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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Suffolk County

Massachusetts · 797,936 residents · 58.253 sq mi
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The short version

Suffolk County is wealthier than most US places, with a median household income of $74,881. Population has grown 16% since 2000. 48% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 33%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $547,300. At a median age of 32.3, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Despite a median home value of $547,300, the poverty rate sits 35% above the US average — a pattern often seen in resort and college towns.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 32.3
US median: 38.8
More educated
48% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 81%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
797,936
+16%since 2000
from 689,807 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
13,698 / sq mi
+16%since 2000
from 11,842 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
32.3
+2%since 2000
from 31.7 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
651K691K731K771K811K1990201020202024Suffolk County
2024785K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$74,881
+27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $39,355 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$44,723
+96%since 2000
from $22,766 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
49.9%
+15.2 ptssince 2009
from 34.8% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
17.4%
−1.6 ptssince 2000
from 19.0% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Other services8.9%
US avg: 6.6%
Information8.3%
US avg: 11.1%
Public administration6.8%
US avg: 4.7%
Retail trade4.6%
US avg: 10%
Finance & insurance4.1%
US avg: 5.5%
Wholesale trade3.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical3.7%
US avg: 4.7%
Arts, entertainment, food2.3%
US avg: 2%
Transportation & warehousing1.6%
US avg: 2.5%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.1%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$547,300
+81%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $201,300 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,657
+39%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $791 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
33.2%
−0.7 ptssince 2000
from 33.9% in 2000
66.8% rent
Afford Score
7.3
+43%since 2000
from 5.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Suffolk County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic52.1%(359,535)
Black20.8%(143,817)
Hispanic / Latino15.5%(107,031)
Asian7%(47,970)
Other0%
Diversity Score77.8%(536,585)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic44.2%(352,900)
Black17%(135,255)
Hispanic / Latino22.4%(178,527)
Asian10.1%(80,607)
Other3.9%(31,056)
Diversity Score87.4%(697,503)
Segregation Score48.5%(387,004)
Diversity Score
87
+12%since 2000
from 78 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
49
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
47.7%
+15.2 ptssince 2000
from 32.5% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
86.9%
+8.7 ptssince 2000
from 78.1% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
21.4%
+7.7 ptssince 2000
from 13.7% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
31.1 min
+59%since 2000
from 19.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
39.6%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 42.5% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
31.9%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 32.8% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.8%
−3.3 ptssince 2011
from 10.1% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
69.8%
+1.3 ptssince 2011
from 68.4% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
49.3%
−19.4 ptssince 2009
from 68.7% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.2%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.3% in 2009
Female
51.8%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 51.7% in 2009
Foreign born
29.7%
+2.7 ptssince 2009
from 26.9% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
3.8%
−90.5 ptssince 2013
from 94.3% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Suffolk County

Montgomery County
Pop 781,194
Denver County
Pop 740,613
San Joaquin County
Pop 823,815
Worcester County
Pop 888,502
Places similar to Suffolk County
Head to head

Compare Suffolk County to nearby counties

SUFFOLK COUNTY VS
Norfolk County
Income$130,739+75%
Home value$683,900+25%
Population739,749−7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SUFFOLK COUNTY VS
Middlesex County
Income$130,847+75%
Home value$727,800+33%
Population1,669,979+111%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SUFFOLK COUNTY VS
Essex County
Income$101,883+36%
Home value$619,100+13%
Population826,653+4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SUFFOLK COUNTY VS
Plymouth County
Income$114,201+53%
Home value$556,000+2%
Population546,829−31%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Suffolk County, Massachusetts?

Suffolk County, Massachusetts has about 797,936 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Suffolk County, Massachusetts?

The typical household in Suffolk County, Massachusetts earns about $74,881 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Suffolk County, Massachusetts expensive?

In Suffolk County, Massachusetts, the median home is worth about $547,300, and the typical rent is about $1,657 a month.

How educated are people in Suffolk County, Massachusetts?

About 47.7% of adults age 25 and over in Suffolk County, Massachusetts hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Suffolk County, Massachusetts?

About 17.4% of people in Suffolk County, Massachusetts live below the federal poverty line.

Has Suffolk County, Massachusetts grown since 1990?

Yes, Suffolk County, Massachusetts has grown since 1990. The population has added about 134,030 residents, a change of about 20 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

235 census tracts (top 20 by population)
Census Tract 1404Census Tract 1005Census Tract 1707.02Census Tract 1204Census Tract 104.05Census Tract 1403Census Tract 1010.01Census Tract 1708Census Tract 1010.02Census Tract 511.01Census Tract 921.01Census Tract 5.02Census Tract 1001Census Tract 1703.01Census Tract 924Census Tract 1402.02Census Tract 1006.01Census Tract 1304.06Census Tract 1301.01Census Tract 901
35 ZIP codes (top 30 by population)
ZIP 02151ZIP 02124ZIP 02128ZIP 02135ZIP 02130ZIP 02150ZIP 02136ZIP 02127ZIP 02125ZIP 02131ZIP 02115ZIP 02121ZIP 02118ZIP 02119ZIP 02126ZIP 02132ZIP 02215ZIP 02122ZIP 02116ZIP 02129ZIP 02152ZIP 02134ZIP 02120ZIP 02114ZIP 02111ZIP 02210ZIP 02113ZIP 02108ZIP 02109ZIP 02110
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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