Suffolk County, MA Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Suffolk County | Massachusetts Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 779,917 | 6,906,117 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 6488.2 | 654.1 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 0.16% | 0.50% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 32.5 | 40.0 | 37.1 |
| Households | 321,832 | 2,760,541 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Suffolk County grew by 5.8% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 781,161 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Suffolk County has a the economy index of B, which means it is quite prosperous.
| Metric | Suffolk County | Massachusetts Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $93,044 | $101,501 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 7.04% | 5.21% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 6.2% | 5.1% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Suffolk County is about 8% lower than in Massachusetts.
Housing
| Metric | Suffolk County | Massachusetts Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $653,570 | $478,681 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $2,069 | $1,687 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 36.6% | 62.6% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Suffolk County is about 26.3 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $2,069 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Suffolk County spend about 61 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 253 hours, about 10.6 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Suffolk County | Massachusetts Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 30.4 | 25.7 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 60.8 | 51.3 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 253 | 214 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $7,858 | $6,632 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 17.5% | 16.7% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 23,556 | 14,741 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 3,893 | 2,164 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Massachusetts:
Nantucket County (13.8 min), Dukes County (15.4 min), Berkshire County (16.7 min).
Slowest:
Norfolk County (31.2 min), Suffolk County (30.4 min), Plymouth County (28.6 min).
The average commute time in Suffolk County is 30 minutes, longer than the 26 minutes in Massachusetts.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Suffolk County has a education index of A, which means it is very educated.
| Metric | Suffolk County | Massachusetts Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 45.0% | 42.7% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.28 | 2.45 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Massachusetts:
Middlesex County (0.5), Norfolk County (0.4), Nantucket County (0.4).
Lowest:
Hampden County (0.3), Bristol County (0.3), Berkshire County (0.3).
Health
Suffolk County has a health index of A, which means it is very healthy.
| Metric | Suffolk County | Massachusetts Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 79.6 | 80.5 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 12.9% | 11.8% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 14.0% | 13.9% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Massachusetts:
Middlesex County (0.8), Hampshire County (0.8), Norfolk County (0.8).
Lowest:
Hampden County (0.8), Bristol County (0.8), Worcester County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Suffolk County, Massachusetts.
What is the population of Suffolk County, Massachusetts?
The population of Suffolk County, Massachusetts is 779,917, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Suffolk County, Massachusetts?
The population density of Suffolk County, Massachusetts is 6488.2 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Suffolk County, Massachusetts?
The median household income in Suffolk County, Massachusetts is $93,044, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Suffolk County, Massachusetts?
The median home price in Suffolk County, Massachusetts is $653,570, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Suffolk County, Massachusetts?
The unemployment rate in Suffolk County, Massachusetts is 6.2%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.