View source for Greater Boston

{{Short description|Metropolitan Statistical Area in the US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = Greater Boston
| other_name              = Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH<br />Metropolitan Statistical Area
| settlement_type         = [[Metropolitan statistical area]] 
| image_skyline           = Boston Skyline (pano) (19806818856).jpg
| imagesize               = 300px
| image_caption           = [[Boston]] in July 2015
| image_map               = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=290|frame-height=240|zoom=7|frame-coord={{Coord|42.2800|-71.2500}}
| type1=shape|id1=Q54079|title1=Norfolk County, MA|stroke-color1=#C81F32|stroke-width1=0.5|fill1=#C81F32|fill-opacity1=0.4
| type2=shape|id2=Q54086|title2=Plymouth County, MA|stroke-color2=#C81F32|stroke-width2=0.5|fill2=#C81F32|fill-opacity2=0.4
| type3=shape|id3=Q54072|title3=Suffolk County, MA|stroke-color3=#C81F32|stroke-width3=0.5|fill3=#C81F32|fill-opacity3=0.4
| type4=shape|id4=Q54076|title4=Essex County, MA|stroke-color4=#0003FF|stroke-width4=0.5|fill4=#0003FF|fill-opacity4=0.4
| type5=shape|id5=Q54073|title5=Middlesex County, MA|stroke-color5=#0003FF|stroke-width5=0.5|fill5=#0003FF|fill-opacity5=0.4
| type6=shape|id6=Q54438|title6=Rockingham County, NH|stroke-color6=#BD00C8|stroke-width6=0.5|fill6=#BD00C8|fill-opacity6=0.4
| type7=shape|id7=Q54441|title7=Strafford County, NH|stroke-color7=#BD00C8|stroke-width7=0.5|fill7=#BD00C8|fill-opacity7=0.4
| type8=shape|id8=Q54262|title8=Bristol County, RI|stroke-color8=#156000|stroke-width8=0.5|fill8=#156000|fill-opacity8=0.4
| type9=shape|id9=Q54254|title9=Kent County, RI|stroke-color9=#156000|stroke-width9=0.5|fill9=#156000|fill-opacity9=0.4
| type10=shape|id10=Q54260|title10=Newport County, RI|stroke-color10=#156000|stroke-width10=0.5|fill10=#156000|fill-opacity10=0.4
| type11=shape|id11=Q54253|title11=Providence County, RI|stroke-color11=#156000|stroke-width11=0.5|fill11=#156000|fill-opacity11=0.4
| type12=shape|id12=Q54258|title12=Washington County, RI|stroke-color12=#156000|stroke-width12=0.5|fill12=#156000|fill-opacity12=0.4
| type13=shape|id13=Q54082|title13=Bristol County, MA|stroke-color13=#156000|stroke-width13=0.5|fill13=#156000|fill-opacity13=0.4
| type14=shape|id14=Q54093|title14=Worcester County, MA|stroke-color14=#FF4D00|stroke-width14=0.5|fill14=#FF4D00|fill-opacity14=0.4
| type15=shape|id15=Q54439|title15=Hillsborough County, NH|stroke-color15=#AA9600|stroke-width15=0.5|fill15=#AA9600|fill-opacity15=0.4
| type16=shape|id16=Q54089|title16=Barnstable County, MA|stroke-color16=#FBBF00|stroke-width16=0.5|fill16=#FFFE00|fill-opacity16=0.4
| type17=shape|id17=Q54440|title17=Merrimack County, NH|stroke-color17=#00BCE4|stroke-width17=0.5|fill17=#00BCE4|fill-opacity17=0.4
| type18=shape|id18=Q54442|title18=Belknap County, NH|stroke-color18=#FC8EAC|stroke-width18=0.5|fill18=#FC8EAC|fill-opacity18=0.4
| type19=shape|id19=Q100|title19=City of Boston|stroke-color19=#007272|stroke-width19=0.5|fill19=#007272|fill-opacity19=0.8
}}
| map_caption              = Interactive Map of Boston–Worcester–Providence, MA–RI–NH [[Combined Statistical Area|CSA]]
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-break}}
{{leftlegend|#007272|[[Boston, Massachusetts|City of Boston]]}}
Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH [[Metropolitan Statistical Area|MSA]]
{{leftlegend|#C81F32|Boston, MA Metro Division}}
{{leftlegend|#0003FF|Cambridge–Newton–Framingham, MA Metro Division}}
{{leftlegend|#BD00C8|Rockingham County–Strafford County, NH Metro Division}}
Other Statistical Areas in Boston CSA
{{leftlegend|#156000|Providence–Warwick, RI–MA MSA}}
{{leftlegend|#FF4D00|Worcester, MA MSA}}
{{leftlegend|#AA9600|Manchester–Nashua, NH MSA}}
{{leftlegend|#FFFE00|Barnstable Town, MA MSA}}
{{leftlegend|#00BCE4|Concord, NH MSA}}
{{leftlegend|#FC8EAC|Laconia, NH MSA}}
{{Col-end}}
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|United States}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = {{flag|Massachusetts}}<br />{{flag|New Hampshire}}<br />{{flag|Rhode Island}}
| established_title  = <!-- Settled -->
| established_date   = 
| parts_type         = Principal cities
| parts              = {{plainlist|
<!--- This is a list of cities with populations over 100,000 based on the 2020 U.S. Census--->
*{{flag|Boston}}
*{{flagicon image|Flag of Worcester, Massachusetts.svg}} [[Worcester, Massachusetts|Worcester]]
*{{flagicon image|Flag of Providence, Rhode Island.png}} [[Providence, Rhode Island|Providence]]
*{{flagicon image|Flag of Cambridge, Massachusetts.svg}} [[Cambridge, Massachusetts|Cambridge]]
*{{flagicon image|Manchester, New Hampshire Flag (enlarged).png}} [[Manchester, New Hampshire|Manchester]]
*{{flagicon image|Flag of Lowell, Massachusetts.png}} [[Lowell, Massachusetts|Lowell]]
*{{flagicon image|Seal_of_Brockton,_Massachusetts.svg|border=}} [[Brockton, Massachusetts|Brockton]]
*{{flag|Quincy}}
*{{Flagicon image|Flag of Lynn, Massachusetts.png}} [[Lynn, Massachusetts|Lynn]]
*{{flagicon image|Seal_of_New_Bedford,_Massachusetts.svg|border=}} [[New Bedford, Massachusetts|New Bedford]]
}}
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = 
| leader_name        = 
| unit_pref          = US
| area_footnotes     = 
| area_total_sq_mi   = 
| area_land_sq_mi    = 
| area_water_sq_mi   = 
| area_note          = 
| elevation_ft       = <!-- 635 -->
| population_total   = 8,466,186 (CSA)<br />4,941,632 (MSA)
| population_as_of   = 2020
| population_footnotes = 
| population_density_sq_mi = 
| population_rank    = {{ubl|[[Table of United States Combined Statistical Areas|Ranked 6th in the US for Combined Statistical Areas]]|[[List of Metropolitan Statistical Areas|Ranked 10th in the US for Metropolitan Statistical Areas]]}}
| population_demonym = 
| demographics_type2 = GDP
| demographics2_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite web|title=Total Real Gross Domestic Product for Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (MSA)|url=https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/NGMP14460|work=[[Federal Reserve Economic Data]] |publisher=[[Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis]]}}</ref>
| demographics2_title1 = Total
| demographics2_info1 = $610.486 billion (2023)
| area_codes          = [[Area code 617|617]], [[Area code 781|781]], [[Area code 857|857]], [[Area code 339|339]], [[Area code 978|978]], [[Area code 508|508]], [[Area code 351|351]], [[Area code 774|774]], [[Area code 603|603]], [[Area code 401|401]]
| timezone1                = [[Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset1              = −5
| timezone1_DST            = [[Eastern Time Zone|EDT]]
| utc_offset1_DST          = −4
}}

'''Greater Boston''' is the [[metropolitan region]] of [[New England]] encompassing the municipality of [[Boston]], the capital of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Massachusetts]] and the most populous city in New England, and its surrounding areas, home to 4,941,632. The most stringent definition of the region, used by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, consists of most of the eastern third of mainland Massachusetts, excluding the [[Merrimack Valley]] and most of [[Southeastern Massachusetts]], though most definitions (including the [[U.S. Census Bureau|U.S. Census]] definition) include much of these areas and portions of southern [[New Hampshire]].<ref name="GreaterBostonAIHub" />
 
While the city of Boston covers {{convert|48.4|mi2|0|abbr=out}} and has 675,647 residents as of the 2020 census, the urbanization has extended well into surrounding areas and the Combined Statistical Area (CSA in the rest of the document), which includes the [[Providence, Rhode Island]], [[Manchester, New Hampshire]], [[Cape Cod]] and [[Worcester, Massachusetts|Worcester]] areas, has a population of more than 8.4 million people, making it one of the most populous such regions in the U.S.

Some of Greater Boston's most well-known contributions involve the region's [[List of colleges and universities in metropolitan Boston|higher education]] and medical institutions. Greater Boston has been influential upon American [[History of the United States|history]] and [[Economy of the United States|industry]].  The region and the state of Massachusetts are global leaders in [[biotechnology]], [[health care]],<ref name=GreaterBostonAIHub>{{cite web|url=https://venturefizz.com/stories/boston/why-boston-will-be-star-ai-revolution#:~:text=Boston%20startups%20are%20working%20to,include%20Lightmatter%20and%20Forge.ai.|title=Why Boston Will Be the Star of The AI Revolution|date=October 24, 2017 |publisher=VentureFizz|access-date=November 9, 2023|quote=Boston startups are working to overcome some of the largest technical barriers holding AI back, and they’re attracting attention across a wide variety of industries in the process.}}</ref> [[engineering]], [[List of colleges and universities in Massachusetts|higher education]], [[finance]], and [[maritime trade]].<ref>{{cite web| title=Housing and Economic Development:Key Industries| url=http://www.mass.gov/hed/economic/industries/| website=mass.gov| access-date=May 9, 2016| archive-date=April 22, 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150422015358/http://www.mass.gov/hed/economic/industries/| url-status=dead}}</ref>

Greater Boston is [[List of United States metropolitan statistical areas|ranked tenth in population among US metropolitan statistical areas]], home to 4,941,632 people as of the [[2020 United States census]], and [[List of United States combined statistical areas|sixth among combined statistical areas]], with a population of 8,466,186. The area has hosted many people and sites significant to [[Culture of the United States|American culture]] and history, particularly [[American literature]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/04/09/books/where-literary-legends-took-shape-around-boston.html|title=Where Literary Legends Took Shape Around Boston|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Will Joyner|date=9 April 1999|access-date=May 9, 2016}}</ref> [[Kennedy family|politics]], and the [[American Revolution]].

[[Plymouth, Massachusetts|Plymouth]] was the site of the first colony in New England, founded in 1620 by the [[Pilgrim Fathers|Pilgrims]], passengers of the ''[[Mayflower]]''. In 1692, the town of [[Salem, Massachusetts|Salem]] and surrounding areas experienced one of America's most infamous cases of [[mass hysteria]], the [[Salem witch trials]].<ref>{{cite web| title=The 1692 Salem Witch Trials| url=http://www.salemwitchmuseum.com/education| website=SalemWitchTrialsMuseum.com| access-date=May 9, 2016}}</ref> In the late 18th century, Boston became known as the "Cradle of Liberty"<ref>{{cite web| title=Faneuil Hall| url=http://www.celebrateboston.com/sites/faneuil-hall.htm| website=Celebrateboston.com| access-date=April 21, 2015}}</ref> for the agitation there that led to the [[American Revolution]].

The Greater Boston region has played a powerful scientific, commercial, and cultural role in the history of the United States. Before the [[American Civil War]], the region was a center for the [[Abolitionism in the United States|abolitionist]], [[temperance movement|temperance]],<ref>{{cite web| title=The Temperance Issue in the Election of 1840: Massachusetts| url=http://www.teachushistory.org/second-great-awakening-age-reform/articles/temperance-issue-election-1840-massachusetts| website=Teachushistory.org| access-date=May 9, 2016}}</ref> and [[transcendentalism|transcendentalist]]<ref>{{cite book| last1=Packer| first1=Barbara| title=The Transcendentalists| year=2007| publisher=University of Georgia Press; First edition (April 25, 2007)| isbn=978-0820329581}}</ref> movements.<ref>{{cite web| title=Images of the Antislavery Movement in Massachusetts| url=http://www.masshist.org/online/abolition/index.php| website=Massachusetts Historical Society| access-date=May 9, 2016}}</ref> In 2004, Massachusetts became the first U.S. state to legally recognize [[Same-sex marriage in Massachusetts|same-sex marriage]] as a result of [[Goodridge v. Department of Public Health|the decision]] of the [[Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court]] in Boston.<ref name=CNNmarriage>{{cite news| title=Massachusetts court strikes down ban on same-sex marriage| url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/11/18/gay.marriage.reut/| access-date=April 21, 2015| agency=Reuters |website=CNN | date=November 18, 2003 |archive-url=https://archive.ph/ypUJK |archive-date=18 November 2003}}</ref> Many prominent American political dynasties have hailed from the Boston region, including the [[Adams family|Adams]] and [[Kennedy family|Kennedy]] families.

[[Harvard University]] in [[Cambridge, Massachusetts|Cambridge]] is [[List of Colonial Colleges|the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States, founded in 1636]],<ref>{{cite web| title=History of Harvard University| url=http://www.harvard.edu/history| website=[[Harvard University]]| access-date=April 21, 2015 |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502084529/http://www.harvard.edu/history |archive-date=May 2, 2015 }}</ref> with the largest [[financial endowment]] of any university,<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/29/us/harvards-endowment-remains-biggest-of-all.html| title=Harvard's Endowment Remains Biggest of All| author=Tamar Lewin| newspaper=[[The New York Times]]| date=January 28, 2015| access-date=May 9, 2016}}</ref> and whose [[Harvard Law School|Law School]] has spawned a contemporaneous majority of [[United States Supreme Court]] [[United States Supreme Court Justice|Justices]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/03/16/merrick-garland-supreme-court-obama-nominee/81529760/| title=Meet Merrick Garland, Obama's Supreme Court nominee| author=Richard Wolf| newspaper=[[USA Today]]| date=March 16, 2016| access-date=May 9, 2016}}</ref> [[Kendall Square]] in Cambridge has been called "the most innovative square mile on the planet", in reference to the high concentration of [[entrepreneurship|entrepreneurial]] [[startup company|start-ups]] and quality of innovation which have emerged in the vicinity of the square since 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://kendallsquare.mit.edu/|title=Kendall Square Initiative|publisher=MIT|access-date=December 1, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.boston.com/business/innovation/blogs/inside-the-hive/2013/05/02/when-neighborhood-crowned-the-most-innovative-square-mile-the-world-how-you-keep-that-way/B1QxCjswQZZuG21WBdyBWK/blog.html|title=When a neighborhood is crowned the most innovative square mile in the world, how do you keep it that way?|author=Lelund Cheung|publisher=Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC|access-date=December 1, 2016}}</ref> Both Harvard University and the [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]], also in Cambridge, have been ranked among the most highly regarded [[academic institution]]s in the world.<ref name=AcademicRanking2>{{cite web |url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2016/reputation-ranking#!/page/0/length/25/sort_by/rank_label/sort_order/asc/cols/rank_only |title=World Reputation Rankings |website=www.timeshighereducation.com |date= 21 April 2016|access-date=May 9, 2016}}</ref>

==Geography==
=== Boundary definitions ===
====Metropolitan Area====
{{anchor|Metropolitan Area Planning Council}}
The most restrictive definition of the Greater Boston area is the region administered by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council.<ref name="mapc">{{cite web |title=About MAPC |url=http://www.mapc.org/about_mapc.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070221050155/http://www.mapc.org/about_mapc.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date=2007-02-21 |access-date=2007-05-14 |publisher=Metropolitan Area Planning Council}}</ref> The MAPC is a regional planning organization created by the [[General Court of Massachusetts|Massachusetts legislature]] to oversee transportation infrastructure and economic development concerns in the Boston area. The MAPC includes 101 cities and towns that are grouped into eight subregions. These include most of the area within the region's outer circumferential highway, [[I-495 (MA)|I-495]]. In 2013, the population of the MAPC district was 3.2 million, which was 48% of the total population of Massachusetts,<ref name=datacommon>{{cite web | url = http://www.mapc.org/sites/default/files/FINAL%20StrategicPlan%2012-2-14-web.pdf | publisher = Metropolitan Area Planning Council | title = Metropolitan Area Planning Council Strategic Plan 2015–2020 | access-date = 2017-04-22 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161011012416/http://www.mapc.org/sites/default/files/FINAL%20StrategicPlan%2012-2-14-web.pdf | archive-date = 2016-10-11 | url-status = dead }}</ref> in an area of {{convert|1422|sqmi|km2}},<ref name=mapc/> of which 39% is forested and an additional 11% is water, wetland, or other open space.<ref name="mpo-draft2030">{{cite web|url=http://www.ctps.org/bostonmpo/3_programs/1_transportation_plan/plan.html |title=Transportation Plan – Overview |year=2009 |publisher=Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization |access-date=2009-09-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080829235936/http://www.ctps.org/bostonmpo/3_programs/1_transportation_plan/plan.html |archive-date=August 29, 2008 }}</ref>

The cities and towns included in this definition are:<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.mapc.org/metro_area/cities_towns.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070221072504/http://www.mapc.org/metro_area/cities_towns.html | archive-date=February 21, 2007 | title=Metro Area - the Region }}</ref>
{{cmn|colwidth=10em|

*[[Acton, Massachusetts|Acton]]
*[[Arlington, Massachusetts|Arlington]]
*[[Ashland, Massachusetts|Ashland]]
*[[Bedford, Massachusetts|Bedford]]
*[[Bellingham, Massachusetts|Bellingham]]
*[[Belmont, Massachusetts|Belmont]]
*[[Beverly, Massachusetts|Beverly]]
*[[Bolton, Massachusetts|Bolton]]
*[[Boston, Massachusetts|Boston]]
*[[Boxborough, Massachusetts|Boxborough]]
*[[Braintree, Massachusetts|Braintree]]
*[[Brookline, Massachusetts|Brookline]]
*[[Burlington, Massachusetts|Burlington]]
*[[Cambridge, Massachusetts|Cambridge]]
*[[Canton, Massachusetts|Canton]]
*[[Carlisle, Massachusetts|Carlisle]]
*[[Chelsea, Massachusetts|Chelsea]]
*[[Cohasset, Massachusetts|Cohasset]]
*[[Concord, Massachusetts|Concord]]
*[[Danvers, Massachusetts|Danvers]]
*[[Dedham, Massachusetts|Dedham]]
*[[Dover, Massachusetts|Dover]]
*[[Duxbury, Massachusetts|Duxbury]]
*[[Essex, Massachusetts|Essex]]
*[[Everett, Massachusetts|Everett]]
*[[Foxborough, Massachusetts|Foxborough]]
*[[Framingham, Massachusetts|Framingham]]
*[[Franklin, Massachusetts|Franklin]]
*[[Gloucester, Massachusetts|Gloucester]]
*[[Hamilton, Massachusetts|Hamilton]]
*[[Hanover, Massachusetts|Hanover]]
*[[Hingham, Massachusetts|Hingham]]
*[[Holbrook, Massachusetts|Holbrook]]
*[[Holliston, Massachusetts|Holliston]]
*[[Hopkinton, Massachusetts|Hopkinton]]
*[[Hudson, Massachusetts|Hudson]]
*[[Hull, Massachusetts|Hull]]
*[[Ipswich, Massachusetts|Ipswich]]
*[[Lexington, Massachusetts|Lexington]]
*[[Lincoln, Massachusetts|Lincoln]]
*[[Littleton, Massachusetts|Littleton]]
*[[Lynn, Massachusetts|Lynn]]
*[[Lynnfield, Massachusetts|Lynnfield]]
*[[Malden, Massachusetts|Malden]]
*[[Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts|Manchester-by-the-Sea]]
*[[Marblehead, Massachusetts|Marblehead]]
*[[Marlborough, Massachusetts|Marlborough]]
*[[Marshfield, Massachusetts|Marshfield]]
*[[Maynard, Massachusetts|Maynard]]
*[[Medfield, Massachusetts|Medfield]]
*[[Medford, Massachusetts|Medford]]
*[[Medway, Massachusetts|Medway]]
*[[Melrose, Massachusetts|Melrose]]
*[[Middleton, Massachusetts|Middleton]]
*[[Milford, Massachusetts|Milford]]
*[[Millis, Massachusetts|Millis]]
*[[Milton, Massachusetts|Milton]]
*[[Nahant, Massachusetts|Nahant]]
*[[Natick, Massachusetts|Natick]]
*[[Needham, Massachusetts|Needham]]
*[[Newton, Massachusetts|Newton]]
*[[Norfolk, Massachusetts|Norfolk]]
*[[North Reading, Massachusetts|North Reading]]
*[[Norwell, Massachusetts|Norwell]]
*[[Norwood, Massachusetts|Norwood]]
*[[Peabody, Massachusetts|Peabody]]
*[[Pembroke, Massachusetts|Pembroke]]
*[[Quincy, Massachusetts|Quincy]]
*[[Randolph, Massachusetts|Randolph]]
*[[Reading, Massachusetts|Reading]]
*[[Revere, Massachusetts|Revere]]
*[[Rockland, Massachusetts|Rockland]]
*[[Rockport, Massachusetts|Rockport]]
*[[Salem, Massachusetts|Salem]]
*[[Saugus, Massachusetts|Saugus]]
*[[Scituate, Massachusetts|Scituate]]
*[[Sharon, Massachusetts|Sharon]]
*[[Sherborn, Massachusetts|Sherborn]]
*[[Somerville, Massachusetts|Somerville]]
*[[Southborough, Massachusetts|Southborough]]
*[[Stoneham, Massachusetts|Stoneham]]
*[[Stoughton, Massachusetts|Stoughton]]
*[[Stow, Massachusetts|Stow]]
*[[Sudbury, Massachusetts|Sudbury]]
*[[Swampscott, Massachusetts|Swampscott]]
*[[Topsfield, Massachusetts|Topsfield]]
*[[Wakefield, Massachusetts|Wakefield]]
*[[Walpole, Massachusetts|Walpole]]
*[[Waltham, Massachusetts|Waltham]]
*[[Watertown, Massachusetts|Watertown]]
*[[Wayland, Massachusetts|Wayland]]
*[[Wellesley, Massachusetts|Wellesley]]
*[[Wenham, Massachusetts|Wenham]]
*[[Weston, Massachusetts|Weston]]
*[[Westwood, Massachusetts|Westwood]]
*[[Weymouth, Massachusetts|Weymouth]]
*[[Wilmington, Massachusetts|Wilmington]]
*[[Winchester, Massachusetts|Winchester]]
*[[Winthrop, Massachusetts|Winthrop]]
*[[Woburn, Massachusetts|Woburn]]
*[[Wrentham, Massachusetts|Wrentham]]
}}

====New England City and Town Area====
Two definitions are used by the [[United States Census]] to define the '''Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH Metro Area''' or '''Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH Metropolitan NECTA''', which is defined as a [[New England City and Town Area]].<ref name="data.census.gov">{{Cite web |title=Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Boston-Cambridge-Newton,_MA-NH_Metro_Area?g=310XX00US14460 |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metropolitan NECTA |url=https://censusreporter.org/profiles/35000US71650-boston-cambridge-newton-ma-nh-metropolitan-necta/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230730035302/https://censusreporter.org/profiles/35000US71650-boston-cambridge-newton-ma-nh-metropolitan-necta/ |archive-date=2023-07-30 |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref> The metro area definition is based on counties, while the NECTA definition is based on city and town boundaries. Counties included in the county-based definition include:<ref name="data.census.gov"/>

*[[Essex County, Massachusetts|Essex County]], Massachusetts
*[[Middlesex County, Massachusetts|Middlesex County]], Massachusetts
*[[Norfolk County, Massachusetts|Norfolk County]], Massachusetts
*[[Plymouth County, Massachusetts|Plymouth County]], Massachusetts
*[[Suffolk County, Massachusetts|Suffolk County]], Massachusetts
*[[Rockingham County, New Hampshire|Rockingham County]], New Hampshire
*[[Strafford County, New Hampshire|Strafford County]], New Hampshire

The NECTA definition includes all of the communities from the MAPC definition, as well as the [[Merrimack Valley]] communities, parts of southern [[New Hampshire]] (northward to [[Milford, New Hampshire|Milford]] and [[Hampton, New Hampshire|Hampton]], and the [[Taunton, Massachusetts|Taunton]] area.

{{US Census population
| 1850 = 650357
| 1860 = 830998
| 1870 = 978346
| 1880 = 1205439
| 1890 = 1515684
| 1900 = 1890122
| 1910 = 2260762
| 1920 = 2563123
| 1930 = 2866567
| 1940 = 2926650
| 1950 = 3186970
| 1960 = 3516435
| 1970 = 3918092
| 1980 = 3938585
| 1990 = 4133895
| 2000 = 4391344
| 2010 = 4552402
| 2020 = 4941632
| estimate = 5025517
| estyear = 2024
| footnote = [https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-metro-and-micro-statistical-areas-detail.html US Census]
}}

[[File:MIT Charles River aerial.JPG|thumb|upright=1.1|[[Cambridge, Massachusetts|Cambridge]] and [[Boston]] with [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology|MIT]] and [[Kendall Square]] in the foreground and Boston's [[Financial District, Boston|Financial District]] in the background]]

====Combined Statistical Area====
The widest definition of the metropolitan area based on commuting patterns, is defined by the U.S. Census as the '''Boston–Worcester–Providence combined statistical area'''. This area consists of the following counties in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire:<ref name="www2.census.gov">{{Cite web |title=Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT Combined Statistical Area |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/econ/ec2012/csa/EC2012_330M200US148M.pdf |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=census.gov}}</ref>

[[File:Downtown_Providence_Rhode_Island_2008.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|[[Downtown Providence]], [[Rhode Island]] in 2008]]

*Massachusetts
**[[Barnstable County, Massachusetts]]
**[[Bristol County, Massachusetts]]
**[[Essex County, Massachusetts]]
**[[Middlesex County, Massachusetts]]
**[[Norfolk County, Massachusetts]]
**[[Plymouth County, Massachusetts]]
**[[Suffolk County, Massachusetts]]
**[[Worcester County, Massachusetts]]
*New Hampshire
**[[Belknap County, New Hampshire]]
**[[Hillsborough County, New Hampshire]]
**[[Merrimack County, New Hampshire]]
**[[Rockingham County, New Hampshire]]
**[[Strafford County, New Hampshire]]
*Rhode Island 
**[[Bristol County, Rhode Island]]
**[[Kent County, Rhode Island]]
**[[Newport County, Rhode Island]]
**[[Providence County, Rhode Island]]
**[[Washington County, Rhode Island]]

The total population for the extended region was estimated at 8,466,186 at the 2020 census.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}

===Subregions===
*Massachusetts
**[[Central Massachusetts]]
*** [[Montachusett-North County]]
*** [[South County (Massachusetts)|South County]]
*** [[Blackstone Valley|Blackstone River Valley]]
*** [[North Shore (Massachusetts)|North Shore]]
*** [[Cape Ann]]
** [[Merrimack Valley]]
** [[MetroWest]]
** [[Southeastern Massachusetts]]
*** [[Cape Cod]]
** [[South Coast (Massachusetts)|South Coast]]
** [[South Shore (Massachusetts)|South Shore]]
*New Hampshire
**[[Lakes Region (New Hampshire)|Lakes Region]]
**[[Seacoast Region (New Hampshire)|Seacoast]]
*Rhode Island
**[[Blackstone Valley]]
**[[East Bay (Rhode Island)|East Bay]]

===Climate===
The Boston area has [[humid continental climate]]s (''Dfa'' and ''Dfb'' under the [[Köppen climate classification]] system), with high [[humidity]] and [[precipitation]] year-round.
{{Concord, New Hampshire weatherbox}}
{{Boston, MA weatherbox}}
{{Providence, Rhode Island weatherbox}}
{{Clear}}

==Demographics==
[[File:St. Patrick's Day Parade, Scituate MA.jpg|thumb|[[St. Patrick's Day Parade]] in [[Scituate, Massachusetts]], in [[Plymouth County, Massachusetts|Plymouth County]], the municipality with the highest percentage identifying [[Irish diaspora|Irish]] ancestry in the United States, at 47.5% in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishcentral.com/news/the-most-irish-town-in-america-is-named-133427563-237789381.html|title=The most Irish town in America is named using US census data|author=Jane Walsh|publisher=Irish Central|date=November 25, 2015|access-date=May 8, 2016}}</ref> [[Irish American]]s constitute the largest ethnicity in Greater Boston.]]
[[File:Boston Chinatown Paifang.jpg|thumb|[[Chinatown, Boston|Boston's Chinatown]], with its [[paifang]] gate, is home to many [[Chinese Americans in Boston|Chinese]] and also [[Vietnamese Americans in Boston|Vietnamese]] restaurants.]]
[[File:Were_a_gay_and_happy_family_wagon.jpg|thumb|Boston [[gay pride]] march, held annually in June]]

Greater Boston has a sizable Jewish community, estimated at between 210,000 people,<ref name=jewglobe>{{cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/11/10/jewish_population_in_region_rises/|work=The Boston Globe|title=Jewish population in region rises|access-date=2009-11-29|author=Michael Paulson |date=2006-11-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061119043650/http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/11/10/jewish_population_in_region_rises/ |archive-date=19 November 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adherents.com/largecom/com_judaism.html#cities|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991206140346/http://adherents.com/largecom/com_judaism.html#cities|url-status=usurped|archive-date=December 6, 1999|title=Cities with the Largest Jewish Population in the Diaspora|access-date=2009-11-29|publisher=adherents.com}}</ref> and 261,000<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thearda.com/mapsReports/reports/metro/1123_2000.asp|title=Metro Area Membership Report|publisher=The Association of Religion Data Archives|access-date=2009-11-29|archive-date=February 23, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120223180857/http://www.thearda.com/mapsReports/reports/metro/1123_2000.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref> or 5–6% of the Greater Boston metro population, compared with about 2% for the nation as a whole. Contrary to national trends, the number of Jews in Greater Boston has been growing, fueled by the fact that 60% of children in Jewish mixed-faith families are raised Jewish, compared with roughly one in three nationally.<ref name=jewglobe/> The 2020 PRRI Atlas found that 35% of the Boston metro area identified as Protestant while 26% identified as Catholic.<ref name="p491">{{cite web | last=Consulting | first=Epicenter | title=PRRI – American Values Atlas | website=PRRI – American Values Atlas | url=https://ava.prri.org/#religious/2020/MetroAreas/religion/m/2 | access-date=2024-11-02}}</ref>

The City of Boston also has one of the largest [[LGBT]] populations per capita. It ranks fifth of all major cities in the country (behind [[San Francisco]], and slightly behind [[Seattle]], [[Atlanta]], and [[Minneapolis]]), with 12.3% of the city identifying as gay, lesbian, or bisexual.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ABPub/zoom/html/2003432941.html |title=12.9% in Seattle are gay or bisexual, second only to S.F., study says |access-date=2009-05-01 |work=The Seattle Times |publisher=The Seattle Times Company |year=2006}}</ref>
{|class="wikitable sortable"
![[List of counties in Massachusetts|County]]
!2021 Estimate
!2020 Census
!Change
!Area
!Density
|-
|[[Middlesex County, Massachusetts]]
| {{change|invert=on|1614742|1632002}}
|{{convert|817.82|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|{{Pop density|1614742|817.82|sqmi|km2|prec=0}}
|-
|[[Essex County, Massachusetts]]
| {{change|invert=on|807074|809829}}
|{{convert|492.56|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|{{Pop density|807074|492.56|sqmi|km2|prec=0}}
|-
|[[Suffolk County, Massachusetts]]
| {{change|invert=on|771245|797936}}
|{{convert|58.15|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|{{Pop density|771245|58.15|sqmi|km2|prec=0}}
|-
|[[Norfolk County, Massachusetts]]
| {{change|invert=on|724505|725981}}
|{{convert|396.11|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|{{Pop density|724505|396.11|sqmi|km2|prec=0}}
|-
|[[Plymouth County, Massachusetts]]
| {{change|invert=on|533003|530819}}
|{{convert|659.07|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|{{Pop density|533003|659.07|sqmi|km2|prec=0}}
|-
|[[Rockingham County, New Hampshire]]
| {{change|invert=on|316947|314176}}
|{{convert|694.72|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|{{Pop density|316947|694.72|sqmi|km2|prec=0}}
|-
|[[Strafford County, New Hampshire]]
| {{change|invert=on|132416|130889}}
|{{convert|368.97|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|{{Pop density|132416|368.97|sqmi|km2|prec=0}}
|-
|- class=sortbottom style="background:#fbfbbb"
|'''Total'''
| {{change|invert=on|4899932|4941642|bgcolour=#fbfbbb}}
|{{convert|3487.40|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|{{Pop density|4899932|3487.40|sqmi|km2|prec=0}}
|}

The 40 most diverse Census tracts in the Boston CSA:<ref name="nytimes1">{{cite news|url=http://projects.nytimes.com/census/2010/map|title=Mapping the 2010 U.S. Census|newspaper=The New York Times|date=13 December 2010}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible collapsed"
|-
!Rank
!City or neighborhood
!Census tract
!Population
!% White
!% Black
!% Hispanic
!% Asian
!% multiracial or other
|-
|1
|[[Dorchester, Massachusetts|Dorchester]]
|916
|3,138
|12
|32
|15
|26
|14
|-
|2
|[[Pawtucket, Rhode Island|Pawtucket]]
|161
|4,607
|28
|24
|28
|1
|18
|-
|3
|Pawtucket, Rhode Island|Pawtucket
|151
|4,472
|24
|24
|29
|1
|23
|-
|4
|Pawtucket, Rhode Island|Pawtucket
|164
|4,938
|29
|26
|21
|2
|20
|-
|5
|Dorchester, Massachusetts|Dorchester
|912
|3,234
|30
|24
|22
|6
|18
|-
|6
|Dorchester, Massachusetts|Dorchester
|92101
|6,451
|30
|22
|11
|31
|6
|-
|7
|[[Brockton, Massachusetts|Brockton]]
|5115
|4,308
|21
|32
|13
|2
|32
|-
|8
|Brockton, Massachusetts|Brockton
|511
|3,040
|28
|33
|15
|1
|24
|-
|9
|[[New Bedford, Massachusetts|New Bedford]]
|6519
|1,942
|26
|11
|33
|1
|29
|-
|10
|[[Mission Hill, Massachusetts|Mission Hill]]
|80801
|3,885
|32
|20
|35
|10
|2
|-
|11
|Pawtucket, Rhode Island|Pawtucket
|154
|2,258
|35
|20
|35
|0
|11
|-
|12
|Brockton, Massachusetts|Brockton
|5114
|3,716
|24
|36
|14
|2
|23
|-
|13
|Brockton, Massachusetts|Brockton
|5109
|2,531
|24
|36
|16
|1
|24
|-
|14
|Brockton, Massachusetts|Brockton
|5103
|3,798
|23
|38
|15
|2
|24
|-
|15
|Brockton, Massachusetts|Brockton
|5104
|3,706
|19
|38
|15
|2
|25
|-
|16
|Dorchester, Massachusetts|Dorchester
|90901
|3,730
|38
|18
|21
|20
|4
|-
|17
|[[Worcester, Massachusetts|Worcester]]
|733
|3,762
|38
|10
|37
|12
|4
|-
|18
|[[Providence, Rhode Island|Providence]]
|26
|3,098
|23
|22
|39
|10
|6
|-
|19
|[[Malden, Massachusetts|Malden]]
|3415
|4,780
|39
|23
|14
|19
|5
|-
|20
|[[Cambridge, Massachusetts|Cambridge]]
|3524
|2,126
|27
|39
|16
|12
|5
|-
|21
|[[South End, Boston|South End]]
|71202
|3,131
|39
|19
|24
|15
|3
|-
|22
|Brockton, Massachusetts|Brockton
|511301
|5,334
|39
|31
|11
|2
|17
|-
|23
|Providence, Rhode Island|Providence
|15
|2,994
|28
|13
|41
|14
|4
|-
|24
|[[South Boston]]
|61
|3,098
|41
|15
|29
|11
|4
|-
|25
|[[Lynn, Massachusetts|Lynn]]
|2072
|2,939
|30
|12
|42
|13
|2
|-
|26
|Cambridge, Massachusetts|Cambridge
|3549
|6,058
|35
|30
|9
|20
|5
|-
|27
|South Boston
|61101
|2,232
|20
|21
|42
|14
|2
|-
|28
|Brockton, Massachusetts|Brockton
|5116
|7,211
|42
|29
|10
|2
|16
|-
|29
|[[Roxbury, Boston|Roxbury]]
|801
|3,350
|15
|43
|28
|1
|11
|-
|30
|[[Lowell, Massachusetts|Lowell]]
|3114
|5,986
|44
|11
|14
|26
|5
|-
|31
|Brockton, Massachusetts|Brockton
|5108
|6,339
|18
|44
|12
|2
|22
|-
|32
|Mission Hill, Boston|Mission Hill
|81001
|4,890
|45
|14
|19
|19
|2
|-
|33
|Malden, Massachusetts|Malden
|3418
|6,554
|46
|20
|13
|16
|5
|-
|34
|South Boston
|607
|1,893
|19
|20
|46
|10
|5
|-
|35
|Brockton, Massachusetts|Brockton
|5107
|5,656
|46
|31
|8
|4
|11
|-
|36
|Brockton, Massachusetts|Brockton
|5112
|4,849
|47
|26
|11
|1
|13
|-
|37
|[[Somerville, Massachusetts|Somerville]]
|351404
|4,289
|47
|7
|22
|13
|11
|-
|38
|Lynn, Massachusetts|Lynn
|2071
|3,513
|18
|11
|48
|19
|3
|-
|39
|[[Framingham, Massachusetts|Framingham]]
|383101
|4,923
|23
|10
|48
|1
|18
|-
|40
|Mission Hill, Boston|Mission Hill
|811
|4,091
|48
|21
|15
|13
|2
|}

The 40 census tracts in the Boston CSA with the highest percentage of residents who identify as Hispanic or Latino:<ref name="nytimes1"/>
{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible collapsed"
|-
!Rank
!City or Neighborhood
!Census Tract
!Population
!% Hispanic or Latino
|-
|1
|[[Lawrence, Massachusetts|Lawrence]]
|2525
|3,810
|94
|-
|2
|Lawrence, Massachusetts|Lawrence
|2509
|2,193
|93
|-
|3
|Lawrence, Massachusetts|Lawrence
|2504
|3,858
|90
|-
|4
|Lawrence, Massachusetts|Lawrence
|2503
|2,101
|89
|-
|5
|Lawrence, Massachusetts|Lawrence
|2513
|3,721
|89
|-
|6
|Lawrence, Massachusetts|Lawrence
|2512
|1,356
|86
|-
|7
|Lawrence, Massachusetts|Lawrence
|2507
|4,756
|86
|-
|8
|Lawrence, Massachusetts|Lawrence
|251
|1,782
|85
|-
|9
|[[Chelsea, Massachusetts|Chelsea]]
|1602
|4,043
|83
|-
|10
|Lawrence, Massachusetts|Lawrence
|2506
|5,599
|83
|-
|11
|Lawrence, Massachusetts|Lawrence
|2514
|5,053
|77
|-
|12
|Chelsea, Massachusetts|Chelsea
|160101
|7,551
|76
|-
|13
|Lawrence, Massachusetts|Lawrence
|2501
|2,329
|75
|-
|14
|Lawrence, Massachusetts|Lawrence
|2516
|5,977
|74
|-
|15
|Lawrence, Massachusetts|Lawrence
|2511
|2,937
|73
|-
|16
|Lawrence, Massachusetts|Lawrence
|2502
|5,524
|72
|-
|17
|Chelsea, Massachusetts|Chelsea
|1604
|2,716
|71
|-
|18
|Chelsea, Massachusetts|Chelsea
|160501
|5,604
|71
|-
|19
|[[Providence, Rhode Island|Providence]]
|16
|8,540
|70
|-
|20
|Lawrence, Massachusetts|Lawrence
|2515
|6,149
|70
|-
|21
|[[Worcester, Massachusetts|Worcester]]
|732001
|3,327
|67
|-
|22
|[[East Boston]]
|506
|2,063
|67
|-
|23
|East Boston
|502
|5,231
|66
|-
|24
|East Boston
|507
|4,504
|65
|-
|25
|East Boston
|50901
|4,165
|65
|-
|26
|Providence, Rhode Island|Providence
|2
|6,452
|64
|-
|27
|Providence, Rhode Island|Providence
|4
|3,761
|64
|-
|28
|Providence, Rhode Island|Providence
|14
|6,693
|63
|-
|29
|Providence, Rhode Island|Providence
|5
|3,040
|63
|-
|30
|[[Central Falls, Rhode Island|Central Falls]]
|11
|5,534
|63
|-
|31
|Lawrence, Massachusetts|Lawrence
|2508
|6,932
|63
|-
|32
|Chelsea, Massachusetts|Chelsea
|160502
|4,460
|62
|-
|33
|[[Methuen, Massachusetts|Methuen]]
|2524
|4,175
|62
|-
|34
|Providence, Rhode Island|Providence
|17
|3,744
|62
|-
|35
|Providence, Rhode Island|Providence
|18
|7,114
|61
|-
|36
|Central Falls, Rhode Island|Central Falls
|111
|4,176
|61
|-
|37
|East Boston
|50101
|5,115
|61
|-
|38
|Lawrence, Massachusetts|Lawrence
|2517
|5,145
|61
|-
|39
|Providence, Rhode Island|Providence
|3
|7,714
|60
|-
|40
|Central Falls, Rhode Island|Central Falls
|108
|4,763
|59
|}

Census tracts in the Boston CSA with the highest percentage of residents who identify as Black American:<ref name="nytimes1"/>
{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible collapsed"
|-
!Rank
!City or Neighborhood
!Census Tract
!Population
!% Black
|-
|1
|[[Mattapan, Massachusetts|Mattapan]]
|101101
|3,115
|84
|-
|2
|Mattapan, Massachusetts|Mattapan
|101102
|4,396
|84
|-
|3
|Mattapan, Massachusetts|Mattapan
|101001
|5,480
|83
|-
|4
|Mattapan, Massachusetts|Mattapan
|1003
|3,303
|80
|-
|5
|Mattapan, Massachusetts|Mattapan
|1002
|2,787
|78
|-
|6
|Mattapan, Massachusetts|Mattapan
|101002
|4,979
|77
|-
|7
|[[Dorchester, Massachusetts|Dorchester]]
|923
|2,893
|77
|-
|8
|[[Roxbury, Massachusetts|Roxbury]]
|82
|2,815
|74
|-
|9
|Roxbury, Massachusetts|Roxbury
|817
|3,820
|71
|-
|10
|[[Hyde Park, Massachusetts|Hyde Park]]
|1404
|7,650
|71
|-
|11
|Roxbury, Massachusetts|Roxbury
|901
|4,571
|71
|-
|12
|Dorchester, Massachusetts|Dorchester
|919
|3,860
|70
|-
|13
|Dorchester, Massachusetts|Dorchester
|1004
|4,865
|68
|-
|14
|Roxbury, Massachusetts|Roxbury
|819
|3,115
|66
|-
|15
|Roxbury, Massachusetts|Roxbury
|924
|5,277
|66
|-
|16
|Roxbury, Massachusetts|Roxbury
|818
|2,898
|65
|-
|17
|Mattapan, Massachusetts|Mattapan
|1001
|5,510
|64
|-
|18
|Roxbury, Massachusetts|Roxbury
|815
|2,134
|62
|-
|19
|Roxbury, Massachusetts|Roxbury
|821
|5,025
|62
|-
|20
|Roxbury, Massachusetts|Roxbury
|803
|1,769
|60
|-
|21
|Roxbury, Massachusetts|Roxbury
|903
|3,179
|58
|-
|22
|Dorchester, Massachusetts|Dorchester
|1009
|4,072
|58
|-
|23
|Dorchester, Massachusetts|Dorchester
|1005
|5,909
|55
|-
|24
|Hyde Park, Massachusetts|Hyde Park
|1403
|6,382
|54
|-
|25
|Dorchester, Massachusetts|Dorchester
|92
|4,945
|54
|-
|26
|Roxbury, Massachusetts|Roxbury
|902
|2,233
|53
|-
|27
|Dorchester, Massachusetts|Dorchester
|918
|3,452
|52
|-
|28
|Roxbury, Massachusetts|Roxbury
|904
|3,659
|52
|-
|29
|Roxbury, Massachusetts|Roxbury
|814
|3,003
|50
|-
|30
|Roxbury, Massachusetts|Roxbury
|80401
|2,710
|50
|-
|31
|[[Roslindale, Massachusetts|Roslindale]]
|140106
|1,901
|49
|-
|32
|Dorchester, Massachusetts|Dorchester
|917
|3,069
|47
|-
|33
|Dorchester, Massachusetts|Dorchester
|914
|2,741
|46
|-
|34
|[[Brockton, Massachusetts|Brockton]]
|5108
|6,339
|44
|-
|35
|Roxbury, Massachusetts|Roxbury
|805
|3,096
|44
|-
|36
|Roxbury, Massachusetts|Roxbury
|801
|3,350
|43
|-
|37
|[[Randolph, Massachusetts|Randolph]]
|420302
|7,703
|42
|-
|38
|Roxbury, Massachusetts|Roxbury
|813
|4,760
|42
|-
|39
|Dorchester, Massachusetts|Dorchester
|922
|3,349
|42
|-
|40
|Randolph, Massachusetts|Randolph
|420202
|6,303
|40
|}

Census tracts in the Boston CSA with the highest percentage of residents who identify as Asian American:<ref name="nytimes1"/>
{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible collapsed"
|-
!Rank
!City or Neighborhood
!Census Tract
!Population
!% Asian
|-
|1
|[[South End, Boston|South End]]
|70402
|1,723
|70
|-
|2
|[[Chinatown, Boston|Chinatown]]
|702
|5,218
|58
|-
|3
|[[Lowell, Massachusetts|Lowell]]
|3112
|3,267
|55
|-
|4
|Lowell, Massachusetts|Lowell
|3118
|3,513
|54
|-
|5
|Lowell, Massachusetts|Lowell
|3117
|5,098
|47
|-
|6
|[[Quincy, Massachusetts|Quincy]]
|417502
|4,639
|45
|-
|7
|Quincy, Massachusetts|Quincy
|4172
|8,182
|44
|-
|8
|[[Malden, Massachusetts|Malden]]
|3413
|5,439
|39
|-
|9
|Lowell, Massachusetts|Lowell
|3113
|4,057
|38
|-
|10
|[[Westborough, Massachusetts|Westborough]]
|742402
|3,026
|38
|-
|11
|Quincy, Massachusetts|Quincy
|417501
|5,004
|37
|-
|12
|[[Cambridge, Massachusetts|Cambridge]]
|353102
|5,040
|36
|-
|13
|Quincy, Massachusetts|Quincy
|417802
|3,150
|35
|-
|14
|Lowell, Massachusetts|Lowell
|3111
|2,410
|34
|-
|15
|Lowell, Massachusetts|Lowell
|3115
|2,974
|33
|-
|16
|[[Dorchester, Massachusetts|Dorchester]]
|92101
|6,451
|31
|-
|17
|Quincy, Massachusetts|Quincy
|417601
|5,196
|30
|-
|18
|[[Fenway–Kenmore]]
|10103
|4,569
|29
|-
|19
|Quincy, Massachusetts|Quincy
|4180002
|7,020
|28
|-
|20
|Quincy, Massachusetts|Quincy
|417602
|5,155
|28
|-
|21
|Chinatown, Boston|Chinatown/[[Leather District, Boston|Leather District]]/[[Downtown Crossing|Downtown]]
|70101
|5,902
|27
|-
|22
|Cambridge, Massachusetts|Cambridge
|3539
|7,090
|27
|-
|23
|Lowell, Massachusetts|Lowell
|3114
|5,986
|26
|-
|24
|Lowell, Massachusetts|Lowell
|3116
|5,295
|26
|-
|25
|Lowell, Massachusetts|Lowell
|3107
|4,441
|26
|-
|26
|Quincy, Massachusetts|Quincy
|4171
|4,264
|26
|-
|27
|Dorchester, Massachusetts|Dorchester
|916
|3,138
|26
|-
|28
|Malden, Massachusetts|Malden
|3412
|6,857
|25
|-
|29
|Malden, Massachusetts|Malden
|341102
|4,564
|25
|-
|30
|Malden, Massachusetts|Malden
|341101
|3,675
|25
|-
|31
|Acton, Massachusetts|Acton
|363102
|5,909
|25
|-
|32
|Dorchester, Massachusetts|Dorchester
|911
|4,861
|25
|-
|33
|[[Allston-Brighton]]
|703
|2,791
|24
|-
|34
|[[Lexington, Massachusetts|Lexington]]
|3583
|5,526
|24
|-
|35
|Quincy, Massachusetts|Quincy
|418004
|4,280
|23
|-
|36
|[[Brookline, Massachusetts|Brookline]]
|4009
|3,865
|22
|-
|37
|Cambridge, Massachusetts|Cambridge
|3532
|4,897
|22
|-
|38
|Cambridge, Massachusetts|Cambridge
|352101
|1,654
|22
|-
|39
|[[Shrewsbury, Massachusetts|Shrewsbury]]
|7391
|9,557
|22
|-
|40
|Westborough, Massachusetts|Westborough
|7612
|5,780
|22
|}

Census tracts in the Boston CSA with the highest percentage of residents who identify as Irish American:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usa.com/rank/irish-as-first-ancestry-population-percentage--rank-of-census-tract-near--02176.htm?yr=3000&dis=100&wist=&plow=&phigh=|title=Irish as First Ancestry Population Percentage Rank of Census Tract within 100 miles of Zip Code 02176|publisher=Usa.com|access-date=4 January 2015}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|-
!City or Neighborhood
!Census Tract
!Population
!% Irish
|-
|[[South Boston]]
|60101
|3,106
|68
|-
|[[Milton, Massachusetts|Milton]]
|416400
|6,069
|63
|-
|[[Charlestown, Massachusetts|Charlestown]]
|040401
|2,439
|63
|-
|[[Dorchester, Massachusetts|Dorchester]]
|1007
|4,322
|63
|-
|South Boston
|608
|3,964
|62
|-
|South Boston
|604
|4,904
|61
|-
|Milton, Massachusetts|Milton
|416101
|5,724
|58
|-
|[[Marshfield, Massachusetts|Marshfield]]
|506204
|4,886
|57
|-
|[[Weymouth, Massachusetts|Weymouth]]
|422100
|5,293
|57
|-
|[[Quincy, Massachusetts|Quincy]]
|417801
|5,443
|55
|-
|[[Hull, Massachusetts|Hull]]
|500101
|3,702
|55
|-
|[[Scituate, Massachusetts|Scituate]]
|505101
|3,860
|55
|-
|[[West Roxbury, Massachusetts|West Roxbury]]
|130402
|4,637
|54
|-
|Quincy, Massachusetts|Quincy
|417400
|2,566
|53
|-
|South Boston
|60301
|3,076
|52
|-
|[[Abington, Massachusetts|Abington]]
|520100
|6,458
|52
|-
|[[Braintree, Massachusetts|Braintree]]
|419200
|5,002
|52
|-
|Braintree, Massachusetts|Braintree
|419600
|6,766
|52
|-
|Abington, Massachusetts|Abington
|520201
|3,952
|52
|-
|[[Pembroke, Massachusetts|Pembroke]]
|508200
|6,031
|52
|}

Census tracts in the Boston CSA with the highest percentage of residents who identify as Italian American:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usa.com/rank/italian-as-first-ancestry-population-percentage--rank-of-census-tract-near--02176.htm?yr=3000&dis=100&wist=&plow=&phigh=|title=Italian as First Ancestry Population Percentage Rank of Census Tract within 100 miles of Zip Code 02176|publisher=Usa.com|access-date=4 January 2015}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|-
!City or Neighborhood
!Census Tract
!Population
!% Italian
|-
|[[Johnston, Rhode Island|Johnston]]
|012402
|2,486
|63
|-
|[[Cranston, Rhode Island|Cranston]]
|014501
|5,179
|58
|-
|Johnston, Rhode Island|Johnston
|012500
|5,490
|57
|-
|Johnston, Rhode Island|Johnston
|012200
|7,187
|57
|-
|[[Providence, Rhode Island|Providence]]
|011902
|4,780
|55
|-
|Cranston, Rhode Island|Cranston
|014800
|5,591
|55
|-
|[[Saugus, Massachusetts|Saugus]]
|208102
|3,343
|51
|-
|Cranston, Rhode Island|Cranston
|014300
|4,716
|49
|-
|Cranston, Rhode Island|Cranston
|014600
|6,991
|49
|-
|Cranston, Rhode Island|Cranston
|014502
|4,096
|48
|-
|Johnston, Rhode Island|Johnston
|012300
|6,656
|48
|-
|Johnston, Rhode Island|Johnston
|012401
|6,950
|48
|-
|[[Stoneham, Massachusetts|Stoneham]]
|337102
|5,042
|45
|-
|Stoneham, Massachusetts|Stoneham
|337202
|4,849
|45
|-
|[[Revere, Massachusetts|Revere]]
|170200
|4,564
|45
|-
|Revere, Massachusetts|Revere
|170502
|2,818
|43
|-
|Cranston, Rhode Island|Cranston
|013900
|2,992
|43
|-
|Revere, Massachusetts|Revere
|170300
|9,040
|43
|-
|[[North Providence, Rhode Island|North Providence]]
|012103
|2,965
|43
|}

Census tracts in the Boston CSA with the highest percentage of residents who identify as Portuguese American:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usa.com/rank/portuguese-as-first-ancestry-population-percentage--rank-of-census-tract-near--02176.htm?yr=3000&dis=100&wist=&plow=&phigh=|title=Portuguese as First Ancestry Population Percentage Rank of Census Tract within 100 miles of Zip Code 02176|website=www.usa.com |access-date=2 February 2022}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|-
!City or Neighborhood
!Census Tract
!Population
!% Portuguese
|-
|[[New Bedford, Massachusetts|New Bedford]]
|652800
|3,277
|72
|-
|[[Fall River, Massachusetts|Fall River]]
|640600
|4,450
|69
|-
|[[Dartmouth, Massachusetts|Dartmouth]]
|653203
|5,005
|65
|-
|New Bedford, Massachusetts|New Bedford
|652400
|2,664
|64
|-
|New Bedford, Massachusetts|New Bedford
|652000
|2,676
|62
|-
|Fall River, Massachusetts|Fall River
|640500
|5,165
|60
|-
|Fall River, Massachusetts|Fall River
|641200
|2,803
|59
|-
|New Bedford, Massachusetts|New Bedford
|650500
|3,141
|58
|-
|Fall River, Massachusetts|Fall River
|640901
|5,071
|58
|-
|New Bedford, Massachusetts|New Bedford
|650400
|3,773
|57
|-
|New Bedford, Massachusetts|New Bedford
|652500
|2,589
|56
|-
|[[East Providence, Rhode Island|East Providence]]
|010400
|6,661
|55
|-
|New Bedford, Massachusetts|New Bedford
|652300
|2,870
|54
|-
|Fall River, Massachusetts|Fall River
|641000
|2,419
|54
|-
|Fall River, Massachusetts|Fall River
|640300
|3,693
|53
|-
|[[Westport, Massachusetts|Westport]]
|646101
|7,356
|53
|-
|Fall River, Massachusetts|Fall River
|640700
|2,900
|53
|-
|Fall River, Massachusetts|Fall River
|640400
|2,682
|53
|-
|New Bedford, Massachusetts|New Bedford
|650101
|5,753
|53
|-
|Fall River, Massachusetts|Fall River
|640100
|5,358
|52
|}

Census tracts in the Boston CSA with French or French Canadian listed as first ancestry:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usa.com/rank/French-as-first-ancestry-population-percentage--rank-of-census-tract-near--02176.htm?yr=3000&dis=100&wist=&plow=&phigh=|title=French as First Ancestry Population Percentage Rank of Census Tract within 100 miles of Zip Code 02176|publisher=Usa.com|access-date=4 January 2015}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|-
!City or Neighborhood
!Census Tract
!Population
!% French
|-
|[[Woonsocket, Rhode Island|Woonsocket]]
|018500
|2,831
|66
|-
|Woonsocket, Rhode Island|Woonsocket
|017700
|3,518
|61
|-
|Woonsocket, Rhode Island|Woonsocket
|017500
|3,128
|59
|-
|Woonsocket, Rhode Island|Woonsocket
|017800
|2,514
|58
|-
|[[Burrillville, Rhode Island|Burrillville]]
|013001
|3,479
|56
|-
|[[North Smithfield, Rhode Island|North Smithfield]]
|012802
|2,391
|54
|-
|North Smithfield, Rhode Island|North Smithfield
|012803
|4,776
|53
|-
|Burrillville, Rhode Island|Burrillville
|013002
|7,539
|53
|-
|North Smithfield, Rhode Island|North Smithfield
|012801
|4,800
|52
|-
|[[Manchester, New Hampshire|Manchester]]
|002300
|3,758
|52
|-
|Woonsocket, Rhode Island|Woonsocket
|017900
|3,049
|51
|-
|Burrillville, Rhode Island|Burrillville
|012900
|4,937
|50
|-
|Manchester, New Hampshire|Manchester
|000202
|2,297
|49
|-
|Manchester, New Hampshire|Manchester
|002100
|4,782
|49
|-
|Woonsocket, Rhode Island|Woonsocket
|017600
|2,560
|49
|-
|Manchester, New Hampshire|Manchester
|002600
|5,746
|48
|-
|Manchester, New Hampshire|Manchester
|002200
|3,232
|47
|-
|Woonsocket, Rhode Island|Woonsocket
|018400
|6,527
|47
|-
|[[Blackstone, Massachusetts|Blackstone]]
|747101
|5,110
|47
|-
|Woonsocket, Rhode Island|Woonsocket
|018000
|2,680
|46
|}

===Largest cities and towns===
Cities and towns with a population over 50,000 as of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]] include:<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://data.census.gov| title=Explore Census Data| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=February 3, 2022}}</ref><ref name="US Census CT">{{Cite web| url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/SF1DP1/0400000US09.06000| title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (DP-1): Connecticut| work=American Factfinder| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=December 18, 2018| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213161321/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/SF1DP1/0400000US09.06000| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="US Census MA">{{Cite web| url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/SF1DP1/0400000US25.06000| title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (DP-1): Massachusetts| work=American Factfinder| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=December 18, 2018| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213155420/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/SF1DP1/0400000US25.06000| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="US Census NH">{{Cite web| url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/SF1DP1/0400000US33.06000| title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (DP-1): New Hampshire| work=American Factfinder| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=December 18, 2018| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213160941/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/SF1DP1/0400000US33.06000| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="US Census RI">{{Cite web| url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/SF1DP1/0400000US44.06000| title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (DP-1): Rhode Island| work=American Factfinder| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=December 18, 2018| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213161143/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/SF1DP1/0400000US44.06000| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|'''State capital'''
|-
|style="background:#c0dbf7"|State largest city
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Rank
!Name
!State
!Population (2020)
!Population (2010)
!Change
|-
|1.
|style="background:#c0dbf7"|'''[[Boston]]'''
| rowspan="2" |{{Flag|Massachusetts}}
| {{change|invert=on|675,647|617,594}}
|-
|2.
|[[Worcester, Massachusetts|Worcester]]
| {{change|invert=on|206,518|181,045}}
|-
|3.
|style="background:#c0dbf7"|'''[[Providence, Rhode Island|Providence]]'''
|{{Flag|Rhode Island}}
| {{change|invert=on|190,934|178,042}}
|-
|4.
|[[Cambridge, Massachusetts|Cambridge]]
|{{Flag|Massachusetts}}
| {{change|invert=on|118,403|105,162}}
|-
|5.
|style="background:#c0dbf7"|[[Manchester, New Hampshire|Manchester]]
|{{Flag|New Hampshire}}
| {{change|invert=on|115,644|109,565}}
|-
|6.
|[[Lowell, Massachusetts|Lowell]]
| rowspan="6" |{{Flag|Massachusetts}}

| {{change|invert=on|115,554|106,519}}
|-
|7.
|[[Brockton, Massachusetts|Brockton]]
| {{change|invert=on|105,643|93,810}}
|-
|8.
|[[Quincy, Massachusetts|Quincy]]
| {{change|invert=on|101,636|92,271}}
|-
|9.
|[[Lynn, Massachusetts|Lynn]]
| {{change|invert=on|101,253|90,329}}
|-
|10.
|[[New Bedford, Massachusetts|New Bedford]]
| {{change|invert=on|101,079|95,072}}
|-
|11.
|[[Fall River, Massachusetts|Fall River]]
| {{change|invert=on|94,000|88,857}}
|-
|12.
|[[Nashua, New Hampshire|Nashua]]
|{{Flag|New Hampshire}}
| {{change|invert=on|91,322|86,494}}
|-
|13.
|[[Lawrence, Massachusetts|Lawrence]]
| rowspan="2" |{{Flag|Massachusetts}}
| {{change|invert=on|89,143|76,377}}
|-
|14.
|[[Newton, Massachusetts|Newton]]
| {{change|invert=on|88,923|85,146}}
|-
|15.
|[[Cranston, Rhode Island|Cranston]]
| rowspan="2" |{{Flag|Rhode Island}}
| {{change|invert=on|82,934|80,387}}
|-
|16.
|[[Warwick, Rhode Island|Warwick]]
| {{change|invert=on|82,823|82,672}}
|-
|17.
|[[Somerville, Massachusetts|Somerville]]
|{{Flag|Massachusetts}}
| {{change|invert=on|81,045|75,754}}
|-
|18.
|[[Pawtucket, Rhode Island|Pawtucket]]
|{{Flag|Rhode Island}}
| {{change|invert=on|75,604|71,148}}
|-
|19.
|[[Framingham, Massachusetts|Framingham]]
| rowspan="12" |{{Flag|Massachusetts}}

| {{change|invert=on|72,362|68,318}}
|-
|20.
|[[Haverhill, Massachusetts|Haverhill]]
| {{change|invert=on|67,787|60,879}}
|-
|21.
|[[Malden, Massachusetts|Malden]]
| {{change|invert=on|66,263|59,450}}
|-
|22.
|[[Waltham, Massachusetts|Waltham]]
| {{change|invert=on|65,218|60,632}}
|-
|23.
|[[Brookline, Massachusetts|Brookline]]
| {{change|invert=on|63,191|58,732}}
|-
|24.
|[[Revere, Massachusetts|Revere]]
| {{change|invert=on|62,186|51,755}}
|-
|25.
|[[Plymouth, Massachusetts|Plymouth]]
| {{change|invert=on|61,217|56,468}}
|-
|26.
|[[Medford, Massachusetts|Medford]]
| {{change|invert=on|59,659|56,173}}
|-
|27.
|[[Taunton, Massachusetts|Taunton]]
| {{change|invert=on|59,408|55,874}}
|-
|28.
|[[Weymouth, Massachusetts|Weymouth]]
| {{change|invert=on|57,437|53,743}}
|-
|29.
|[[Peabody, Massachusetts|Peabody]]
| {{change|invert=on|54,481|51,251}}
|-
|30.
|[[Methuen, Massachusetts|Methuen]]
| {{change|invert=on|53,059|47,255}}
|}

==Education==
{{See also
|Boston, Massachusetts#Education
|List of colleges and universities in metropolitan Boston
|List of colleges and universities in Massachusetts}}
[[File:Widener_Library.jpg|thumb|Harvard University, a leading global university, is located in Cambridge, MA in Greater Boston]]
A long established center of higher education, the area includes many community colleges, two-year schools, and internationally prominent undergraduate and graduate institutions. The graduate schools include highly regarded schools of law, medicine, business, technology, international relations, public health, education, and religion. Greater Boston contains seven [[List of research universities in the United States|R1 Research Institutions]] as per the [[Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education]]. This is, by far, the highest number of such institutions in a single [[Metropolitan Statistical Area]] in the [[United States]].

{{Colleges_and_universities_in_metropolitan Boston}}

==Economy==
{{further|List of Massachusetts locations by per capita income}}

==={{anchor|Major companies}}Major companies===
<!-- This section is linked from Boston, Massachusetts -->
References:<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/business/globe/globe100/globe_100_2009/mass_based_employers/ |work=The Boston Globe |title=2009 Globe 100 – Top Massachusetts-based employers |date=2010-01-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090522112709/http://www.boston.com/business/globe/globe100/globe_100_2009/mass_based_employers/ |archive-date=May 22, 2009 }}</ref><ref>[http://ucso.indiana.edu/cgi-bin/Students/CareerResources/CityScapes/Boston.pdf] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090310130608/http://ucso.indiana.edu/cgi-bin/Students/CareerResources/CityScapes/Boston.pdf|date=March 10, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.inc.com/inc5000/list/2011/state/ma/|title=Top Companies in Massachusetts on the Inc. 5000 - Inc.com|publisher=Inc.com|access-date=4 January 2015}}</ref><ref>[http://www.boston.com/business/globe/globe100/] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071010004102/http://www.boston.com/business/globe/globe100/|date=October 10, 2007}}</ref>
{{col-begin|colwidth=12em}}
{{col-break}}
* [[Abbott Laboratories]], in [[Worcester, Massachusetts|Worcester]] (pharmaceutical laboratory)
* [[Advanced Cell Technology]], in Worcester (research laboratory)
* [[Akamai Technologies]], in [[Cambridge, Massachusetts|Cambridge]] (headquarters)
* [[AMD]], in [[Boxborough, Massachusetts|Boxborough]]
* [[American Tower Corporation|American Tower]] (headquarters)
* [[Analog Devices]], in [[Norwood, Massachusetts|Norwood]]
* [[AstraZeneca]], in [[Waltham, Massachusetts|Waltham]] (R&D)
* [[Athenahealth]], in [[Watertown, Massachusetts]] (headquarters)
* [[Atlantic Broadband]], in Quincy
* [[Atlantic Tele-Network]], in Beverly
* [[Au Bon Pain]] (headquarters)
* [[Avid Technology|Avid Technology, Inc]], in [[Burlington, Massachusetts|Burlington]] (headquarters)
* [[Azimuth Systems]], in [[Acton, Massachusetts|Acton]]
* [[Bain & Company]], in Boston (headquarters)
* [[Bain Capital]], in Boston (headquarters)
* [[BBN Technologies]], in Cambridge (headquarters)
* [[Bertucci's|Bertucci's Corporation]], in [[Northborough, Massachusetts|Northborough]] (headquarters)
* [[Biocell Center]], in [[Medford, Massachusetts|Medford]] (North American headquarters)
* [[Biogen Idec]], in [[Weston, Massachusetts|Weston]] (North American headquarters)
* [[BJ's Wholesale Club|BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc.]], in [[Westborough, Massachusetts|Westborough]] (headquarters)
* [[Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts]] (headquarters)
* [[Bose Corporation]], in [[Framingham, Massachusetts|Framingham]] (headquarters)
* [[Boston Consulting Group]] (headquarters)
* [[Boston Properties|Boston Properties, Inc.]], in Boston (headquarters)
* [[Boston Scientific|Boston Scientific Corporation]], in Marlborough (headquarters) 
* [[Carl Zeiss AG|Carl Zeiss SMT]], in [[Peabody, Massachusetts|Peabody]] (North American headquarters)
* [[Charles River Laboratories]], in [[Wilmington, Massachusetts|Wilmington]] (headquarters)
* [[Cisco Systems]], in Boxborough
* [[Constant Contact]], in Waltham
* [[Converse (shoe company)|Converse]] (headquarters)
* [[David Clark Company]], in Worcester (manufacturer of space suits)
* [[Dell Technologies]], in [[Hopkinton, Massachusetts|Hopkinton]] (headquarters)
* [[Diebold]], in Marlborough (regional headquarters)
* [[Dunkin' Brands]], in [[Canton, Massachusetts|Canton]] (headquarters)
* [[Evergreen Solar]], in Marlborough (headquarters)
* [[Facebook]], in Cambridge
* [[Fidelity Investments]] (headquarters)
* [[General Electric Aviation]], in [[Lynn, Massachusetts|Lynn]]
* [[General Electric]] (headquarters)
* [[The Gillette Company]], now owned by [[Procter & Gamble]] (headquarters)
* [[Global Partners]], in [[Waltham, Massachusetts|Waltham]] (headquarters)
* [[Google|Google Inc.]], in Cambridge
* [[Haemonetics]], in [[Braintree, Massachusetts|Braintree]]
* [[Hewlett-Packard]], in Marlborough (regional headquarters)
* [[Houghton Mifflin Harcourt]] (headquarters)
* [[HourlyNerd]], in Boston
* [[IBM]], in Waltham, Cambridge and [[Littleton, Massachusetts|Littleton]]
* [[Innerscope Research]], in Boston (headquarters)
* [[Intel Corporation]], in [[Hudson, Massachusetts|Hudson]]
* [[InterSystems | InterSystems Corporation]], in Cambridge (headquarters)
* [[iRobot|iRobot Corporation]], in [[Burlington, Massachusetts|Burlington]] (headquarters)
* [[John Hancock Insurance|John Hancock Financial Services, Inc]], now the United States division of Canada's [[Manulife Financial]]
* [[Keurig]], in Burlington (headquarters)
* [[Kronos Incorporated]], in [[Chelmsford, Massachusetts]] (headquarters)
* [[Liberty Mutual]] (headquarters)
* [[Lionbridge]], in Waltham (US headquarters)
* [[LogMeIn]] (headquarters)
* [[LPL Financial]] (headquarters)
* [[The MathWorks]], in Natick
* [[Marshalls]], Inc, in Framingham (headquarters)
* [[Meditech]], in [[Westwood, Massachusetts|Westwood]] (headquarters)
* [[Microsoft|Microsoft Corporation]], in Cambridge
* [[Millennium Pharmaceuticals]], in Cambridge
* [[MITRE Corporation]], in Bedford (headquarters)
* [[Moderna]], in Cambridge (headquarters)
* [[Motorola Solutions, Inc.]], in [[Somerville, Massachusetts|Somerville]]
* [[National Amusements]], in Norwood (headquarters)
* [[National Grid plc|National Grid]], in Waltham (US headquarters)
* [[NetApp Inc.|NetApp Inc]], in Waltham
* [[New Balance|New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc.]] (headquarters)
* [[Nokia]], in Burlington
* [[Novartis]], in [[Cambridge (Massachusetts)|Cambridge]] (US headquarters)
* [[Novell, Inc.]], in Waltham
* [[Nuance Communications]], in Burlington
* [[Oracle Corporation]] in Burlington
* [[Osram Sylvania]] in [[Danvers, Massachusetts|Danvers]] (headquarters)
* [[OutStart, Inc.]], in Boston (headquarters)
* [[Partners HealthCare]] (moving to [[Assembly Row]], Somerville)
* [[Philips Healthcare]], in [[Andover, Massachusetts|Andover]] (global headquarters) and Framingham
* [[Philips Lighting]] in Burlington
* [[Philips|Philips Electronics North America]], in Andover (regional headquarters)
* [[Progress Software]] in [[Bedford, Massachusetts|Bedford]] (headquarters)
* [[PTC (software company)|PTC]] (headquarters)
* [[Puma (brand)|Puma]] (North American headquarters, moving to [[Assembly Row]], Somerville)
* [[Putnam Investments]] (headquarters)
* [[Rapid7]]
* [[Raytheon]], in Waltham (headquarters)
* [[Red Hat]], in [[Westford, Massachusetts|Westford]] (engineering headquarters)
* [[Reebok]] (US headquarters)
* [[Reed & Barton]] in [[Taunton, Massachusetts|Taunton]] (factory and headquarters)
* [[Roku]]
* [[Saint-Gobain]], in Worcester
* [[Sapient Corporation]] (headquarters)
* [[Schneider Electric]], in [[Andover, Massachusetts]]
* [[Sepracor|Sepracor, Inc.]], in Marlborough (headquarters)
* [[SharkNinja]], in [[Needham, Massachusetts|Needham]] (headquarters)
* [[Sonesta International Hotels]] Corp. (headquarters)
* [[Staples, Inc.]], in [[Framingham, Massachusetts|Framingham]] (headquarters)
* [[State Street Corporation]] (headquarters)
* [[Steward Health Care System]] (headquarters)
* [[Stop & Shop]], in [[Quincy, Massachusetts|Quincy]] (headquarters)
* [[SunSetter Awnings|SunSetter Products, LP]], in [[Malden, Massachusetts|Malden]] (headquarters)
* [[Teradyne]], in [[North Reading, Massachusetts|North Reading]] (headquarters)
* [[Thermo Fisher Scientific]], in Waltham (headquarters)
* [[Threat Stack]] (headquarters)
* [[TJX Corporation]], in Framingham (headquarters)
* [[Toast, Inc.]] (headquarters)
* [[TripAdvisor|TripAdvisor, LLC]], in [[Needham, Massachusetts|Needham]] (headquarters)
* [[Twitter]], in Cambridge
* [[UniFirst]], in Wilmington (headquarters)
* [[Vertex Pharmaceuticals]] (headquarters)
* [[Vistaprint]], in [[Lexington, Massachusetts|Lexington]] (North American headquarters)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.vistaprint.com/facility/us-operations-and-north-american-business-unit-head-office |title=Who We Are & About Us - Vistaprint |work=News.vistaprint.com |access-date=4 January 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018182241/http://news.vistaprint.com/facility/us-operations-and-north-american-business-unit-head-office |archive-date=18 October 2014 }}</ref>
* [[Wayfair]] (headquarters)
* [[WB Mason]], in [[Brockton, Massachusetts|Brockton]] (headquarters)
* [[Wellington Management Company]] (headquarters)
* [[Wolverine World Wide]], in [[Waltham, Massachusetts]] (headquarters for [[Keds]], [[Saucony]], [[Sperry Top-Sider]], and [[Stride Rite Corporation|Stride Rite]])<ref>{{cite news |last1=Goodison |first1=Donna |title=Wolverine strides into Waltham |url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2016/07/20/wolverine-strides-into-waltham/ |access-date=17 May 2022 |work=Boston Herald |date=20 July 2016}}</ref>
* [[Wyman-Gordon]], in [[Grafton, Massachusetts|Grafton]] (complex metal components and products)
* [[Zipcar]] (headquarters)
{{col-end}}

==Transportation==
{{See also|Transportation in Boston}}

===Interstates===
* {{jct|state=MA|I|90}}
* {{jct|state=MA|I|93}}
* {{jct|state=MA|I|95}}
* {{jct|state=MA|I|190}}
* {{jct|state=MA|I|195}}
* {{jct|state=MA|I|290}}
* {{jct|state=NH|I|293}}
* {{jct|state=RI|I|295}}
* {{jct|state=CT|I|395}}
* {{jct|state=MA|I|495}}

===U.S. Routes===
* {{jct|country=USA|US|1}}
* {{jct|country=USA|US|3}}
* {{jct|country=USA|US|6}} 
* {{jct|country=USA|US|20}}
* {{jct|country=USA|US|44}}

===State Highways===
* {{jct|state=MA|MA|1A}}
* {{jct|state=MA|MA|2}}
* {{jct|state=MA|MA|2A}}
* {{jct|state=MA|MA|3}}
* {{jct|state=MA|MA|3A}}
* {{jct|state=MA|MA|4}}
* {{jct|state=MA|MA|9}}
* {{jct|state=MA|MA|16}}
* {{jct|state=MA|MA|18}}
* {{jct|state=MA|MA|24}}
* {{jct|state=MA|MA|25}}
* {{jct|state=MA|MA|27}}
* {{jct|state=MA|MA|28}}
* {{jct|state=MA|MA|30}}
* {{jct|state=MA|MA|38}}
* {{jct|state=MA|MA|53}}
* {{jct|state=MA|MA|58}}
* {{jct|state=MA|MA|60}}
* {{jct|state=MA|MA|62}}
* {{jct|state=MA|MA|97}}
* {{jct|state=MA|MA|106}}
* {{jct|state=MA|MA|109}}
* {{jct|state=MA|MA|110}}
* {{jct|state=MA|MA|113}}
* {{jct|state=MA|MA|114}}
* {{jct|state=MA|MA|115}}
* {{jct|state=MA|MA|117}}
* {{jct|state=MA|MA|122}}
* {{jct|state=MA|MA|123}}
* {{jct|state=MA|MA|125}}
* {{jct|state=MA|MA|126}}
* {{jct|state=MA|MA|128}}
* {{jct|state=MA|MA|129}}
* {{jct|state=MA|MA|133}}
* {{jct|state=MA|MA|135}}
* {{jct|state=MA|MA|138}}
* {{jct|state=MA|MA|139}}
* {{jct|state=MA|MA|140}}
* {{jct|state=MA|MA|146}}
* {{jct|state=MA|MA|213}}
* {{jct|state=MA|MA|225}}

===Bridges and tunnels===
* [[Boston University Bridge]], carrying [[Route 2]]
*[[Callahan Tunnel]], carrying [[Massachusetts Route 1A|Route 1A]] Northbound
* [[Charles M. Braga Jr. Memorial Bridge]], carrying [[Interstate 195 (Rhode Island–Massachusetts)|Interstate 195]]
* [[Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge]], carrying [[Rhode Island Route 138|Route 138]]
* [[Fore River Bridge]], carrying [[Massachusetts Route 3A]]
*[[Harvard Bridge]], carrying [[List of highways numbered 2A|Route 2A]]
*[[Longfellow Bridge]], carrying [[Massachusetts Route 3]], [[US Route 3]], and the [[Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority|MBTA]] [[Red Line (MBTA)|Red Line]]
*[[William Felton "Bill" Russell Bridge]], carrying [[Route 99]]
* [[Sumner Tunnel]], carrying [[Massachusetts Route 1A|Route 1A]] Southbound
* [[Ted Williams Tunnel]], carrying [[Interstate 90|I-90]]
* [[Thomas P. O'Neill Jr. Tunnel]], carrying [[Interstate 93|I-93]] and Routes 1 and 3 concurrently
* [[Tobin Bridge]], carrying [[US Route 1|Route 1]]
* [[Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge|Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge]], carrying [[Interstate 93]], [[US Route 1|Route 1]] and [[Massachusetts Route 3|Route 3]] concurrently

===Airports===
* [[Logan International Airport]] in Boston, {{convert|3|mi}} northeast of downtown Boston, New England's largest transportation center
* [[Manchester–Boston Regional Airport]] in [[Manchester, New Hampshire]]
* [[T. F. Green Airport]] in [[Warwick, Rhode Island]]
* [[Hanscom Field]] in [[Bedford, Massachusetts|Bedford]]
* [[Norwood Memorial Airport]]
* [[Worcester Regional Airport]]
* [[Beverly Regional Airport]]
* [[Lawrence Municipal Airport (Massachusetts)|Lawrence Municipal Airport]]

===Rail and bus===
[[File:MBTA Commuter Rail and funding district map.svg|thumb|The MBTA district, with Commuter Rail lines in purple]]
The [[Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority]] (MBTA) is the primary operator of transit in Greater Boston. It operates the [[MBTA subway]] system and the [[MBTA bus]] network in Boston and inner suburbs, as well as the [[MBTA Commuter Rail]] system and the [[MBTA ferry]] network serving Greater Boston.

Other public transit includes [[Amtrak]] intercity rail service, [[Logan Express]] service to Logan International Airport, and privately-operated intercity bus and ferry systems. A number of regional transit authorities operate local bus service:
* [[Brockton Area Transit Authority]]
* [[Cape Ann Transportation Authority]]
* [[Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority]]
* [[Lowell Regional Transit Authority]]
* [[Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority]]
* [[MetroWest Regional Transit Authority]]
* [[Montachusett Regional Transit Authority]]
* [[Rhode Island Public Transit Authority]]
* [[Worcester Regional Transit Authority]]

===Ocean transportation===
[[File:Salem Ferry.JPG|thumb|right|The Salem Ferry, 92 ft. [[Catamaran]] is photographed approaching its dock off Blaney Street at the [[Salem Maritime National Historic Site]] in [[Salem, Massachusetts|Salem]], [[Massachusetts]], United States.]]
* [[Port of Boston]] ([[Massport]])
* [[Cape Cod Canal]]

==Sports==
{{Main|Sports in Boston}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Club
!Sport
!League
!Stadium
!Established
!League titles
|-
|[[Boston Bruins]]
|[[Ice hockey]]
|[[National Hockey League]]
|[[TD Garden]] (Boston)
|1924
|6 [[Stanley Cups]]<br />7 [[Eastern Conference (NHL)|Eastern Conference]] Titles
|-
|[[Boston Celtics]]
|[[Basketball]]
|[[National Basketball Association]]
|[[TD Garden]] (Boston)
|1946
|18 [[NBA Finals|NBA Championships]]<br />23 [[Eastern Conference (NBA)|Eastern Conference]] Titles
|-
|[[Boston Red Sox]]
|[[Baseball]]
|[[Major League Baseball]] 
|[[Fenway Park]] (Boston)
|1901
|9 [[MLB]] [[World Series]] Championships<br />14 American League Pennants
|-
|[[New England Patriots]]
|[[American football|Football]]
|[[National Football League]] 
|[[Gillette Stadium]] ([[Foxboro, Massachusetts|Foxboro]])
|1960
|6 [[Super Bowl]] Championships<br />11 [[AFC Championship Game|AFC Championships]]
|-
|[[New England Revolution]]
|[[Soccer]]
|[[Major League Soccer]]
|[[Gillette Stadium]] ([[Foxboro, Massachusetts|Foxboro]])
|1996
|1 [[US Open Cup]]<br />1 [[Supporters' Shield]]
|-
|[[New England Free Jacks]]
|[[Rugby union]]
|[[Major League Rugby]]
|[[Veterans Memorial Stadium (Quincy, Massachusetts)|Veterans Memorial Stadium]] ([[Quincy, Massachusetts|Quincy]])
|2018
|2 [[2023 Major League Rugby season|MLR]] Championships
|}

[[Annual events in Boston|Annual sporting events]] include:
* The [[Boston Marathon]], which follows a course from [[Hopkinton, Massachusetts|Hopkinton]] to Boston
* The [[Head of the Charles Regatta]]
* The [[Lenox Industrial Tools 301]], [[Sylvania 300]] and [[New Hampshire Indy 225]] auto races at the [[New Hampshire Motor Speedway]] oval track.

The [[Greater Boston League]], a high school athletic conference in Massachusetts.

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
{{wikivoyage}}
*{{cite book
| last      = Wilson
| first     = Susan
| year      = 2005
| title     = The Literary Trail of Greater Boston: A Tour of Sites in Boston, Cambridge, and Concord, Revised Edition
| publisher = Commonwealth Editions
| isbn      = 1-889833-67-3
}} An informative guidebook, with facts and data about literary figures, publishers, bookstores, libraries, and other historic sites on the newly designated Literary Trail of Greater Boston.
*{{cite book
| last      = Warner
| first     = Sam Jr.
| year      = 2001
| title     = Greater Boston: Adapting Regional Traditions to the Present
| publisher = University of Pennsylvania Press
| isbn      = 0-8122-1769-1
}}

{{Greater Boston}}
{{Boston}}
{{Massachusetts}}
{{Northeast Megalopolis}}

[[Category:Greater Boston| ]]
[[Category:Metropolitan areas of Massachusetts|Greater Boston]]
[[Category:Metropolitan areas of New Hampshire]]
[[Category:Metropolitan areas of Rhode Island]]
[[Category:Geography of Boston|*]]
[[Category:Geography of New England]]
[[Category:Regions of Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Regions of Rhode Island]]
[[Category:Regions of New Hampshire]]
[[Category:Economy of the Northeastern United States]]
[[Category:Northeast megalopolis]]