The 2025 Massachusetts Healthy Aging Data Report was released today, revealing trends and disparities in the health of older adults throughout the state. The report presents a detailed picture of aging in Massachusetts that’s provided nowhere else: a neighborhood-level examination of the challenges faced by older adults. The report includes 386 community profiles of 351 cities and towns, plus neighborhoods in Boston, Worcester, and Springfield.
The report was prepared by a research team at the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston, funded by Point32Health Foundation and engaged key stakeholders in the state to contextualize findings.
“Massachusetts and its communities are rewriting the story of aging, and having local data helps complete the picture of our successes and opportunities,” said James Fuccione, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative. “In our work to promote and support inclusive age- and dementia friendly communities, the data – just like the previous report in 2019 – will accelerate policy, planning and advocacy initiatives that are relevant and responsive to local need.”
Among its many insights, the report highlights:
- Massachusetts’s older population is growing: 23.8% of the state is now 60 or older, with 17.1% being 65 or older.
- The older population is increasingly diverse: 16% of adults 65 or older speak a language other than English at home.
- The older population is more educated: Of people 65 and older, half have a college degree and nearly 19% have a graduate or professional degree.
“This is what is magic about our report: We report at very local levels,” said Elizabeth Dugan, PhD Principal Investigator, Gerontology University of Massachusetts Boston. “That empowers advocates who live in those communities. It helps policymakers make smarter investments, and helps philanthropists see what their investments yield over time.”
The 2025 Massachusetts Healthy Aging Data Report online resources include:
- 386 individual community profiles
- 165 maps listing community rates for each indicator (both ranked and alphabetized)
- 18 interactive web maps
- An infographic summarizing key findings
- Technical documentation
“When we use data to inform our work, we can change policies and practices, engage community and give context to what is affecting people and what is most relevant,” said Greg Shell, chair of the Point32Health Foundation board of directors and vice chair of the parent company Board of Point32Health. “The Healthy Aging Data reports provide critical information and are essential tools to make New England a better place to grow up and grow old.”