SNAPSHOT: % families with children under 17
By Matt Carroll, Boston Globe | April 5, 2012
Hopkinton, Sudbury, and Acton had the highest percent of families with children who were 17 or under, according to 2010 Census data. Communities on the Cape and in western Mass. -- Orleans, Chatham, and Dennis -- were among those with the lowest percents.
| Community | Percent families with own children 17 or younger | Rank |
| ABINGTON | 45 | 132 |
| ACTON | 57.7 | 3 |
| ACUSHNET | 38 | 271 |
| ADAMS | 39.7 | 239 |
| AGAWAM | 39.8 | 237 |
| ALFORD | 29.5 | 337 |
| AMESBURY | 47.4 | 80 |
| AMHERST | 45.7 | 115 |
| ANDOVER | 51.5 | 28 |
| AQUINNAH | 50.6 | 35 |
| ARLINGTON | 46.5 | 96 |
| ASHBURNHAM | 45 | 132 |
| ASHBY | 44.4 | 148 |
| ASHFIELD | 36.3 | 295 |
| ASHLAND | 50.8 | 32 |
| ATHOL | 43.6 | 166 |
| ATTLEBORO | 46 | 106 |
| AUBURN | 41.1 | 216 |
| AVON | 39.6 | 242 |
| AYER | 48.5 | 65 |
| BARNSTABLE | 35.8 | 303 |
| BARRE | 45.4 | 123 |
| BECKET | 32.6 | 321 |
| BEDFORD | 46.5 | 96 |
| BELCHERTOWN | 48.5 | 65 |
| BELLINGHAM | 45 | 132 |
| BELMONT | 50.3 | 40 |
| BERKLEY | 47.1 | 85 |
| BERLIN | 39.3 | 247 |
| BERNARDSTON | 35 | 313 |
| BEVERLY | 42.9 | 177 |
| BILLERICA | 43.7 | 164 |
| BLACKSTONE | 45.4 | 123 |
| BLANDFORD | 35.5 | 307 |
| BOLTON | 52.4 | 22 |
| BOSTON | 44.4 | 148 |
| BOURNE | 37.4 | 282 |
| BOXBOROUGH | 54 | 12 |
| BOXFORD | 48.6 | 61 |
| BOYLSTON | 42.6 | 184 |
| BRAINTREE | 44.6 | 145 |
| BREWSTER | 29.7 | 336 |
| BRIDGEWATER | 45.8 | 112 |
| BRIMFIELD | 39.3 | 247 |
| BROCKTON | 49.2 | 57 |
| BROOKFIELD | 39.3 | 247 |
| BROOKLINE | 46.8 | 90 |
| BUCKLAND | 36.7 | 290 |
| BURLINGTON | 41.9 | 198 |
| CAMBRIDGE | 40 | 233 |
| CANTON | 46.6 | 93 |
| CARLISLE | 48.9 | 60 |
| CARVER | 40.6 | 224 |
| CHARLEMONT | 37.4 | 282 |
| CHARLTON | 47 | 87 |
| CHATHAM | 22.4 | 349 |
| CHELMSFORD | 44.5 | 147 |
| CHELSEA | 56.5 | 6 |
| CHESHIRE | 36.1 | 299 |
| CHESTER | 38.8 | 259 |
| CHESTERFIELD | 41.2 | 210 |
| CHICOPEE | 41.9 | 198 |
| CHILMARK | 36.4 | 293 |
| CLARKSBURG | 36.9 | 288 |
| CLINTON | 45.1 | 129 |
| COHASSET | 52.1 | 23 |
| COLRAIN | 36.2 | 297 |
| CONCORD | 46.1 | 105 |
| CONWAY | 40.6 | 224 |
| CUMMINGTON | 38.7 | 263 |
| DALTON | 42.5 | 189 |
| DANVERS | 42.9 | 177 |
| DARTMOUTH | 38 | 271 |
| DEDHAM | 42.2 | 193 |
| DEERFIELD | 39.9 | 235 |
| DENNIS | 25.5 | 347 |
| DIGHTON | 46.7 | 91 |
| DOUGLAS | 49.9 | 47 |
| DOVER | 52.8 | 18 |
| DRACUT | 44.4 | 148 |
| DUDLEY | 46.2 | 101 |
| DUNSTABLE | 50.1 | 43 |
| DUXBURY | 47.7 | 75 |
| EAST BRIDGEWATER | 45.3 | 126 |
| EAST BROOKFIELD | 38.5 | 265 |
| EASTHAM | 23.9 | 348 |
| EASTHAMPTON | 38.4 | 266 |
| EAST LONGMEADOW | 43.4 | 169 |
| EASTON | 47.2 | 82 |
| EDGARTOWN | 41.2 | 210 |
| EGREMONT | 31.1 | 329 |
| ERVING | 41.6 | 203 |
| ESSEX | 44.8 | 141 |
| EVERETT | 48.6 | 61 |
| FAIRHAVEN | 38.2 | 267 |
| FALL RIVER | 45.8 | 112 |
| FALMOUTH | 32.3 | 323 |
| FITCHBURG | 47 | 87 |
| FLORIDA | 41 | 218 |
| FOXBOROUGH | 46.3 | 100 |
| FRAMINGHAM | 45.9 | 108 |
| FRANKLIN | 55.4 | 8 |
| FREETOWN | 39 | 258 |
| GARDNER | 44.7 | 144 |
| GEORGETOWN | 50 | 46 |
| GILL | 37.4 | 282 |
| GLOUCESTER | 37.6 | 279 |
| GOSHEN | 39.7 | 239 |
| GOSNOLD | 28.6 | 340 |
| GRAFTON | 50.6 | 35 |
| GRANBY | 40.3 | 230 |
| GRANVILLE | 40.4 | 228 |
| GREAT BARRINGTON | 38.1 | 270 |
| GREENFIELD | 42.9 | 177 |
| GROTON | 53.4 | 14 |
| GROVELAND | 44.4 | 148 |
| HADLEY | 39.1 | 253 |
| HALIFAX | 40.4 | 228 |
| HAMILTON | 49.9 | 47 |
| HAMPDEN | 37.6 | 279 |
| HANCOCK | 41.6 | 203 |
| HANOVER | 49.4 | 55 |
| HANSON | 46.9 | 89 |
| HARDWICK | 41.2 | 210 |
| HARVARD | 49.7 | 52 |
| HARWICH | 29.9 | 334 |
| HATFIELD | 35.9 | 302 |
| HAVERHILL | 46.6 | 93 |
| HAWLEY | 31.8 | 324 |
| HEATH | 29.8 | 335 |
| HINGHAM | 48.6 | 61 |
| HINSDALE | 34.6 | 315 |
| HOLBROOK | 41.1 | 216 |
| HOLDEN | 45.5 | 120 |
| HOLLAND | 41.5 | 206 |
| HOLLISTON | 48.6 | 61 |
| HOLYOKE | 50.8 | 32 |
| HOPEDALE | 49.8 | 49 |
| HOPKINTON | 59.9 | 1 |
| HUBBARDSTON | 45 | 132 |
| HUDSON | 44.1 | 158 |
| HULL | 34.5 | 316 |
| HUNTINGTON | 41.5 | 206 |
| IPSWICH | 41.2 | 210 |
| KINGSTON | 47.2 | 82 |
| LAKEVILLE | 45.4 | 123 |
| LANCASTER | 43.3 | 171 |
| LANESBOROUGH | 39.3 | 247 |
| LAWRENCE | 56.7 | 5 |
| LEE | 38 | 271 |
| LEICESTER | 41.4 | 208 |
| LENOX | 35.4 | 309 |
| LEOMINSTER | 45.6 | 118 |
| LEVERETT | 38.8 | 259 |
| LEXINGTON | 50.5 | 37 |
| LEYDEN | 32.4 | 322 |
| LINCOLN | 50.9 | 31 |
| LITTLETON | 51.1 | 30 |
| LONGMEADOW | 46.2 | 101 |
| LOWELL | 50.1 | 43 |
| LUDLOW | 39.1 | 253 |
| LUNENBURG | 41.3 | 209 |
| LYNN | 49.6 | 54 |
| LYNNFIELD | 45 | 132 |
| MALDEN | 44.1 | 158 |
| MANCHESTER-BY-THE-SEA | 43.9 | 160 |
| MANSFIELD | 57.2 | 4 |
| MARBLEHEAD | 47.3 | 81 |
| MARION | 40.6 | 224 |
| MARLBOROUGH | 46.2 | 101 |
| MARSHFIELD | 45.5 | 120 |
| MASHPEE | 36.3 | 295 |
| MATTAPOISETT | 36.7 | 290 |
| MAYNARD | 46.2 | 101 |
| MEDFIELD | 55.5 | 7 |
| MEDFORD | 38.6 | 264 |
| MEDWAY | 53.1 | 17 |
| MELROSE | 45 | 132 |
| MENDON | 49.7 | 52 |
| MERRIMAC | 44.9 | 140 |
| METHUEN | 45.8 | 112 |
| MIDDLEBOROUGH | 42.6 | 184 |
| MIDDLEFIELD | 30.9 | 330 |
| MIDDLETON | 46.6 | 93 |
| MILFORD | 45.9 | 108 |
| MILLBURY | 41.6 | 203 |
| MILLIS | 47.7 | 75 |
| MILLVILLE | 51.8 | 24 |
| MILTON | 47.9 | 71 |
| MONROE | 45.5 | 120 |
| MONSON | 42.7 | 183 |
| MONTAGUE | 39.9 | 235 |
| MONTEREY | 31.4 | 326 |
| MONTGOMERY | 33.3 | 319 |
| MOUNT WASHINGTON | 26.2 | 346 |
| NAHANT | 33.6 | 318 |
| NANTUCKET | 47.1 | 85 |
| NATICK | 48.1 | 69 |
| NEEDHAM | 52.6 | 19 |
| NEW ASHFORD | 36.9 | 288 |
| NEW BEDFORD | 47.2 | 82 |
| NEW BRAINTREE | 35.6 | 306 |
| NEWBURY | 40.8 | 221 |
| NEWBURYPORT | 43.5 | 167 |
| NEW MARLBOROUGH | 35 | 313 |
| NEW SALEM | 35.7 | 304 |
| NEWTON | 47.6 | 77 |
| NORFOLK | 50.3 | 40 |
| NORTH ADAMS | 42.6 | 184 |
| NORTHAMPTON | 43.7 | 164 |
| NORTH ANDOVER | 51.8 | 24 |
| NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH | 50.1 | 43 |
| NORTHBOROUGH | 50.7 | 34 |
| NORTHBRIDGE | 49.1 | 58 |
| NORTH BROOKFIELD | 42.1 | 194 |
| NORTHFIELD | 41 | 218 |
| NORTH READING | 47.9 | 71 |
| NORTON | 49.3 | 56 |
| NORWELL | 49.8 | 49 |
| NORWOOD | 43 | 175 |
| OAK BLUFFS | 43.5 | 167 |
| OAKHAM | 37.7 | 277 |
| ORANGE | 41.8 | 201 |
| ORLEANS | 20.7 | 350 |
| OTIS | 29.1 | 338 |
| OXFORD | 45 | 132 |
| PALMER | 42 | 196 |
| PAXTON | 44.2 | 155 |
| PEABODY | 38.8 | 259 |
| PELHAM | 37.5 | 281 |
| PEMBROKE | 47.5 | 78 |
| PEPPERELL | 46 | 106 |
| PERU | 42.9 | 177 |
| PETERSHAM | 37.8 | 275 |
| PHILLIPSTON | 39.2 | 252 |
| PITTSFIELD | 43.4 | 169 |
| PLAINFIELD | 37.2 | 287 |
| PLAINVILLE | 45.9 | 108 |
| PLYMOUTH | 42.6 | 184 |
| PLYMPTON | 39.8 | 237 |
| PRINCETON | 40.3 | 230 |
| PROVINCETOWN | 27.6 | 345 |
| QUINCY | 39.5 | 244 |
| RANDOLPH | 42.4 | 190 |
| RAYNHAM | 44.6 | 145 |
| READING | 47.9 | 71 |
| REHOBOTH | 42.1 | 194 |
| REVERE | 43.9 | 160 |
| RICHMOND | 31.2 | 328 |
| ROCHESTER | 43 | 175 |
| ROCKLAND | 44.3 | 152 |
| ROCKPORT | 34.5 | 316 |
| ROWE | 28.6 | 340 |
| ROWLEY | 45.1 | 129 |
| ROYALSTON | 35.5 | 307 |
| RUSSELL | 41 | 218 |
| RUTLAND | 52.5 | 21 |
| SALEM | 42.6 | 184 |
| SALISBURY | 36.4 | 293 |
| SANDISFIELD | 31.6 | 325 |
| SANDWICH | 42.9 | 177 |
| SAUGUS | 36.7 | 290 |
| SAVOY | 36.1 | 299 |
| SCITUATE | 44.2 | 155 |
| SEEKONK | 39.7 | 239 |
| SHARON | 50.2 | 42 |
| SHEFFIELD | 37.4 | 282 |
| SHELBURNE | 37.3 | 286 |
| SHERBORN | 52.6 | 19 |
| SHIRLEY | 43.8 | 163 |
| SHREWSBURY | 51.6 | 27 |
| SHUTESBURY | 45.3 | 126 |
| SOMERSET | 35.4 | 309 |
| SOMERVILLE | 37.8 | 275 |
| SOUTHAMPTON | 40 | 233 |
| SOUTHBOROUGH | 55.2 | 10 |
| SOUTHBRIDGE | 45.9 | 108 |
| SOUTH HADLEY | 37.9 | 274 |
| SOUTHWICK | 41.7 | 202 |
| SPENCER | 39.5 | 244 |
| SPRINGFIELD | 50.4 | 39 |
| STERLING | 45 | 132 |
| STOCKBRIDGE | 28.6 | 340 |
| STONEHAM | 39.6 | 242 |
| STOUGHTON | 40.5 | 227 |
| STOW | 47.5 | 78 |
| STURBRIDGE | 45.2 | 128 |
| SUDBURY | 57.9 | 2 |
| SUNDERLAND | 40.8 | 221 |
| SUTTON | 46.4 | 98 |
| SWAMPSCOTT | 44.8 | 141 |
| SWANSEA | 36 | 301 |
| TAUNTON | 45.1 | 129 |
| TEMPLETON | 44.3 | 152 |
| TEWKSBURY | 42 | 196 |
| TISBURY | 42.4 | 190 |
| TOLLAND | 37.7 | 277 |
| TOPSFIELD | 47.9 | 71 |
| TOWNSEND | 44.3 | 152 |
| TRURO | 28.2 | 344 |
| TYNGSBOROUGH | 48 | 70 |
| TYRINGHAM | 19.6 | 351 |
| UPTON | 53.2 | 16 |
| UXBRIDGE | 45.6 | 118 |
| WAKEFIELD | 43.1 | 173 |
| WALES | 41.2 | 210 |
| WALPOLE | 46.4 | 98 |
| WALTHAM | 38.2 | 267 |
| WARE | 41.2 | 210 |
| WAREHAM | 39.1 | 253 |
| WARREN | 44.8 | 141 |
| WARWICK | 30.7 | 332 |
| WASHINGTON | 31.3 | 327 |
| WATERTOWN | 38.8 | 259 |
| WAYLAND | 50.5 | 37 |
| WEBSTER | 44.2 | 155 |
| WELLESLEY | 55.3 | 9 |
| WELLFLEET | 28.5 | 343 |
| WENDELL | 32.9 | 320 |
| WENHAM | 49 | 59 |
| WESTBOROUGH | 53.4 | 14 |
| WEST BOYLSTON | 39.1 | 253 |
| WEST BRIDGEWATER | 40.2 | 232 |
| WEST BROOKFIELD | 38.2 | 267 |
| WESTFIELD | 43.9 | 160 |
| WESTFORD | 55.1 | 11 |
| WESTHAMPTON | 39.4 | 246 |
| WESTMINSTER | 42.9 | 177 |
| WEST NEWBURY | 45.7 | 115 |
| WESTON | 51.2 | 29 |
| WESTPORT | 35.7 | 304 |
| WEST SPRINGFIELD | 43.3 | 171 |
| WEST STOCKBRIDGE | 30.9 | 330 |
| WEST TISBURY | 43.1 | 173 |
| WESTWOOD | 51.7 | 26 |
| WEYMOUTH | 41.9 | 198 |
| WHATELY | 35.1 | 312 |
| WHITMAN | 48.5 | 65 |
| WILBRAHAM | 42.4 | 190 |
| WILLIAMSBURG | 39.3 | 247 |
| WILLIAMSTOWN | 36.2 | 297 |
| WILMINGTON | 46.7 | 91 |
| WINCHENDON | 45.7 | 115 |
| WINCHESTER | 53.5 | 13 |
| WINDSOR | 35.3 | 311 |
| WINTHROP | 39.1 | 253 |
| WOBURN | 40.8 | 221 |
| WORCESTER | 48.3 | 68 |
| WORTHINGTON | 29.1 | 338 |
| WRENTHAM | 49.8 | 49 |
| YARMOUTH | 30.6 | 333 |