How Wide Is Massachusetts? Total Distance from East to West

Massachusetts is the second-largest state in New England – the six states that make up the northeasternmost portion of the United States of America. Perhaps most famous for Colonial history and the Salen Witch Trials, the state is also well-known for the distinct accents of its residents. Is that all Massachusetts contains? A history of violence and an accent? Absolutely not! Every state has something beautiful to offer, and this fine state is no exception. In this article, we will explore the state of Massachusetts while asking – and answering – one big question: How wide is Massachusetts?

How Wide is Massachusetts?

At its greatest width, Massachusetts is 190 miles wide (east to west). It is the 43rd largest state by area, putting it in the top ten smallest states in the country. In addition, the state is 110 miles long (north to south) and has an overall area of 10,554 square miles. How does this stack up against the widths of other states? Let’s start by comparing it to the largest state in the United States – Alaska. Alaska is 2,400 miles wide, meaning you could fit Massachusetts in it almost 21 times lined up side by side. Compared to the smallest state – Rhode Island – Massachusetts is about eight times larger.

The state closest in size to Massachusetts is Vermont. The dimensions of the state are a little different, though. Vermont is 89 miles wide at its widest point and 159 miles long. It has an overall area of 9,616 square miles. That means that Massachusetts is about 1.10 times bigger than Vermont – a difference of 938 square miles overall. We’ve included a table of other smaller states and how they stack up against Massachusetts.

It may seem strange that Hawaii is so wide, but consider this: Hawaii is a collection of 137 islands in an archipelago. The distance of width is from the easternmost island to the westernmost island. The length measurement for Hawaii is the total north-to-south distance on Hawaii’s largest island.

You can see that many of these states are similar enough in size to one another, but most of them have a much smaller or larger width than Massachusetts.

Where is Massachusetts on a Map?

Now that we know how wide the state is – and how it stacks up against other states – let’s take a look at where it is. This is important as a point of reference for many reasons. An interactive map helps us to view the location of a city, state, or country while exploring its features. This allows us to build a mental map and better familiarize ourselves with any given area. Even if you are very familiar with a specific place, a map still provides helpful information and orientation.

As you can see in the provided map, Massachusetts shares a border with five states and the Atlantic Ocean. To the south, the state is bordered by Connecticut and Rhode Island. To the west, New York. Not the short, New Hampshire. The entire eastern side of the state is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean. The Atlantic Ocean is a key part of the history of this state, especially in Boston.

Population and Cost of Living

There are 6.985 million people living in the state of Massachusetts, making it the 16th most populated state in the United States. Of these nearly seven million residents, 79 percent are white, 9.5 percent are black, 13 percent are Hispanic or Latino, and 7.7 percent are Asian. Mass.gov has acknowledged several racial disparities based on a predominantly white population and is working to educate about and alleviate the symptoms of these disparities. Still, Jessie Brunelle, the Legislative and Communications Director for the Office of the Child Advocate in Massachusetts published a press release in 2022 that states young black residents were four times more likely than white youth to experience custodial arrest.

The average income in Massachusetts is $39,666 while the average cost of living is $44,405 (pre-tax). The northeastern state is ranked among the top five most expensive states to live in, with living costs 1.28 times higher than the national average. This is due to a number of factors, including housing. The cost of a home in Massachusetts is, on average, 161,900 dollars higher than the national median cost. According to rent.com, the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Boston was $3,887 in 2022. In smaller cities such as Pittsfield, a one-bedroom costs around $1,250 a month – 12.5 percent higher than the national average.

Major Cities

Massachusetts has 351 cities. Of these cities, only nine have a population above 100,000. We’ll list these 9 cities on a helpful table and include a couple of other important points of reference for them. All of our population statistics are pulled from the 2021 census and may not reflect the exact current population at the time of publication.

This table helps share some fun information and highlights the disparities in average income across 9 major cities in the state. It makes a great case for average income being influenced by the highest and lowest earners in a given area, which means average income is not a good indicator of individual experience.

Wildlife in Massachusetts

The diversity of wildlife in Massachusetts is quite impressive. The state has nine official animals, including the North Atlantic right whale and the morgan horse. The incredible biodiversity of this state can be partially attributed to its coastline. States that border or contain large bodies of fresh or salt water have increased biodiversity. Riparian areas are ideal natural homes for thousands of different species of animals worldwide. After all, all creatures need water to survive.

So, what kinds of animals might you see when you visit this New England state? It depends on where you go! Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary is a great place to witness marine life and seabirds, such as humpback whales, fin whales, sei whales, Atlantic white-sided dolphins, harbor porpoises, wolffish, gulls, terns, and storm petrels.

At the Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, visitors may spot bullfrogs, tree swallows, turkey vultures, red-winged blackbirds, Blanding’s turtles, honeybees, ruby-throated hummingbirds, little brown bats, and muskbeavers. White-tail deer also roam the area, along with the great blue heron and the wild turkey.

There are 173 species of animal and 259 species of plant protected under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act. This list includes six whale species and five sea turtle species. You can check out a full list of endangered and threatened species in Massachusetts by visiting the mass.gov website.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © D. Sharon Pruitt CC BY 2.0 – License / Original