Somerville, MA Local Data & Statistics

State: MA

Total population: 81,036 Household income: $132,572 Rent: $2,517

Overview

Total population

81,036

Rent

$2,517

Year built

1938

Household income

$132,572

Per capita income

$73,940

Poverty rate

9.8%

Unemployment rate

3.1%

Household size

2.2 persons

Rent over 30% of income

35.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Massachusetts

Total population

81,036

Adults over 25

61,608

Total households

35,715

Household size

2.2 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$132,572

Per capita income

$73,940

Poverty rate

9.8%

Unemployment rate

3.1%

Rent over 30% of income

35.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$2,517

Year built

1938

Households that rent

65.8%

Households that own

34.2%

Rooms per home (all homes)

4.6

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

67.8%

Black

4.5%

Asian

11.6%

Two or more races

10.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

11.4%

Not Hispanic or Latino

88.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

68.7%

Commute time to work

31 mins

Work from home

31.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

13.7%

High school graduate or GED

12.3%

Some college or associate degree

4.6%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

69.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Somerville, MA with: Massachusetts United States

Somerville, MA

Total population81,036

Rent$2,517

Year built1938

Household income$132,572

Per capita income$73,940

Poverty rate9.8%

Unemployment rate3.1%

Massachusetts State

Total population7,044,056

Rent$1,762

Year built1964

Household income$103,960

Per capita income$57,897

Poverty rate10%

Unemployment rate4%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CitySomerville, MA	StateMassachusetts	CountryUnited States
Total population	81,036	7,044,056	334,922,499
Rent	$2,517	$1,762	$1,413
Year built	1938	1964	1980
Household income	$132,572	$103,960	$80,734
Per capita income	$73,940	$57,897	$44,673
Poverty rate	9.8%	10%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	3.1%	4%	4%

View the complete comparison of Somerville, MA, Massachusetts and United States →

Summary for Somerville, MA

Somerville is located in Massachusetts.

Rent & Income

In Somerville, the typical monthly rent is $2,517 and the typical household income is $132,572. Rent here is higher than in both Massachusetts and the U.S., and household income is also higher than in both. The estimated poverty rate is 9.8%, which is similar to the Massachusetts rate and lower than the national rate.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 65.8% of households, making this a predominantly renter area. Around 35.3% of renters are cost-burdened, indicating a moderate level of rent pressure.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is very high, with about 69.4% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 3.1%, which is lower than both Massachusetts and the national rate.

Somerville, MA — Rent vs Household Income

Somerville, MA — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Somerville, MA compares in Massachusetts (23 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$2,517	22 / 23	from lower rent	$1,137 – $2,787
Household income	$132,572	2 / 23	from higher income	$52,656 – $190,304
Poverty rate	9.8%	6 / 23	from lower poverty	4.5% – 25.8%
Unemployment rate	3.1%	1 / 23	from lower unemployment	3.1% – 6.1%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Massachusetts with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Somerville, MA

Rent

Somerville ranks 22nd out of 23 large places in Massachusetts for rent. Statewide rents range from $1,137 in New Bedford, MA to $2,787 in Cambridge, MA.

Household income

In terms of household income, Somerville comes in 2nd among 23 major places. Across Massachusetts, income levels vary from $52,656 in Springfield, MA to $190,304 in Newton, MA.

Poverty rate

Looking at poverty, Somerville ranks 6th out of 23 large places. Statewide poverty rates range from 4.5% in Newton, MA to 25.8% in Springfield, MA.

Unemployment rate

For unemployment, Somerville ranks 1st out of 23 large places. Across Massachusetts, unemployment ranges from 3.1% in Somerville, MA to 6.1% in Springfield, MA.

💰 Rent in Somerville, MA (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $2,517 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Somerville, MA

Annual Household Income: $132,572

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Somerville, MA

Estimated Rate: 9.8%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Somerville, MA

In Somerville, MA, households that rent: 23,483 (65.8%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	23,483	65.8%
Owner-Occupied	12,232	34.2%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Somerville, MA

In Somerville, MA, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 8,297 (35.3%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	8,297	35.3%
Other renter households	15,186	64.7%
Total renter households	23,483	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Somerville, MA

Less than High School: 8,448 people (13.7%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 7,561 people (12.3%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 2,822 people (4.6%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 42,777 people (69.4%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 61,608

📊 Unemployment Rate in Somerville, MA

Estimated Rate: 3.1%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

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ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.