State report
Selected estimates for Massachusetts from five years of American Community Survey data.
Deaf and hearing estimates for Massachusetts, 2020–2024 (ACS 5-year). Each measure names its population universe. CI means confidence interval.
Civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16–64
2020–2024 · ACS 5-year
Deaf − hearing gap (percentage points)
-16.6 pp Stable 95% CI: -18.9 pp to -14.3 ppCivilian noninstitutionalized population age 25–64
2020–2024 · ACS 5-year
Deaf − hearing gap (percentage points)
-20.3 pp Stable 95% CI: -22.3 pp to -18.3 ppCivilian noninstitutionalized population age 16–64
2020–2024 · ACS 5-year
Deaf − hearing gap (percentage points)
-6.4 pp Stable 95% CI: -7.4 pp to -5.4 ppCivilian noninstitutionalized employed population age 16–64 with a valid occupation
2020–2024 · ACS 5-year
Deaf − hearing gap (percentage points)
-3.1 pp Stable 95% CI: -4.5 pp to -1.7 ppCivilian noninstitutionalized population age 25–64 with a bachelor’s degree or higher and a valid SCIENGP flag
2020–2024 · ACS 5-year
Deaf − hearing gap (percentage points)
-8.3 pp Stable 95% CI: -11.8 pp to -4.9 ppEmployed civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16–64 with valid weeks and usual hours worked
2020–2024 · ACS 5-year
Deaf − hearing gap (percentage points)
-0.9 pp Use caution 95% CI: -4.0 pp to 2.3 ppFull-time, year-round civilian noninstitutionalized workers age 16–64 with valid adjusted earnings, including zero and net losses
2020–2024 · ACS 5-year
Deaf − hearing gap
-$3,092 Use caution 95% CI: -$8,039 to $1,854Civilian noninstitutionalized population age 18 and older
2020–2024 · ACS 5-year
Deaf − hearing gap
Suppressed Suppressed: derived input suppressed An estimate needed for this calculation is suppressed.Deaf civilian noninstitutionalized population age 18 and older
2020–2024 · ACS 5-year
Gaps subtract the hearing estimate from the Deaf estimate. Negative values mean the Deaf estimate is lower; positive values mean it is higher. Percentage points (pp) describe differences between percentages. Gap confidence intervals come from published paired estimates. Unstable estimates require caution; suppressed estimates are withheld and do not mean zero.
View detailed results and sample sizesThis report presents 9 selected Census indicators for Massachusetts during 2020–2024. The table shows the population covered by each measure, along with its uncertainty, sample size, and reliability. Check these details before comparing or citing estimates.
Comparing periods: Consecutive five-year estimates share four years of data. A difference between them should not be read as a change over a single year. National one-year estimates are not directly comparable benchmarks for these five-year estimates.
A dash means the estimate is unavailable; the reliability column explains why. Unweighted sample is the number of survey records used, before applying survey weights. Each measure names the population it covers.
| Metric | Population | Estimate | 95% margin of error | 95% confidence interval | Unweighted sample | Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEM occupation employment share Civilian noninstitutionalized employed population age 16–64 with a valid occupation | Deaf − hearing gap | -3.11 pp | 1.4 pp | -4.51 pp to -1.72 pp | 1,835 | Stable Meets this release’s sample size and relative standard error thresholds. |
| STEM occupation employment share Civilian noninstitutionalized employed population age 16–64 with a valid occupation | Deaf people | 8% | 1.4 pp | 6.64% to 9.35% | 1,835 | Stable Meets this release’s sample size and relative standard error thresholds. |
| STEM occupation employment share Civilian noninstitutionalized employed population age 16–64 with a valid occupation | Hearing people | 11.11% | 0.2 pp | 10.9% to 11.32% | 160,006 | Stable Meets this release’s sample size and relative standard error thresholds. |
| Science and engineering degree share Civilian noninstitutionalized population age 25–64 with a bachelor’s degree or higher and a valid SCIENGP flag | Deaf − hearing gap | -8.34 pp | 3.4 pp | -11.76 pp to -4.92 pp | 973 | Stable Meets this release’s sample size and relative standard error thresholds. |
| Science and engineering degree share Civilian noninstitutionalized population age 25–64 with a bachelor’s degree or higher and a valid SCIENGP flag | Deaf people | 36.79% | 3.4 pp | 33.37% to 40.21% | 973 | Stable Meets this release’s sample size and relative standard error thresholds. |
| Science and engineering degree share Civilian noninstitutionalized population age 25–64 with a bachelor’s degree or higher and a valid SCIENGP flag | Hearing people | 45.12% | 0.4 pp | 44.75% to 45.5% | 94,562 | Stable Meets this release’s sample size and relative standard error thresholds. |
| Employment rate Civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16–64 | Deaf − hearing gap | -16.58 pp | 2.3 pp | -18.89 pp to -14.27 pp | 3,159 | Stable Meets this release’s sample size and relative standard error thresholds. |
| Employment rate Civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16–64 | Deaf people | 58.66% | 2.3 pp | 56.34% to 60.99% | 3,159 | Stable Meets this release’s sample size and relative standard error thresholds. |
| Employment rate Civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16–64 | Hearing people | 75.24% | 0.2 pp | 75.01% to 75.47% | 215,214 | Stable Meets this release’s sample size and relative standard error thresholds. |
| Full-time, year-round employment Employed civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16–64 with valid weeks and usual hours worked | Deaf − hearing gap | -0.87 pp | 3.2 pp | -4.04 pp to 2.3 pp | 1,835 | Unstable Relative standard error is above 30%; interpret with caution. |
| Full-time, year-round employment Employed civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16–64 with valid weeks and usual hours worked | Deaf people | 70.19% | 3.1 pp | 67.07% to 73.32% | 1,835 | Stable Meets this release’s sample size and relative standard error thresholds. |
| Full-time, year-round employment Employed civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16–64 with valid weeks and usual hours worked | Hearing people | 71.06% | 0.3 pp | 70.79% to 71.34% | 160,006 | Stable Meets this release’s sample size and relative standard error thresholds. |
| Bachelor's degree or higher Civilian noninstitutionalized population age 25–64 | Deaf − hearing gap | -20.3 pp | 2.0 pp | -22.27 pp to -18.32 pp | 2,926 | Stable Meets this release’s sample size and relative standard error thresholds. |
| Bachelor's degree or higher Civilian noninstitutionalized population age 25–64 | Deaf people | 30.31% | 2.0 pp | 28.3% to 32.32% | 2,926 | Stable Meets this release’s sample size and relative standard error thresholds. |
| Bachelor's degree or higher Civilian noninstitutionalized population age 25–64 | Hearing people | 50.61% | 0.4 pp | 50.25% to 50.96% | 171,711 | Stable Meets this release’s sample size and relative standard error thresholds. |
| Postsecondary enrollment Civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16–64 | Deaf − hearing gap | -6.42 pp | 1.0 pp | -7.4 pp to -5.44 pp | 3,159 | Stable Meets this release’s sample size and relative standard error thresholds. |
| Postsecondary enrollment Civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16–64 | Deaf people | 5.65% | 1.0 pp | 4.67% to 6.64% | 3,159 | Stable Meets this release’s sample size and relative standard error thresholds. |
| Postsecondary enrollment Civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16–64 | Hearing people | 12.07% | 0.2 pp | 11.89% to 12.24% | 215,214 | Stable Meets this release’s sample size and relative standard error thresholds. |
| Median annual earnings Full-time, year-round civilian noninstitutionalized workers age 16–64 with valid adjusted earnings, including zero and net losses | Deaf − hearing gap | -$3,092 | $4,946 | -$8,039 to $1,854 | 1,288 | Unstable Relative standard error is above 30%; interpret with caution. |
| Median annual earnings Full-time, year-round civilian noninstitutionalized workers age 16–64 with valid adjusted earnings, including zero and net losses | Deaf people | $77,561 | $4,926 | $72,635 to $82,486 | 1,288 | Stable Meets this release’s sample size and relative standard error thresholds. |
| Median annual earnings Full-time, year-round civilian noninstitutionalized workers age 16–64 with valid adjusted earnings, including zero and net losses | Hearing people | $80,653 | $940 | $79,713 to $81,594 | 113,694 | Stable Meets this release’s sample size and relative standard error thresholds. |
| Median age Civilian noninstitutionalized population age 18 and older | Deaf − hearing gap | — | — | — | 11,631 | Suppressed An estimate needed for this calculation is suppressed. |
| Median age Civilian noninstitutionalized population age 18 and older | Deaf people | 72 years | 2.2 years | 69.77 years to 74.23 years | 11,631 | Stable Meets this release’s sample size and relative standard error thresholds. |
| Median age Civilian noninstitutionalized population age 18 and older | Hearing people | — | — | — | 271,916 | Suppressed Replicate weights did not provide reliable uncertainty for this median. |
| Additional disability Deaf civilian noninstitutionalized population age 18 and older | Deaf people | 47.68% | 1.4 pp | 46.27% to 49.09% | 11,631 | Stable Meets this release’s sample size and relative standard error thresholds. |
Source: ACS 5-year, 2020–2024. The definitions below describe who is included in each measure.
National Deaf Center on Postsecondary Outcomes. Deaf Data Lab: selected indicators for Massachusetts. 2020–2024 ACS5 PUMS. Methodology ndc-observatory-2026.3. Release acs5-2024-observatory-2026.12-scientific-candidate. Approved for publication. Not the current default release.
