The New England states are among the most densely populated in the United States. This includes our own state, Massachusetts. You might expect any town in the New England region to have a reasonable population. Indeed, New England has an average population density of 236.9 people per square mile, which is significantly higher than the national average of 79.56 people per square mile.
Despite being the most populous of the New England states, Massachusetts has a town with a population even lower than the national average per square mile.
The Bay State’s smallest town by population is also the only one with a population in the double digits. And it is shrinking! Every other town in Massachusetts has at least a triple-digit population. Only three towns have fewer than 200 residents.
So, what are these three towns that have such small populations? Which of these has only a double-digit population? Let’s look at the three smallest towns by population in Massachusetts…
3. Mount Washington
This Berkshire County town is located in the far southwest corner of Massachusetts. As of 2022, the population was 188. Bash Bish Falls State Park contains the highest waterfalls in the Bay State.
2. Monroe
Monroe is located on the northwest edge of Franklin County, but its residents attend Berkshire County schools. They also form a border with Vermont. All 118 residents live there.
1. Gosnold
Gosnold is Massachusetts’s tiniest town. As of 2023, the town’s population is only in the double digits, with 67 residents. Other recent reports, however, show that the number has decreased since then, to 64, and even as low as 38.
It’s situated in Dukes County, just off Buzzards Bay. Only 13.2 of the 140.2 square miles that Gosnold technically covers is land. The remainder is water. Perhaps the beachfront and water access don’t bother many of the remaining residents.
And there it is: the smallest town(s) in Massachusetts. These figures are all significantly lower than the New England average of 236.9 people per square mile. Some New England towns aren’t so dense after all.
