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Key Findings
All six New England states have gained population since the 2020 Census.
Immigration accounted for New England’s entire population gain.
The influence of immigration, domestic migration, and natural change varied from state to state.
Introduction
New England’s population grew by 310,000 (2.1 percent) between the 2020 Census in April 2020 and July 2025 and now stands at 15,432,000, according to new Census Bureau estimates. New England’s entire population gain was due to a net influx of 466,200 international immigrants (3.1 percent). This gain offsets a natural loss that resulted from deaths exceeding births by 21,200 (-0.2 percent) and an outflow of 121,800 domestic migrants (0.8 percent) to other U.S. destinations from New England (see Figure 1).
A Demographic Tale of Two New Englands
All six New England states have gained population since 2020, but the source of growth varied. Maine and New Hampshire had the largest population gains in the region. Most of their population gains were due to an influx of domestic migrants from other states, but each state also benefited from international immigration. Vermont’s modest population gain came from roughly equal domestic migration and immigration. Deaths exceeded births in all three northern New England states, but the migration gains were great enough to offset this natural loss.
Figure 1. New England Demographic Change, 2020 to 2025
Source: Census Bureau Estimates Analysis: K.M. Johnson, Carsey School, UNH
The demographic story was different in southern New England. The population gains in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island were due to a substantial influx of immigrants. This immigration gain offset a continuing net outflow of domestic migrants to other U.S. destinations from each state. Massachusetts and Connecticut also had modest natural gains because births exceeded deaths by a narrow margin. In Rhode Island, immigration produced the entire population gain, offsetting domestic outmigration and more deaths than births.
These recent data underscore the important role of immigration in New England’s demographic future. States in the region have among the lowest birth rates in the country and the oldest populations. This diminishes the likelihood of significant natural gains because, at best, births are likely to barely exceed deaths. And, though Maine and New Hampshire continue to benefit from significant domestic migration gains, more migrants left New England for other U.S. destinations than came to it. Immigration represents the only likely source of significant population increase for the region. With immigration policies and practices now in flux, New England’s demographic future remains in question.
Methods and Data
This analysis is based on Census Bureau Population Estimates for April 1, 2020, to June 30, 2025. Readers are cautioned that, although the Bureau uses the best data and algorithms available at the time of release to generate the data, they remain estimates and are subject to future revision. Census Estimates contain a small residual value, so the components of change may not add up to the population total.
About the Author
Kenneth M. Johnson is senior demographer at the Carsey School of Public Policy, professor of sociology at the University of New Hampshire, and an Andrew Carnegie Fellow. His research is supported by the NH Agricultural Experiment Station through joint funding from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (under Hatch-Multistate project W5001, award number 7003437) and the state of New Hampshire. The opinions are his and not those of the sponsoring organizations.
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