Boston skyline over the Charles River at dusk
County in Massachusetts

Suffolk County

Suffolk County has the largest immigrant share in Massachusetts (29.8% foreign-born) and the youngest population (median age 33.9).

Suffolk County is home to 793,144 people (2024 estimate) on 58 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
793,144
July 1, 2024 estimate
2020 Census base
800,937
April 1, 2020
Change since 2020
−1.0%
2020–2024
Land area
58 mi²
151 km²
Population density
13,615.5 /mi²
2024 estimate ÷ land area
Births
8,253
Year to July 1, 2024
Deaths
4,712
Year to July 1, 2024
Natural change
+3,541
Births minus deaths, 2024
Net migration
+7,951
Domestic + international, 2024
Per capita personal income
$109,447
BEA, 2024
Gross domestic product
$190.8 billion
BEA, current dollars, 2024
Median household income
$95,631
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Poverty rate
16.2%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Bachelor’s degree or higher
50.6%
Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Foreign-born residents
29.8%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median home value
$705,800
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Unemployment rate
3.9%
BLS annual average, 2024

Historical data

Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.

Population

2000–2024
793,144▲ 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 estimate793,1442024 · U.S. Census Bureau
Population, 2010 Census722,0232010 · U.S. Census Bureau
Population, 2000692,745July 1, 2000 · Census intercensal
Change since 2000+14.5%2000–2024 · Census
International migration+18,9222024 · Census Vintage 2024
Domestic migration−10,9712024 · Census Vintage 2024
Birth rate10.4 per 1,0002024 · calculated
Death rate5.9 per 1,0002024 · calculated
Population rank in Massachusetts4th of 142024 · calculated
Per capita personal income$109,447BEA, 2024 · official
Gross domestic product$190.8 billionBEA, current dollars, 2024 · official
Median household income$95,631ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Poverty rate16.2%ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Bachelor’s degree or higher50.6%Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Foreign-born residents29.8%ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Median home value$705,800ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Median gross rent$2,129/monthACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Median age33.9 yearsACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Households327,167ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Owner-occupied homes36.5%ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official

Suffolk County in context

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

IndicatorCountyMassachusettsU.S.Reference
Population change 2020–2024−1.0%+1.5%+2.6%Census Vintage 2024
Birth rate (per 1,000)10.49.510.62024
Death rate (per 1,000)5.98.69.12024
Net migration rate (per 1,000)10.08.88.22024
Population density (/mi²)13615.5914.896.32024
Per capita personal income$109,447$93,607$73,204BEA, 2024
Median household income$95,631$103,960$80,734ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Poverty rate16.2%10.0%12.5%ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Bachelor’s degree or higher50.6%47.3%35.7%Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Foreign-born residents29.8%18.0%14.1%ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median home value$705,800$562,100$332,700ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median gross rent$2,129/month$1,762/month$1,413/monthACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median age33.9 years40.0 years38.9 yearsACS 2020–2024 5-year
Owner-occupied homes36.5%62.5%65.2%ACS 2020–2024 5-year

Cities & towns

2 cities · choose how to order them

Did you know? Suffolk County

4th most populous of 14

With 793,144 residents in 2024, Suffolk County ranks 4th by population among Massachusetts's 14 counties and is home to 11.1% of the state's residents.

A quarter century of change

Its population went from 692,745 in 2000 to 793,144 in 2024, a change of +14.5%, compared with +12.2% for Massachusetts as a whole.

Births and deaths

In the year to July 2024 the county recorded 8,253 births and 4,712 deaths, so births outnumbered deaths by 3,541.

Peak population in 2019

Annual Census estimates since 2000 put the county's highest population at 805,915 in 2019. The 2024 figure is 12,771 lower.

1st in density

Suffolk County has about 13615.5 residents per square mile of land, ranking 1st of 14 counties; Massachusetts averages 914.8.

Household income rank

With a median household income of $95,631 (ACS 2020–2024 5-year), the county ranks 8th of 14 Massachusetts counties; the state median is $103,960.

Size of the economy

Its economy produced $190.8 billion of GDP in 2024 (BEA), 2nd largest among 14 Massachusetts counties.

Latest economic growth

Real GDP grew 1.8% in 2024, adjusted for inflation (BEA, chained 2017 dollars).

Sources and methodology