State rank#1 of 14
Smallest county1,638,365 residentsMiddlesex County
Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 25017
Middlesex County, Massachusetts
County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.
Population1,638,365
Household income$130,847
Unemployment3.6%
Life expectancy81.5 years
County overview
Living metrics at a glance
Middlesex County has 1,638,365 residents and ranks #1 by population among Massachusetts county equivalents. Median household income is $130,847. The annual-average unemployment rate is 3.6%. Its clearest relative strength is unemployment rate. Its county population is above the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.
Within Massachusetts
County population range
The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.
Relocation guide
Moving to Middlesex County: what to check
Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.
Before moving
Before moving, compare municipalities inside Middlesex County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is unemployment rate.
Cost and housing
Housing benchmarks are $727,800 median home value and $2,201/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $130,847, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
Who it may suit
Middlesex County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing unemployment rate, bachelor’s degree or higher, and median household income. College attainment is 59.5% and life expectancy is 81.5 years.
Potential advantages
- Unemployment rate: 3.6%, rank #1 of 14 available Massachusetts counties.
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 59.5%, rank #1 of 14 available Massachusetts counties.
- Median household income: $130,847, rank #2 of 14 available Massachusetts counties.
Trade-offs to check
- Median gross rent: $2,201/mo, rank #13 of 14; investigate local variation before moving.
- Median home value: $727,800, rank #12 of 14; investigate local variation before moving.
- Mental health access: 1 per 139 residents, rank #6 of 14; investigate local variation before moving.
Income, housing, jobs, education & health
County metrics within Massachusetts
Rank and range use only counties in Massachusetts with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.
Median household income
$130,847
$130,847; above the state county median of $95,785.
State rank #2 of 14 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value
$727,800
$727,800; above the state county median of $587,550.
State rank #12 of 14 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent
$2,201/mo
$2,201/mo; above the state county median of $1,552/mo.
State rank #13 of 14 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate
3.6%
3.6%; below the state county median of 4.1%.
State rank #1 of 14 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher
59.5%
59.5%; above the state county median of 45.6%.
State rank #1 of 14 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy
81.5 years
81.5 years; above the state county median of 79.6 years.
State rank #3 of 14 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health
11.2%
11.2%; below the state county median of 13.6%.
State rank #2 of 14 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured
2.4%
2.4%; below the state county median of 3%.
State rank #2 of 14 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access
1 per 803 residents
1 per 803 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 1,231 residents.
State rank #3 of 14 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access
1 per 139 residents
1 per 139 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 143 residents.
State rank #6 of 14 · County Health Rankings & RoadmapsCommon questions
Middlesex County FAQ
Is Middlesex County a good place to live?
Middlesex County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing unemployment rate, bachelor’s degree or higher, and median household income. College attainment is 59.5% and life expectancy is 81.5 years.
What should I know before moving to Middlesex County?
Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $727,800 median home value and $2,201/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $130,847, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the population of Middlesex County?
Middlesex County has 1,638,365 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.
What is the FIPS code for Middlesex County?
The five-digit county FIPS code is 25017; the parent state FIPS is 25.
What is the median household income in Middlesex County?
The ACS median household income is $130,847.
How much does housing cost in Middlesex County?
Housing benchmarks are $727,800 median home value and $2,201/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $130,847, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the unemployment rate in Middlesex County?
The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 3.6%.
Similar population
Nearby counties in the state ranking
Source and gate
Methodology and source periods
All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.
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