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Population Review

Census ACS 2023 · 14 counties

Largest Counties in Massachusetts

Massachusetts has 14 counties with Census data available. The largest is Middlesex County with a population of 1,622,896. County-level data is important because counties are the primary unit of local government in most states, responsible for courts, elections, public health, and infrastructure. Population distribution across counties reveals where growth is concentrated and where rural decline may be occurring.

Source: Census ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates

#CountyPopulationMedian Income
1Worcester County861,664$93,561
2Suffolk County782,172$92,859
3Plymouth County531,889$109,698
4Norfolk County724,540$126,497
5Nantucket County14,299$119,750
6Middlesex County1,622,896$126,779
7Hampshire County156,595$86,391
8Hampden County462,853$70,535
9Franklin County70,922$72,584
10Essex County807,258$99,431
11Dukes County20,751$102,348
12Bristol County578,436$84,198
13Berkshire County128,047$72,565
14Barnstable County230,073$94,452

More Rankings for Massachusetts

Frequently Asked Questions

Middlesex County is the #1 ranked county in Massachusetts by population, with a value of 1,622,896 according to Census ACS 2023 data.

Massachusetts has 14 counties tracked in Census ACS 2023 data.

All data comes from the American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-Year estimates by the US Census Bureau.

Data from the American Community Survey 2023 5-Year estimates. Covers all counties in Massachusetts.