Population 1,638,365 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Middlesex County
Household size in Middlesex County
| Period | Middlesex County | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.52 | 2.54 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.57 | 2.59 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.58 | 2.60 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.56 | 2.55 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.03 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
The average household in Middlesex County has 2.56 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. Since 2006–10, household size has crept up from 2.52, even as the national average fell. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the northwest.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Middlesex County
| Period | Middlesex County | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.2 | 38.9 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.7 | 39.7 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.1 | 40.4 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.3 | 40.8 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.1 | +1.9 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
At 40.3, the median age in Middlesex County is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 39.2, as it has nationally. Only one other Massachusetts county is younger.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Middlesex County
| Period | Middlesex County | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.2% | 10.4% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.1% | 10.2% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.9% | 9.6% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.3% | 9.7% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.0 pts | −0.7 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 8.3% of households in Middlesex County, well below the national share of 11.6%. Middlesex County has a lower share of single-parent households than most Massachusetts counties.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Middlesex County
Renters in Middlesex County
| Period | Middlesex County | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.1% | 36.8% | 36.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 37.5% | 38.5% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 37.6% | 38.3% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 38.7% | 38.4% | 37.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.6 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Nearly four in ten households in Middlesex County rent their homes (38.7%), a bit above the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 34.2% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 2.6 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Only one other Massachusetts county has a higher share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Middlesex County
| Period | Middlesex County | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.1% | 8.1% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.2% | 7.4% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.4% | 7.3% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.9% | 6.7% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Middlesex County than nationally: 5.9%, against 9.6% for the U.S. The picture is much the same across the Boston area. Vacancy has edged down 1.2 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Middlesex County
| Period | Middlesex County | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1957 | 1958 | 1958 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1958 | 1959 | 1959 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1960 | 1961 | 1961 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1962 | 1964 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +6 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Middlesex County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1962, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1957 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northwest, the oldest in the southeast.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Middlesex County
| Period | Middlesex County | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,230 | $1,171 | $1,085 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,324 | $1,251 | $1,157 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,667 | $1,537 | $1,398 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,208 | $2,051 | $1,860 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$978 | +$881 | +$775 | +$606 |
The median renter in Middlesex County pays $2,208 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $978 a month since 2006–10, up 80%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 30.6% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. No other Massachusetts county has higher rents.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Middlesex County
Bachelor's degrees in Middlesex County
| Period | Middlesex County | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 49.6% | 42.2% | 38.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 51.7% | 44.1% | 40.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 56.5% | 48.2% | 43.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 59.5% | 51.9% | 47.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.9 pts | +9.7 pts | +8.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Middlesex County: 59.5% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. The share with a degree is up 9.9 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Only one other Massachusetts county has a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Middlesex County
| Period | Middlesex County | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.6% | 89.8% | 88.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.2% | 90.6% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.4% | 91.5% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.0% | 91.8% | 91.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | +2.1 pts | +2.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Middlesex County is above the national rate: 93.0% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The Boston area as a whole looks much the same. The share with a diploma has edged up 1.4 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Middlesex County
| Period | Middlesex County | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.0% | 7.0% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.8% | 8.0% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.8% | 4.6% | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.3% | 4.9% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.8 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Middlesex County than nationally: unemployment was 4.3%, against 5.4%. Only one other Massachusetts county has lower unemployment. Unemployment has fallen 1.8 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Middlesex County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middlesex County | 2.56 | 40.3 | 8.3% | 38.7% | 5.9% | 1962 | $2,208 | 59.5% | 93.0% | 4.3% |
| Suffolk County | 2.36 | 35.9 | 12.1% | 63.5% | 9.3% | 1957 | $2,151 | 50.4% | 86.9% | 6.7% |
| Worcester County | 2.56 | 41.1 | 11.7% | 34.2% | 6.8% | 1965 | $1,549 | 39.8% | 90.9% | 5.3% |
| Franklin County | 2.23 | 47.6 | 9.8% | 29.9% | 8.9% | 1962 | $1,211 | 40.0% | 94.4% | 5.4% |
| Hampshire County | 2.31 | 40.8 | 8.1% | 32.2% | 10.0% | 1967 | $1,516 | 52.5% | 95.9% | 5.4% |
| Berkshire County | 2.18 | 47.3 | 10.7% | 30.1% | 16.0% | 1956 | $1,361 | 39.5% | 94.0% | 5.4% |
| Otsego County | 2.38 | 42.0 | 9.1% | 26.1% | 19.9% | 1961 | $939 | 33.9% | 92.1% | 6.4% |
| Chenango County | 2.31 | 45.8 | 10.8% | 24.6% | 18.2% | 1965 | $910 | 19.9% | 89.8% | 6.1% |
| Cortland County | 2.26 | 39.0 | 11.1% | 33.7% | 10.0% | 1961 | $1,046 | 28.3% | 90.4% | 4.7% |
| Tompkins County | 2.11 | 36.3 | 8.1% | 45.9% | 9.9% | 1971 | $1,436 | 61.0% | 95.4% | 5.7% |
| Schuyler County | 2.40 | 46.7 | 9.3% | 20.8% | 21.9% | 1967 | $1,117 | 26.3% | 90.6% | 6.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Riverside County, CA · Dallas County, TX · San Bernardino County, CA · Clark County, NV · Queens County, NY · King County, WA · Tarrant County, TX · Duval County, FL · St. Louis County, MO · Philadelphia County, PA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Middlesex County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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