1st Advantage MortgageThe median Middlesex County household earns $130,847, and 8% of residents live below the poverty line. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Massachusetts license first.
On this page
- Middlesex County by the numbers
- Paychecks and income spread in Middlesex County
- Housing costs in Middlesex County
- The Middlesex County job picture
- The communities that make up Middlesex County
- Middlesex County next to its neighbors
- Debt-to-income at Middlesex County's medians
- More Middlesex County figures
- Local borrowing considerations for Middlesex County
- Checklist for Middlesex County applicants
- Lender oversight for Middlesex County
- More guides for Middlesex County
- Frequently asked questions
Middlesex County by the numbers
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Middlesex County's population at 1,638,365, the largest in Massachusetts. Land area is 818 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 2,003 per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metropolitan area. Cambridge is the biggest of its 61 Census places, at roughly 118,796 people (7% of the county total).
Paychecks and income spread in Middlesex County
The median household income in Middlesex County is $130,847; statewide it is $103,960, so Middlesex County runs 26% above Massachusetts as a whole.
| Households earning | Middlesex County | +/- vs Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 13.8% | -4.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 25.1% | -5.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 30.0% | +0.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 31.1% | +8.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 61% of Middlesex County households make $100,000 or more, and 14% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 7.7%, 2 points lower than the state's 10.0%. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Middlesex County median.
Housing costs in Middlesex County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $2,201 in Middlesex County versus $1,762 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 47% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $727,800, about 5.6 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 61%.
| Measure | Middlesex County | Massachusetts | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $2,201/mo | $1,762/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $727,800 | $562,100 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 61% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 30% | n/a |
The Middlesex County job picture
Education and health care employs 28% of working residents, the largest share; professional and administrative services is next with 21%. The sharpest difference from the state is in professional and administrative services, at 21% locally and 16% for Massachusetts. The survey's unemployment rate for Middlesex County averages 4.4% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.2%). Long commutes are common here: 22% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 10.3% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Where residents work | Middlesex County | Difference from Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.5% | -0.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 21.1% | +5.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.3% | +1.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.0% | -1.6 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.8% | -0.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.4% | -1.0 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
The communities that make up Middlesex County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 61 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 98% of Middlesex County residents live in one of the 61. Incomes vary by place: $250,001 at the median in Weston, $58,571 in Townsend. Linked names have their own city guide; this page covers every other Middlesex County community.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge | city | 118,796 | $130,748 | $2,787 | 16 mi |
| Lowell | city | 118,368 | $78,658 | $1,625 | 11 mi |
| Newton | city | 89,044 | $190,304 | $2,370 | 14 mi |
| Somerville | city | 81,036 | $132,572 | $2,517 | 16 mi |
| Framingham | city | 72,399 | $107,419 | $2,033 | 12 mi |
| Malden | city | 65,906 | $100,606 | $2,204 | 18 mi |
| Waltham | city | 64,902 | $120,216 | $2,268 | 10 mi |
| Medford | city | 59,354 | $129,540 | $2,509 | 15 mi |
| Everett | city | 50,045 | $85,218 | $2,076 | 18 mi |
| Arlington | CDP | 46,350 | $150,701 | $2,082 | 13 mi |
| Billerica | town | 42,003 | $148,200 | $2,282 | 9 mi |
| Woburn | city | 41,939 | $111,185 | $2,221 | 12 mi |
| Marlborough | city | 41,647 | $91,968 | $1,871 | 12 mi |
| Natick | town | 36,873 | $138,538 | $2,134 | 14 mi |
Middlesex County next to its neighbors
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Middlesex County's, from 22 to 38 miles away. None of the six report a higher median household income than Middlesex County; Norfolk County is highest at $130,739 and Suffolk County lowest at $95,631. Some neighbors are in New Hampshire. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Middlesex County resident follows Massachusetts rules.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middlesex County | - | $130,847 | $2,201/mo | 61% |
| Suffolk County, MA | 22 mi | $95,631 | $2,129/mo | 36% |
| Norfolk County, MA | 24 mi | $130,739 | $2,149/mo | 69% |
| Essex County, MA | 29 mi | $101,883 | $1,756/mo | 63% |
| Worcester County, MA | 30 mi | $95,939 | $1,426/mo | 66% |
| Hillsborough County, NH | 34 mi | $103,545 | $1,623/mo | 67% |
| Rockingham County, NH | 38 mi | $118,331 | $1,687/mo | 78% |
Debt-to-income at Middlesex County's medians
Here is the Middlesex County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Median income divided by twelve: $10,904 before taxes
- Less median rent of $2,201, which is 20% of it
- Under a 36% cap, $3,925 total minus rent leaves $1,724
- With a 43% ceiling, about $2,488 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
More Middlesex County figures
College graduates make up 60% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 2.4%, against 2.6% for Massachusetts.
| Indicator | Middlesex County | All of Massachusetts | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.9 | 40.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 59.5% | 47.3% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.8% | 8.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 2.4% | 2.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 10.3% | 11.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 24.7% | 18.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.7% | 10.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.4% | 5.2% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 18.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 26.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.4% |
| 60+ min | 11.0% |
Local borrowing considerations for Middlesex County
A few patterns in the Middlesex County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Vehicle repairs. 22% of Middlesex County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Consolidation math. With 61% at six figures, card consolidation is common; it pays only if total cost falls (guide).
- 47% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Checklist for Middlesex County applicants
Steps that save money for Middlesex County residents:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Massachusetts borrowers.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Lender oversight for Middlesex County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Middlesex County, check the Massachusetts Division of Banks. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Massachusetts: Massachusetts personal loans.
More guides for Middlesex County
City guides inside Middlesex County, and the statewide guide:
Frequently asked questions
Is Middlesex County a high-income county?
Its $130,847 median ranks 2nd of 14 Massachusetts counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Middlesex County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $2,201 against $1,762 statewide, and 47% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Cambridge?
Yes, along with the other 60 Census places in Middlesex County, such as Lowell, Newton, Somerville.
Will a Middlesex County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Massachusetts as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Where can someone in Middlesex County check a lender's license?
With the Massachusetts Division of Banks. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.