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SNAP Participation in Greater Boston Pre-OBBB

As of July 2025, Greater Boston accounted for more than half of the Commonwealth’s SNAP caseload: 361,473 cases and 578,686 clients, or roughly 56 percent of the statewide client total. While SNAP recipients live in every corner of the region, participation rates vary widely by community.

The highest concentrations are found in cities like Lawrence and Brockton, where more than a third of all residents receive SNAP. In Lawrence’s 01840 ZIP Code, covering low-income neighborhoods just north of downtown, an estimated 63 percent of residents are SNAP clients, which is the highest share of any ZIP Code in the region.

By contrast, wealthier suburbs in places like MetroWest and the North and South Shores have far lower participation rates, often between 1 and 4 percent.

The table below lists the 10 Greater Boston cities with the highest SNAP participation rates. These numbers help illustrate both the scale of the program and its deep roots in working-class and immigrant communities across the region.