Data / Rankings / Poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate) / Cities in Massachusetts

Cities in Massachusetts by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024

Holyoke, MA had the highest poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate) of 58 cities in 2024, at 27%. Melrose, MA had the lowest, at 3.8%. The median was 10.6% and the figure for Massachusetts was 10%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest27Holyoke, MA
Lowest3.8Melrose, MA
Median10.658 cities
Massachusetts10History

All cities, 2024

Holyoke, MA: 27 %Holyoke, MA27Springfield, MA: 25.8 %Springfield, MA25.8Amherst Town, MA: 23.7 %Amherst Town, MA23.7Chelsea, MA: 20.8 %Chelsea, MA20.8New Bedford, MA: 20.6 %New Bedford, MA20.6Worcester, MA: 19.6 %Worcester, MA19.6Fall River, MA: 19.6 %Fall River, MA19.6North Adams, MA: 18.6 %North Adams, MA18.6Lawrence, MA: 17.6 %Lawrence, MA17.6Chicopee, MA: 17.3 %Chicopee, MA17.3Lowell, MA: 16.9 %Lowell, MA16.9Boston, MA: 16.6 %Boston, MA16.6Fitchburg, MA: 15.6 %Fitchburg, MA15.6Southbridge Town, MA: 15.3 %Southbridge Town, MA15.3Greenfield, MA: 15.2 %Greenfield, MA15.2Pittsfield, MA: 14.9 %Pittsfield, MA14.9Everett, MA: 14.7 %Everett, MA14.7Lynn, MA: 13.8 %Lynn, MA13.8Gardner, MA: 13.7 %Gardner, MA13.7Brockton, MA: 13.5 %Brockton, MA13.5Northampton, MA: 13.4 %Northampton, MA13.4Taunton, MA: 13 %Taunton, MA13Cambridge, MA: 12.8 %Cambridge, MA12.8Salem, MA: 12.1 %Salem, MA12.1West Springfield Town, MA: 11.9 %West Springfield Town, MA11.9Revere, MA: 11.6 %Revere, MA11.6Malden, MA: 11.4 %Malden, MA11.4Haverhill, MA: 11.3 %Haverhill, MA11.3Westfield, MA: 10.7 %Westfield, MA10.7Quincy, MA: 10.6 %Quincy, MA10.6Framingham, MA: 10.4 %Framingham, MA10.4Somerville, MA: 9.8 %Somerville, MA9.8Gloucester, MA: 9.6 %Gloucester, MA9.6Marlborough, MA: 9.6 %Marlborough, MA9.6Waltham, MA: 9.4 %Waltham, MA9.4Beverly, MA: 9.4 %Beverly, MA9.4Leominster, MA: 9.2 %Leominster, MA9.2Attleboro, MA: 8.7 %Attleboro, MA8.7Randolph Town, MA: 8.4 %Randolph Town, MA8.4Palmer Town, MA: 8.3 %Palmer Town, MA8.3Easthampton, MA: 8 %Easthampton, MA8Woburn, MA: 7.9 %Woburn, MA7.9Methuen, MA: 7.9 %Methuen, MA7.9Weymouth Town, MA: 7.7 %Weymouth Town, MA7.7Peabody, MA: 7.7 %Peabody, MA7.7Medford, MA: 7.6 %Medford, MA7.6Watertown, MA: 7.5 %Watertown, MA7.5Barnstable Town, MA: 7.4 %Barnstable Town, MA7.4Winthrop Town, MA: 7.2 %Winthrop Town, MA7.2Amesbury, MA: 7.1 %Amesbury, MA7.1Agawam Town, MA: 6.7 %Agawam Town, MA6.7Braintree Town, MA: 5.9 %Braintree Town, MA5.9Franklin Town, MA: 5.9 %Franklin Town, MA5.9Newburyport, MA: 5 %Newburyport, MA5Bridgewater Town, MA: 4.8 %Bridgewater Town, MA4.8North Attleborough Town, MA: 4.7 %North Attleborough Town, MA4.7Newton, MA: 4.5 %Newton, MA4.5Melrose, MA: 3.8 %Melrose, MA3.8Holyoke, MA: 27 %Holyoke, MA27Springfield, MA: 25.8 %Springfield, MA25.8Amherst Town, MA: 23.7 %Amherst Town, MA23.7Chelsea, MA: 20.8 %Chelsea, MA20.8New Bedford, MA: 20.6 %New Bedford, MA20.6Worcester, MA: 19.6 %Worcester, MA19.6Fall River, MA: 19.6 %Fall River, MA19.6North Adams, MA: 18.6 %North Adams, MA18.6Lawrence, MA: 17.6 %Lawrence, MA17.6Chicopee, MA: 17.3 %Chicopee, MA17.3Lowell, MA: 16.9 %Lowell, MA16.9Boston, MA: 16.6 %Boston, MA16.6Fitchburg, MA: 15.6 %Fitchburg, MA15.6Southbridge Town, MA: 15.3 %Southbridge Town, MA15.3Greenfield, MA: 15.2 %Greenfield, MA15.2Pittsfield, MA: 14.9 %Pittsfield, MA14.9Everett, MA: 14.7 %Everett, MA14.7Lynn, MA: 13.8 %Lynn, MA13.8Gardner, MA: 13.7 %Gardner, MA13.7Brockton, MA: 13.5 %Brockton, MA13.5Northampton, MA: 13.4 %Northampton, MA13.4Taunton, MA: 13 %Taunton, MA13Cambridge, MA: 12.8 %Cambridge, MA12.8Salem, MA: 12.1 %Salem, MA12.1West Springfield Town, MA: 11.9 %West Springfield Town, MA11.9Revere, MA: 11.6 %Revere, MA11.6Malden, MA: 11.4 %Malden, MA11.4Haverhill, MA: 11.3 %Haverhill, MA11.3Westfield, MA: 10.7 %Westfield, MA10.7Quincy, MA: 10.6 %Quincy, MA10.6Framingham, MA: 10.4 %Framingham, MA10.4Somerville, MA: 9.8 %Somerville, MA9.8Gloucester, MA: 9.6 %Gloucester, MA9.6Marlborough, MA: 9.6 %Marlborough, MA9.6Waltham, MA: 9.4 %Waltham, MA9.4Beverly, MA: 9.4 %Beverly, MA9.4Leominster, MA: 9.2 %Leominster, MA9.2Attleboro, MA: 8.7 %Attleboro, MA8.7Randolph Town, MA: 8.4 %Randolph Town, MA8.4Palmer Town, MA: 8.3 %Palmer Town, MA8.3Easthampton, MA: 8 %Easthampton, MA8Woburn, MA: 7.9 %Woburn, MA7.9Methuen, MA: 7.9 %Methuen, MA7.9Weymouth Town, MA: 7.7 %Weymouth Town, MA7.7Peabody, MA: 7.7 %Peabody, MA7.7Medford, MA: 7.6 %Medford, MA7.6Watertown, MA: 7.5 %Watertown, MA7.5Barnstable Town, MA: 7.4 %Barnstable Town, MA7.4Winthrop Town, MA: 7.2 %Winthrop Town, MA7.2Amesbury, MA: 7.1 %Amesbury, MA7.1Agawam Town, MA: 6.7 %Agawam Town, MA6.7Braintree Town, MA: 5.9 %Braintree Town, MA5.9Franklin Town, MA: 5.9 %Franklin Town, MA5.9Newburyport, MA: 5 %Newburyport, MA5Bridgewater Town, MA: 4.8 %Bridgewater Town, MA4.8North Attleborough Town, MA: 4.7 %North Attleborough Town, MA4.7Newton, MA: 4.5 %Newton, MA4.5Melrose, MA: 3.8 %Melrose, MA3.8
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCities2024 (%)Change on 2023
1Holyoke, MA27+3.3 pts
2Springfield, MA25.8+0.6 pts
3Amherst Town, MA23.7-0.4 pts
4Chelsea, MA20.8+0.1 pts
5New Bedford, MA20.6+0.7 pts
6Worcester, MA19.6-0.2 pts
7Fall River, MA19.6-1.4 pts
8North Adams, MA18.6+0.5 pts
9Lawrence, MA17.6-0.6 pts
10Chicopee, MA17.3+2.1 pts
11Lowell, MA16.9+0.9 pts
12Boston, MA16.6-0.3 pts
13Fitchburg, MA15.6+0.1 pts
14Southbridge Town, MA15.3-0.9 pts
15Greenfield, MA15.2-0.5 pts
16Pittsfield, MA14.9+1.4 pts
17Everett, MA14.7-0.7 pts
18Lynn, MA13.8+0.1 pts
19Gardner, MA13.7-0.6 pts
20Brockton, MA13.5-0.4 pts
21Northampton, MA13.4+0.9 pts
22Taunton, MA13-0.8 pts
23Cambridge, MA12.8+0.4 pts
24Salem, MA12.1-1.6 pts
25West Springfield Town, MA11.9+1.5 pts
26Revere, MA11.6-0.9 pts
27Malden, MA11.4-1.9 pts
28Haverhill, MA11.3+0.7 pts
29Westfield, MA10.7-0.3 pts
30Quincy, MA10.6-0.9 pts
31Framingham, MA10.4-0.6 pts
32Somerville, MA9.8-0.3 pts
33Gloucester, MA9.6-1.1 pts
33Marlborough, MA9.6+0.4 pts
35Waltham, MA9.4+0.8 pts
36Beverly, MA9.4-0.6 pts
37Leominster, MA9.2-0.9 pts
38Attleboro, MA8.7-0.6 pts
39Randolph Town, MA8.4+1 pts
40Palmer Town, MA8.3-0.3 pts
41Easthampton, MA8n/a
42Woburn, MA7.9+0.1 pts
43Methuen, MA7.9n/a
44Weymouth Town, MA7.70 pts
45Peabody, MA7.7+1.1 pts
46Medford, MA7.6-0.6 pts
47Watertown, MA7.5n/a
48Barnstable Town, MA7.4+0.4 pts
49Winthrop Town, MA7.2+0.2 pts
50Amesbury, MA7.1n/a
51Agawam Town, MA6.7-0.3 pts
52Braintree Town, MA5.9+0.7 pts
53Franklin Town, MA5.9+0.4 pts
54Newburyport, MA5-0.1 pts
55Bridgewater Town, MA4.8-0 pts
56North Attleborough Town, MA4.7-0.7 pts
57Newton, MA4.5-0.2 pts
58Melrose, MA3.8+0.1 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

People with income in the past 12 months below the official US poverty thresholds, as a percentage of people whose poverty status is determined. United States: American Community Survey five-year estimate, where the period shown is the last year of the five-year span.

The headline single-year rate for states and counties is poverty_rate (SAIPE). Poverty status is not determined for people in institutions, military group quarters or college dormitories, or for unrelated children under 15. Absolute thresholds set by the US government, so not comparable with the EU at_risk_of_poverty_rate.

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 B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, 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-b17001.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 B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more) (Cities in Massachusetts by poverty 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-b17001.dat

MLA 9

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more), Cities in Massachusetts by poverty 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-b17001.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/massachusetts-cities. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). Cities in Massachusetts by poverty 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-b17001.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/massachusetts-cities.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more), Cities in Massachusetts by poverty 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-b17001.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-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 B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more): Cities in Massachusetts by poverty 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-b17001.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/massachusetts-cities. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, 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-b17001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more): Cities in Massachusetts by poverty 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-b17001.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/massachusetts-cities
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/massachusetts-cities.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, 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-b17001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

Which city has the highest poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

Holyoke, MA, with 27% in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which city has the lowest poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

Melrose, MA, with 3.8% 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 B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate): other rankings

Cities in Massachusetts: more rankings