 | 188.5 | $296K | +3.6% | #413 of 538 |
| 3Vineyard Haven, MA | 36 | 127 | 167.5 | $300K | +3.1% | #418 of 538 |
Counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Plymouth County, MA | 69 | 998 | 49.1 | $993K | +3.5% | #400 of 2,405 |
| 2Worcester County, MA | 69 | 1,656 | 49.3 | $900K | +3.7% | #408 of 2,405 |
| 3Bristol County, MA | 65 | 1,076 | 46.0 | $904K | +2.9% | #525 of 2,405 |
| 4Norfolk County, MA | 64 | 1,560 | 55.1 | $958K | +2.2% | #562 of 2,405 |
| 5Hampshire County, MA | 63 | 328 | 52.8 | $797K | +10.4% | #625 of 2,405 |
| 6Middlesex County, MA | 62 | 3,825 | 60.3 | $872K | +2.8% | #659 of 2,405 |
| 7Essex County, MA | 57 | 1,820 | 58.1 | $795K | +2.3% | #863 of 2,405 |
| 8Franklin County, MA | 51 | 128 | 40.5 | $932K | −0.3% | #1,115 of 2,405 |
| 9Hampden County, MA | 50 | 922 | 50.0 | $755K | +0.2% | #1,164 of 2,405 |
| 10Barnstable County, MA | 35 | 903 | 85.4 | $525K | +2.4% | #1,849 of 2,405 |
| 11Nantucket County, MA | 34 | 99 | 188.5 | $296K | +3.6% | #1,910 of 2,405 |
| 12Dukes County, MA | 33 | 127 | 167.5 | $300K | +3.1% | #1,945 of 2,405 |
| 13Suffolk County, MA | 31 | 2,870 | 87.7 | $512K | +0.1% | #2,015 of 2,405 |
| 14Berkshire County, MA | 26 | 415 | 72.1 | $545K | −1.2% | #2,178 of 2,405 |
Questions
How many sit-down restaurants are in Massachusetts?
There are 16,727 sit-down restaurants on map listings in Massachusetts as of September 2026. 3,120 of them (19%) are chain locations. The listings count restaurants of every cuisine, pizza included. Official counts show 6,558 businesses with payroll classed as full-service restaurants in 2023, up 1.6% from 2019. Official counts also show 918 one-person businesses without payroll.
How much do households in Massachusetts spend on food away from home?
About $13B a year, or $4,685 per household. That is 15% above the U.S. average (an index of 115, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 16,727 sit-down restaurants on map listings, it comes to $780K per restaurant. The spending figure covers all food away from home, not only sit-down restaurants. It is estimated from the incomes of the 2,785,042 households in Massachusetts and national spending patterns by income.
How does Massachusetts compare with the U.S. for sit-down restaurants?
Massachusetts has 60.1 sit-down restaurants per 10,000 households, 2% below the U.S. rate of 61.3. Spending per restaurant is $780K, 18% above the U.S. figure of $664K. At the national ratio of sit-down restaurants to household spending, Massachusetts would have about 19,662, against 16,727 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 425 households, against one for every 500 across the U.S. The official count rose 1.6% from 2019 to 2023, against +1.5% for the U.S.
Which market in Massachusetts has the highest market score for sit-down restaurants?
Among 7 scored metro areas in or partly in Massachusetts, the Worcester metro area scores highest, at 76 (high). Among 3 scored small-town markets in or partly in Massachusetts, the Greenfield area scores highest, at 60 (upper middle). Among 14 scored counties in Massachusetts, Plymouth County scores highest, at 69 (upper middle). Scores compare each market with others of its kind across the U.S.
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. Massachusetts scores 63 for sit-down restaurants (upper middle), #12 of the 50 states and DC.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Massachusetts. It maps the sit-down restaurants 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.
Sit-down restaurants in other states
All 51 states
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Top markets for sit-down restaurants across the U.S. · All business types in Massachusetts
Related business types in Massachusetts
- Restaurants and cafes29,600 listings
- Fast food and sandwich shops2,459 listings
- Pizza2,883 listings
- Coffee shops and cafes3,436 listings
- Bakeries and dessert shops3,355 listings
Screening a site or an acquisition in Massachusetts?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
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.