What Fueled New England's Steady Population Growth in the 1600s?

The single most important factor was the arrival of indentured servants.

Throughout the 17th century, thousands of young men and women—mostly from England—signed indenture contracts binding them to work for 4–7 years in exchange for passage to America, room, board, and "freedom dues" (tools, clothes, sometimes land) at the end of their term.

This system provided the labor backbone for New England's family farms, artisan shops, and nascent industries. Unlike the Chesapeake, where high mortality and a male-heavy demographic stunted growth, New England's healthier climate and more balanced sex ratio allowed many former servants to marry, establish households, and reproduce, creating a self-sustaining population expansion.

While Puritan religious cohesion and town-based governance provided social stability, it was the steady influx and eventual integration of indentured labor that powered the demographic engine.