Data / Rankings / Population density / Counties in Massachusetts

Counties in Massachusetts by population density

Suffolk County had the highest population density of 14 counties in 2022, at 5,156.8 inhabitants per km². Franklin County had the lowest, at 39.2 inhabitants per km². The median was 258.4 inhabitants per km² and the figure for Massachusetts was 347.7 inhabitants per km². Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest5,156.8Suffolk County
Lowest39.2Franklin County
Median258.414 counties
Massachusetts347.7History

All counties, 2022

CSVChart (SVG)

Suffolk CountySuffolk County: 5,156.8 inhabitants per km²5,156.8Middlesex CountyMiddlesex County: 769.9 inhabitants per km²769.9Norfolk CountyNorfolk County: 709.3 inhabitants per km²709.3Essex CountyEssex County: 635 inhabitants per km²635Bristol CountyBristol County: 406 inhabitants per km²406Plymouth CountyPlymouth County: 313.7 inhabitants per km²313.7Hampden CountyHampden County: 288.7 inhabitants per km²288.7Barnstable CountyBarnstable County: 228.2 inhabitants per km²228.2Worcester CountyWorcester County: 221.4 inhabitants per km²221.4Nantucket CountyNantucket County: 121.2 inhabitants per km²121.2Hampshire CountyHampshire County: 121 inhabitants per km²121Dukes CountyDukes County: 78.9 inhabitants per km²78.9Berkshire CountyBerkshire County: 54 inhabitants per km²54Franklin CountyFranklin County: 39.2 inhabitants per km²39.2
inhabitants per km². Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-09.

Full ranking

RankCounties2022
inhabitants per km²		Change on 2021
1Suffolk County5,156.8+0.1%
2Middlesex County769.9+1%
3Norfolk County709.3+0.4%
4Essex County635+0.3%
5Bristol County406+0.3%
6Plymouth County313.7+0.4%
7Hampden County288.7-0.3%
8Barnstable County228.2+0.2%
9Worcester County221.4+0.5%
10Nantucket County121.2-0.1%
11Hampshire County121-0%
12Dukes County78.9-0.1%
13Berkshire County54-0.5%
14Franklin County39.2-0%

Other periods

About this ranking

Resident population divided by land area in km². World Bank figures use mid-year population and land area excluding inland water.

United States: Census Bureau population estimates for 1 July divided by land area (water excluded) from the latest Census Gazetteer files. US tables often give people per square mile; multiply persons per km² by 2.59 to compare.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. Population Estimates Program resident population on 1 July divided by land area from the latest Census Gazetteer files, persons per km². https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/datasets/2020-2025/. Retrieved 2026-10-09.

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Questions

Which county has the highest population density?

Suffolk County, with 5,156.8 inhabitants per km² in 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest population density?

Franklin County, with 39.2 inhabitants per km² in 2022.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program resident population on 1 July divided by land area from the latest Census Gazetteer files, persons per km². Retrieved 2026-10-09.

Population density: other rankings

Counties in Massachusetts: more rankings