Massachusetts: county data, all 14 of them.
7,044,056 residents across 14 county-equivalents, 182,867 business establishments, and 14,215 SBA approvals worth $5.81 bn. Every figure on this page is those counties summed, and every county has its own page.
32 state-level values · 14 county pages · underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency
How many people live in Massachusetts?
- Population7,044,056
- Households2,785,042
- Average household size2.53
- County-equivalents14
- People per square mile903
Massachusetts has 7,044,056 residents in 2,785,042 households across 14 county-equivalents, every one of which has its own data page below.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
What is the Massachusetts economy?
- Combined county product, 2024$778.52 bn
- County product per resident$110,522
- Covered employment3,549,678
- Average annual pay$94,544
The average annual pay of $94,544 is weighted by each county's covered employment, not averaged across counties, so a large labour market counts for more than a small one.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How many businesses are in Massachusetts?
- Business establishments182,867
- Establishments per 1,000 residents26.0
- Employment at those establishments3,385,941
- Annual payroll$293.89 bn
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Building permits in Massachusetts
- Housing units permitted14,338
- Permitted construction value$5.14 bn
- Units permitted per 1,000 households5.1
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
SBA loans in Massachusetts (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded9,861
- 7(a) approval dollars$3.01 bn
- Average 7(a) approval$305,154
- 504 approvals recorded4,354
- 504 approval dollars$2.80 bn
- Average 504 approval$642,842
- Counties with a 7(a) record14 of 14
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Massachusetts
- 7(a) charge-off rate over resolved loans7.00 percent
- Resolved 7(a) loans behind that rate2,019
- 7(a) loans charged off142
- 504 charge-off rate over resolved loans3.10 percent
- Resolved 504 loans behind that rate1,270
- 504 loans charged off40
Of the 2,019 Massachusetts 7(a) loans that have reached a final outcome, 7.00 percent were charged off. The rate is taken over resolved loans only, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
How large is Massachusetts?
- Land area7,800 sq mi
- County-equivalents14
- People per square mile903
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
The largest counties in Massachusetts.
| Geography | Population | Median income | Establishments | County GDP | SBA approvals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middlesex County | 1,638,365 | $130,847 | 44,624 | $240.67 bn | 3,136 |
| Worcester County | 867,788 | $95,939 | 19,181 | $60.95 bn | 1,552 |
| Essex County | 813,054 | $101,883 | 19,988 | $60.73 bn | 2,211 |
| Suffolk County | 785,121 | $95,631 | 22,034 | $190.78 bn | 1,182 |
| Norfolk County | 730,082 | $130,739 | 20,745 | $75.07 bn | 1,556 |
| Bristol County | 582,270 | $85,625 | 13,221 | $36.04 bn | 996 |
| Plymouth County | 535,075 | $114,201 | 13,421 | $36.92 bn | 1,309 |
| Hampden County | 462,815 | $71,306 | 9,339 | $30.60 bn | 571 |
| Barnstable County | 231,668 | $95,241 | 8,957 | $19.30 bn | 969 |
| Hampshire County | 162,028 | $87,001 | 3,491 | $10.39 bn | 220 |
Counties
All 14 Massachusetts county-equivalents.
| Geography | Population | Median income | Establishments | County GDP | SBA approvals | Land area, sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable County | 231,668 | $95,241 | 8,957 | $19.30 bn | 969 | 394 |
| Berkshire County | 129,430 | $76,013 | 3,749 | $9.17 bn | 266 | 927 |
| Bristol County | 582,270 | $85,625 | 13,221 | $36.04 bn | 996 | 553 |
| Dukes County | 20,933 | $125,786 | 1,251 | $2.11 bn | 66 | 103 |
| Essex County | 813,054 | $101,883 | 19,988 | $60.73 bn | 2,211 | 493 |
| Franklin County | 70,944 | $74,907 | 1,549 | $3.70 bn | 108 | 699 |
| Hampden County | 462,815 | $71,306 | 9,339 | $30.60 bn | 571 | 617 |
| Hampshire County | 162,028 | $87,001 | 3,491 | $10.39 bn | 220 | 527 |
| Middlesex County | 1,638,365 | $130,847 | 44,624 | $240.67 bn | 3,136 | 818 |
| Nantucket County | 14,483 | $139,688 | 1,317 | $2.11 bn | 73 | 45 |
| Norfolk County | 730,082 | $130,739 | 20,745 | $75.07 bn | 1,556 | 396 |
| Plymouth County | 535,075 | $114,201 | 13,421 | $36.92 bn | 1,309 | 659 |
| Suffolk County | 785,121 | $95,631 | 22,034 | $190.78 bn | 1,182 | 58 |
| Worcester County | 867,788 | $95,939 | 19,181 | $60.95 bn | 1,552 | 1,511 |
The register
Every source behind these 14 pages.
| Source | Period covered | Licence |
|---|---|---|
| US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates | 2020-2024 5-year | US Census Bureau, public domain |
| US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024 | Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024 | US Census Bureau, public domain |
| US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2 | CAGDP2, through 2024 | US Bureau of Economic Analysis, public domain |
| US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet | 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001 | US EPA, public domain |
| FEMA OpenFEMA, NFIP Community Status Book | Community Status Book, as retrieved | FEMA OpenFEMA, public domain |
| US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release | FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30 | FOIA release, public domain |
| US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release | FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30 | FOIA release, public domain |
| US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices | TIGER county boundaries | US Census Bureau, public domain |
| US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns | 2023 | US Census Bureau, public domain |
| US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages | 2024 annual averages | US BLS, public domain |
| US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey | 2024 annual | US Census Bureau, public domain |
| US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows | 2021 to 2022 filing years | IRS SOI, public domain |
A Massachusetts statutory guide is in preparation.