Highest-earning Counties in Massachusetts

Henryk Sadura // Shutterstock

Highest-earning counties in Massachusetts

The 2020 median household income in the U.S. was $67,521, a decrease of 2.9% from 2019. COVID-19 in 2020 drastically altered income and poverty levels, along with consumer habits and job opportunities.

Stacker compiled a list of the highest-earning counties in Massachusetts using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by 2020 5-year estimate median household income.

Data shows that annual annual income depends heavily on an individual's educational attainment, race, ethnicity, gender, and even location. One cluster of the United States is particularly well off: The five of the seven counties with the highest median household income in the country can be found in the Washington D.C. metropolitan areas of Maryland and Northern Virginia. These counties can likely attribute their wealth to their proximity to Washington D.C., which attracts highly educated and skilled people in areas of law and public policy. And people in those fields often marry each other, making two high-earning households one very high-earning household.

Keep reading to learn more about the highest-earning counties in Massachusetts.

You may also like: Best lookout points in Massachusetts

#14. Hampden County

- Median household income: $57,623
--- 31.7% below state average, 11.3% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 27.5%
--- #659 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 13.1%
--- #1,092 highest among all counties nationwide

#13. Franklin County

- Median household income: $61,198
--- 27.5% below state average, 5.8% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 26.7%
--- #717 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.2%
--- #812 highest among all counties nationwide

#12. Berkshire County

- Median household income: $62,166
--- 26.3% below state average, 4.4% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 28.4%
--- #587 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.4%
--- #737 highest among all counties nationwide

#11. Bristol County

- Median household income: $71,450
--- 15.3% below state average, 9.9% above national average
- Households earning over $100k: 34.7%
--- #289 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 10.0%
--- #339 highest among all counties nationwide

#10. Hampshire County

- Median household income: $73,518
--- 12.9% below state average, 13.1% above national average
- Households earning over $100k: 36.2%
--- #255 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 8.6%
--- #287 highest among all counties nationwide

You may also like: Where refugees in Massachusetts are arriving from

#9. Suffolk County

- Median household income: $74,881
--- 11.3% below state average, 15.2% above national average
- Households earning over $100k: 39.0%
--- #189 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 15.1%
--- #265 highest among all counties nationwide

#8. Barnstable County

- Median household income: $76,863
--- 8.9% below state average, 18.3% above national average
- Households earning over $100k: 38.0%
--- #217 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 6.4%
--- #229 highest among all counties nationwide

#7. Worcester County

- Median household income: $77,155
--- 8.6% below state average, 18.7% above national average
- Households earning over $100k: 39.0%
--- #189 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 8.8%
--- #224 highest among all counties nationwide

#6. Dukes County

- Median household income: $77,318
--- 8.4% below state average, 19.0% above national average
- Households earning over $100k: 38.2%
--- #211 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 5.6%
--- #221 highest among all counties nationwide

#5. Essex County

- Median household income: $82,225
--- 2.6% below state average, 26.5% above national average
- Households earning over $100k: 41.5%
--- #141 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.6%
--- #170 highest among all counties nationwide

You may also like: Massachusetts ranks #47 in mental health care deserts

#4. Plymouth County

- Median household income: $92,906
--- 10.1% above state average, 42.9% above national average
- Households earning over $100k: 46.6%
--- #75 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 6.7%
--- #77 highest among all counties nationwide

#3. Norfolk County

- Median household income: $105,320
--- 24.8% above state average, 62.0% above national average
- Households earning over $100k: 52.6%
--- #30 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 6.4%
--- #31 highest among all counties nationwide

#2. Middlesex County

- Median household income: $106,202
--- 25.9% above state average, 63.4% above national average
- Households earning over $100k: 52.9%
--- #28 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 6.8%
--- #27 highest among all counties nationwide

#1. Nantucket County

- Median household income: $112,306
--- 33.1% above state average, 72.8% above national average
- Households earning over $100k: 54.7%
--- #23 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 3.4%
--- #18 highest among all counties nationwide