County · Massachusetts
Middlesex County, Massachusetts
Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Middlesex County had 1,669,979 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 2.3% since 2020, faster than Massachusetts (+1.7%). It holds 68 places (13 cities, villages and boroughs, 31 towns and townships and 24 census-designated) and 357 census tracts. GEOID 25017.
Middlesex County is one of the 7 counties of the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
1,669,979
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,632,002 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,638,365
Median household income
$130,847
±$1,164 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $103,960
Median home value
$727,800
±$3,891 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $562,100
Median gross rent
$2,201
±$17 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $1,762
How many people live in Middlesex County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 1,632,002 residents in Middlesex County. The Census Bureau estimates 1,669,979 for July 1, 2025, up 2.3% since 2020, faster than Massachusetts (+1.7%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 1,638,365 over 818 square miles of land.
| Measure | Middlesex County | Massachusetts | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,638,365 | 7,044,056 | +37,523 |
| Households | 634,215±1,681 | 2,785,042 | +29,831 |
| Average household size | 2.49±0.01 | 2.44 | −0.06 |
| Housing units | 664,267±238 | 3,030,406 | +27,724 |
Middlesex County's population since 2000
From 1,465,396 in 2000 to 1,669,979 in 2025: up 14.0%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Middlesex County?
Middlesex County holds 68 places: 13 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places), 31 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 24 census-designated places. The largest is Cambridge with 122,588 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Cambridge | 118,403 | $130,748 |
|---|---|---|
| Lowell | 115,554 | $78,658 |
| Newton | 88,923 | $190,304 |
| Somerville | 81,045 | $132,572 |
| Framingham | 72,362 | $107,419 |
| Malden | 66,263 | $100,606 |
| Waltham | 65,218 | $120,216 |
| Medford | 59,659 | $129,540 |
| Everett | 49,075 | $85,218 |
| Arlington | 46,308 | $150,701 |
| Billerica | 42,119 | $148,200 |
| Marlborough | 41,793 | $91,968 |
| Woburn | 40,876 | $111,185 |
| Natick | 37,006 | $138,538 |
| Chelmsford | 36,392 | $140,629 |
| Watertown | – | $126,265 |
| Lexington | 34,454 | $238,444 |
| Dracut | 32,617 | $114,036 |
| Tewksbury | 31,342 | $128,061 |
| Melrose | 29,817 | $133,953 |
| Belmont | 27,295 | $183,137 |
| Wakefield | 27,090 | $134,306 |
| Burlington | 26,377 | $146,436 |
| Reading | 25,518 | $165,912 |
| Westford | 24,643 | $187,198 |
| Acton | 24,021 | $158,230 |
| Wilmington | 23,349 | $168,152 |
| Stoneham | 23,244 | $113,964 |
| Winchester | 22,970 | $230,198 |
| Hudson | 20,092 | $103,400 |
| Sudbury | 18,934 | $236,250 |
| Ashland | 18,832 | $127,539 |
| Hopkinton | 18,758 | $222,801 |
| Concord | 18,491 | $195,350 |
| Hudson CDP | 15,749 | $90,524 |
| North Reading | 15,554 | $147,768 |
| Holliston | 14,996 | $159,817 |
| Bedford | 14,383 | $172,400 |
| Wayland | 13,943 | $224,000 |
| Tyngsborough | 12,380 | $129,348 |
| Weston | 11,851 | $250,000 or more |
| Pepperell | 11,604 | $124,073 |
| Groton | 11,315 | $192,958 |
| Maynard | 10,746 | $124,067 |
| Littleton | 10,141 | $149,722 |
| Townsend | 9,127 | $121,528 |
| Ayer | 8,479 | $101,875 |
| Shirley | 7,431 | $122,365 |
| Pinehurst | 7,368 | $146,250 |
| Stow | 7,174 | $185,809 |
| Lincoln | 7,014 | $175,117 |
| Cochituate | 6,927 | $192,361 |
| West Concord | 6,320 | $183,228 |
| Boxborough | 5,506 | $144,611 |
| Carlisle | 5,237 | $250,000 or more |
| Sherborn | 4,401 | $250,000 or more |
| Dunstable | 3,358 | $208,512 |
| Ashby | 3,193 | $115,598 |
| Littleton Common | 3,065 | $135,074 |
| Ayer CDP | 2,986 | $74,878 |
| Hopkinton CDP | 2,651 | $201,094 |
| Pepperell CDP | 2,390 | $76,726 |
| East Pepperell | 2,120 | $96,198 |
| Shirley CDPGEOID 2561555 | 1,611 | $108,494 |
| Hanscom AFBGEOID 2528425 | 1,516 | $104,688 |
| Groton CDP | 1,353 | $135,714 |
| Townsend CDP | 1,213 | $58,571 |
| Devens | 1,697 | $189,250 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Middlesex County?
The median resident of Middlesex County is 38.9 years old; 19.5% are under 18 and 16.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 65.1%, then non-Hispanic Asian residents at 13.6%. 23.1% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Middlesex County | Massachusetts | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.9±0.2 | 40.0 | +0.4 |
| Under 18 years | 19.5%±0.1 pts | 19.4% | – |
| 65 years and over | 16.3%±0.1 pts | 17.9% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 9.3% | 13.3% | +1.3 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 65.1%±0.2 pts | 66.6% | −6.8 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 4.7%±0.1 pts | 6.4% | −0.3 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 13.6%±0.1 pts | 7.3% | +1.7 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.8%±0.2 pts | 5.1% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 1.4%±0.1 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 23.1%±0.3 pts | 18.0% | +1.7 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 29.1%±0.4 pts | 25.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 3.3%±0.1 pts | 4.3% | – |
| With a disability | 9.9%±0.2 pts | 12.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 2.4%±0.2 pts | 2.6% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 93.2%±0.2 pts | 91.4% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 59.5%±0.5 pts | 47.3% | +3.2 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 30.5%±0.4 pts | 21.8% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.7%±0.1 pts | 2.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Middlesex County earn?
Half of Middlesex County's 634,215 households earn less than $130,847 a year (±$1,164), against $103,960 in Massachusetts. In 2015-2019 the median was $126,273 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $4,574 after inflation. 7.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Middlesex County | Massachusetts | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $130,847±$1,164 | $103,960 | +$4,574 |
| Mean household income | $178,070±$1,505 | $144,950 | – |
| Per capita income | $69,556±$581 | $57,897 | +$5,279 |
| People below the poverty line | 7.7%±0.3 pts | 10.0% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 7.9%±0.7 pts | 11.7% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 9.3%±0.4 pts | 14.7% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 94.7%±0.3 pts | 92.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Middlesex County?
Owners occupy 61.3% of Middlesex County's occupied homes and renters 38.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $727,800 by its owner (±$3,891). The median renter pays $2,201 a month including utilities, and 37.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Middlesex County | Massachusetts | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $727,800±$3,891 | $562,100 | +$111,592 |
| Median gross rent | $2,201±$17 | $1,762 | +$188 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 37.6%±1.0 pts | 41.8% | +2.5 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $3,224±$20 | $2,726 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 61.3%±0.4 pts | 62.5% | −1.1 pts |
| Housing units | 664,267±238 | 3,030,406 | +27,724 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.6%±0.1 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.4%±0.3 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 46.5%±0.4 pts | 51.1% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.4%±0.1 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.2%±0.1 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 32.3%±0.4 pts | 30.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Middlesex County building?
Builders took permits for 2,341 new housing units across Middlesex County in 2025 (862 single-family), 1.4 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Middlesex County get to work?
54.2% of Middlesex County's workers drive alone and 24.7% work from home. The average trip to work takes 29.9 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.4%.
| Measure | Middlesex County | Massachusetts | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 69.9%±0.3 pts | 67.0% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.4%±0.2 pts | 5.2% | +0.6 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 54.2%±0.5 pts | 61.2% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.3%±0.3 pts | 7.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 7.2%±0.2 pts | 6.5% | – |
| Walked | 4.2%±0.2 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 24.7%±0.4 pts | 18.6% | +18.9 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 29.9 min±0.2 | 29.1 min | −1.5 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What are Middlesex County's census tracts?
Middlesex County is divided into 357 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $23,500 (Tract 3883) to $250,000 or more (Tract 3861).
All 357 census tracts of Middlesex County, with their figures
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Middlesex County compare with Massachusetts's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 1st of 14 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 6th of 14 |
| Residents per square mile | 2nd of 14 |
| Median household income | 2nd of 14 |
| Median home value | 3rd of 14 |
| Median gross rent | 2nd of 14 |
| Poverty rate | 9th of 14 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 1st of 14 |
| Median age | 12th of 14 |
Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Middlesex County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.