Economic Intelligence | Any Geography

Middlesex County, MA

Welcome to Middlesex County.

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Middlesex County is the most populous in the state of Massachusetts, representing 23% of the state's population, and the fifth largest in geography: about 8% of the state's total area of coverage.

Total GDP for the county increased 34%, in the five years ending in 2022, to reach $210.9 billion.

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

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

The largest city in the county is Cambridge.

Surrounding counties and county equivalents include: Essex County, Norfolk County, Suffolk County, Worcester County, and Hillsborough County.

Presidential Election

🔵 Democrat    🔴 Republican

Election Year
Candidates (Party)*
Votes (% Total)Landslide
Scale**
🔵🔴
2000
🔴George W. Bush
🔵Al Gore
61.49%30.27%++
2004
🔴George W. Bush
🔵John Kerry
63.99%34.52%++
2008
🔵Barack Obama
🔴John McCain
63.98%33.85%++
2012
🔵Barack Obama
🔴Mitt Romney
62.56%35.45%++
2016
🔴Donald Trump
🔵Hillary Clinton
66.37%28.03%++
2020
🔵Joe Biden
🔴Donald Trump
71%26.11%++
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%34%
Government
Enterprises
7%16%
Private Industries93%35%
Agriculture<1%80%
Mining<1%-57%
Utilities1%56%
Construction3%31%
Manufacturing12%37%
– Durable6%9%
– Nondurable6%80%
Trade9%25%
– Wholesale5%22%
– Retail3%30%
Transportation1%50%
Information9%34%
Finance & Insurance4%29%
Real Estate12%36%
Professional &
Business Services
27%45%
Educational Services4%17%
Healthcare &
Social Services
6%32%
Arts, Recreation &
Entertainment
1%19%
Accommodation &
Food Services
2%25%
Other Services22%25%
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 Dealers19796
🪑 Furniture &
Home Furnishings
19894
📺 Electronics & Appliance10493
🛒 Grocery Stores77598
🍾 Beer, Wine & Liquor Stores29897
⚕️ Health & Personal Care40996
⛽ Gasoline Stations40197
👕 Clothing Stores40495
👠 Shoe Stores7288
🧳 Luggage, Leather Goods & Jewelry10892
🏸 Sporting Goods11195
📚 Book Stores & News Dealers5193
🏬 Department Stores11093
💐 Florists7696
🎁 Gift, Novelty & Souvenir Shops7591
🐕 Pet & Pet Supplies 4689
🍺 Bars & Taverns8190
🍽️ Full-service restaurants138198
🍔 Limited-service restaurants123897
🏠 Offices of Real Estate Agents & Brokers55294
🛏️ Traveler Accommodation15094
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%121%$464,500 N/A
Top 20%49%$269,700 More than $250,000
Next highest 20%24%$130,400 $158,700
Middle 20%15%$84,700 $106,600
Second lowest 20%9%$48,100 $65,600
Bottom 20%3%$17,200 $32,100
Notes:
1. Households with aggregate income above 95% of all households in the county
% Total
Households
Average Household
Income*
Wages & Salaries72%$107,200
Self-Employment14%$43,200
Investment Income128%$24,200
Social Security34%$21,900
Supplemental Security5%$11,200
Public Assistance3%Below $10,000
Retirement28%$34,700
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
1%2%3%5%
$25K
– $49K
1%3%3%5%
$50K
– $99K
1%7%6%6%
$100K
– $199K
1%13%12%6%
$200K
& more
<1%10%13%3%
Notes:
* Age of heads of households

 

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Median Earnings by Worker Characteristics
Race/EthnicityMaleFemale
Non-Hispanic White$48,500 $34,700
African-American$22,800 Below $10,000
Hispanic$36,900 $15,900
AsianBelow $10,000Below $10,000
Level of Education MaleFemale
Below Highschool$48,400 $23,100
Highschool & GED$50,700 $32,600
Some College to
Associate’s
$53,400 $36,800
College/Bachelor’s
Degree
$67,900 $53,300
Graduate Degree$86,300 $70,800
OccupationMaleFemale
White-Collar1$77,800 $62,800
STEM2$83,800 $63,200
Gray-Collar3$68,000 $42,000
Pink-Collar4$12,900 Below $10,000
Sales5$52,400 $22,400
Blue-Collar6$45,000 $29,600
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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