Massachusetts / MA-05
Massachusetts District 5
Score
Irregularity score 80 Very irregularLess compact than 86% of other congressional districts.
62nd least compact of 429 nationally, 2nd of 9 in Massachusetts.
A score describes shape, not intent. Coastlines, rivers and the Voting Rights Act can all make a district irregular. How scores work
The three measures
- Polsby-Popper
- 0.18at least as compact as 30% of districts on this measure
Area compared with perimeter. Low for jagged or snaking edges.
- Reock
- 0.36at least as compact as 17% of districts on this measure
Area compared with the smallest circle around the district, counting only land. Low for stretched shapes.
- Convex hull
- 0.64at least as compact as 13% of districts on this measure
Area compared with a rubber band stretched around the district, counting only land. Low for bites and tentacles.
Each measure runs from 0 to 1, where 1 is a perfect circle or a shape with no dents.
The state's edge
9% of this district's border is the state's edge: a coastline, a national border or a state line. Mapmakers don't choose those lines. A ragged one, like a coastline or a river, lowers Polsby-Popper. Reock and convex hull count only the state's own land, so water and neighboring states don't count against them. More on the state's edge
Cities and towns
The largest places with people in this district, from the 2020 Census. A place split between districts shows how many of its residents live in this one.
- Framingham cityall 72,362 residents
- Malden cityall 66,263 residents
- Waltham cityall 65,218 residents
- Revere cityall 62,186 residents
- Medford cityall 59,659 residents
- Cambridge city53,499 of its 118,403 residents
- Arlington communityall 46,308 residents
- Woburn cityall 40,876 residents
- Watertown Town cityall 35,329 residents
- Lexington communityall 34,454 residents
And 10 smaller places. 10% of this district's people live outside any city, town or named community. How places are counted
ZIP codes
35 ZIP codes have residents in this district. 16 of them are split with other districts. A percentage is the share of that ZIP code's 2020 residents who live here.
- 01701
- 01702
- 01730 (5%)
- 01731 (93%)
- 01754
- 01760
- 01773 (99%)
- 01775 (1%)
- 01776
- 01778
- 01801 (99%)
- 01890
- 02138 (96%)
- 02139 (19%)
- 02140 (44%)
- 02144 (1%)
- 02145 (1%)
- 02148
- 02151 (99%)
- 02152
- 02155 (97%)
- 02176
- 02180
- 02420 (99%)
- 02421
- 02451
- 02452
- 02453
- 02472 (99%)
- 02474
- 02476
- 02478
- 02481 (79%)
- 02482 (80%)
- 02493
These are the Census Bureau's ZIP code areas, which match residential ZIP codes closely. ZIP codes used only for PO boxes or a single organization aren't included. How ZIP codes are matched
2024 presidential vote
Shares of the votes for the two of them; other candidates are left out. Massachusetts used the same lines in 2024, so this is added up from precinct results. A precinct split between districts is divided by its House votes, so the figures are close estimates. Where the votes come from
U.S. House
Statewide results from Massachusetts for the November 3, 2026 election aren't available yet.
Massachusetts's senators
- Edward J. Markey, DemocratSeat on the November 3, 2026 ballot: results aren't available yet.
- Elizabeth Warren, Democrat
Senators are elected by the whole state, so district lines don't change who they are. Senators serving as of November 6, 2026. Senators elected in November 2026 take office January 3, 2027. Where this comes from
Where it sits in Massachusetts
- Very compact (0 to 19)
- Compact (20 to 39)
- Middle (40 to 59)
- Irregular (60 to 79)
- Very irregular (80 to 100)
Spot a problem with this district? Email us about MA-05.