| County | Rank | Change (2020) ↓ | 2026 Pop. | 2020 Pop. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hampshire County | 1 | 10.93% | 164,825 | 148,589 |
| Middlesex County | 2 | 5.49% | 1,717,004 | 1,627,578 |
| Nantucket County | 3 | 4.94% | 14,942 | 14,239 |
| Worcester County | 4 | 4.79% | 898,118 | 857,092 |
| Norfolk County | 5 | 4.66% | 757,504 | 723,750 |
| Plymouth County | 6 | 4.2% | 550,656 | 528,454 |
| Dukes County | 7 | 4.11% | 21,425 | 20,580 |
| Essex County | 8 | 3.92% | 839,420 | 807,781 |
| Bristol County | 9 | 3.28% | 595,673 | 576,776 |
| Suffolk County | 10 | 2.36% | 816,076 | 797,239 |
| Barnstable County | 11 | 1.81% | 232,192 | 228,060 |
| Hampden County | 12 | 0.97% | 468,197 | 463,714 |
| Franklin County | 13 | -0.06% | 70,893 | 70,934 |
| Berkshire County | 14 | -1.05% | 128,452 | 129,812 |
Massachusetts's counties show varied growth patterns from 2020 to 2026. Hampshire County leads with 1.74% annualized growth, followed by Middlesex County (0.9%) and Nantucket County (0.81%). The largest counties are Middlesex County (1,717,004), Worcester County (898,118), and Essex County (839,420). Of the 14 counties in Massachusetts, 12 are growing while 2 have experienced population decline. Overall, counties averaged 0.59% annualized growth, with total population growing by 0.66% annually.
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