Snapshot: single person households percent 65 and older 2010

Snapshot: % of those living alone who are 65+

By Matt Carroll, Globe Staff | May 10, 2012

The Census measures the percent of people living alone who are 65 years old or older. Communities with higher percents are scattered across the state, from the Cape, to Greater Boston, to western Massachusetts. Some towns with large numbers include Westwood, Weston and Hingham. The data is from 2010.

Community	Single-person households: Percent 65 and older	Rank	Total households	Households with single person
ABINGTON	35.6	259	6,080	1,527
ACTON	31.9	309	8,187	1,886
ACUSHNET	47.1	66	3,934	874
ADAMS	44.3	107	3,907	1,366
AGAWAM	42.8	127	11,664	3,503
ALFORD	53.2	34	223	62
AMESBURY	31.5	312	6,642	1,991
AMHERST	35.6	259	9,259	2,530
ANDOVER	41.2	152	11,851	2,645
AQUINNAH	27.3	337	145	55
ARLINGTON	35.6	259	18,969	6,463
ASHBURNHAM	34	291	2,148	362
ASHBY	27.5	335	1,105	171
ASHFIELD	36.9	231	760	206
ASHLAND	35.2	272	6,385	1,464
ATHOL	39.6	176	4,656	1,323
ATTLEBORO	37	228	16,884	4,461
AUBURN	48.1	60	6,542	1,822
AVON	49.6	49	1,709	454
AYER	33.7	293	3,118	1,048
BARNSTABLE	45.6	83	19,225	5,572
BARRE	45.1	95	2,025	488
BECKET	32.7	302	763	211
BEDFORD	47.9	61	5,130	1,313
BELCHERTOWN	37.1	227	5,595	1,216
BELLINGHAM	37.2	224	6,155	1,320
BELMONT	45.6	83	9,651	2,333
BERKLEY	35.7	257	2,109	258
BERLIN	45.3	90	1,125	245
BERNARDSTON	47.7	63	890	216
BEVERLY	37.8	214	15,850	4,960
BILLERICA	37.5	220	14,034	2,770
BLACKSTONE	36.1	249	3,403	772
BLANDFORD	35.9	253	492	103
BOLTON	40.6	157	1,670	202
BOSTON	24.3	345	252,699	93,701
BOURNE	46.9	71	7,866	2,341
BOXBOROUGH	20	349	1,949	499
BOXFORD	51.1	45	2,688	307
BOYLSTON	40.1	167	1,698	387
BRAINTREE	43.9	111	13,736	3,757
BREWSTER	55.1	28	4,383	1,325
BRIDGEWATER	36.8	234	7,995	1,654
BRIMFIELD	45.1	95	1,429	339
BROCKTON	36.2	247	33,303	8,955
BROOKFIELD	45.6	83	1,375	353
BROOKLINE	31.2	316	25,092	8,389
BUCKLAND	39.6	176	823	230
BURLINGTON	43.9	111	9,269	2,155
CAMBRIDGE	23.7	346	44,032	17,933
CANTON	48.4	58	8,378	2,261
CARLISLE	39.5	179	1,695	195
CARVER	54	31	4,297	935
CHARLEMONT	34.7	281	561	173
CHARLTON	40.6	157	4,608	780
CHATHAM	55.5	26	3,085	1,127
CHELMSFORD	46.9	71	13,313	3,391
CHELSEA	33.6	295	11,831	3,465
CHESHIRE	40.5	160	1,403	370
CHESTER	30	322	543	140
CHESTERFIELD	25	343	511	120
CHICOPEE	38.2	204	23,739	8,136
CHILMARK	34.1	288	398	126
CLARKSBURG	45.3	90	675	137
CLINTON	34.1	288	5,831	1,950
COHASSET	55.9	24	2,722	619
COLRAIN	37	228	683	181
CONCORD	58.8	13	6,484	1,763
CONWAY	27.1	338	770	181
CUMMINGTON	31.5	312	404	143
DALTON	45.8	81	2,737	738
DANVERS	45.3	90	10,615	3,104
DARTMOUTH	53.7	33	11,237	2,669
DEDHAM	46	80	9,651	2,768
DEERFIELD	40.6	157	2,053	539
DENNIS	50.8	47	6,928	2,521
DIGHTON	44.7	102	2,472	472
DOUGLAS	32.8	300	3,000	506
DOVER	53	35	1,869	247
DRACUT	38.1	208	10,956	2,446
DUDLEY	38.2	204	4,062	927
DUNSTABLE	32.4	304	1,063	136
DUXBURY	60.2	9	5,344	1,044
EAST BRIDGEWATER	42.6	136	4,750	911
EAST BROOKFIELD	44.5	103	828	155
EASTHAM	51.6	43	2,388	727
EASTHAMPTON	35.1	274	7,224	2,447
EAST LONGMEADOW	63.9	4	5,851	1,388
EASTON	38.6	195	7,865	1,758
EDGARTOWN	34.9	278	1,794	565
EGREMONT	47.1	66	563	170
ERVING	35.5	263	745	217
ESSEX	34.6	283	1,402	393
EVERETT	35.8	256	15,543	4,309
FAIRHAVEN	47.8	62	6,672	2,096
FALL RIVER	35.4	266	38,457	13,428
FALMOUTH	52.1	40	14,069	4,578
FITCHBURG	35.9	253	15,165	4,523
FLORIDA	37.3	223	308	67
FOXBOROUGH	38.5	199	6,504	1,604
FRAMINGHAM	35.3	269	26,173	7,438
FRANKLIN	35.4	266	10,995	2,284
FREETOWN	41.5	150	3,162	465
GARDNER	39.6	176	8,224	2,641
GEORGETOWN	43.5	117	2,937	522
GILL	38.5	199	568	161
GLOUCESTER	39	188	12,486	4,098
GOSHEN	42	143	416	81
GOSNOLD	0	351	39	18
GRAFTON	32	308	6,892	1,665
GRANBY	37.2	224	2,374	519
GRANVILLE	32.3	306	608	127
GREAT BARRINGTON	37.5	220	2,879	1,013
GREENFIELD	36	251	7,852	2,982
GROTON	40.4	162	3,753	728
GROVELAND	57.5	17	2,346	435
HADLEY	49.1	50	2,107	581
HALIFAX	44.4	104	2,863	673
HAMILTON	46.4	76	2,692	422
HAMPDEN	54.6	30	1,898	339
HANCOCK	39.2	184	299	79
HANOVER	56.5	22	4,709	821
HANSON	42.4	139	3,468	599
HARDWICK	47	68	1,094	266
HARVARD	42.7	132	1,893	302
HARWICH	57.6	16	5,623	1,857
HATFIELD	39.2	184	1,483	462
HAVERHILL	33.1	298	24,150	7,149
HAWLEY	55.2	27	128	29
HEATH	36.3	244	302	80
HINGHAM	63	5	8,465	2,253
HINSDALE	40	169	868	225
HOLBROOK	42	143	4,102	1,038
HOLDEN	48.4	58	6,394	1,243
HOLLAND	30	322	994	220
HOLLISTON	43	123	4,940	924
HOLYOKE	38.3	203	15,361	4,909
HOPEDALE	51.5	44	2,194	495
HOPKINTON	35.1	274	4,957	794
HUBBARDSTON	36.5	238	1,566	260
HUDSON	39.9	173	7,528	1,946
HULL	28.7	329	4,630	1,581
HUNTINGTON	29.7	325	868	202
IPSWICH	42.8	127	5,462	1,572
KINGSTON	46.5	75	4,665	1,139
LAKEVILLE	43.9	111	3,725	627
LANCASTER	38.2	204	2,409	526
LANESBOROUGH	34.5	285	1,291	328
LAWRENCE	33.8	292	25,181	6,169
LEE	46.4	76	2,560	829
LEICESTER	40.1	167	4,021	915
LENOX	59.9	11	2,283	921
LEOMINSTER	38.4	201	16,767	5,033
LEVERETT	36	251	762	178
LEXINGTON	58.1	14	11,530	2,416
LEYDEN	18.9	350	288	53
LINCOLN	43.5	117	2,404	520
LITTLETON	45.3	90	3,297	724
LONGMEADOW	68.3	2	5,741	1,202
LOWELL	28.2	332	38,470	11,307
LUDLOW	48.6	54	8,080	2,124
LUNENBURG	42.7	132	3,835	793
LYNN	35.9	253	33,310	10,206
LYNNFIELD	62	7	4,179	784
MALDEN	32.2	307	23,673	7,112
MANCHESTER-BY-THE-SEA	47.3	65	2,147	619
MANSFIELD	30.6	318	8,399	1,934
MARBLEHEAD	40.5	160	8,144	2,347
MARION	52.2	38	1,896	485
MARLBOROUGH	32.8	300	15,395	4,411
MARSHFIELD	40.4	162	9,526	2,151
MASHPEE	48.5	57	6,118	1,871
MATTAPOISETT	46.6	73	2,505	627
MAYNARD	35.4	266	4,239	1,301
MEDFIELD	45.6	83	4,117	698
MEDFORD	37.7	216	22,810	6,747
MEDWAY	38	209	4,435	828
MELROSE	42.9	125	11,213	3,509
MENDON	41.7	146	2,022	307
MERRIMAC	47	68	2,417	547
METHUEN	42.9	125	17,529	4,373
MIDDLEBOROUGH	40	169	8,468	1,755
MIDDLEFIELD	31.4	315	218	51
MIDDLETON	48.9	51	2,898	673
MILFORD	36.3	244	10,872	2,764
MILLBURY	40	169	5,294	1,370
MILLIS	29.3	327	3,030	716
MILLVILLE	37.9	210	1,094	174
MILTON	60.1	10	9,274	2,131
MONROE	55	29	57	20
MONSON	37.6	218	3,279	753
MONTAGUE	36.2	247	3,694	1,206
MONTEREY	34.4	286	426	122
MONTGOMERY	30.9	317	330	68
MOUNT WASHINGTON	43.5	117	74	23
NAHANT	38.6	195	1,540	516
NANTUCKET	30.5	319	4,229	1,257
NATICK	36.4	239	13,406	3,896
NEEDHAM	56.9	20	10,341	2,258
NEW ASHFORD	25	343	95	20
NEW BEDFORD	37.4	222	38,761	12,550
NEW BRAINTREE	36.9	231	370	65
NEWBURY	40.2	165	2,594	597
NEWBURYPORT	35.3	269	7,622	2,621
NEW MARLBOROUGH	42.3	140	630	163
NEW SALEM	28.7	329	404	94
NEWTON	45.6	83	31,168	7,993
NORFOLK	42.7	132	3,049	379
NORTH ADAMS	41.8	145	5,868	2,189
NORTHAMPTON	27.5	335	12,000	4,466
NORTH ANDOVER	45.1	95	10,516	2,688
NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH	30.2	320	10,943	2,725
NORTHBOROUGH	41.7	146	5,110	983
NORTHBRIDGE	38.6	195	5,896	1,459
NORTH BROOKFIELD	43.2	122	1,862	472
NORTHFIELD	39.4	181	1,226	302
NORTH READING	35.6	259	5,439	1,183
NORTON	37.9	210	6,416	1,387
NORWELL	51.9	42	3,553	607
NORWOOD	40.7	155	11,917	3,730
OAK BLUFFS	42.8	127	1,989	699
OAKHAM	30.1	321	685	103
ORANGE	44.2	108	3,172	913
ORLEANS	62.1	6	2,950	1,107
OTIS	38.7	193	708	168
OXFORD	35.5	263	5,272	1,353
PALMER	36.6	237	5,099	1,518
PAXTON	52	41	1,546	246
PEABODY	52.2	38	21,313	6,682
PELHAM	31.6	311	549	117
PEMBROKE	37.8	214	6,298	1,217
PEPPERELL	35.5	263	4,197	850
PERU	26.2	341	336	65
PETERSHAM	40.9	154	493	115
PHILLIPSTON	28.6	331	633	112
PITTSFIELD	40.2	165	19,653	6,947
PLAINFIELD	33.3	297	269	69
PLAINVILLE	36.8	234	3,303	891
PLYMOUTH	41.1	153	21,269	5,050
PLYMPTON	52.5	36	1,006	179
PRINCETON	34.7	281	1,279	190
PROVINCETOWN	28.2	332	1,765	959
QUINCY	33	299	40,658	15,340
RANDOLPH	38.8	191	11,551	2,833
RAYNHAM	43	123	4,875	1,004
READING	43.9	111	9,305	2,189
REHOBOTH	39.9	173	4,101	634
REVERE	39.2	184	20,454	6,545
RICHMOND	45	99	657	169
ROCHESTER	42.8	127	1,813	271
ROCKLAND	39	188	6,697	1,780
ROCKPORT	46.1	79	3,213	1,174
ROWE	45.5	88	167	44
ROWLEY	37.7	216	2,155	401
ROYALSTON	31.5	312	498	130
RUSSELL	29	328	656	107
RUTLAND	34.1	288	2,791	534
SALEM	29.7	325	17,842	6,301
SALISBURY	37.2	224	3,441	1,030
SANDISFIELD	41.5	150	377	106
SANDWICH	44.8	101	7,776	1,657
SAUGUS	45.2	94	10,318	2,661
SAVOY	36.9	231	298	84
SCITUATE	48.8	52	6,859	1,675
SEEKONK	44.9	100	5,071	897
SHARON	46.4	76	6,219	1,003
SHEFFIELD	42.7	132	1,424	443
SHELBURNE	44.1	110	849	286
SHERBORN	53.9	32	1,438	217
SHIRLEY	36.4	239	2,264	555
SHREWSBURY	41.6	149	13,424	3,297
SHUTESBURY	26.3	340	714	167
SOMERSET	58.1	14	7,087	1,657
SOMERVILLE	25.9	342	32,105	10,276
SOUTHAMPTON	42.8	127	2,249	456
SOUTHBOROUGH	42.2	142	3,332	514
SOUTHBRIDGE	35	276	6,866	2,090
SOUTH HADLEY	44.4	104	6,793	2,189
SOUTHWICK	50.8	47	3,710	898
SPENCER	38.6	195	4,744	1,278
SPRINGFIELD	34.4	286	56,752	17,013
STERLING	40	169	2,810	510
STOCKBRIDGE	48.6	54	919	366
STONEHAM	42.5	137	8,994	2,872
STOUGHTON	43.4	121	10,295	2,632
STOW	43.6	116	2,429	422
STURBRIDGE	45.7	82	3,611	817
SUDBURY	57.5	17	5,771	684
SUNDERLAND	22	347	1,648	478
SUTTON	38.8	191	3,213	544
SWAMPSCOTT	47	68	5,520	1,427
SWANSEA	47.6	64	6,079	1,298
TAUNTON	35	276	22,332	6,465
TEMPLETON	43.8	115	2,882	571
TEWKSBURY	43.5	117	10,492	2,256
TISBURY	39.3	183	1,806	649
TOLLAND	39.5	179	197	43
TOPSFIELD	58.9	12	2,090	348
TOWNSEND	32.4	304	3,240	596
TRURO	38.7	193	984	328
TYNGSBOROUGH	32.7	302	3,999	727
TYRINGHAM	39.4	181	138	33
UPTON	39.1	187	2,733	534
UXBRIDGE	37	228	5,056	1,102
WAKEFIELD	37.9	210	9,994	2,812
WALES	35.7	257	736	199
WALPOLE	48.7	53	8,730	1,997
WALTHAM	28.2	332	23,690	8,267
WARE	38.4	201	4,120	1,198
WAREHAM	42.3	140	9,071	2,698
WARREN	37.9	210	2,021	514
WARWICK	26.9	339	329	78
WASHINGTON	36.4	239	225	44
WATERTOWN	33.7	293	14,709	5,260
WAYLAND	57.5	17	4,808	973
WEBSTER	36.7	236	7,088	2,237
WELLESLEY	55.9	24	8,695	1,798
WELLFLEET	44.4	104	1,366	509
WENDELL	21	348	391	119
WENHAM	61.3	8	1,358	315
WESTBOROUGH	38.2	204	6,924	1,791
WEST BOYLSTON	45.5	88	2,616	677
WEST BRIDGEWATER	46.6	73	2,571	599
WEST BROOKFIELD	44.2	108	1,479	387
WESTFIELD	40.4	162	15,335	4,210
WESTFORD	40.7	155	7,498	1,092
WESTHAMPTON	36.4	239	623	107
WESTMINSTER	35.2	272	2,716	511
WEST NEWBURY	39.7	175	1,508	209
WESTON	67.7	3	3,776	747
WESTPORT	48.6	54	6,154	1,404
WEST SPRINGFIELD	34.6	283	12,124	4,158
WEST STOCKBRIDGE	36.4	239	593	173
WEST TISBURY	31.8	310	1,197	352
WESTWOOD	71.7	1	5,249	1,188
WEYMOUTH	34.8	280	22,435	7,246
WHATELY	41.7	146	626	163
WHITMAN	36.1	249	5,300	1,217
WILBRAHAM	56.9	20	5,309	1,115
WILLIAMSBURG	34.9	278	1,118	338
WILLIAMSTOWN	52.5	36	2,542	833
WILMINGTON	45.1	95	7,532	1,183
WINCHENDON	39	188	3,810	906
WINCHESTER	51	46	7,645	1,665
WINDSOR	30	322	369	70
WINTHROP	36.3	244	7,783	2,680
WOBURN	37.6	218	15,524	4,649
WORCESTER	33.4	296	68,613	21,846
WORTHINGTON	35.3	269	522	136
WRENTHAM	42.5	137	3,703	723
YARMOUTH	56	23	11,229	3,965

SOURCE: Donahue Institute/UMass