County · Massachusetts
Suffolk County, Massachusetts
Suffolk County, Massachusetts. Suffolk County had 791,891 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.1% since 2020, while Massachusetts grew 1.7%. It holds 4 places (4 cities, villages and boroughs) and 235 census tracts. GEOID 25025.
Suffolk 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
791,891
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 797,936 · ACS 2020-2024: 785,121
Median household income
$95,631
±$1,765 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $103,960
Median home value
$705,800
±$8,139 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $562,100
Median gross rent
$2,129
±$24 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $1,762
How many people live in Suffolk County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 797,936 residents in Suffolk County. The Census Bureau estimates 791,891 for July 1, 2025, down 1.1% since 2020, while Massachusetts grew 1.7%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 785,121 over 58 square miles of land.
| Measure | Suffolk County | Massachusetts | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 785,121 | 7,044,056 | −11,484 |
| Households | 327,167±1,440 | 2,785,042 | +17,323 |
| Average household size | 2.25±0.01 | 2.44 | −0.16 |
| Housing units | 357,290±240 | 3,030,406 | +20,039 |
Suffolk County's population since 2000
From 689,807 in 2000 to 791,891 in 2025: up 14.8%. 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 Suffolk County?
Suffolk County holds 4 places: 4 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places). The largest is Boston with 672,973 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Boston | 675,647 | $97,344 |
|---|---|---|
| Revere | 62,186 | $86,969 |
| Chelsea | 40,787 | $72,179 |
| Winthrop Town | 19,316 | $116,167 |
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 Suffolk County?
The median resident of Suffolk County is 33.9 years old; 16.0% are under 18 and 13.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 43.6%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 23.2%. 29.8% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Suffolk County | Massachusetts | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.9±0.1 | 40.0 | +1.1 |
| Under 18 years | 16.0%±0.1 pts | 19.4% | – |
| 65 years and over | 13.3%±0.1 pts | 17.9% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 23.2% | 13.3% | +0.3 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 43.6%±0.2 pts | 66.6% | −1.3 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 17.1%±0.3 pts | 6.4% | −3.0 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 9.2%±0.1 pts | 7.3% | +0.4 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 | 5.6%±0.3 pts | 5.1% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 1.1%±0.2 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 29.8%±0.6 pts | 18.0% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 38.8%±0.7 pts | 25.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 2.2%±0.1 pts | 4.3% | – |
| With a disability | 12.6%±0.4 pts | 12.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 3.1%±0.2 pts | 2.6% | −0.7 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 87.5%±0.4 pts | 91.4% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 50.6%±0.6 pts | 47.3% | +4.5 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 23.5%±0.6 pts | 21.8% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 4.5%±0.2 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 Suffolk County earn?
Half of Suffolk County's 327,167 households earn less than $95,631 a year (±$1,765), against $103,960 in Massachusetts. In 2015-2019 the median was $85,741 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $9,890 after inflation. 16.2% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Suffolk County | Massachusetts | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $95,631±$1,765 | $103,960 | +$9,890 |
| Mean household income | $139,201±$2,064 | $144,950 | – |
| Per capita income | $58,636±$823 | $57,897 | +$6,005 |
| People below the poverty line | 16.2%±0.5 pts | 10.0% | −2.0 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 20.3%±1.6 pts | 11.7% | −5.9 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 19.7%±0.6 pts | 14.7% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 91.6%±0.4 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 Suffolk County?
Owners occupy 36.5% of Suffolk County's occupied homes and renters 63.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $705,800 by its owner (±$8,139). The median renter pays $2,129 a month including utilities, and 42.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Suffolk County | Massachusetts | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $705,800±$8,139 | $562,100 | +$94,760 |
| Median gross rent | $2,129±$24 | $1,762 | +$172 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 42.1%±0.9 pts | 41.8% | +1.3 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,962±$46 | $2,726 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 36.5%±0.7 pts | 62.5% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 357,290±240 | 3,030,406 | +20,039 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.1%±0.3 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.5%±0.5 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 13.1%±0.5 pts | 51.1% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.2%±0.1 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.5%±0.1 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 45.6%±0.7 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 Suffolk County building?
Builders took permits for 2,338 new housing units across Suffolk County in 2025 (231 single-family), 3.0 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 Suffolk County get to work?
35.4% of Suffolk County's workers drive alone and 19.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 30.9 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.3%.
| Measure | Suffolk County | Massachusetts | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 69.8%±0.4 pts | 67.0% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.3%±0.3 pts | 5.2% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 35.4%±0.7 pts | 61.2% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.1%±0.4 pts | 7.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 22.4%±0.6 pts | 6.5% | – |
| Walked | 12.0%±0.4 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 19.9%±0.5 pts | 18.6% | +16.7 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 30.9 min±0.4 | 29.1 min | no clear change |
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 Suffolk County's census tracts?
Suffolk County is divided into 235 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $21,250 (Tract 806.01) to $250,000 or more (Tract 9813).
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Suffolk County compare with Massachusetts's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 4th of 14 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 14th of 14 |
| Residents per square mile | 1st of 14 |
| Median household income | 8th of 14 |
| Median home value | 4th of 14 |
| Median gross rent | 4th of 14 |
| Poverty rate | 2nd of 14 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 6th of 14 |
| Median age | 14th 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 Suffolk 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.