Most Affordable Counties in Massachusetts for Workers

Most affordable counties in Massachusetts
#	County	Jobs covering basics	Jobs listed	1-bedroom rent	Median household income	Rent / income
1	Plymouth County, MA	82%	85	$2,185/mo	$114,201	23.0%
2	Essex County, MA	80%	86	$2,245/mo	$101,883	26.4%
3	Middlesex County, MA	74%	86	$2,382/mo	$130,847	21.8%
4	Norfolk County, MA	70%	86	$2,514/mo	$130,739	23.1%
5	Suffolk County, MA	70%	86	$2,518/mo	$95,631	31.6%

County

Jobs covering basics

Jobs listed

1-bedroom rent

Median household income

Rent / income

Plymouth County, MA

82%

$2,185/mo

$114,201

23.0%

Essex County, MA

80%

$2,245/mo

$101,883

26.4%

Middlesex County, MA

74%

$2,382/mo

$130,847

21.8%

Norfolk County, MA

70%

$2,514/mo

$130,739

23.1%

Suffolk County, MA

70%

$2,518/mo

$95,631

31.6%

Most affordable counties in Massachusetts

We ranked 5 Massachusetts counties that have at least 20 occupations published on this site. The ranking measures how many of those occupations pay enough, at the local median wage, to cover a one-bedroom rental, food, home energy and gasoline after federal, Social Security, Medicare and state taxes. Plymouth County, MA leads: 82% of its 85 occupations clear that bar, with a HUD one-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $2,185 a month.

Ties are broken by the lower one-bedroom rent, then by population. Where the Census Bureau publishes it, the table also shows median household income (American Community Survey 2020-2024) and what a year of one-bedroom rent equals as a share of it. Open a county to see every occupation and its take-home pay.