Discover the 7 Fastest-Growing Counties in Massachusetts

Massachusetts is a state in New England that is famous for its extensive history and its ties to the Atlantic Ocean. The state is the 16^th ranked in terms of total population. The recent 2020 Census showed a 7.4% population increase between 2010 and 2020. However, in recent years between 2020 and 2022, the population increases have slowed in many parts of the state, even decreasing in some counties. Today, we’re going to look at the 7 fastest-growing counties in Massachusetts and explain why their populations may not be growing all that fast at all.

7. Nantucket County

Nantucket County is the second-smallest county in Massachusetts. This lone island exists off the coast of Cape Cod, a little over 30 miles from Falmouth in Cape Cod. Nantucket County is also known for having some of the most expensive areas to buy a beach home in the state.  

Given the region’s isolation, it should come as no surprise that the area has a small population. Furthermore, relatively few people are moving to the county according to recent population numbers.

Nantucket County had a total of 14,251 people in 2020, and that population grew by 170 people to 14,421 people in 2022. This county has a small population, and it’s hard to classify it as a fast-growing county in Massachusetts rather than just one that happens to be growing.

6. Dukes County

Dukes County is one of the smallest in terms of population. This county encompasses Martha’s Vineyard and a few other islands off the coast of the Massachusetts mainland.

The original population in Dukes County in 2020 was 20,595, and the population increased to 20,868. This is a small gain of less than 300 residents and a percent increase of 1.32%. This area represents the second-smallest population of any county in the state.

5. Hampshire County

Hampshire County had an original population of 162,305 people in 2020, and that population grew to 162,588 people in 2022. Overall, the area added just 283 people from 2020 to 2022, adding 0.17% of its population.

Hampshire County is a large county, stretching about 40 miles across. The county is north of Springfield and its associated higher population. The town with the highest population in the area is Belchertown, an area with a population of just above 15,000 people.

4. Worcester County

Worcester County is the second-largest county by population in Massachusetts. However, it is the largest one by land size alone. The county runs north to south throughout the center of the state. The county is known for having the Quabbin Reservoir, the largest lake in Massachusetts. Overall, Worcester County measures roughly 1,579 square miles. This county alone is larger than nearby Rhode Island in terms of overall size.

Worcester County had a population of 862,099 people in 2020. That number rose to an estimated 862,927 by 2022. This change is an increase of 828 individuals throughout the state and a gain of about 0.09%. This county is only making small gains in population, but it is still among the fastest-growing counties in Massachusetts.  

3. Bristol County

Bristol County is directly east of Rhode Island, and its largest city is New Bedford. Within that city is the famous New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, a protected area that demonstrates an important historical aspect of the state.

The population of Bristol County in 2020 was 579,210. The estimated population in the area grew to 580,068 in 2022. In other words, the population grew by a total of 858 residents for a small increase of 0.14%. This county has experienced significant growth in the past. Back in 2010, the total population was 549,175. While the speed of the area’s growth has slowed, people are still moving to this region.

2. Plymouth County

In 2020, the population in Plymouth County was 530,820 people, and that number grew to 533,069. That growth represents an increase of 0.42%, a rather small increase but an increase, nonetheless.

Plymouth County is west of Barnstable County, and it is also south of Suffolk County, the county with Boston. While the percentage change for population increases in this area is small, the overall change is significant. One reason this population could have grown is that people left the Boston Metropolitan Area during the COVID-19 Pandemic and moved to this nearby county.  

1. Barnstable County

Barnstable County is in the far eastern part of Massachusetts containing Cape Cod, north of Dukes County. This county has a unique shape that connects to the mainland and hooks outward into the ocean. The county contains many lighthouses, beautiful beaches, and quaint towns.

The population in Barnstable County was 229,004 people in 2020, but the population grew to 232,457. That is a total increase of 3,453 people, representing one of the largest increases in terms of sheer number of people but not in terms of percentage gain. All in all, Barnstable County is the fastest-growing county in Massachusetts.

The overall population in Massachusetts increased between 2010 and 2020. However, the population has dropped between 2020 and 2022. Some people moved out of the state entirely, but it’s likely that others simply moved to the fastest-growing counties in Massachusetts. Future trends will provide a clearer picture of how many people left the state and possibly why they left.

Summary of the Fastest-Growing Counties in Massachusetts