Data / Rankings / Labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate) / Cities in Massachusetts

Cities in Massachusetts by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024

Somerville, MA had the highest labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate) of 58 cities in 2024, at 79.1%. Amherst Town, MA had the lowest, at 53.1%. The median was 67.6% and the figure for Massachusetts was 67%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest79.1Somerville, MA
Lowest53.1Amherst Town, MA
Median67.658 cities
Massachusetts67History

All cities, 2024

Somerville, MA: 79.1 %Somerville, MA79.1Woburn, MA: 73.7 %Woburn, MA73.7Watertown, MA: 72.5 %Watertown, MA72.5Everett, MA: 72.5 %Everett, MA72.5Malden, MA: 72.3 %Malden, MA72.3Medford, MA: 72.2 %Medford, MA72.2Marlborough, MA: 72.2 %Marlborough, MA72.2North Attleborough Town, MA: 72.2 %North Attleborough Town, MA72.2Framingham, MA: 72.1 %Framingham, MA72.1Attleboro, MA: 71.6 %Attleboro, MA71.6Franklin Town, MA: 71.1 %Franklin Town, MA71.1Quincy, MA: 71 %Quincy, MA71Amesbury, MA: 70.7 %Amesbury, MA70.7Salem, MA: 70.3 %Salem, MA70.3Boston, MA: 70 %Boston, MA70Braintree Town, MA: 69.8 %Braintree Town, MA69.8Cambridge, MA: 69.6 %Cambridge, MA69.6Methuen, MA: 69.5 %Methuen, MA69.5Revere, MA: 69.2 %Revere, MA69.2Melrose, MA: 68.7 %Melrose, MA68.7Lawrence, MA: 68.7 %Lawrence, MA68.7Haverhill, MA: 68.7 %Haverhill, MA68.7Waltham, MA: 68.5 %Waltham, MA68.5Weymouth Town, MA: 68.5 %Weymouth Town, MA68.5Chelsea, MA: 68.2 %Chelsea, MA68.2Randolph Town, MA: 68.1 %Randolph Town, MA68.1Leominster, MA: 67.9 %Leominster, MA67.9Brockton, MA: 67.8 %Brockton, MA67.8Lowell, MA: 67.6 %Lowell, MA67.6Beverly, MA: 67.6 %Beverly, MA67.6Taunton, MA: 67.5 %Taunton, MA67.5Winthrop Town, MA: 67.3 %Winthrop Town, MA67.3Lynn, MA: 66.9 %Lynn, MA66.9West Springfield Town, MA: 66.5 %West Springfield Town, MA66.5Fitchburg, MA: 66.3 %Fitchburg, MA66.3Southbridge Town, MA: 66.2 %Southbridge Town, MA66.2Newburyport, MA: 66 %Newburyport, MA66Newton, MA: 65.8 %Newton, MA65.8Peabody, MA: 65.3 %Peabody, MA65.3Worcester, MA: 65.2 %Worcester, MA65.2Easthampton, MA: 64.5 %Easthampton, MA64.5Gloucester, MA: 63.9 %Gloucester, MA63.9Pittsfield, MA: 63.8 %Pittsfield, MA63.8Northampton, MA: 62.8 %Northampton, MA62.8Agawam Town, MA: 62.5 %Agawam Town, MA62.5Palmer Town, MA: 62.4 %Palmer Town, MA62.4New Bedford, MA: 62.4 %New Bedford, MA62.4Barnstable Town, MA: 62.2 %Barnstable Town, MA62.2Fall River, MA: 62 %Fall River, MA62Bridgewater Town, MA: 61.9 %Bridgewater Town, MA61.9Westfield, MA: 61.6 %Westfield, MA61.6Chicopee, MA: 60.6 %Chicopee, MA60.6Gardner, MA: 58.9 %Gardner, MA58.9Greenfield, MA: 58.5 %Greenfield, MA58.5Springfield, MA: 56.9 %Springfield, MA56.9North Adams, MA: 54.7 %North Adams, MA54.7Holyoke, MA: 54.4 %Holyoke, MA54.4Amherst Town, MA: 53.1 %Amherst Town, MA53.1Somerville, MA: 79.1 %Somerville, MA79.1Woburn, MA: 73.7 %Woburn, MA73.7Watertown, MA: 72.5 %Watertown, MA72.5Everett, MA: 72.5 %Everett, MA72.5Malden, MA: 72.3 %Malden, MA72.3Medford, MA: 72.2 %Medford, MA72.2Marlborough, MA: 72.2 %Marlborough, MA72.2North Attleborough Town, MA: 72.2 %North Attleborough Town, MA72.2Framingham, MA: 72.1 %Framingham, MA72.1Attleboro, MA: 71.6 %Attleboro, MA71.6Franklin Town, MA: 71.1 %Franklin Town, MA71.1Quincy, MA: 71 %Quincy, MA71Amesbury, MA: 70.7 %Amesbury, MA70.7Salem, MA: 70.3 %Salem, MA70.3Boston, MA: 70 %Boston, MA70Braintree Town, MA: 69.8 %Braintree Town, MA69.8Cambridge, MA: 69.6 %Cambridge, MA69.6Methuen, MA: 69.5 %Methuen, MA69.5Revere, MA: 69.2 %Revere, MA69.2Melrose, MA: 68.7 %Melrose, MA68.7Lawrence, MA: 68.7 %Lawrence, MA68.7Haverhill, MA: 68.7 %Haverhill, MA68.7Waltham, MA: 68.5 %Waltham, MA68.5Weymouth Town, MA: 68.5 %Weymouth Town, MA68.5Chelsea, MA: 68.2 %Chelsea, MA68.2Randolph Town, MA: 68.1 %Randolph Town, MA68.1Leominster, MA: 67.9 %Leominster, MA67.9Brockton, MA: 67.8 %Brockton, MA67.8Lowell, MA: 67.6 %Lowell, MA67.6Beverly, MA: 67.6 %Beverly, MA67.6Taunton, MA: 67.5 %Taunton, MA67.5Winthrop Town, MA: 67.3 %Winthrop Town, MA67.3Lynn, MA: 66.9 %Lynn, MA66.9West Springfield Town, MA: 66.5 %West Springfield Town, MA66.5Fitchburg, MA: 66.3 %Fitchburg, MA66.3Southbridge Town, MA: 66.2 %Southbridge Town, MA66.2Newburyport, MA: 66 %Newburyport, MA66Newton, MA: 65.8 %Newton, MA65.8Peabody, MA: 65.3 %Peabody, MA65.3Worcester, MA: 65.2 %Worcester, MA65.2Easthampton, MA: 64.5 %Easthampton, MA64.5Gloucester, MA: 63.9 %Gloucester, MA63.9Pittsfield, MA: 63.8 %Pittsfield, MA63.8Northampton, MA: 62.8 %Northampton, MA62.8Agawam Town, MA: 62.5 %Agawam Town, MA62.5Palmer Town, MA: 62.4 %Palmer Town, MA62.4New Bedford, MA: 62.4 %New Bedford, MA62.4Barnstable Town, MA: 62.2 %Barnstable Town, MA62.2Fall River, MA: 62 %Fall River, MA62Bridgewater Town, MA: 61.9 %Bridgewater Town, MA61.9Westfield, MA: 61.6 %Westfield, MA61.6Chicopee, MA: 60.6 %Chicopee, MA60.6Gardner, MA: 58.9 %Gardner, MA58.9Greenfield, MA: 58.5 %Greenfield, MA58.5Springfield, MA: 56.9 %Springfield, MA56.9North Adams, MA: 54.7 %North Adams, MA54.7Holyoke, MA: 54.4 %Holyoke, MA54.4Amherst Town, MA: 53.1 %Amherst Town, MA53.1
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCities2024 (%)Change on 2023
1Somerville, MA79.1-0.2 pts
2Woburn, MA73.7+0.7 pts
3Watertown, MA72.5n/a
4Everett, MA72.5-0.1 pts
5Malden, MA72.3+0.7 pts
6Medford, MA72.2+1 pts
7Marlborough, MA72.2-0.4 pts
8North Attleborough Town, MA72.2-0.2 pts
9Framingham, MA72.1+1.2 pts
10Attleboro, MA71.6+0.5 pts
11Franklin Town, MA71.1+0.3 pts
12Quincy, MA71+0.2 pts
13Amesbury, MA70.7n/a
14Salem, MA70.3-1.4 pts
15Boston, MA70-0.5 pts
16Braintree Town, MA69.80 pts
17Cambridge, MA69.6+0.1 pts
18Methuen, MA69.5n/a
19Revere, MA69.2-0.8 pts
20Melrose, MA68.7-0.2 pts
21Lawrence, MA68.7-0.2 pts
22Haverhill, MA68.7-1.3 pts
23Waltham, MA68.5-1 pts
24Weymouth Town, MA68.5-0.4 pts
25Chelsea, MA68.2+1.1 pts
26Randolph Town, MA68.1-0.6 pts
27Leominster, MA67.9-0.3 pts
28Brockton, MA67.8+0.2 pts
29Lowell, MA67.6+0.2 pts
30Beverly, MA67.6-1.4 pts
31Taunton, MA67.5+0.3 pts
32Winthrop Town, MA67.3-0.7 pts
33Lynn, MA66.9+0.3 pts
34West Springfield Town, MA66.5+0.2 pts
35Fitchburg, MA66.3-1.4 pts
36Southbridge Town, MA66.2+3.1 pts
37Newburyport, MA66-2.3 pts
38Newton, MA65.8+0.1 pts
39Peabody, MA65.3+1.1 pts
40Worcester, MA65.2+0.3 pts
41Easthampton, MA64.5n/a
42Gloucester, MA63.90 pts
43Pittsfield, MA63.8-0.6 pts
44Northampton, MA62.8+0.7 pts
45Agawam Town, MA62.5-2 pts
46Palmer Town, MA62.4+1.3 pts
47New Bedford, MA62.4+0.6 pts
48Barnstable Town, MA62.2-3.1 pts
49Fall River, MA62+0.6 pts
50Bridgewater Town, MA61.9-0.5 pts
51Westfield, MA61.6+1.8 pts
52Chicopee, MA60.6-1.4 pts
53Gardner, MA58.9+1.9 pts
54Greenfield, MA58.5+1.2 pts
55Springfield, MA56.9-0.8 pts
56North Adams, MA54.7+0.4 pts
57Holyoke, MA54.4-1.8 pts
58Amherst Town, MA53.1+0.1 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

People aged 16 and over in the labor force (employed, unemployed or in the Armed Forces) as a percentage of all people aged 16 and over, including people in group quarters. United States: American Community Survey five-year estimate, where the period shown is the last year of the five-year span.

The Census Bureau definition used in its data profiles. It differs from the BLS labor_force_participation_rate, which counts the civilian noninstitutional population only.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the cities are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b23025.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 B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more) (Cities in Massachusetts by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b23025.dat

MLA 9

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more), Cities in Massachusetts by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b23025.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/labor-force-participation-rate-acs/massachusetts-cities. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). Cities in Massachusetts by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b23025.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/labor-force-participation-rate-acs/massachusetts-cities.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more), Cities in Massachusetts by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b23025.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/labor-force-participation-rate-acs/massachusetts-cities (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_cities_in_massachusetts_by_2024,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more): Cities in Massachusetts by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b23025.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/labor-force-participation-rate-acs/massachusetts-cities. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary\_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b23025.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more): Cities in Massachusetts by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b23025.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/labor-force-participation-rate-acs/massachusetts-cities
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/labor-force-participation-rate-acs/massachusetts-cities.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b23025.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Rank Cities in Massachusetts by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate) using official data, and cite the source.
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Questions

Which city has the highest labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

Somerville, MA, with 79.1% in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which city has the lowest labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

Amherst Town, MA, with 53.1% in 2024.

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 B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate): other rankings

Cities in Massachusetts: more rankings