You’re probably never going to make enough money to live in the richest counties in Massachusetts.
The median household income in Nantucket County, the richest county in Massachusetts is $135,590, significantly higher than the US median of $74,580, which means based purely on math most people never make enough to live there.
And that’s okay because it’s still fun to look at the people living in the lap of luxury.
So we used Saturday Night Science and the most recent Census to rank home prices and incomes for all 14 counties in the Bay State. Let’s star gaze together.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | Summary
The 10 Richest Counties In Massachusetts For 2024
What is the richest county in Massachusetts? The richest county in Massachusetts is Nantucket County. In contrast, the poorest county in state is Hampden County, according to the Census data.
Now you know exactly where to move in Massachusetts. Keep on reading for more about the top ten and a detailed methodology.
Or, check out the best places to live in Massachusetts and the cheapest places to live in Massachusetts.
The Richest Counties In Massachusetts For 2024
1. Nantucket County
Biggest Place: Nantucket
Population: 14,065
Median Income: $135,590 (highest)
Median Home Price: $2,659,922 (highest)
More on Nantucket County: Data
2. Middlesex County
Biggest Place: Cambridge
Population: 1,623,109
Median Income: $121,304 (2nd highest)
Median Home Price: $735,307 (3rd highest)
More on Middlesex County: Data
3. Dukes County
Biggest Place: Vineyard Haven
Population: 20,543
Median Income: $93,225 (6th highest)
Median Home Price: $1,457,473 (2nd highest)
More on Dukes County: Data
4. Norfolk County
Biggest Place: Quincy
Population: 722,112
Median Income: $120,621 (3rd highest)
Median Home Price: $686,746 (6th highest)
More on Norfolk County: Data
5. Barnstable County
Biggest Place: Barnstable Town
Population: 229,436
Median Income: $90,447 (7th highest)
Median Home Price: $699,972 (4th highest)
More on Barnstable County: Data
6. Plymouth County
Biggest Place: Brockton
Population: 529,548
Median Income: $105,387 (4th highest)
Median Home Price: $577,086 (8th highest)
More on Plymouth County: Data
7. Essex County
Biggest Place: Lynn
Population: 806,103
Median Income: $94,378 (5th highest)
Median Home Price: $636,478 (7th highest)
More on Essex County: Data
8. Suffolk County
Biggest Place: Boston
Population: 785,443
Median Income: $87,669 (9th highest)
Median Home Price: $687,403 (5th highest)
More on Suffolk County: Data
9. Worcester County
Biggest Place: Worcester
Population: 858,898
Median Income: $88,524 (8th highest)
Median Home Price: $444,474 (10th highest)
More on Worcester County: Data
10. Bristol County
Biggest Place: New Bedford
Population: 576,699
Median Income: $80,628 (11th highest)
Median Home Price: $478,902 (9th highest)
More on Bristol County: Data
Methodology: How do you determine which Massachusetts county is the richest?
To determine the richest county in Massachusetts, we have to look at a handful of metrics that correlate with how rich people are. To do that, we made assumptions about what makes a county rich. For reference, we are trying to make the kind of argument you’d make at a bar using facts, Saturday Night Science.
With that in mind, we went to the American Community Survey data and Zillow for the most recent reporting period for data on the following:
- Average Home Price
- Median Income
We then ranked each county in Massachusetts for each of the criteria from one to 14, with one being the richest.
Taking the average rank across the two criteria, we created a Rich Score with the county posting the lowest overall score being the “Richest County In Massachusetts.”
The result is some of the places with the most expensive real estate and highest earners in the Bay State.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our first time ranking the richest counties to live in Massachusetts. We have also ranked the richest states and richest cities in the United States.
Summary: The Richest Counties In Massachusetts For 2024
Living in Massachusetts can vary from one part of the state to the next, with pretty extreme variance in home prices and incomes across counties.
The richest counties in Massachusetts are Nantucket County, Middlesex County, Dukes County, Norfolk County, Barnstable County, Plymouth County, Essex County, Suffolk County, Worcester County, and Bristol County.
Now you know the parts of the state where Goodwill will have the best goodies, and that’s what you came here to learn at the end of the day.
You are welcome.
Here’s a look at the poorest counties in Massachusetts according to the data:
- Hampden County
- Berkshire County
- Franklin County
For more Massachusetts reading, check out:
- Safest Places In Massachusetts
- Richest Cities In Massachusetts
- Best Places To Live In Massachusetts
- Cheapest Places To Live In Massachusetts
Detailed List Of The Richest Counties In Massachusetts
| Rank | County | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nantucket County | 14,065 | $135,590 | $2,659,922 |
| 2 | Middlesex County | 1,623,109 | $121,304 | $735,307 |
| 3 | Dukes County | 20,543 | $93,225 | $1,457,473 |
| 4 | Norfolk County | 722,112 | $120,621 | $686,746 |
| 5 | Barnstable County | 229,436 | $90,447 | $699,972 |
| 6 | Plymouth County | 529,548 | $105,387 | $577,086 |
| 7 | Essex County | 806,103 | $94,378 | $636,478 |
| 8 | Suffolk County | 785,443 | $87,669 | $687,403 |
| 9 | Worcester County | 858,898 | $88,524 | $444,474 |
| 10 | Bristol County | 576,699 | $80,628 | $478,902 |
| 11 | Hampshire County | 153,931 | $84,025 | $404,981 |
| 12 | Franklin County | 70,980 | $70,383 | $332,363 |
| 13 | Berkshire County | 128,763 | $69,744 | $357,994 |
| 14 | Hampden County | 464,575 | $66,619 | $307,363 |