Town · Massachusetts
Carlisle, Massachusetts
Carlisle, town, in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Carlisle had 5,286 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 0.8% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 5,237 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 5,239 (±23). GEOID 2501711525.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
5,286
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 5,237 · ACS 2020-2024: 5,239 ±23
Median household income
$250,000 or more
The survey's top or bottom value; no margin is published
Massachusetts: $103,960
Median home value
$1,103,900
±$45,749 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $562,100
Median gross rent
$1,313
±$855 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $1,762
Where is Carlisle and what county is it in?
Carlisle is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. It covers 15.3 square miles of land, 343 residents per square mile in 2020.
Carlisle is in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 7 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Carlisle is the same area as Census Tract 3621 of Middlesex County: the tract's figures are Carlisle's own.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Carlisle, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 5,286 people lived in Carlisle on July 1, 2025, up 0.8% since 2020, slower than Massachusetts (+1.7%). The 2020 Census counted 5,237 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 5,239 (±23).
| Measure | Carlisle | Middlesex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 5,239±23 | 1,638,365 | no clear change |
| Households | 1,776±145 | 634,215 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.95±0.24 | 2.49 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 1,805±147 | 664,267 | −224 |
Carlisle's population since 2000
From 4,717 in 2000 to 5,286 in 2025: up 12.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Carlisle as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Carlisle?
The median resident of Carlisle is 45.3 years old; 26.4% are under 18 and 21.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 80.1%, then non-Hispanic Asian residents at 11.2%. 12.9% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Carlisle | Middlesex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.3±3.1 | 38.9 | −5.4 |
| Under 18 years | 26.4%±4.1 pts | 19.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 21.7%±2.9 pts | 16.3% | – |
| Male | 52.9%±2.7 pts | 49.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3.0%±1.9 pts | 9.3% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 80.1%±4.0 pts | 65.1% | −5.8 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.0%±0.8 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 11.2%±2.5 pts | 13.6% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.8 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.8 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.4%±2.4 pts | 5.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.3%±0.5 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 12.9%±3.2 pts | 23.1% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 13.4%±3.2 pts | 29.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.4%±2.0 pts | 3.3% | – |
| With a disability | 6.4%±2.0 pts | 9.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 0.3%±0.3 pts | 2.4% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 98.9%±1.1 pts | 93.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 87.2%±4.0 pts | 59.5% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 52.5%±6.8 pts | 30.5% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 94.1%±2.6 pts | 87.2% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.8%±2.4 pts | 2.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Carlisle earn?
Half of Carlisle's 1,776 households earn less than $250,000 or more a year (), against $130,847 in Middlesex County and $103,960 in Massachusetts. In 2015-2019 it was $241,079 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 1.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Carlisle | Middlesex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $250,000 or more | $130,847 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $333,401±$39,506 | $178,070 | – |
| Per capita income | $113,288±$16,369 | $69,556 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 1.5%±0.9 pts | 7.7% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 0.0%±3.0 pts | 7.9% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 3.2%±2.4 pts | 9.3% | – |
| Households with a computer | 98.5%±1.9 pts | 97.0% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 97.5%±2.5 pts | 94.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Carlisle?
Owners occupy 93.6% of Carlisle's occupied homes and renters 6.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $1,103,900 by its owner (±$45,749). The median renter pays $1,313 a month including utilities, and 69.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Carlisle | Middlesex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $1,103,900±$45,749 | $727,800 | +$63,841 |
| Median gross rent | $1,313±$855 | $2,201 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 69.0%±20.1 pts | 37.6% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $4,000 or more | $3,224 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 93.6%±2.8 pts | 61.3% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 6.4%±2.8 pts | 38.7% | – |
| Housing units | 1,805±147 | 664,267 | −224 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.5%±0.8 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0%±30.4 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 93.2%±2.9 pts | 46.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0%±2.3 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0%±2.3 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 5.2%±3.3 pts | 7.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 13.0%±4.6 pts | 32.3% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 0.8%±1.0 pts | 10.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Carlisle building?
Builders took permits for 13 new housing units in Carlisle in 2025 (13 in single-family houses), 2.5 per 1,000 residents against 1.7 across Massachusetts.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Carlisle work and get to work?
57.6% of Carlisle's workers drive alone and 38.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 35.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.1%.
| Measure | Carlisle | Middlesex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 62.5%±3.8 pts | 69.9% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.1%±2.5 pts | 4.4% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 57.6%±7.2 pts | 54.2% | – |
| Carpooled | 0.7%±0.8 pts | 6.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.7%±1.4 pts | 7.2% | – |
| Walked | 1.1%±1.1 pts | 4.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 38.5%±7.4 pts | 24.7% | +25.8 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 35.3 min±3.5 | 29.9 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Carlisle?
1 census tract lies mostly in Carlisle (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 3621Middlesex County | 5,239 | $250,000 or more |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Carlisle) · Census block assignment files
How does Carlisle compare with other places in Massachusetts?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Carlisle is the 2,201st-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 163rd-most populous of 266 in Massachusetts.
Carlisle ranks 1st of 453 places in Massachusetts with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 163rd | 266 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 199th | 292 |
| Residents per square mile | 353rd | 461 |
| Median household income | 1st | 453 |
| Per capita income | 9th | 460 |
| Median home value | 24th | 459 |
| Median gross rent | 282nd | 410 |
| Poverty rate | 336th | 338 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 2nd | 459 |
| Median age | 208th | 461 |
| Owner-occupied share | 37th | 460 |
| Work from home | 7th | 429 |
| Travel time to work | 68th | 459 |
Carlisle's figures with every place in Massachusetts (CSV)
Every place in Massachusetts, sortable · Compare Carlisle with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Carlisle?
15 of the 57 figures for Carlisle on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Carlisle are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.