12 counties · Boom Town Index

Massachusetts

Avg BTI Score
39 / 100
Population
6.9M
-0.4% avg growth
National Rank
#37 of 51

State Overview

Massachusetts' economy is experiencing a period of mixed signals in 2025-2026, with strong growth in specific sectors counterbalanced by broader economic deceleration and persistent outmigration. The state's GDP grew 2.4% in 2025, ranking 11th nationally and outpacing the U.S. average, yet its economic growth lagged the national average in the third quarter of 2025. Key industries such as technology, healthcare, education, and biotechnology continue to drive job creation. However, the state faces challenges with a shrinking labor force and a high cost of living, which contribute to residents moving out.

The housing market reflects these dynamics, with Eastern Massachusetts showing resilience in single-family homes but a more cautious condo market due to rising HOA fees and insurance costs. While Boston's housing market saw a 15.7% increase in average single-family home prices in 2025, some forecasts anticipate a slight decrease in overall home values for the Boston metro area by mid-2026. Southern Massachusetts, particularly Bristol and Plymouth Counties, is experiencing new housing and neighborhood growth to meet demand.

Median Household Income
$88,524
State median across 12 counties
Median Home Value
$475,500
Income-to-home ratio: 0.22
Building Permits
13,973
Total residential permits
Natural Amenity
6.4 / 10
#20 of 49 · USDA scale

Massachusetts Counties

12 counties
Rank County BTI Score Safety Proj. Growth GDP Pop Growth Income Ratio Home Price Climate P/R
01 Hampden County 68 C+ +3.1% +1.6% -0.4% +8.7% 5.1x +2.8% -0.1 12x
02 Barnstable County 56 A +1.6% +4.6% +0.7% +9.5% 8.0x +0.6% 1.5 16x
03 Bristol County 56 B+ +1.9% +2.4% +0.1% +8.5% 8.0x +2.4% 0.5 16x
04 Hampshire County 50 A +1.7% +1.9% -4.9% +9.2% 6.6x +0.5% -0.0 12x
05 Plymouth County 49 B+ +2.2% +2.8% +0.4% +7.3% 8.9x +2.8% 1.1 16x
06 Franklin County 33 A +0.7% -6.3% -0.1% +8.4% 7.0x -0.6% 0.0 13x
07 Middlesex County 29 A +0.5% +3.1% -0.0% +8.5% 5.2x +1.3% -1.1 18x
08 Worcester County 28 A +1.8% +1.9% +0.2% +8.4% 6.5x +1.3% 0.2 14x
09 Berkshire County 24 B+ +0.4% +1.6% -0.2% +10.4% 4.8x +1.8% 0.8 14x
10 Essex County 23 A +0.9% +1.2% +0.2% +8.9% 8.9x +1.9% 1.4 18x
11 Suffolk County 23 C+ +0.1% +1.8% -0.9% +9.2% 3.3x +0.6% 0.8 16x
12 Norfolk County 22 A +1.1% +2.0% +0.2% +7.6% 7.4x +1.0% -0.6 17x

Capital Investment in Massachusetts

Tracked Projects · Public Records
$14.8B
Total tracked investment
11,182
Jobs announced
31
Projects across 8 counties

Where the money is going

Energy $10.2B 69%
Data Centers $3.0B 20%
Infrastructure $736M 5%
Other $500M 3%
Commercial/Residential $320M 2%

Top counties by investment

  1. 01 Bristol County $3.5B
    4 projects · 110 jobs
  2. 02 Hampshire County $3.0B
    2 projects · 400 jobs
  3. 03 Hampden County $3.0B
    4 projects · 3,600 jobs
  4. 04 Barnstable County $2.5B
    3 projects · 3,500 jobs
  5. 05 Plymouth County $1.2B
    3 projects
  6. 06 Berkshire County $879M
    6 projects · 672 jobs

Largest projects in Massachusetts

Project County Amount Status
Westfield Data Center Campus
Servistar Realties, LLC · Data Centers · 400 jobs
 Hampshire County $3.0B Planned
New England Wind 1 and 2 Offshore Wind Project (onshore components)
Park City Wind, Commonwealth Wind, LLC · Energy
 Bristol County $2.6B Approved
New England Wind Offshore Wind Project (partial contribution to Hampden County energy supply)
Avangrid · Energy
 Hampden County $1.9B Approved
Commonwealth Wind Offshore Wind Farm (onshore interconnection)
Avangrid · Energy
 Barnstable County $1.2B Planned
Vineyard Wind 1 Offshore Wind Farm (partial contribution to Hampden County energy supply)
Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners · Energy · 3,600 jobs
 Hampden County $806M Under Construction
Vineyard Wind 1 Offshore Wind Farm (onshore interconnection)
Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners · Energy · 3,500 jobs
 Barnstable County $800M Completed
Plymouth Parking Management Plan & Garage Feasibility
Plymouth Growth & Development Corporation (PGDC) · Infrastructure
 Plymouth County $515M Planned
Salt Cod Storage (Battery Energy Storage System)
Flatiron Energy · Energy · 110 jobs
 Bristol County $500M Planned
→ Methodology · How We Tracked $4T Across 858 Counties

Source: public records, corporate announcements, state EDC filings. Tracking projects with $25M+ in announced investment or 500+ jobs. Some figures are estimates where exact totals weren't disclosed.

Massachusetts shaded relief terrain map
SRTM 30m shaded relief
State Spotlight · 2026-04-29

Massachusetts economy sees uneven growth as residents depart

What's driving growth

Massachusetts' economic growth is concentrated in innovation sectors like artificial intelligence, quantum technology, climate technology, defense, and robotics. Governor Maura Healey's administration has filed a $305 million economic development bill, the Mass Wins Act, to support these industries. Major employers like Dechra and Whoop are expanding, with grocery chain Big Y planning six new stores across the state.

Housing market right now

The Massachusetts housing market saw average sale prices increase by 6% overall year-over-year in March 2026, reaching $762,482. Single-family home values in Boston increased by 15.7% in 2025, with an average sale price of $1,312,308. However, condo sales in Greater Boston and the South Shore took longer to sell in 2025 due to rising HOA fees and insurance costs.

Migration patterns

Massachusetts continues to experience net outmigration, ranking 46th in the 2025 U-Haul Growth Index, though this is a slight improvement from 49th in 2024. High housing costs and the overall cost of living are cited as primary reasons for people leaving the state, with many moving to Southern states like Texas and Florida. Despite this, the state's overall population grew in 2024 due to international immigration.

Headwinds

Massachusetts' GDP growth lagged the national average in the third quarter of 2025, marking the fourth consecutive year of this trend. The state faces a shrinking labor force, with a decline of 2.4% between 2018 and 2023. Additionally, Boston's office markets remain weak, with the downtown office vacancy rate climbing to 18.1% in late 2025.

Key facts

  • Massachusetts' gross domestic product grew 2.4% in 2025, ranking 11th nationally. (Worcester Business Journal, April 2026)
  • The average sale price for homes in Massachusetts increased by 6% year-over-year in March 2026, reaching $762,482. (Lamacchia Realty, April 2026)
  • Massachusetts ranked 46th in the 2025 U-Haul Growth Index for inbound moves. (U-Haul, January 2026)
  • Governor Healey announced an $8 billion, decade-long transportation plan in January 2026, the largest state transportation investment in over 20 years. (ENR, January 2026)
  • The Mass Wins Act, a $305 million economic development bill, was filed in April 2026 to support innovation industries and lower business costs. (Massachusetts Municipal Association, April 2026)
Updated 2026-04-29 · grounded research
17 sources
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  10. mass.gov
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  17. enr.com