HomeMassachusettsMiddlesex County
Middlesex County, Massachusetts: commercial real estate data.
Middlesex County, Massachusetts has a population of 1,638,365 across 818 square miles, up 2.3 percent since the 2020 census base. County output reached $240.67 bn in 2024, 44,624 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 2,321 7(a) approvals worth $735.3 m.
123 sourced county values · tier FULL · 11 sections
Middlesex County
How many people live in Middlesex County
- Population1,638,365
- Households634,215
- Average household size2.58
- Median household income$130,847
- Median age38.9
- Median gross rent$2,201 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$727,800
- Home value to household income5.6 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income20.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher59.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree30.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over1,160,120
- Population under 18318,865
- Share under 1819.5 percent
- Population 65 and over267,007
- Share 65 and over16.3 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 641,052,493
- Civilian labor force946,989
- Unemployment rate4.4 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over71.8 percent
- Rank by population among Massachusetts counties1st of 14
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents21st
Middlesex County is the 1st largest of 14 Massachusetts counties by population. A median home costs 5.6 times median household income, which is a stretched ownership market and usually shows up as rental demand. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 19.5 percent against 16.3 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Middlesex County
Is Middlesex County growing
- Population change since the 2020 census base2.27 percent
- Census 2020 base population1,631,915
- Births, 202416,251
- Deaths, 202411,726
- Natural change, 20244,525
- Net domestic migration, 2024-9,643
- Net international migration, 202429,046
- Total net migration, 202419,403
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-56,918
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1085th
The county has grown 2.27 percent since the 2020 census base. Migration contributed more to 2024 change than births over deaths, so demand here follows people arriving rather than families forming.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Middlesex County
Where people moving to Middlesex County come from
- Tax returns filed by households arriving46,356
- People arriving, from those returns66,901
- Adjusted gross income arriving$5.99 bn
- Net adjusted gross income movement$0
- Average income of an arriving household$129,274
- Largest single originMiddlesex County Non-migrants (636,567 households)
- Largest single destination (636,567 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middlesex County Non-migrants | 636,567 | 1,231,668 | $118.54 bn |
| Suffolk County | 10,277 | 14,082 | $1.24 bn |
| Essex County | 4,327 | 6,721 | $369.1 m |
| Norfolk County | 3,638 | 5,509 | $566.1 m |
| Other flows - Different State | 3,578 | 5,406 | $309.2 m |
| Worcester County | 3,037 | 4,649 | $250.8 m |
| Other flows - South | 1,451 | 2,285 | $115.3 m |
| Hillsborough County | 1,118 | 1,608 | $85.1 m |
The largest single source of arrivals is Middlesex County Non-migrants, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Middlesex County
What the Middlesex County economy runs on
- County GDP, 2024$240.67 bn
- County GDP, 2023$227.40 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20245.8 percent
- GDP change over five years31.9 percent
- Rank by GDP among Massachusetts counties1st
- Rank by GDP among US county-equivalents14th
- GDP per resident$146,894
Output grew 5.8 percent in the latest year and 31.9 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Middlesex County
Who employs people in Middlesex County
- Covered employment, annual average926,104
- Establishments reporting58,457
- Average annual pay$113,704
- Average weekly wage$2,187
- Sector 54, employment159,395
- Sector 54, average annual pay$198,377
- Sector 62, employment125,576
- Sector 62, average annual pay$71,058
- Sector 44-45, employment70,488
- Sector 44-45, average annual pay$46,022
- Sector 31-33, employment67,086
- Sector 31-33, average annual pay$137,097
- Sector 72, employment62,812
- Sector 61, employment57,273
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sector 54 | 159,395 | 10,312 | $198,377 |
| Sector 62 | 125,576 | 11,512 | $71,058 |
| Sector 44-45 | 70,488 | 4,288 | $46,022 |
| Sector 31-33 | 67,086 | 1,649 | $137,097 |
| Sector 72 | 62,812 | 3,450 | $37,809 |
| Sector 61 | 57,273 | 1,201 | $101,275 |
| Sector 56 | 46,985 | 2,952 | $82,635 |
| Sector 23 | 42,904 | 4,737 | $103,224 |
The largest sector is the biggest private employer group at 159,395 jobs, 17.2 percent of covered employment. Average pay per job sits below median household income, so households here typically need more than one earner.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Middlesex County
What businesses operate in Middlesex County
- Establishments, all industries44,624
- Employment at those establishments963,417
- Annual payroll$97.83 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents27.2
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Middlesex County
What is being built in Middlesex County
- Housing units authorised by permit, 20243,495
- Declared construction value permitted$1.24 bn
- Single family units authorised889
- Multifamily units authorised2,606
- Multifamily share of units74.6 percent
- Average declared value per unit$355,539
- Units authorised per 1,000 households5.5
Multifamily is 74.6 percent of units authorised, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Middlesex County
How much SBA lending happens in Middlesex County
- 7(a) approvals recorded2,321
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$735.3 m
- Average 7(a) approval$316,790
- Median 7(a) approval$130,000
- 10th percentile approval$25,000
- 90th percentile approval$717,800
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)22,548
- Jobs per approval9.7
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active125
- Distinct industries receiving approvals372
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer3.7 percent
- Loans on real estate terms86
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter2,153
- Franchise loans189
- Franchise share of approvals8.1 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (117)
- Most active lenderEastern Bank (477)
- 504 approvals recorded815
- 504 gross approval dollars$549.1 m
- Average 504 approval$673,802
- Median 504 approval$414,000
- Distinct CDCs active6
- 504 jobs per approval7.4
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved11.0
- Most active CDCBay Colony Development Corporation (414)
- 7(a) share of SBA approvals74.0 percent
- Combined SBA approval dollars$1.28 bn
The average approval of $316,790 sits well above the median of $130,000, so a small number of large deals is pulling the mean up. The median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here actually gets. Only 3.7 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
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.
Middlesex County
Do SBA loans in Middlesex County get paid back
- Loans with a final outcome recorded469
- Paid in full441
- Charged off28
- Charge off rate on resolved loans6.0 percent
- Status: Paid in full441
- Status: Cancelled301
- Status: Exempt from disclosure1,400
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed151
- Status: Charged off28
| NAICS | Industry | Resolved loans | Charged off | Charge off rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 722511 | Full-Service Restaurants | 23 | 1 | 4.3% |
| 238990 | All Other Specialty Trade Contractors | 18 | 1 | 5.6% |
| 236118 | Residential Remodelers | 16 | 1 | 6.3% |
| 238220 | Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors | 15 | 2 | 13.3% |
| 811111 | General Automotive Repair | 13 | 0 | 0.0% |
| 238210 | Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors | 11 | 0 | 0.0% |
| 236115 | New Single-Family Housing Construction (except For-Sale Builders) | 11 | 2 | 18.2% |
| 722515 | Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars | 10 | 0 | 0.0% |
Of the 469 loans that have reached a final outcome, 6.0 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong. Among industries with at least ten resolved loans, New Single-Family Housing Construction (except For-Sale Builders) carries the highest charge off rate at 18.2 percent.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Middlesex County
Which parts of Middlesex County get the lending
- Places in the county with recorded lending82
- Cambridge, approvals120
- WOBURN, approvals119
- WALTHAM, approvals100
- FRAMINGHAM, approvals97
- MARLBOROUGH, approvals95
- LOWELL, approvals82
| Place | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Cambridge | 120 | $37,945,500 |
| WOBURN | 119 | $41,812,700 |
| WALTHAM | 100 | $32,765,200 |
| FRAMINGHAM | 97 | $23,422,900 |
| MARLBOROUGH | 95 | $25,031,400 |
| LOWELL | 82 | $19,812,500 |
| Wakefield | 81 | $23,152,800 |
| Somerville | 81 | $32,949,000 |
Cambridge accounts for 120 approvals against 119 in WOBURN. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Middlesex County
How big is Middlesex County
- Land area818 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Massachusetts counties3rd of 14
- Width, east to west44.9 mi
- Height, north to south39.9 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary4
- Residents per square mile of land2,003
- Establishments per square mile54.55
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. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Every item below could be filled with a plausible figure. None of them is. On a page a lender may read, a number that cannot be traced is worse than an absence, so the absences are named.
- No NFIP communities are listed for this county in the FEMA Community Status Book.
- Flood zone record counts are not held. The flood coverage export has not landed, so no count is shown rather than an estimated one.
- Traffic counts resolve in the platform, not in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here.
- Zoning is in build. Parcel level zoning is not published on this page.
Feasibility studies
When a Middlesex County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Middlesex County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population1,638,365
- Households634,215
- Average household size2.58
- Median household income$130,847
- Median age38.9
Common questions
Middlesex County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Middlesex County, Massachusetts?
1,638,365, in 634,215 households, ranking 1st of 14 Massachusetts counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Middlesex County growing?
The population has grown 2.27 percent since the 2020 census base. In 2024 there were 16,251 births against 11,726 deaths, with net migration of 19,403. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Middlesex County?
$130,847. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $727,800, which is 5.6 times income, and median gross rent is $2,201 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are there in Middlesex County?
44,624 establishments, employing 963,417 people with an annual payroll of $97.83 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is the average wage in Middlesex County?
Average annual pay is $113,704, or $2,187 a week, across 926,104 covered jobs. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Middlesex County?
2,321 7(a) approvals totalling $735.3 m since FY2020, across 125 lenders, with a median approval of $130,000, plus 815 504 approvals worth $549.1 m. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Middlesex County get paid back?
Of the 469 loans that have reached a final outcome, 441 were paid in full and 28 charged off, a charge off rate of 6.0 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
What is being built in Middlesex County?
3,495 housing units were authorised by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $1.24 bn. Multifamily was 74.6 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Middlesex County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Middlesex County come from?
The largest single origin is Middlesex County Non-migrants, with 636,567 households. Arriving households report an average income of $129,274 against null for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Middlesex County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Middlesex County?
Not yet. The zoning layer is in build. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame with confirm locally attached.