These Are The 10 Massachusetts Cities With The Largest Black Population For 2018

The Black community is one of the fastest growing communities in America this decade.

There are now 42 million people who identify as Black or African American living in America, making up 12% of the total population. According to the most recent American Community Survey, the Black population in Massachusetts is 443,182 – at 6.6% of the total population of Massachusetts.

The percentage growth of Blacks in America is the third largest percentage change for any race according to the Census’s race and ethnicity definition. As most scholars and historians agree, an increase in the diversity in America is a good thing.

We agree.

But how has the increase in the black population impacted Massachusetts? Which cities and towns in Massachusetts have seen the greatest increase in its Black population?

We broke down the most recent census data to determine the cities in Massachusetts with the largest African American population in 2018:

1. Brockton (Photos)
2. Boston (Photos)
3. Everett (Photos)
4. Springfield (Photos)
5. Malden (Photos)
6. Worcester (Photos)
7. Lynn (Photos)
8. Cambridge (Photos)
9. Medford (Photos)
10. Lowell (Photos)

Brockton took the number one over all spot for the largest Black population in Massachusetts for 2018. See if it ranked as one of the most african american cities in America.

Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers and how your town ranked.

To see where Massachusetts ranked as a state on diversity, we have a ranking of the most diverse states in America.

And if you already knew these places were Black, check out the best places to live in Massachusetts or the most diverse places in Massachusetts.

How We Determined The Cities In Massachusetts With The Largest Black Population For 2018

We still believe in the accuracy of data — especially from the census. So that’s where we went to get the breakdown of race across Massachusetts.

That lead us to the Census’s most recently available data, the 2012-2016 American Community Survey data from the US Census.

Specifically, we looked at table B03002: Hispanic OR LATINO ORIGIN BY RACE. Here are the category names as defined by the Census:

• Hispanic or Latino
• White alone*
• Black or African American alone*
• American Indian and Alaska Native alone*
• Asian alone*
• Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone*
• Some other race alone*
• Two or more races*

Our particular column of interest here was the number of people who identified as Black or African American.

We limited our analysis to non-CDPs with a population greater than 12,000 people. That left us with 53 cities.

We then calculated the percent of residents that are Black or African American. The percentages ranked from 39.5% to 0.5%.

Finally, we ranked each city based on the percent of Black population with a higher score being more Black than a lower score. Brockton took the distinction of being the most Black, while Winthrop Town was the least African American city.

Read on for more information on how the cities in Massachusetts ranked by population of African American residents or, for a more general take on diversity in America, head over to our ranking of the most diverse cities in America.

1. Brockton

Population: 94,813
% African American: 39.5%
# Of African American Residents: 37,449
Percent Change Since 2010: 18.18%
More on Brockton: Data | Jobs

Brockton is a city in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States; the population was 95,314 in the 2015 Census. Brockton, along with Plymouth, are the county seats of Plymouth County. Brockton is the seventh largest city in Massachusetts and is sometimes referred to as the “City of Champions”, due to the success of native boxers Rocky Marciano and Marvin Hagler, as well as its successful Brockton High School sports programs. Two of the villages within the city are Montello and Campello, both have the distinction of having their own MBTA Commuter Rail Stations and post offices. Campello is the smallest neighborhood in the city, but also the most populous. Brockton hosts a baseball team, the Brockton Rox. Brockton is one of the windiest cities in the United States, with an average wind speed of 14.3mph.

2. Boston

Population: 658,279
% African American: 22.79%
# Of African American Residents: 150,037
Percent Change Since 2010: 7.37%
More on Boston: Data | Jobs

Boston BOSS-tn) is the capital city and most populous municipality of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. It is also the seat of Suffolk County, although the county government was disbanded on July 1, 1999. The city proper covers 48 square miles with an estimated population of 673,184 in 2016, making it the largest city in the New England region of the northeastern United States. The city is the economic and cultural anchor of a substantially larger metropolitan area known as Greater Boston, a metropolitan statistical area home to a census-estimated 4.8million people in 2016 and ranking as the tenth-largest such area in the country. As a combined statistical area, this wider commuting region is home to some 8.2million people, making it the sixth-largest in the United States.

3. Everett

Population: 44,636
% African American: 18.92%
# Of African American Residents: 8,446
Percent Change Since 2010: 72.47%
More on Everett: Data | Jobs

Everett is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, 4 miles north of Boston. The population was 41,668 at the time of the 2010 United States Census.

4. Springfield

Population: 153,991
% African American: 18.84%
# Of African American Residents: 29,007
Percent Change Since 2010: -6.0%
More on Springfield: Data | Jobs

Springfield is a city in western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers: the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern Mill River. As of the 2010 Census, the city’s population was 153,060. Metropolitan Springfield, as one of two metropolitan areas in Massachusetts, had a population of 692,942 as of 2010.

5. Malden

Population: 60,732
% African American: 14.67%
# Of African American Residents: 8,909
Percent Change Since 2010: 5.22%
More on Malden: Data | Jobs

Malden is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. At the time of the 2010 United States Census, the population was at 59,450 people. In 2009, Malden was named the “Best Place to Raise Your Kids” in Massachusetts by Bloomberg Businessweek.

6. Worcester

Population: 183,677
% African American: 12.15%
# Of African American Residents: 22,317
Percent Change Since 2010: 33.14%
More on Worcester: Data | Jobs

Worcester pronunciation is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city’s population was 181,045, making it the second most populous city in New England after Boston. Worcester is located approximately 40 miles west of Boston, 50 miles east of Springfield and 40 miles north of Providence. Due to its location in Central Massachusetts, Worcester is known as the “Heart of the Commonwealth”, thus, a heart is the official symbol of the city. However, the heart symbol may also have its provenance in lore that the mass-produced Valentine’s Day card was invented in the city.

7. Lynn

Population: 92,074
% African American: 11.46%
# Of African American Residents: 10,551
Percent Change Since 2010: 6.75%
More on Lynn: Data | Jobs

Lynn is the 9th largest municipality in Massachusetts and the largest city in Essex County. Situated on the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 10 miles north of downtown Boston, Lynn is part of Greater Boston’s urban inner core. An early colonial settlement and industrial center, Lynn was long colloquially referred to as the “City of Sin,” owing to its historic reputation for crime and vice. Today, however, the city is known for its large international population, historic architecture, downtown cultural district, loft-style apartments, and public parks and open spaces, which include the oceanfront Lynn Shore Reservation; the 2,200-acre, Frederick Law Olmsted-designed Lynn Woods Reservation; and the High Rock Tower Reservation. The city also is home to the southernmost portion of the Essex Coastal Scenic Byway, Lynn Heritage State Park, and the National Register-listed Diamond Historic District.

8. Cambridge

Population: 108,757
% African American: 9.99%
# Of African American Residents: 10,868
Percent Change Since 2010: -4.54%
More on Cambridge: Data | Jobs

Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, and part of the Boston metropolitan area.

9. Medford

Population: 57,180
% African American: 9.09%
# Of African American Residents: 5,199
Percent Change Since 2010: 1.44%
More on Medford: Data | Jobs

Medford is a city 3.2 miles northwest of downtown Boston on the Mystic River in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. In the 2010 U.S. Census, Medford’s population was 56,173. It is home to Tufts University.

10. Lowell

Population: 109,871
% African American: 6.66%
# Of African American Residents: 7,322
Percent Change Since 2010: 13.47%
More on Lowell: Data | Jobs

Lowell is a city in the U.S. Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Located in Middlesex County, Lowell was a county seat until Massachusetts disbanded county government in 1999. With an estimated population of 109,945 in 2014, it is the fourth-largest city in Massachusetts, and the second-largest in the Boston metropolitan statistical area. The city is also part of a smaller Massachusetts statistical area called Greater Lowell, as well as New England’s Merrimack Valley region.

There You Have It – Black Populations Across Massachusetts

If you’re looking for a breakdown of African American populations across Massachusetts according to the most recent data, this is an accurate list.

If you’re curious enough, here are the least African American places in Massachusetts:

1. Winthrop Town
2. Franklin Town
3. Amesbury Town

For more Massachusetts reading, check out:

• 10 Worst Places To Live In Massachusetts
• Best College Towns In Massachusetts
• 10 Safest Places In Massachusetts

Detailed List Of The Most African American Cities In Massachusetts

Rank	City	Population	% African American
1	Brockton	94,813	39.5%
2	Boston	658,279	22.79%
3	Everett	44,636	18.92%
4	Springfield	153,991	18.84%
5	Malden	60,732	14.67%
6	Worcester	183,677	12.15%
7	Lynn	92,074	11.46%
8	Cambridge	108,757	9.99%
9	Medford	57,180	9.09%
10	Lowell	109,871	6.66%
11	Taunton	56,504	6.41%
12	Somerville	79,507	6.38%
13	New Bedford	94,988	5.91%
14	Waltham	62,699	5.65%
15	Woburn	39,220	5.25%
16	Salem	42,804	5.16%
17	Quincy	93,349	5.1%
18	Chelsea	38,244	5.05%
19	Braintree Town	37,066	4.74%
20	Revere	53,165	4.68%
21	Pittsfield	43,632	4.5%
22	Weymouth Town	55,601	4.18%
23	Barnstable Town	44,498	4.01%
24	Leominster	41,304	3.81%
25	Fall River	88,902	3.77%
26	Attleboro	44,121	3.75%
27	Chicopee	56,100	3.61%
28	Holyoke	40,280	3.5%
29	Melrose	27,787	3.44%
30	Fitchburg	40,441	3.41%
31	Newton	88,317	3.38%
32	Marlborough	39,545	2.99%
33	Watertown Town	33,849	2.68%
34	Lawrence	79,337	2.64%
35	Northampton	28,534	2.63%
36	West Springfield Town	28,575	2.6%
37	Southbridge Town	16,824	2.38%
38	Peabody	52,235	2.06%
39	Haverhill	62,340	1.99%
40	Easthampton Town	16,042	1.96%
41	Methuen Town	49,043	1.84%
42	Gardner	20,334	1.82%
43	Westfield	41,486	1.77%
44	Agawam Town	28,701	1.41%
45	Newburyport	17,837	1.38%
46	Greenfield Town	17,477	1.32%
47	Palmer Town	12,145	1.17%
48	North Adams	13,326	1.16%
49	Beverly	40,967	1.01%
50	Gloucester	29,546	0.9%
51	Amesbury Town	17,082	0.86%
52	Franklin Town	32,873	0.68%
53	Winthrop Town	18,031	0.49%