The Great Sorting: How 25 Years of Demographic Migration Reshaped Massachusetts Communities (2000-2024)

Massachusetts experienced extreme demographic sorting 2000-2024: Dover and Wellesley reached 86% BA+ while Lawrence stayed at 15%—a 71-point education gap. Newton's median income ($176K) is 3.7x Springfield's ($48K). Households with children concentrated in wealthy suburbs (Dover 50%, Newton 33%) while Gateway Cities saw family exodus. These migration patterns preceded—and caused—the 2024 political earthquake, creating distinct community universes that will shape the Commonwealth for decades.