Data / Rankings / Black or African American population share / Cities in Massachusetts

Cities in Massachusetts by black or African American population share

Randolph Town, MA had the highest black or African American population share of 54 cities in 2021, at 40.9%. Newburyport, MA had the lowest, at 0.4%. The median was 4.4% and the figure for Massachusetts was 6.7%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest40.9Randolph Town, MA
Lowest0.4Newburyport, MA
Median4.454 cities
Massachusetts6.7History

All cities, 2021

Randolph Town, MA: 40.9 %Randolph Town, MA40.9Brockton, MA: 39.8 %Brockton, MA39.8Boston, MA: 21.7 %Boston, MA21.7Springfield, MA: 18.2 %Springfield, MA18.2Malden, MA: 15.4 %Malden, MA15.4Everett, MA: 12.3 %Everett, MA12.3Worcester, MA: 11.6 %Worcester, MA11.6Lynn, MA: 11.2 %Lynn, MA11.2Cambridge, MA: 10 %Cambridge, MA10Medford, MA: 8.3 %Medford, MA8.3Lowell, MA: 8.2 %Lowell, MA8.2Chelsea, MA: 7 %Chelsea, MA7Taunton, MA: 6.7 %Taunton, MA6.7Waltham, MA: 6.5 %Waltham, MA6.5Leominster, MA: 6.3 %Leominster, MA6.3Framingham, MA: 5.9 %Framingham, MA5.9Fall River, MA: 5.8 %Fall River, MA5.8Quincy, MA: 5.8 %Quincy, MA5.8Amherst Town, MA: 5.5 %Amherst Town, MA5.5Barnstable Town, MA: 5.5 %Barnstable Town, MA5.5Bridgewater Town, MA: 5.5 %Bridgewater Town, MA5.5New Bedford, MA: 5.4 %New Bedford, MA5.4Fitchburg, MA: 5 %Fitchburg, MA5Somerville, MA: 4.8 %Somerville, MA4.8Pittsfield, MA: 4.8 %Pittsfield, MA4.8Chicopee, MA: 4.7 %Chicopee, MA4.7Weymouth Town, MA: 4.5 %Weymouth Town, MA4.5Woburn, MA: 4.4 %Woburn, MA4.4Winthrop Town, MA: 3.9 %Winthrop Town, MA3.9Salem, MA: 3.8 %Salem, MA3.8Revere, MA: 3.7 %Revere, MA3.7Marlborough, MA: 3.4 %Marlborough, MA3.4Melrose, MA: 3.4 %Melrose, MA3.4Attleboro, MA: 3.4 %Attleboro, MA3.4West Springfield Town, MA: 3.3 %West Springfield Town, MA3.3Braintree Town, MA: 3.1 %Braintree Town, MA3.1Haverhill, MA: 3 %Haverhill, MA3Southbridge Town, MA: 3 %Southbridge Town, MA3Peabody, MA: 3 %Peabody, MA3Newton, MA: 2.7 %Newton, MA2.7Palmer Town, MA: 2.7 %Palmer Town, MA2.7Northampton, MA: 2.6 %Northampton, MA2.6Greenfield, MA: 2.6 %Greenfield, MA2.6Agawam Town, MA: 2.4 %Agawam Town, MA2.4Beverly, MA: 2.3 %Beverly, MA2.3Holyoke, MA: 2.3 %Holyoke, MA2.3Gardner, MA: 2 %Gardner, MA2Lawrence, MA: 1.9 %Lawrence, MA1.9Gloucester, MA: 1.9 %Gloucester, MA1.9Franklin Town, MA: 1.7 %Franklin Town, MA1.7North Adams, MA: 1.6 %North Adams, MA1.6Westfield, MA: 1.5 %Westfield, MA1.5North Attleborough Town, MA: 1.2 %North Attleborough Town, MA1.2Newburyport, MA: 0.4 %Newburyport, MA0.4Randolph Town, MA: 40.9 %Randolph Town, MA40.9Brockton, MA: 39.8 %Brockton, MA39.8Boston, MA: 21.7 %Boston, MA21.7Springfield, MA: 18.2 %Springfield, MA18.2Malden, MA: 15.4 %Malden, MA15.4Everett, MA: 12.3 %Everett, MA12.3Worcester, MA: 11.6 %Worcester, MA11.6Lynn, MA: 11.2 %Lynn, MA11.2Cambridge, MA: 10 %Cambridge, MA10Medford, MA: 8.3 %Medford, MA8.3Lowell, MA: 8.2 %Lowell, MA8.2Chelsea, MA: 7 %Chelsea, MA7Taunton, MA: 6.7 %Taunton, MA6.7Waltham, MA: 6.5 %Waltham, MA6.5Leominster, MA: 6.3 %Leominster, MA6.3Framingham, MA: 5.9 %Framingham, MA5.9Fall River, MA: 5.8 %Fall River, MA5.8Quincy, MA: 5.8 %Quincy, MA5.8Amherst Town, MA: 5.5 %Amherst Town, MA5.5Barnstable Town, MA: 5.5 %Barnstable Town, MA5.5Bridgewater Town, MA: 5.5 %Bridgewater Town, MA5.5New Bedford, MA: 5.4 %New Bedford, MA5.4Fitchburg, MA: 5 %Fitchburg, MA5Somerville, MA: 4.8 %Somerville, MA4.8Pittsfield, MA: 4.8 %Pittsfield, MA4.8Chicopee, MA: 4.7 %Chicopee, MA4.7Weymouth Town, MA: 4.5 %Weymouth Town, MA4.5Woburn, MA: 4.4 %Woburn, MA4.4Winthrop Town, MA: 3.9 %Winthrop Town, MA3.9Salem, MA: 3.8 %Salem, MA3.8Revere, MA: 3.7 %Revere, MA3.7Marlborough, MA: 3.4 %Marlborough, MA3.4Melrose, MA: 3.4 %Melrose, MA3.4Attleboro, MA: 3.4 %Attleboro, MA3.4West Springfield Town, MA: 3.3 %West Springfield Town, MA3.3Braintree Town, MA: 3.1 %Braintree Town, MA3.1Haverhill, MA: 3 %Haverhill, MA3Southbridge Town, MA: 3 %Southbridge Town, MA3Peabody, MA: 3 %Peabody, MA3Newton, MA: 2.7 %Newton, MA2.7Palmer Town, MA: 2.7 %Palmer Town, MA2.7Northampton, MA: 2.6 %Northampton, MA2.6Greenfield, MA: 2.6 %Greenfield, MA2.6Agawam Town, MA: 2.4 %Agawam Town, MA2.4Beverly, MA: 2.3 %Beverly, MA2.3Holyoke, MA: 2.3 %Holyoke, MA2.3Gardner, MA: 2 %Gardner, MA2Lawrence, MA: 1.9 %Lawrence, MA1.9Gloucester, MA: 1.9 %Gloucester, MA1.9Franklin Town, MA: 1.7 %Franklin Town, MA1.7North Adams, MA: 1.6 %North Adams, MA1.6Westfield, MA: 1.5 %Westfield, MA1.5North Attleborough Town, MA: 1.2 %North Attleborough Town, MA1.2Newburyport, MA: 0.4 %Newburyport, MA0.4
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCities2021 (%)
1Randolph Town, MA40.9
2Brockton, MA39.8
3Boston, MA21.7
4Springfield, MA18.2
5Malden, MA15.4
6Everett, MA12.3
7Worcester, MA11.6
8Lynn, MA11.2
9Cambridge, MA10
10Medford, MA8.3
11Lowell, MA8.2
12Chelsea, MA7
13Taunton, MA6.7
14Waltham, MA6.5
15Leominster, MA6.3
16Framingham, MA5.9
17Fall River, MA5.8
18Quincy, MA5.8
19Amherst Town, MA5.5
19Barnstable Town, MA5.5
21Bridgewater Town, MA5.5
22New Bedford, MA5.4
23Fitchburg, MA5
24Somerville, MA4.8
25Pittsfield, MA4.8
26Chicopee, MA4.7
27Weymouth Town, MA4.5
28Woburn, MA4.4
29Winthrop Town, MA3.9
30Salem, MA3.8
31Revere, MA3.7
32Marlborough, MA3.4
33Melrose, MA3.4
34Attleboro, MA3.4
35West Springfield Town, MA3.3
36Braintree Town, MA3.1
37Haverhill, MA3
38Southbridge Town, MA3
39Peabody, MA3
40Newton, MA2.7
41Palmer Town, MA2.7
42Northampton, MA2.6
43Greenfield, MA2.6
44Agawam Town, MA2.4
45Beverly, MA2.3
46Holyoke, MA2.3
47Gardner, MA2
48Lawrence, MA1.9
49Gloucester, MA1.9
50Franklin Town, MA1.7
51North Adams, MA1.6
52Westfield, MA1.5
53North Attleborough Town, MA1.2
54Newburyport, MA0.4

Other periods

About this ranking

People who are not Hispanic or Latino and report Black or African American as their only race, as a percentage of the total population. United States: American Community Survey five-year estimate, where the period shown is the last year of the five-year span.

US federal statistics ask about Hispanic origin and race separately, and Hispanic or Latino people can be of any race. The shares for White, Black and Asian count people who are not Hispanic and report that race alone, so the published shares do not add up to 100 (people of two or more races and other races are not shown). EU and Spanish statistics do not collect race.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the cities are compared on one definition. 4 cities with data in other periods have no value for 2021 and are left out rather than filled from another source. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B03002: Black or African American alone, not Hispanic or Latino, as a percentage of the total population, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b03002.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2026). American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B03002: Black or African American alone, not Hispanic or Latino, as a percentage of the total population, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more) (Cities in Massachusetts by black or African American population share, 2021) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b03002.dat

MLA 9

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B03002: Black or African American alone, not Hispanic or Latino, as a percentage of the total population, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more), Cities in Massachusetts by black or African American population share, 2021. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b03002.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/black-population-share/massachusetts-cities?period=2021. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B03002: Black or African American alone, not Hispanic or Latino, as a percentage of the total population, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). Cities in Massachusetts by black or African American population share, 2021. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b03002.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/black-population-share/massachusetts-cities?period=2021.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B03002: Black or African American alone, not Hispanic or Latino, as a percentage of the total population, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more), Cities in Massachusetts by black or African American population share, 2021 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b03002.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/black-population-share/massachusetts-cities?period=2021 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_cities_in_massachusetts_by_2021,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B03002: Black or African American alone, not Hispanic or Latino, as a percentage of the total population, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more): Cities in Massachusetts by black or African American population share, 2021}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b03002.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/black-population-share/massachusetts-cities?period=2021. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B03002: Black or African American alone, not Hispanic or Latino, as a percentage of the total population, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary\_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b03002.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B03002: Black or African American alone, not Hispanic or Latino, as a percentage of the total population, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more): Cities in Massachusetts by black or African American population share, 2021
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b03002.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/black-population-share/massachusetts-cities?period=2021
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/black-population-share/massachusetts-cities?period=2021.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B03002: Black or African American alone, not Hispanic or Latino, as a percentage of the total population, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b03002.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Rank Cities in Massachusetts by black or African American population share using official data, and cite the source.
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Questions

Which city has the highest black or African American population share?

Randolph Town, MA, with 40.9% in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which city has the lowest black or African American population share?

Newburyport, MA, with 0.4% in 2021.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B03002: Black or African American alone, not Hispanic or Latino, as a percentage of the total population, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). Retrieved 2026-10-12. 4 cities have no value for 2021 and are not ranked.

Black or African American population share: other rankings

Cities in Massachusetts: more rankings