City · Massachusetts
Somerville, Massachusetts
Somerville, city, in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Somerville had 84,211 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 4.0% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 81,045 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 81,036 (±33). GEOID 2562535.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
84,211
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 81,045 · ACS 2020-2024: 81,036 ±33
Median household income
$132,572
±$6,106 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $103,960
Median home value
$911,300
±$25,952 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $562,100
Median gross rent
$2,517
±$64 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $1,762
Where is Somerville and what county is it in?
Somerville is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. It covers 4.1 square miles of land, 19,671 residents per square mile in 2020.
Somerville is in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 7 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Somerville, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 84,211 people lived in Somerville on July 1, 2025, up 4.0% since 2020, faster than Massachusetts (+1.7%). The 2020 Census counted 81,045 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 81,036 (±33).
| Measure | Somerville | Middlesex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 81,036 ±33 | 1,638,365 | +130 |
| Households | 35,715 ±869 | 634,215 | +2,913 |
| Average household size | 2.19 ±0.05 | 2.49 | −0.18 |
| Housing units | 37,756 ±837 | 664,267 | +3,123 |
Somerville's population since 2000
From 77,478 in 2000 to 84,211 in 2025: up 8.7%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Somerville 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 Somerville?
The median resident of Somerville is 31.9 years old; 9.8% are under 18 and 10.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 65.6%, then non-Hispanic Asian residents at 11.5%. 24.0% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Somerville | Middlesex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.9 ±0.6 | 38.9 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 9.8% ±0.9 pts | 19.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 10.0% ±0.8 pts | 16.3% | – |
| Male | 48.9% ±1.1 pts | 49.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 11.4% ±1.6 pts | 9.3% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 65.6% ±2.0 pts | 65.1% | −2.6 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 4.4% ±0.8 pts | 4.7% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 11.5% ±1.3 pts | 13.6% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.6% ±0.9 pts | 5.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 1.4% ±0.5 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 24.0% ±1.5 pts | 23.1% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 28.6% ±1.7 pts | 29.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 1.4% ±0.3 pts | 3.3% | – |
| With a disability | 8.5% ±0.8 pts | 9.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 1.9% ±0.4 pts | 2.4% | −1.2 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 92.9% ±0.7 pts | 93.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 69.4% ±1.7 pts | 59.5% | +5.0 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 33.4% ±1.4 pts | 30.5% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 75.6% ±1.6 pts | 87.2% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 5.4% ±0.9 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 Somerville earn?
Half of Somerville's 35,715 households earn less than $132,572 a year (±$6,106), against $130,847 in Middlesex County and $103,960 in Massachusetts. In 2015-2019 the median was $119,781 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $12,791 after inflation. 9.8% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Somerville | Middlesex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $132,572 ±$6,106 | $130,847 | +$12,791 |
| Mean household income | $167,361 ±$4,803 | $178,070 | – |
| Per capita income | $73,940 ±$2,399 | $69,556 | +$13,166 |
| People below the poverty line | 9.8% ±1.2 pts | 7.7% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 6.7% ±3.2 pts | 7.9% | −13.5 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 8.5% ±1.1 pts | 9.3% | – |
| Households with a computer | 97.5% ±0.6 pts | 97.0% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 94.7% ±0.8 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 Somerville?
Owners occupy 34.2% of Somerville's occupied homes and renters 65.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $911,300 by its owner (±$25,952). The median renter pays $2,517 a month including utilities, and 27.5% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Somerville | Middlesex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $911,300 ±$25,952 | $727,800 | +$93,258 |
| Median gross rent | $2,517 ±$64 | $2,201 | +$211 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 27.5% ±2.6 pts | 37.6% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $3,452 ±$94 | $3,224 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 34.2% ±1.8 pts | 61.3% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 65.8% ±1.8 pts | 38.7% | – |
| Housing units | 37,756 ±837 | 664,267 | +3,123 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 2.7% ±1.5 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 1.6% ±0.7 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 10.5% ±1.2 pts | 46.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.5% ±0.5 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 8.1% ±1.4 pts | 7.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 59.0% ±1.9 pts | 32.3% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 21.6% ±1.7 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 Somerville building?
Builders took permits for 90 new housing units in Somerville in 2025 (4 in single-family houses), 1.1 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 Somerville work and get to work?
29.9% of Somerville's workers drive alone and 31.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 31.0 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.0%.
| Measure | Somerville | Middlesex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 79.0% ±1.3 pts | 69.9% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.0% ±0.6 pts | 4.4% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 29.9% ±1.7 pts | 54.2% | – |
| Carpooled | 4.7% ±0.8 pts | 6.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 19.3% ±1.3 pts | 7.2% | – |
| Walked | 8.5% ±1.1 pts | 4.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 31.3% ±2.0 pts | 24.7% | +26.8 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 31.0 min ±0.8 | 29.9 min | −1.6 min |
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 Somerville?
25 census tracts lie mostly in Somerville (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $81,198 (Tract 3501.08) to $182,758 (Tract 3512.03).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 3504Middlesex County | 6,102 | $166,831 |
| Tract 3506Middlesex County | 5,144 | $153,305 |
| Tract 3513Middlesex County | 4,442 | $128,571 |
| Tract 3512.03Middlesex County | 4,318 | $182,758 |
| Tract 3502.02Middlesex County | 4,201 | $132,159 |
| Tract 3510.01Middlesex County | 4,114 | $146,229 |
| Tract 3514.03Middlesex County | 3,986 | $116,500 |
| Tract 3512.04Middlesex County | 3,893 | $120,875 |
| Tract 3501.08Middlesex County | 3,767 | $81,198 |
| Tract 3514.04Middlesex County | 3,716 | $108,358 |
| Tract 3509Middlesex County | 3,700 | $171,433 |
| Tract 3507.02Middlesex County | 3,238 | $43,451 |
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 Somerville) · Census block assignment files
How does Somerville compare with other places in Massachusetts?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Somerville is the 435th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 13th-most populous of 58 in Massachusetts.
Somerville ranks 132nd 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 | 13th | 58 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 43rd | 292 |
| Residents per square mile | 1st | 461 |
| Median household income | 132nd | 453 |
| Per capita income | 97th | 460 |
| Median home value | 43rd | 459 |
| Median gross rent | 22nd | 410 |
| Poverty rate | 83rd | 338 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 58th | 459 |
| Median age | 454th | 461 |
| Owner-occupied share | 457th | 460 |
| Work from home | 45th | 429 |
| Travel time to work | 195th | 459 |
Somerville's figures with every place in Massachusetts (CSV)
Every place in Massachusetts, sortable · Compare Somerville 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 Somerville?
3 of the 57 figures for Somerville 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 Somerville 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' public schools in Somerville.