Fishing boats in New Bedford harbor
County in Massachusetts

Plymouth County

Plymouth County has the 3rd highest homeownership rate in Massachusetts (77.6%) and the 4th lowest poverty rate (7.1%).

Plymouth County is home to 542,090 people (2024 estimate) on 659 square miles of land. This page brings together official U.S. Census Bureau population estimates since 2000, the components of change—births, deaths and migration—American Community Survey indicators on income, housing, poverty and education, BEA economic accounts and BLS unemployment.

Key indicators

Population
542,090
July 1, 2024 estimate
2020 Census base
530,820
April 1, 2020
Change since 2020
+2.1%
2020–2024
Land area
659 mi²
1,706 km²
Population density
823.2 /mi²
2024 estimate ÷ land area
Births
5,304
Year to July 1, 2024
Deaths
5,336
Year to July 1, 2024
Natural change
−32
Births minus deaths, 2024
Net migration
+4,321
Domestic + international, 2024
Per capita personal income
$87,818
BEA, 2024
Gross domestic product
$36.9 billion
BEA, current dollars, 2024
Median household income
$114,201
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Poverty rate
7.1%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Bachelor’s degree or higher
41.8%
Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Foreign-born residents
11.2%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median home value
$556,000
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Unemployment rate
4.1%
BLS annual average, 2024

Historical data

Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.

Population

2000–2024
542,090▲ 14%

U.S. Census Bureau: intercensal estimates 2000–2009, Vintage 2020 (2010–2019) and Vintage 2024 (2020–2024), July 1.

Data summary

IndicatorValueYear and source
Population estimate542,0902024 · U.S. Census Bureau
Population, 2010 Census494,9192010 · U.S. Census Bureau
Population, 2000474,131July 1, 2000 · Census intercensal
Change since 2000+14.3%2000–2024 · Census
International migration+3,6112024 · Census Vintage 2024
Domestic migration+7102024 · Census Vintage 2024
Birth rate9.8 per 1,0002024 · calculated
Death rate9.8 per 1,0002024 · calculated
Population rank in Massachusetts7th of 142024 · calculated
Per capita personal income$87,818BEA, 2024 · official
Gross domestic product$36.9 billionBEA, current dollars, 2024 · official
Median household income$114,201ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Poverty rate7.1%ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Bachelor’s degree or higher41.8%Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Foreign-born residents11.2%ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Median home value$556,000ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Median gross rent$1,747/monthACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Median age43.0 yearsACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Households203,141ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Owner-occupied homes77.6%ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official

Plymouth County in context

Comparable indicators for Plymouth County, Massachusetts and the United States.

IndicatorCountyMassachusettsU.S.Reference
Population change 2020–2024+2.1%+1.5%+2.6%Census Vintage 2024
Birth rate (per 1,000)9.89.510.62024
Death rate (per 1,000)9.88.69.12024
Net migration rate (per 1,000)8.08.88.22024
Population density (/mi²)823.2914.896.32024
Per capita personal income$87,818$93,607$73,204BEA, 2024
Median household income$114,201$103,960$80,734ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Poverty rate7.1%10.0%12.5%ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Bachelor’s degree or higher41.8%47.3%35.7%Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Foreign-born residents11.2%18.0%14.1%ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median home value$556,000$562,100$332,700ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median gross rent$1,747/month$1,762/month$1,413/monthACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median age43.0 years40.0 years38.9 yearsACS 2020–2024 5-year
Owner-occupied homes77.6%62.5%65.2%ACS 2020–2024 5-year

Cities & towns

1 city · choose how to order them

Did you know? Plymouth County

7th most populous of 14

With 542,090 residents in 2024, Plymouth County ranks 7th by population among Massachusetts's 14 counties and is home to 7.6% of the state's residents.

A quarter century of change

Its population went from 474,131 in 2000 to 542,090 in 2024, a change of +14.3%, compared with +12.2% for Massachusetts as a whole.

Births and deaths

In the year to July 2024 the county recorded 5,304 births and 5,336 deaths, so deaths outnumbered births by 32.

Record population

Annual Census estimates since 2000 put the county's highest population in 2024, at 542,090.

6th in density

Plymouth County has about 823.2 residents per square mile of land, ranking 6th of 14 counties; Massachusetts averages 914.8.

Household income rank

With a median household income of $114,201 (ACS 2020–2024 5-year), the county ranks 5th of 14 Massachusetts counties; the state median is $103,960.

Size of the economy

Its economy produced $36.9 billion of GDP in 2024 (BEA), 6th largest among 14 Massachusetts counties.

Latest economic growth

Real GDP grew 2.8% in 2024, adjusted for inflation (BEA, chained 2017 dollars).

Sources and methodology