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Middlesex County, Massachusetts Demographics 2026

Middlesex County, Massachusetts has a population of 1,622,896, the 1st most populous county in Massachusetts. The median household income is $126,779 and the median home value is $687,200. The poverty rate is 7.5%.

Middlesex County Quick Facts

Population 1,622,896
Median Household Income $126,779
Median Home Value $687,200
Poverty Rate 7.5%
Unemployment Rate 4.2%
Median Age 38.9 years
Homeownership Rate 61.6%
Affordability Ratio 5.4x
Bachelor's Degree+ 59.0%
High School Graduation 93.4%
Cities/Places 13
Population 1,622,896 1st of 14
Median Income $126,779 25% higher state
Poverty Rate 7.5%
Unemployment 4.2%

Economy & Housing

Employment

4.2% Unemployment Rate State: 5.1% | National: 5.2%
69.9% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 61.6%
Renter 38.4%
Affordability Index Expensive
5.4x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

52out of 100
Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 51 | National average: 60

Education

Cities & Places in Middlesex County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Cambridge city117,794$126,46912.4%$1,040,500
Lowell city114,799$76,20516.0%$395,100
Newton city88,504$184,9894.7%$1,202,500
Somerville city80,549$127,05610.2%$899,400
Framingham city72,013$98,17911.0%$600,600
Malden city65,509$95,29813.3%$607,500
Waltham city64,723$116,5608.6%$705,700
Medford city59,062$118,0898.2%$715,500
Everett city49,236$79,65815.4%$605,200
Marlborough city41,398$95,0479.2%$485,400
Woburn city41,205$107,7547.8%$641,800
Watertown Town city35,270$123,4226.1%$737,600
Melrose city29,488$126,8543.7%$796,100

Population Overview

Middlesex County is located in Massachusetts with a total population of 1,622,896. It is the 1st most populous county out of 14 in Massachusetts. The county encompasses 13 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Middlesex County is 38.9 years. This is 3% lower than the state median of 40.0 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Middlesex County is $126,779. This is 25% higher than the state median of $101,341. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 61% higher. The poverty rate stands at 7.5%. This is 25% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.0%. The unemployment rate is 4.2%. This is 18% lower than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $687,200. Housing costs are 31% higher than the state median of $525,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.4x. 61.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% lower than the state average of 62.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Middlesex County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 66.7% of the population. Asian residents account for 13.1%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (13.1% vs 7.0%).

Education

59.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Middlesex County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 27% higher than the state rate of 46.6%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 93.4%. Notably, 30.2% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Middlesex County, Massachusetts?

Middlesex County has a population of 1,622,896, making it the 1st most populous county in Massachusetts.

What is the median income in Middlesex County?

The median household income in Middlesex County is $126,779 with a poverty rate of 7.5%.

How many cities are in Middlesex County, Massachusetts?

Middlesex County contains 13 Census-designated places.