City profile · Massachusetts · Census ACS 2023

Framingham, MA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Framingham - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

72,013
Residents
$98,179
Median income
$600,600
Median home
$2,941
Median rent (state)

Framingham - the verdict

Nationally, Framingham sits in the 77th percentile for household income and the 50th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

77th
percentile, household income
89th
percentile, home value
97th
percentile, median rent
50th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Framingham, MA

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 72,013 residents in Framingham, a small city within Massachusetts. Framingham households earn a median of $98,179 annually, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 8.1%. Framingham's housing stock carries a median value of $600,600, and the median resident age is 37.7 years. About 49.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 67.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 31 residential building permits were authorized in Framingham (Construction Slowdown), down 75% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Framingham reports a comparatively low crime rate: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 1379.9 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, below the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Massachusetts carries a cost-of-living premium: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Massachusetts scores 105.8 (Above Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $2,941 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Massachusetts run around $330, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. The average commute for Framingham workers runs 24.8 minutes, with 63.1% driving alone and 17.4% working from home. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 96.9 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

72,013 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Massachusetts

Median Household Income

$98,179 /yr

Poverty 8.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

105.8 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Massachusetts average

How does Framingham compare to other US cities?

Framingham measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 77% higher than other cities
Home value 89% pricier than other cities
Median rent 97% pricier than other cities
Safety 50% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to Massachusetts alone, Framingham ranks #109 of 149 Massachusetts cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Framingham's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Massachusetts, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

77thIncome percentile
50thSafety percentile

77th percentile nationally for median household income · 50th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Framingham's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Framingham's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 45 Avg. percentile National median
Framingham's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Framingham's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$600,600 11th percentile more affordable than 11% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). This entry sits in this band. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Framingham $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Framingham, MA Framingham, MA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Framingham, MA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Framingham, MA median $98,179/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Framingham, MA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Framingham, MA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 49.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 8.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 67.6%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
72,013
Median Income
$98,179
Median Home Value
$600,600
Median Age
37.7
Poverty Rate
8.1%
Labor force participation
67.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
49.4%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1379.9
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
325.5
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1054.4
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
16
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
71,500 residents72,000 residents72,500 residents73,000 residents73,500 residents 202020212022202320242025 72,090 residents 73,021 residents ▲ +1.3%
Framingham's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
31
housing units authorized
Single-Family
15
detached homes
Multifamily
16
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 124
2020 84
2021 33
2022 31
2023 37
2024 31

Permit volume decreased 75% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
24.8 minutes
Drive Alone
63.1%
Carpool
7.0%
Public Transit
2.8%
Walk
2.5%
Work from Home
17.4%
Other
7.2%

Based on 38,021 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Massachusetts - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$160
avg/month
Natural Gas
$110
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$60
avg/month
Total Utilities
$330
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Massachusetts state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Massachusetts state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Framingham sits in

Cost of Living Index
105.8
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$2,941/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
96.9 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Massachusetts

Haverhill
67,387 people
Malden
65,509 people
Waltham
64,723 people
Somerville
80,549 people
Brookline
62,822 people
Revere
59,933 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Framingham's 72,013 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Wesley Chapel, FL
71,965 people
Noblesville, IN
71,940 people
Tamarac, FL
71,887 people
Centreville, VA
71,885 people
Greenville, SC
71,755 people
Rocklin, CA
72,340 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Framingham's $98,179 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Bethpage, TN
$98,180 median income
Crescent Bar, WA
$98,182 median income
Ridgefield Park, NJ
$98,184 median income
Fontana, CA
$98,187 median income
Johnstonville, CA
$98,188 median income
Archer Lodge, NC
$98,170 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Framingham, MA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Framingham, MA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 55.1% 6.5% 7.2% 14.2% 16.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 18.7% White 55.1% Black or African American 6.5% Asian 7.2% American Indian 0.4% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 14.2% Two or more races 16.5% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Framingham compares to nearby Massachusetts cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Framingham (this city) 72,013 $98,179
Haverhill 67,387 $87,675
Malden 65,509 $95,298
Waltham 64,723 $116,560
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MA FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Framingham, MA?

What is the population of Framingham, MA? +

The population of Framingham, MA stands at 72,013 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Framingham, MA? +

The median household income in Framingham is $98,179 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Framingham? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Framingham; the closest available measure is the Massachusetts state average, a cost of living index of 105.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Massachusetts vary by metro area.

Is Framingham, MA safe? +

Framingham has a total crime rate of 1379.9 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Framingham, MA? +

The median home value in Framingham is $600,600, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.