Economic Intelligence | Any Geography

Suffolk County, MA

Welcome to Suffolk County.

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Suffolk County is the fourth most populous in the state of Massachusetts, representing 11% of the state's population.

Total GDP for the county increased 36%, in the five years ending in 2022, to reach $172.8 billion.

Between 2000 and 2024 presidential elections, Suffolk County voted for Democratic candidates every single time.

Suffolk County comprises Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metropolitan area.

The largest city in the county is Boston.

Surrounding counties and county equivalents include: Essex County, Middlesex County, Norfolk County, and Plymouth County.

Presidential Election

🔵 Democrat    🔴 Republican

Election Year
Candidates (Party)*
Votes (% Total)Landslide
Scale**
🔵🔴
2000
🔴George W. Bush
🔵Al Gore
71.38%20.48%+++
2004
🔴George W. Bush
🔵John Kerry
75.88%22.82%+++
2008
🔵Barack Obama
🔴John McCain
76.94%21.24%+++
2012
🔵Barack Obama
🔴Mitt Romney
77.45%20.75%+++
2016
🔴Donald Trump
🔵Hillary Clinton
79.6%16.33%+++
2020
🔵Joe Biden
🔴Donald Trump
80.22%17.38%+++
2024
🔴Donald Trump
🔵Kamala Harris
Notes:
*Presidential Tickets
2000 (R) George W. Bush & Dick Cheney; (D) Al Gore & Joe Lieberman
2004 (R) George W. Bush & Dick Cheney; (D)John Kerry & John Edwards
2008 (D) Barack Obama & Joe Biden; (R) John McCain & Sarah Palin
2012 (D) Barack Obama & Joe Biden; (R) Mitt Romney & Paul Ryan
2016 (R) Donald Trump & Mike Pence; (D) Hillary Clinton & Tim Kaine
2020 (D) Joe Biden & Kamala Harris; (R) Donald Trump & Mike Pence
2024 (R) Donald Trump & JD Vance; (D) Kamala Harris & Tim Waltz
**Landslide Scale (county)
+ Victory margin was less than 20 percent
++ Victory margin was between 20 to 49 percentage points of more votes
+++ Victory margin was more than half but below three quarters
++++ Victory margin was three quarters or more

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Economic Significance

Key IndustryAs %
County GDP
GDP
Growth*
County GDP1100%36%
Government
Enterprises
8%13%
Private Industries92%39%
Agriculture<1%0%
Mining<1%-17%
Utilities<1%109%
Construction2%35%
Manufacturing1%0%
– Durable1%-16%
– Nondurable1%0%
Trade4%64%
– Wholesale2%39%
– Retail3%80%
Transportation2%11%
Information6%81%
Finance & Insurance21%27%
Real Estate12%57%
Professional &
Business Services
22%51%
Educational Services3%29%
Healthcare &
Social Services
11%18%
Arts, Recreation &
Entertainment
1%2%
Accommodation &
Food Services
3%35%
Other Services21%32%
Notes:
*Growth rates are based on most recent five-year value available and are updated dynamically
1. All industry total.
2. Includes various repairs, maintenance, personal care, religious organizations, social and professional organizations etc.

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Local Vibrancy

Total*Vibrancy
Indicator
(1-100)**
🚙 Automobile Dealers4399
🪑 Furniture &
Home Furnishings
7799
📺 Electronics & Appliance4299
🛒 Grocery Stores611100
🍾 Beer, Wine & Liquor Stores165100
⚕️ Health & Personal Care208100
⛽ Gasoline Stations106100
👕 Clothing Stores261100
👠 Shoe Stores5799
🧳 Luggage, Leather Goods & Jewelry102100
🏸 Sporting Goods1898
📚 Book Stores & News Dealers2699
🏬 Department Stores5499
💐 Florists39100
🎁 Gift, Novelty & Souvenir Shops5999
🐕 Pet & Pet Supplies 1398
🍺 Bars & Taverns118100
🍽️ Full-service restaurants975100
🍔 Limited-service restaurants776100
🏠 Offices of Real Estate Agents & Brokers402100
🛏️ Traveler Accommodation145100
Notes:
* Total counts of establishments are places of business.
** Vibrancy score is based on comparisons of relevant establishments per square mile of land area among all counties and county equivalents in the United States; A score of 100 means the county is in the top one percentile.

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Wealth Indicators

Household Income by Distribution
As % County’s
Total Household Income
Average Household Income
Maximum Household Income
Top 5%122%$625,600 N/A
Top 20%50%$350,300 More than $250,000
Next highest 20%23%$161,100 $199,300
Middle 20%15%$105,500 $130,000
Second lowest 20%9%$62,600 $82,500
Bottom 20%3%$22,900 $42,900
Notes:
1. Households with aggregate income above 95% of all households in the county
% Total
Households
Average Household
Income*
Wages & Salaries76%$140,400
Self-Employment11%$56,100
Investment Income124%$31,600
Social Security34%$23,200
Supplemental Security5%$10,200
Public Assistance3%Below $10,000
Retirement26%$36,100
Notes:
* Calculation based on households claim to have specific source of income; Households may have more than one source of income
1Includes interest, dividends, and net rental income

Under
25*
Age 25
to 49*
Age 50
to 64*
Age 65
& Older*
Below
$25K
2%5%6%7%
$25K
– $49K
1%4%4%3%
$50K
– $99K
1%10%7%4%
$100K
– $199K
1%14%8%3%
$200K
& more
<1%10%6%2%
Notes:
* Age of heads of households

 

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Median Earnings by Worker Characteristics
Race/EthnicityMaleFemale
Non-Hispanic White$69,500 $46,300
African-American$45,200 $34,900
Hispanic$42,500 $29,200
Asian$57,500 $50,300
Level of Education MaleFemale
Below Highschool$41,300 $27,400
Highschool & GED$57,700 $35,900
Some College to
Associate’s
$68,300 $44,700
College/Bachelor’s
Degree
$94,100 $63,500
Graduate Degree$121,300 $83,500
OccupationMaleFemale
White-Collar1$102,000 $72,300
STEM2$103,400 $79,400
Gray-Collar3$91,200 $53,300
Pink-Collar4$26,000 $25,200
Sales5$70,300 $26,600
Blue-Collar6$43,200 $26,200
Notes:
1. Management, business, science, and arts occupations
2. Computer, engineering, and science occupations
3. Protective service occupations including firefighters and law enforcement
4. Personal care and service occupations
5. Sales and sales related
6.Production, transportation, and material moving occupations

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Climate Risks

Disaster CategoryNatural Hazard
Risk Rating
Annual Loss
Per Capita
Avalanche
Coastal Flooding+$
Cold Waves++$
Drought+
Earthquake++$
Hail+
Heat Waves++$
Hurricane+$
Ice Storm++++
Landslide+++
Lightning++++$
Riverine Flooding+++$
Strong Wind++
Tornado++$
Tsunami
Volcanic Activity
Wildfires+
Winter Weather++
Notes:
Locations with insufficient data or not rated are left blank.
+: Very low to Relatively low risk ratings
++: Relatively moderate
+++: Relatively high
++++: Very high
$: Expected per capita annual loss from the natural disaster is below $100
$$: $100-499
$$$: $500-999
$$$$: $1,000 and more

 

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