Map the Block › Places › Massachusetts › Middlesex County
Middlesex County, Massachusetts: crime rate, income and local data
FBI reports put Middlesex County at 1.9 violent crimes per 1,000 people a year over 2021-2025, 38% lower than the rate for Massachusetts (3.1). Median household income is $130,847 and the unemployment rate was 4.0% in August 2026. It is home to roughly 1,638,365 residents.
Last updated . Crime: FBI 2021-2025. Income and housing: Census ACS 2020-2024. Unemployment: BLS August 2026. Road work: October 11, 2026.
Also on the map: income · hazard risk · Superfund · dams
What is the crime rate in Middlesex County?
Over 2021-2025, the county's police agencies sent the FBI reports of about 3,160 violent and 15,457 property crimes per year. The violent rate, 1.9 per 1,000 people, is 38% lower than the Massachusetts rate (3.1); nationally it is 3.7. Burglary, theft and car theft together come to 9.4 per 1,000 residents, compared with 10.7 across Massachusetts. Aggravated assaults make up 80% of the violent total. CDC death records show about 16 homicide deaths a year in the county (1.0 per 100,000), a count that includes cases police may classify differently.
| Offense (yearly average, 2021-2025) | Middlesex County | Per 1,000 | Massachusetts per 1,000 | U.S. per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crime | 3,160 | 1.9 | 3.1 | 3.7 |
| Murder | 12 | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.06 |
| Rape | 295 | 0.18 | 0.28 | 0.40 |
| Robbery | 337 | 0.21 | 0.37 | 0.62 |
| Aggravated assault | 2,517 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 2.6 |
| Property crime | 15,457 | 9.4 | 10.7 | 18.1 |
| Burglary | 1,840 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 2.4 |
| Larceny-theft | 12,405 | 7.6 | 8.4 | 13.0 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 1,211 | 0.74 | 1.0 | 2.6 |
Most crime never reaches the police, so these are reported crimes, a floor rather than the full count. In 2024 about half of violent crimes (48%) and about 3 in 10 property crimes (31%) were reported to police (U.S. Justice Department, National Crime Victimization Survey). Rates also depend on how completely each agency reports to the FBI. County figures add up the city police and sheriff reports in the county (54 agencies; 100% of residents covered).
What is the median household income in Middlesex County?
Half of households in Middlesex County make more than $130,847 and half make less; across Massachusetts the midpoint is $103,960. The typical owner-occupied home is valued at $727,800 by its owners; renters pay a median $2,201. 9.3% of households received SNAP benefits in the past year (state: 14.7%). The newest monthly figure from the Bureau of Labor Statistics is 4.0% for August 2026 (preliminary), with 37,210 people out of work and looking.
| Census ACS 2020-2024 | Middlesex County | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,638,365 | 7,044,056 | 334,922,499 |
| Median household income | $130,847 | $103,960 | $80,734 |
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $727,800 | $562,100 | $332,700 |
| Median gross rent | $2,201 | $1,762 | $1,413 |
| Unemployment rate (2020-2024 average) | 4.4% | 5.2% | 5.2% |
| People below the poverty line | 7.7% | 10.0% | 12.5% |
| Households receiving SNAP (food stamps) | 9.3% | 14.7% | 12.1% |
| Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher | 59.5% | 47.3% | 35.7% |
| Homeowner households | 61.3% | 62.5% | 65.2% |
| Median age | 38.9 | 40.0 | 38.9 |
| Households with broadband internet | 94.7% | 92.8% | 91.0% |
| People without health insurance | 2.4% | 2.6% | 8.4% |
What natural hazards and environmental sites are in Middlesex County?
Middlesex County carries a “Relatively High” overall rating in FEMA's National Risk Index. Of the seven hazards on our map, FEMA rates these highest: river flooding (Relatively High) and hurricanes (Relatively High). The index compares counties with each other and also weighs how vulnerable and resilient a community is, so it is a long-run estimate, not a forecast.
Superfund sites
EPA lists 13 active Superfund sites (final or proposed) in Middlesex County: Natick Laboratory Army Research, Development, And Engineering Center, Naval Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant, Hanscom Field/Hanscom Air Force Base, Silresim Chemical Corp., W.R. Grace & Co., Inc. (Acton Plant), Olin Chemical, plus 7 more. 2 other sites have finished cleanup and been taken off the list. A listing means EPA is managing a long-term cleanup; it does not by itself mean anyone is exposed today.
High-hazard dams
Middlesex County has 46 dams classed as high hazard in the National Inventory of Dams. 10 are rated Poor or Unsatisfactory in condition, 34 Satisfactory or Fair. Tallest on the list: Sudbury Reservoir Dam (77 ft) and Ashland Reservoir Dam (59 ft). “High hazard” describes what lies downstream (people would probably die if the dam failed), not how likely the dam is to fail.
Industrial chemical releases
72 facilities in the county filed Toxics Release Inventory reports for 2024, together reporting 1,791,069 pounds of listed chemicals released on site. Reported releases are legal permitted amounts in most cases.
Disasters, air and water
Middlesex County was covered by 1 federal major disaster declaration from 2016 through 2025 (Snowstorm 1), not counting COVID-19. In 2024, 0 of 366 monitored days had an air quality index of “unhealthy for sensitive groups” or worse (EPA). Of 97 community water systems, 4 had an open health-based drinking-water violation in EPA's records (September 2026). EPA puts the county in radon zone 1 (highest). NHTSA counted 55 traffic deaths in the county in 2024, including 10 pedestrians.
Is there road construction in Middlesex County?
On October 11, 2026 the state transportation feed listed 109 highway work zones in Middlesex County (15 active that day). Where crews are working: I-90, I-495 and I-95. 53 are on interstates. The map's construction layer is refreshed every morning.
See today's work zones on the map →
How many schools, nursing homes and parks are in Middlesex County?
Middlesex County has 392 public schools (2024-25) and 125 private schools (2023-24) in federal school lists. 75 nursing homes are certified by Medicare or Medicaid here; star ratings for each are on the map and on Medicare's Care Compare. USGS mapping shows 160 fire or EMS stations and 70 police or sheriff stations. Park Service units in the area: Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site, Lowell National Historical Park and Minute Man National Historical Park. 7 state parks or recreation areas: Ashland State Park, Callahan State Park, Cochituate State Park, Great Brook Farm State Park and Hopkinton State Park and 2 more.
What tribal lands and sacred sites are in Middlesex County?
1 ancient or sacred site is on the map here: Pow-Wow Oak Tree. Many are sacred to living communities, so visit respectfully and follow posted rules.
See them on the map: sacred sites →
Gun shops, liquor stores and Planned Parenthood in Middlesex County
Gun shops
12 gun shops with a public storefront are on the map in Middlesex County (11 from the ATF licensee list, 1 from OpenStreetMap), plus 26 more licensed dealers without a public storefront (not shown). On the ATF list: Anthony's Safety (Framingham), B & K Sales LLC (Natick), Bonhams & Butterfields Auctioneers Corporation (Marlborough), Cabela's 463 (Hudson), Four Seasons (Woburn), Glenn's Ammo & Reloading INC (North Reading), Reading Rifle And Revolver (Reading), Reds Firearms - Fjrns LLC (Framingham) and 3 more.
Liquor stores
302 liquor stores are on the map in Middlesex County: 129 Liquors Inc (Billerica), 1300 Liquors, A & P Spinners Market, Acton Liquors, Acton Wine and Spirit Co. (Acton), Alexander Liquors (Medford), Allstar Liquors, Andy's Liquors (Wakefield) and 294 more. Massachusetts has no complete public liquor licence list we can use, so this count also draws on OpenStreetMap and Overture Maps and may miss some stores or include closed ones.
Planned Parenthood
There is no Planned Parenthood health center in Middlesex County on the map.
See them on the map: gun shops · liquor stores →
Sources: ATF licensee list (Sept 2026); state liquor licence lists, OpenStreetMap and Overture Maps (non-official; partial in some states); HHS Title X directory and CMS NPPES.
Common questions
What is the crime rate in Middlesex County?
Middlesex County averaged 3,160 reported violent crimes a year in 2021-2025, or 1.9 per 1,000 residents, 38% lower than the Massachusetts rate (3.1). The property-crime rate was 9.4 per 1,000 (FBI Uniform Crime Reporting).
What is the median household income in Middlesex County?
$130,847 (Census American Community Survey, 2020-2024 average), compared with $103,960 for Massachusetts and $80,734 nationally.
What is the unemployment rate in Middlesex County?
The newest monthly figure from the Bureau of Labor Statistics is 4.0% for August 2026 (preliminary), with 37,210 people out of work and looking.
What natural hazards affect Middlesex County?
Middlesex County carries a “Relatively High” overall rating in FEMA's National Risk Index. Of the seven hazards on our map, FEMA rates these highest: river flooding (Relatively High) and hurricanes (Relatively High).
Are there Superfund sites in Middlesex County?
EPA lists 13 active Superfund sites (final or proposed) in Middlesex County: Natick Laboratory Army Research, Development, And Engineering Center, Naval Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant, Hanscom Field/Hanscom Air Force Base, Silresim Chemical Corp., W.R. Grace & Co., Inc. (Acton Plant), Olin Chemical, plus 7 more. 2 other sites have finished cleanup and been taken off the list.
Is there road construction in Middlesex County right now?
On October 11, 2026 the state transportation feed listed 109 highway work zones in Middlesex County (15 active that day). Where crews are working: I-90, I-495 and I-95. 53 are on interstates.
How many nursing homes are in Middlesex County?
75 Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing homes (CMS provider data, September 2026).
How does Middlesex County compare with neighboring counties?
| County | Population | Violent crimes per 1,000 (2021-25) | Median household income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essex County | 813,054 | 2.5 | $101,883 |
| Hillsborough County, NH | 426,378 | 1.6 | $103,545 |
| Norfolk County | 730,082 | 1.8 | $130,739 |
| Suffolk County | 785,121 | 5.9 | $95,631 |
| Worcester County | 867,788 | 3.1 | $95,939 |
Cities in Middlesex County with their own page: Cambridge, Lowell, Newton, Somerville, Framingham, Malden, Waltham, Brookline, Revere, Medford, Everett.
More: Massachusetts statewide numbers · Sex-offender registry search (U.S. Justice Department, NSOPW)
Where do these numbers come from?
- Crime: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting 2021-2025 (agency level, Return A), averaged and summed by county by Map the Block; Census population; state and national rates: FBI estimated crimes 2021-2025.
- Income, housing, education: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year, table B19013 (median household income) and related tables.
- Monthly unemployment: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS), county data, not seasonally adjusted. Public domain.
- Hazards: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), county scores; disasters: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
- Superfund: U.S. EPA, Superfund site boundaries and NPL status (October 2026). Dams: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, National Inventory of Dams (public map service, October 2026). Chemical releases: U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory, reporting year 2024 (basic data file).
- Air and water: U.S. EPA AirData, annual AQI by county 2024; EPA Air Quality Design Values 2023-2025 (June 2026); U.S. EPA SDWIS via ECHO drinking-water download (September 30, 2026). Traffic deaths: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) 2024; Census population.
- Work zones: State departments of transportation, via the U.S. DOT Work Zone Data Exchange (WZDx) and state 511 feeds; refreshed every morning (snapshot October 11, 2026).
- Schools: National Center for Education Statistics, EDGE public school locations 2024-25; budgets: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances, fiscal year 2024; National Center for Education Statistics, EDGE Private School geocodes (Private School Survey 2023-24). Nursing homes: U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Nursing Home Provider Information and Penalties (September 2026). Stations: U.S. Geological Survey, National Structures Dataset (Fire Stations/EMS Stations), October 2026 pull.
- Parks: USGS Protected Areas Database of the U.S. (PAD-US 4.1); state park agencies' open data (CA, NY, PA, TN, TX, FL, NJ, KY, HI, UT, MT and others); OpenStreetMap contributors for some hours, phones, fees and camping; U.S. National Park Service: unit boundaries (Land Resources Division), Acreage Report (Sept 30, 2026), park pages on nps.gov (hours, fees), Visitor Use Statistics (2025).
Map the Block shows public statistics about places, not people, and does not rate or rank neighborhoods as places to live. Figures are as published by each source; check the source before relying on a number.
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