Massachusetts elevation
Massachusetts runs from sea level (Atlantic Ocean) to 3,491 ft at Mount Greylock, with an average of about 511 ft.
Highest point: Mount Greylock
3,491ft
1,064 m above sea level
Summit, Berkshire County · NGVD 29 (the older U.S. vertical datum)
- Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean
- 0 ft (sea level)
- Source: USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001)
- Average elevation (sampled)
- 511 ft (156 m)
- Mean of 233 USGS points about 10 km apart; an estimate, not a published figure.
- Source: USGS 3DEP + 2024 Census boundary
Data updated · By Ankit Kumar, compiled from public U.S. government and open datasets · How these numbers are made
Massachusetts places on this site
Cities and towns (USGS, downtown)
- Boston48 ft
Mountains and peaks
- Mount Greylock3,491 ft
Massachusetts elevation facts
| What | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Highest point: Mount Greylock | 3,491 ft (1,064 m) | USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001) |
| Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean | Sea level | USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001) |
| Vertical range | 3,491 ft (1,064 m) | Difference of the two figures above |
| Average elevation (sampled) | 511 ft (156 m) | USGS 3DEP, 233 grid points |
| USGS 3DEP value at the high point | 3,491 ft (1,064 m) | USGS 3DEP, within 250 m of the GNIS summit |
| Capital: Boston | 48 ft (15 m) | USGS 3DEP at the city center |
| Land area | 7,801 sq mi (20,204 km²) | Census 2024 boundary file |
Life at 511 ft
Standard-atmosphere estimates for the state's sampled average elevation (511 ft). Weather moves the real values a little from day to day.
- Oxygen per breath
- 98 % of sea level
- Air is still 20.9% oxygen; there is just less air.
- Oxygen calculator
- Home canning
- At or below 1,000 ft, use the standard USDA sea-level times.
- Canning adjustments · Baking
Sources: pressure from the U.S. Standard Atmosphere, 1976 (NOAA, NASA, USAF); boiling point from the Antoine equation for water (Lange's Handbook of Chemistry); canning thresholds from the USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning. Not medical or food-safety advice; follow the tested USDA recipe for your altitude.
City elevations in Massachusetts
- Worcester484 ft
- Lowell117 ft
- Springfield68 ft
- Boston (capital)48 ft
- Cambridge21 ft
Largest places in Massachusetts
The five incorporated places by 2024 Census population estimate.
| What | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Boston | 48 ft (15 m) · pop. 673,458 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Worcester | 484 ft (147 m) · pop. 211,286 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Springfield | 68 ft (21 m) · pop. 154,888 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Cambridge | 21 ft (6 m) · pop. 121,186 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Lowell | 117 ft (36 m) · pop. 120,418 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest point in Massachusetts?
Mount Greylock at 3,491 ft (1,064 m), from USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001).
What is the lowest point in Massachusetts?
Atlantic Ocean, at sea level, per the USGS Elevations and Distances table (2001).
What is the average elevation of Massachusetts?
About 511 ft (156 m): the mean of USGS 3DEP elevations at 233 points on a regular grid about 10 km apart inside the state boundary. It is our estimate, not a published figure.
Which Massachusetts city on this site is highest?
Boston, at 48 ft downtown (USGS).
Does altitude affect cooking in Massachusetts?
At 511 ft, water boils at about 211.1 °F (99.5 °C) and standard air pressure is 29.37 inHg (995 hPa), so each breath holds about 98% of the oxygen it would at sea level. That is for the state's average elevation; check your own town, because Massachusetts spans 3,491 ft from lowest to highest.
Sources
- USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001) — highest point
- USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) — lowest point
- USGS Elevation Point Query Service (3DEP) — average elevation, city-center values and the high-point check
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Cartographic Boundary Files (places, states; 1:500,000) — state boundary and land area
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files (places) — city locations
- U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 Population Estimates (cities and towns, July 1, 2024) — largest cities by population
- Wikidata (elevation statements that cite a source; the cited source is listed with each value) — state capital name
- U.S. Standard Atmosphere, 1976 (NOAA/NASA/USAF); water boiling point by the Antoine equation (Lange’s Handbook of Chemistry) — boiling point, air pressure and oxygen
How each number is produced: methodology and data sources.
Every state: US elevation by state · Highest point in each state
Data updated · By Ankit Kumar, compiled from public U.S. government and open datasets · How these numbers are made