| Massachusetts is the third most densely populated state of the US with more than 800 persons living in a square mile of area. The state ranks 44th in terms of total area, while it has a rank of 15 among most populous states of the country. According to an estimate, more than 6.4 million residents live in an area of 10,555 square miles in Massachusetts. Most of its population is concentrated in Boston metropolitan area. It has rural as well as urban and suburban settlements. While the eastern half mostly consists of urban population, the western portion is mostly rural. Located in the New England region of the northeastern part of the country, the state shares its borderline with Vermont and New Hampshire to the north, Connecticut and Rhode Island to the south and New York to the east. Its coastline to the east faces the Atlantic Ocean. The state is leading the country in higher education, high technology, health care and financial services. The gross state product of Massachusetts was $351 billion, according to an estimation of the United States Bureau of Economic Analysis in 2007. Its per capita income in 2006 was $47,702, which was fourth highest in the country. Boston is the largest city as well as capital of the state. |
