Richest Counties in Massachusetts (2024)

by Kristen Carney Kristen Carney

Updated: June 20, 2024

Richest County in Massachusetts

The richest county in Massachusetts is Nantucket County with an average household income of $176,197 as of 2022 and 14,444 people as of 2023 according to the most current Census data available (citation).

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14 Richest Counties in Massachusetts

Rank County Population Average Income Median Income
1 Nantucket County 14,444 $176,197 $135,590
2 Norfolk County 727,473 $170,721 $120,621
3 Middlesex County 1,623,952 $164,118 $121,304
4 Dukes County 20,819 $154,247 $93,225
5 Plymouth County 535,308 $140,463 $105,387
6 Essex County 810,089 $130,777 $94,378
7 Suffolk County 768,425 $128,245 $87,669
8 Barnstable County 231,735 $124,905 $90,447
9 Worcester County 866,866 $116,031 $88,524
10 Hampshire County 162,502 $110,040 $84,025
11 Bristol County 581,841 $104,738 $80,628
12 Berkshire County 126,818 $100,641 $69,744
13 Hampden County 460,291 $89,616 $66,619
14 Franklin County 70,836 $89,416 $70,383

Median Income versus Average Income: Which Should You Use?

We usually suggest using median income data – either instead of or in addition to – average income data as a true indicator of wealth. If you haven’t thought about median versus average since your last standardized test, you aren’t alone. Here’s what they are:

  • average is the sum of a set of numbers divided by the count of numbers in the set
  • median is the middle number in the set of numbers
illustation of median vs average

Now let’s say you had the following simplified set of income data.

Household 1: $30,000
Household 2: $50,000
Household 3: $1,000,000

The average income for this set is $360,000. The outlier data point ($1,000,000) skews the average WAY up. Conversely, the average income would be skewed WAY down if someone had an income of $500. The median income for the same data set is $50,000. Outlier data doesn’t skew the median.

Most Business Owners Should Use Median Income

So most business owners should use the median income as a true indicator of wealth, because it provides a more accurate representation of a typical income, especially in areas with significant income disparity.

When Should You Use Average Income

If your target market is high-income households, the average income may be more relevant. This is because the average income can highlight the presence of a higher concentration of wealthy individuals, which is beneficial for luxury goods and services marketing. We’re using average income on this page because using the Census’s highest reported median value of $250,001 could result in multiple ties for the richest geography.

Why do so many cities have a median value of $250,001?

The Census' American Community Survey uses $250,000+ as a jam value for median income estimates to protect privacy, ensure data consistency, and simplify reporting. A "jam value" in survey data refers to a placeholder or default value used when actual data points are unavailable, incomplete, or exceed certain thresholds. We represent this jam value as $250,001 to make it easy for you to sort.

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SOURCES

United States Census Bureau. Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023. U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division. Web. May 2024. http://www.census.gov/.

United States Census Bureau. B01001 SEX BY AGE, 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey Office. Web. 7 December 2023. http://www.census.gov/.

United States Census Bureau. B19013 Median Household Income, 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey Office. Web. 7 December 2023. http://www.census.gov/.

United States Census Bureau. “DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS.” 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey Office. Web. 07 December 2023. http://www.census.gov/.

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