1st Advantage MortgageSuffolk County (785,121 residents) has a $95,631 median household income and $2,129 median rent, by the latest Census five-year survey. County medians do not set your terms. Shop at least three lenders, including a credit union serving Suffolk County, and confirm each one's Massachusetts license.
On this page
- 785,121 residents: Suffolk County basics
- Work, industries and travel time in Suffolk County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Suffolk County
- Paychecks and income spread in Suffolk County
- How Suffolk County ranks in Massachusetts
- Suffolk County next to its neighbors
- Towns and communities in Suffolk County
- What the numbers mean for Suffolk County borrowers
- Debt-to-income, Suffolk County edition
- More Suffolk County figures
- Steps before you apply in Suffolk County
- Checking a lender's license in Massachusetts
- Beyond Suffolk County
- Frequently asked questions
785,121 residents: Suffolk County basics
Suffolk County is home to about 785,121 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 4th most populous of 14 county-level areas in Massachusetts. Its 58 square miles average 13,477 people per square mile, by the 2024 Census Gazetteer. It is one of the counties that make up the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Boston (666,442 people) heads the county's list of 4 Census places, 4 incorporated and 0 census-designated.
Work, industries and travel time in Suffolk County
The biggest employer of Suffolk County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 30% of workers, followed by professional and administrative services (19%). Professional and administrative services stands out: 19% of workers here, versus 16% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 6.3% in Suffolk County. About 35% drive to work alone and 23% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 31.6% of the total (11.7% statewide).
| Where residents work | Suffolk County | Difference from Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 30.1% | +2.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 18.7% | +3.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.2% | +1.7 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 8.6% | +1.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 7.9% | -1.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 5.4% | -3.6 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Rent, home values and ownership in Suffolk County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $2,129 in Suffolk County versus $1,762 statewide. By the Census definition, 52% of Suffolk County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $705,800, or 7.4 years of median income. 36% of Suffolk County households own their home and 64% rent. The median home was built in 1949, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Housing | Suffolk County | Massachusetts statewide | Suffolk County vs state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $2,129/mo | $1,762/mo | 21% higher |
| Median home value | $705,800 | $562,100 | 26% higher |
| Owners | 36% | 63% | -26.0 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 52% | 52% | +0.3 pts |
| Burdened owners | 33% | 30% | +2.9 pts |
| Mobile homes | 0.2% | 0.8% | -0.6 pts |
| Vacant units | 8% | 8% | +0.3 pts |
No equity to borrow against is the norm for Suffolk County's 64% renters; a credit union share-secured loan is one lower-cost route. High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Paychecks and income spread in Suffolk County
At $95,631, the typical Suffolk County household income is 46% above the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Yearly household income | Suffolk County | Gap to Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.8% | +5.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 27.9% | -2.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.3% | -2.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 21.0% | -1.2 pts |
Some 24% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 48% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 16.2%, 6 points higher than the state's 10.0%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.525 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Suffolk County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
How Suffolk County ranks in Massachusetts
Out of every Massachusetts county, Suffolk County is most unusual on these measures.
- Suffolk County ranks the lowest of 14 Massachusetts counties for median age: 33.9, against 40.0 statewide. Younger borrowers often have thin credit files; a co-signer or credit union may help.
- Few Massachusetts counties match Suffolk County on households without a vehicle: 31.6% here, 11.7% for the state, ranking the highest of 14. Without a car, transit and ride costs belong in the budget before any payment.
- Suffolk County ranks the lowest of 14 Massachusetts counties for homeownership: 36%, against 63% statewide. In a renter-heavy county, unsecured loans and cards are the main options.
Suffolk County next to its neighbors
Six nearby counties, 14 to 43 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Richest neighbor: Middlesex County, $130,847. Poorest: Providence County, $78,787. Suffolk County: $95,631. Some neighbors are in Rhode Island. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Suffolk County resident follows Massachusetts rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suffolk County | - | $95,631 | $2,129/mo | 36% |
| Norfolk County, MA | 14 mi | $130,739 | $2,149/mo | 69% |
| Middlesex County, MA | 22 mi | $130,847 | $2,201/mo | 61% |
| Essex County, MA | 22 mi | $101,883 | $1,756/mo | 63% |
| Plymouth County, MA | 28 mi | $114,201 | $1,747/mo | 78% |
| Bristol County, MA | 41 mi | $85,625 | $1,245/mo | 62% |
| Providence County, RI | 43 mi | $78,787 | $1,312/mo | 57% |
Towns and communities in Suffolk County
785,121 of Suffolk County's 785,121 residents live in its 4 Census places (100%); the 4 largest are listed. Gap between richest and poorest larger place: $43,988, Winthrop Town over Chelsea. Rent is cheapest in Chelsea ($1,956) and steepest in Boston ($2,147). Names with links open a city guide. The other 3 places are covered here.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | city | 666,442 | $97,344 | $2,147 | 0 mi |
| Revere | city | 60,012 | $86,969 | $2,076 | 6 mi |
| Chelsea | city | 39,908 | $72,179 | $1,956 | 4 mi |
| Winthrop Town | city | 18,759 | $116,167 | $2,064 | 4 mi |
What the numbers mean for Suffolk County borrowers
Where the Suffolk County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Commuter costs. 23% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Higher earners. 48% of households clear $100,000; shop at least three lenders and pick the shortest term.
- Renters under pressure. When 52% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
Debt-to-income, Suffolk County edition
Suffolk County's $95,631 median income, run through a debt-to-income check:
- Start: $7,969 gross per month ($95,631 / 12)
- Median rent: $2,129, or 27 cents of every gross dollar
- Under a 36% cap, $2,869 total minus rent leaves $740
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
More Suffolk County figures
In Suffolk County, 51% of adults have at least a four-year degree (47% in Massachusetts). Uninsured, Suffolk County: 3.1%; Massachusetts: 2.6%.
| People and households | Suffolk County | Compared with Massachusetts | Compared with median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| No vehicle | 31.6% | +19.9 pts | +26.2 pts |
| Poverty rate | 16.2% | +6.1 pts | +3.0 pts |
| Median age | 33.9 | -6.1 yrs | -7.6 yrs |
| No high school diploma | 12.5% | +3.8 pts | n/a |
| Bachelor's or higher | 50.6% | +3.3 pts | +28.5 pts |
| Work from home | 19.9% | +1.2 pts | +11.2 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.3% | +1.1 pts | +1.9 pts |
| No health insurance | 3.1% | +0.5 pts | -4.7 pts |
| Minutes to work | Suffolk County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 15.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 28.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.4% |
| 60+ min | 11.8% |
Steps before you apply in Suffolk County
Before you apply, wherever you live in Suffolk County:
- Price the Suffolk County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Suffolk County-area credit union.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Massachusetts borrowers.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Checking a lender's license in Massachusetts
The Massachusetts Division of Banks is the place to verify any lender's Massachusetts license. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender.
Beyond Suffolk County
More local guides:
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Suffolk County earn?
The median is $95,631; 48% earn $100,000 or more and 24% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What is the median rent in Suffolk County, MA?
$2,129 a month, utilities included, or $25,548 a year.
How many towns are in Suffolk County?
The Census Bureau counts 4 places mainly in the county, led by Boston, Revere, Chelsea, Winthrop Town.
Are Suffolk County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
What agency protects Suffolk County borrowers?
The Massachusetts Division of Banks at the state level and the CFPB federally.