British Population in Massachusetts by City : 2025 Ranking & Insights

The British population in Massachusetts totals 28,688, according to recent U.S. Census estimates. Leading cities include Boston (2,551), followed by Somerville (916) and Cambridge (848), each hosting visible segments of the community. While these urban centers anchor much of the population, the statewide total points to a broader presence in unincorporated areas and smaller towns beyond major city boundaries. The analysis below explores how British residents are distributed across Massachusetts''s urban and rural landscape.

Top 5 cities with the largest British population in Massachusetts

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  • 1
    Boston
    British population in Boston is 2,551
    0.38% of Boston population is British
  • 2
    Somerville
    British population in Somerville is 916
    1.14% of Somerville population is British
  • 3
    Cambridge
    British population in Cambridge is 848
    0.72% of Cambridge population is British
  • 4
    Worcester
    British population in Worcester is 647
    0.31% of Worcester population is British
  • 5
    Newton
    British population in Newton is 597
    0.67% of Newton population is British

Overview of British population in Massachusetts

  • Population Count and Percentage: American Community Survey data indicate Massachusetts contains 28,688 British residents (0.41% of 7.0 million total state population), positioning the state at the 62nd percentile nationally among U.S. states for British population concentrations.
  • Comparison to State and National Averages: U.S. Census surveys show Massachusetts's British demographic representation of 0.41% remains below the national average of 0.45%, positioning the state below typical U.S. demographic distribution patterns.
  • Share of Total National Population: Official American Community Survey document Massachusetts's 28,688 British residents constitute 1.9% of the nation's total British population of 1.5 million, providing the state with a measurable but modest share of the national demographic community.
  • Population Density per Square Mile: U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey document Massachusetts with 3.7 British Americans per square mile, more than eight times the national average density of 0.42 per square mile, placing the state among jurisdictions with significantly elevated demographic concentrations nationally.
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333 Cities in Massachusetts Ranked by British Population

View Methodology
American Community Survey data [1] show British population in Massachusetts present in Boston, Somerville, and Cambridge, along with several other incorporated cities reporting non-zero populations. The table below provides broader statistics, including total population figures, density measures, and demographic distributions based on current ACS data for all incorporated cities included in this analysis*.
cities in Massachusetts ranked by British population count
Rank by British Population
City
British Population
% of Total City Population
% of Total Massachusetts British Population
5 Year Rank Trend
1 Boston 2,551 0.38% 8.89%
2 Somerville 916 1.14% 3.19%
3 Cambridge 848 0.72% 2.96%
4 Worcester 647 0.31% 2.26%
5 Newton 597 0.67% 2.08%
6 Arlington town 473 1.03% 1.65%
7 Wellesley town 466 1.56% 1.62%
8 433 2.81% 1.51%
9 432 1.51% 1.51%
10 420 0.67% 1.46%
11 403 0.35% 1.40%
12 387 1.18% 1.35%
13 347 0.60% 1.21%
14 334 0.79% 1.16%
15 329 1.03% 1.15%
16 311 1.15% 1.08%
17 302 0.30% 1.05%
18 301 0.97% 1.05%
19 284 1.54% 0.99%
20 275 0.42% 0.96%
21 246 0.70% 0.86%
22 236 0.40% 0.82%
23 235 0.64% 0.82%
24 232 0.78% 0.81%
25 231 0.70% 0.81%
26 229 0.55% 0.80%
27 228 0.36% 0.79%
28 225 1.23% 0.78%
29 221 0.75% 0.77%
30 217 0.64% 0.76%
31 211 3.37% 0.74%
32 210 0.51% 0.73%
33 209 0.51% 0.73%
34 204 0.89% 0.71%
35 199 0.83% 0.69%
36 185 0.38% 0.64%
37 183 0.73% 0.64%
38 174 0.11% 0.61%
39 169 3.45% 0.59%
40 167 0.88% 0.58%
41 164 3.19% 0.57%
42 161 1.55% 0.56%
43 159 2.91% 0.55%
44 154 0.28% 0.54%
45 153 0.42% 0.53%
46 149 0.53% 0.52%
47 148 0.56% 0.52%
48 147 1.77% 0.51%
49 144 0.35% 0.50%
50 143 1.37% 0.50%
51 142 0.32% 0.50%
52 136 0.84% 0.47%
53 134 0.43% 0.47%
54 132 1.02% 0.46%
55 131 0.34% 0.46%
55 131 0.72% 0.46%
56 129 0.30% 0.45%
57 128 1.80% 0.45%
58 126 0.63% 0.44%
58 126 0.50% 0.44%
59 125 0.12% 0.44%
60 124 0.38% 0.43%
61 121 0.88% 0.42%
62 119 0.83% 0.41%
63 118 1.68% 0.41%
64 117 0.31% 0.41%
65 116 0.58% 0.40%
66 112 0.72% 0.39%
67 111 0.16% 0.39%
68 109 0.97% 0.38%
68 109 2.03% 0.38%
69 105 0.49% 0.37%
70 103 0.28% 0.36%
71 102 0.18% 0.36%
72 101 0.26% 0.35%
72 101 0.62% 0.35%
73 100 0.99% 0.35%
74 96 0.34% 0.33%
75 95 1.43% 0.33%
75 95 0.30% 0.33%
76 94 0.54% 0.33%
77 93 0.14% 0.32%
78 92 0.38% 0.32%
79 90 0.80% 0.31%
80 89 1.28% 0.31%
80 89 0.35% 0.31%
80 89 0.48% 0.31%
81 88 0.77% 0.31%
82 87 0.82% 0.30%
83 84 0.33% 0.29%
83 84 0.29% 0.29%
84 83 0.79% 0.29%
84 83 2.49% 0.29%
85 82 0.34% 0.29%
85 82 0.87% 0.29%
86 81 0.96% 0.28%
86 81 0.14% 0.28%
87 79 0.87% 0.28%
88 78 0.77% 0.27%
88 78 0.38% 0.27%
88 78 0.48% 0.27%
89 77 0.49% 0.27%
89 77 0.31% 0.27%
90 76 1.46% 0.26%
90 76 0.89% 0.26%
91 75 0.88% 0.26%
91 75 0.44% 0.26%
92 74 0.23% 0.26%
92 74 0.32% 0.26%
93 73 0.29% 0.25%
94 71 0.47% 0.25%
94 71 1.12% 0.25%
95 70 0.07% 0.24%
95 70 0.51% 0.24%
95 70 0.53% 0.24%
96 69 0.83% 0.24%
96 69 2.04% 0.24%
96 69 0.96% 0.24%
96 69 0.07% 0.24%
96 69 0.39% 0.24%
97 68 0.42% 0.24%
98 67 0.34% 0.23%
98 67 0.44% 0.23%
98 67 0.33% 0.23%
99 66 0.25% 0.23%
99 66 0.48% 0.23%
100 65 1.05% 0.23%
100 65 3.45% 0.23%
101 64 0.85% 0.22%
102 62 1.19% 0.22%
102 62 0.53% 0.22%
103 61 0.13% 0.21%
104 60 0.46% 0.21%
105 58 0.14% 0.20%
105 58 0.32% 0.20%
106 56 0.74% 0.20%
106 56 0.21% 0.20%
107 55 0.67% 0.19%
107 55 0.37% 0.19%
107 55 0.68% 0.19%
108 54 0.51% 0.19%
109 50 0.09% 0.17%
109 50 0.43% 0.17%
109 50 0.67% 0.17%
110 49 0.31% 0.17%
111 46 1.25% 0.16%
111 46 0.66% 0.16%
111 46 0.20% 0.16%
112 45 0.24% 0.16%
112 45 0.67% 0.16%
113 44 2.50% 0.15%
113 44 0.75% 0.15%
113 44 0.67% 0.15%
114 43 0.28% 0.15%
115 41 0.72% 0.14%
115 41 0.11% 0.14%
115 41 0.07% 0.14%
115 41 0.23% 0.14%
116 40 0.25% 0.14%
117 39 0.27% 0.14%
118 38 0.28% 0.13%
118 38 0.23% 0.13%
118 38 0.27% 0.13%
119 37 0.32% 0.13%
119 37 0.08% 0.13%
119 37 0.36% 0.13%
120 36 0.27% 0.13%
120 36 0.63% 0.13%
120 36 0.28% 0.13%
121 35 0.19% 0.12%
122 34 2.04% 0.12%
122 34 0.25% 0.12%
123 33 0.20% 0.12%
123 33 0.55% 0.12%
123 33 0.27% 0.12%
123 33 0.36% 0.12%
123 33 0.23% 0.12%
123 33 0.66% 0.12%
124 32 1.88% 0.11%
125 31 0.20% 0.11%
125 31 0.46% 0.11%
125 31 0.16% 0.11%
125 31 0.20% 0.11%
126 30 1.04% 0.10%
127 29 0.55% 0.10%
127 29 0.58% 0.10%
128 28 0.44% 0.10%
128 28 0.23% 0.10%
129 27 0.16% 0.09%
129 27 0.81% 0.09%
129 27 0.09% 0.09%
130 26 0.32% 0.09%
131 25 0.16% 0.09%
131 25 1.45% 0.09%
131 25 0.05% 0.09%
131 25 0.23% 0.09%
131 25 0.75% 0.09%
131 25 0.57% 0.09%
132 24 0.10% 0.08%
132 24 0.93% 0.08%
132 24 0.29% 0.08%
133 23 0.02% 0.08%
133 23 0.16% 0.08%
133 23 0.28% 0.08%
133 23 1.42% 0.08%
133 23 0.12% 0.08%
134 22 2.28% 0.08%
134 22 0.32% 0.08%
134 22 0.75% 0.08%
134 22 0.24% 0.08%
135 21 2.06% 0.07%
136 20 0.63% 0.07%
136 20 0.60% 0.07%
136 20 0.17% 0.07%
136 20 0.10% 0.07%
137 19 1.04% 0.07%
137 19 0.02% 0.07%
138 18 0.12% 0.06%
138 18 0.30% 0.06%
138 18 0.35% 0.06%
138 18 0.27% 0.06%
138 18 0.09% 0.06%
138 18 0.29% 0.06%
138 18 0.11% 0.06%
139 17 1.38% 0.06%
139 17 0.64% 0.06%
139 17 1.42% 0.06%
140 16 0.42% 0.06%
140 16 0.06% 0.06%
141 15 0.22% 0.05%
141 15 0.15% 0.05%
141 15 0.78% 0.05%
141 15 0.09% 0.05%
142 14 0.77% 0.05%
142 14 0.18% 0.05%
142 14 0.12% 0.05%
143 13 0.05% 0.05%
143 13 0.79% 0.05%
143 13 0.06% 0.05%
144 12 0.32% 0.04%
144 12 0.06% 0.04%
144 12 1.50% 0.04%
144 12 0.14% 0.04%
144 12 0.72% 0.04%
144 12 0.34% 0.04%
144 12 0.16% 0.04%
145 11 0.14% 0.04%
145 11 0.19% 0.04%
145 11 0.12% 0.04%
145 11 0.60% 0.04%
145 11 0.36% 0.04%
145 11 0.73% 0.04%
145 11 0.06% 0.04%
145 11 0.11% 0.04%
145 11 0.24% 0.04%
146 10 0.23% 0.03%
146 10 0.45% 0.03%
146 10 0.04% 0.03%
146 10 0.37% 0.03%
147 9 0.10% 0.03%
147 9 0.61% 0.03%
148 8 0.07% 0.03%
148 8 0.23% 0.03%
148 8 0.76% 0.03%
148 8 0.04% 0.03%
148 8 0.03% 0.03%
148 8 0.42% 0.03%
148 8 0.53% 0.03%
149 7 0.41% 0.02%
149 7 0.08% 0.02%
149 7 0.07% 0.02%
149 7 0.16% 0.02%
149 7 0.14% 0.02%
149 7 0.66% 0.02%
150 6 0.04% 0.02%
150 6 0.07% 0.02%
150 6 0.45% 0.02%
151 5 0.25% 0.02%
151 5 0.30% 0.02%
151 5 0.27% 0.02%
151 5 0.33% 0.02%
152 4 0.52% 0.01%
152 4 0.62% 0.01%
153 3 0.32% 0.01%
153 3 0.28% 0.01%
153 3 0.37% 0.01%
154 2 0.26% 0.01%
154 2 0.01% 0.01%
154 2 0.15% 0.01%
154 2 0.32% 0.01%
155 0 - -
155 0 - -
155 0 - -
155 0 - -
155 0 - -
155 0 - -
155 0 - -
155 0 - -
155 0 - -
155 0 - -
155 0 - -
155 0 - -
155 0 - -
155 0 - -
155 0 - -
155 0 - -
155 0 - -
155 0 - -
155 0 - -
155 0 - -
155 0 - -
155 0 - -
155 0 - -
155 0 - -
155 0 - -
155 0 - -
155 0 - -
155 0 - -
155 0 - -
155 0 - -
155 0 - -
155 0 - -
155 0 - -
155 0 - -
155 0 - -
155 0 - -
155 0 - -
155 0 - -
155 0 - -
155 0 - -
155 0 - -
155 0 - -
155 0 - -
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Methodology

This ranking list is based on data from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. The ACS is one of the most reliable sources for understanding population trends across different locations, and it provides estimates for various racial and ethnic groups at city, county, state and all geography levels down to the Census block group.
This list ranks city in Massachusetts by their British population, using the most recent ACS data available.

How the Census defines British population

The U.S. Census Bureau allows people to self-identify their ancestry, meaning individuals can write upto ancestries when responding to the survey. In this ranking, we include everyone who identifies as having British ancestry, whether alone or in combination with another ancestry.
Here are a few important things to know about how ancestry is reported:
  • Some people identify as British alone, while others identify as British along with another race (such as British and German).
  • We’ve used the “British alone or in any combination” category unless noted otherwise, which gives a broader picture of the British population in each area.

How We Ranked the Data

This ranking is based on the total number of people who identified as British alone or in combination in city. To provide additional context, we’ve also included two key percentages:
  1. % of Total City Population – This shows what percentage of the total state population identifies as British .
  2. % of Total Massachusetts British Population – This tells us how much of the entire U.S. British population lives in that state.
To keep things simple, all population numbers have been rounded to the nearest whole number, and percentages are rounded to one decimal place. Because of rounding, some percentages may not add up to exactly 100%.

Things to Keep in Mind

Like all survey-based data, ACS estimates come with some limitations. Here are a few things to be aware of:
  • In places with very small British populations, the numbers may not be reported at all due to privacy protections or sampling variability in the survey.
  • Since the ACS is based on a sample, the numbers are estimates, not exact counts. That means they may slightly differ from other sources like the decennial U.S. Census.
  • City that don’t have any reported British population are not included in the ranking but are listed separately below for reference.
This ranking is meant to provide a clear, data-driven look at where British populations are most concentrated while keeping the numbers easy to understand.

Sources

  1. 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates.
  2. 2023.