Middlesex County, Massachusetts Income Statistics
Middlesex County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
A
Middlesex County Above averageAmong the top 3 wealthiest counties in Massachusetts
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Middlesex County | Massachusetts Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $131,269 | $104,336 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $94,582 | $80,230 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.9% | 4.9% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 27.4% | 20.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 31.1% | 22.3% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Middlesex County is about 26% higher than in Massachusetts. Income has been growing faster in Middlesex County (4.9%/yr) than in Massachusetts (4.9%/yr).
About 27% of adults in Middlesex County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the Massachusetts average of 21%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Middlesex County, Massachusetts grew by 69.9% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $131,269 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.9% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Middlesex County
| Metric | Middlesex County | Massachusetts Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.515 | 0.531 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $106,986 | $90,842 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $87,906 | $75,629 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 17.8% | 16.7% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Middlesex County, it is 0.515, lower than Massachusetts's 0.531, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 22% more than women's income in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Over a 35-year career, a 22% wage gap accumulates to roughly $667,800 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Middlesex County, Massachusetts has narrowed from about 22% to 18% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 23% in 2014. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,740 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Middlesex County | Massachusetts Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3% | 5.1% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 24.7% | 18.6% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 28 | 25 | 22 |
Approximately 41,179 people are unemployed in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
The average commute time in Middlesex County is 28 minutes, longer than the 25 minutes in Massachusetts.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Middlesex County, Massachusetts has fallen from 6.5% to 4.3% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 7.3% in 2013 and fell as low as 3.8% in 2019.
Middlesex County, MA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Middlesex County, MA is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 1,636,094 residents against a local median of 779,263. The measure that sets Middlesex County, MA apart most is median household income: $131,269, 29% above the local median of $102,063. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread $35,469 on median household income, so Middlesex County, MA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Middlesex County, MA has the highest median household income of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middlesex County, MA | 1,636,094 | $131,269 #1/6 | 4.9%/yr #2/6 | 4.3% #2/6 | 0.515 #3/6 |
| Norfolk County, MA | 729,949 | $131,149 | 4.7%/yr | 4.9% | 0.513 |
| Suffolk County, MA | 779,263 | $95,719 | 6.5%/yr | 6.3% | 0.551 |
| Worcester County, MA | 867,628 | $95,680 | 4.5%/yr | 5.3% | 0.531 |
| Hillsborough County, NH | 426,152 | $103,775 | 4.5%/yr | 3.1% | 0.499 |
| Essex County, MA | 810,585 | $102,063 | 4.7%/yr | 5.1% | 0.527 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Middlesex County, Massachusetts has an overall wealth index grade of A, making it somewhat better than Massachusetts, and notably better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
How Rich Is Middlesex County, Massachusetts?
Middlesex County has a wealth index grade of A. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; an A grade means residents are much better off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $131,269, about 26% higher than the Massachusetts average of $104,336.
Are incomes growing in Middlesex County, Massachusetts?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Middlesex County, Massachusetts rose 70%, from $77,283 to $131,269. Over the same years, income here outpaced Massachusetts as a whole: +70% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Middlesex County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Middlesex County, Massachusetts was $126,906, up 4% from $121,564 in 2022. The Massachusetts median that year was $101,513.
What was the median household income in Middlesex County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Middlesex County, Massachusetts was $106,996. By 2024 it had risen 23% to $131,269.
Do many residents of Middlesex County, Massachusetts earn over $100,000?
Yes. 27% of adults in Middlesex County, Massachusetts earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 4), against 21% (about 1 in 5) in Massachusetts. 31% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 22% in Massachusetts.
What is the Gini coefficient in Middlesex County, Massachusetts?
The Gini coefficient in Middlesex County is 0.515. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Middlesex County, Massachusetts?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Middlesex County, Massachusetts has narrowed from about 22% to 18% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 23% in 2014. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,740 since 2009.
Analyze any area in the US
Get local demographics for any address, aggregated by drive time or radius, on the interactive map.
Explore the map →