NextChapter

Counties with the highest share of white-collar workers in New England

Middlesex County has the highest share of white-collar workers in New England: 61% of its workers are in management, business, financial or professional occupations, against 44% in the typical large county.November 2026 edition. Updated monthly, from public Bureau of Labor Statistics and Census data.

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Key facts

  • #1 Middlesex County, MA: 61%
  • #2 Norfolk County, MA: 59%
  • #3 Bristol County, RI: 54%
  • 42 counties ranked in New England
  • Data as of November 2026

For comparison: 44% across the typical large county.

  1. 1Middlesex County MA61%
  2. 2Norfolk County MA59%
  3. 3Bristol County RI54%
  4. 4Chittenden County VT54%
  5. 5Suffolk County MA53%
  6. 6Cumberland County ME52%
  7. 7Hampshire County MA50%
  8. 8Washington County RI49%
  9. 9Washington County VT49%
  10. 10Rockingham County NH48%

What stands out

  • The top ten is tightly packed: Middlesex County leads on 61%, and #10 Rockingham County is at 48%.
  • Bristol County reaches #3 on a sample of 26,320 people in the labor force, a smaller market than most of the top ten, so its rank can move more from month to month.
  • Middlesex County is the largest market in the top ten, with 932,913 people in the labor force behind its figure.
  • Counties with fewer than 20,000 people in the labor force are not ranked, and small differences between neighbouring ranks are not meaningful.

Why this ranking matters

What it shows

The share of working people in management, business, financial and professional occupations shows where the economy is built around professional work.

How to use it

If your work is professional, counties near the top have more peers, more employers who hire for it, and more local networks.

The top 25

  1. 1

    Middlesex County MA

    61%

    Median household income
    $126,779
    People in the labor force
    932,913
    Unemployment
    3.8%

    Based on 932,913 people in the labor force.

    Middlesex County job market

  2. 2

    Norfolk County MA

    59%

    Median household income
    $126,497
    People in the labor force
    415,556
    Unemployment
    3.9%

    Based on 415,556 people in the labor force.

    Norfolk County job market

  3. 3

    Bristol County RI

    54%

    Median household income
    $110,926
    People in the labor force
    26,320
    Unemployment
    2.4%

    Based on 26,320 people in the labor force.

    Bristol County job market

  4. 4

    Chittenden County VT

    54%

    Median household income
    $94,310
    People in the labor force
    96,362
    Unemployment
    2.2%

    Based on 96,362 people in the labor force.

    Chittenden County job market

  5. 5

    Suffolk County MA

    53%

    Median household income
    $92,859
    People in the labor force
    465,838
    Unemployment
    4.2%

    Based on 465,838 people in the labor force.

    Suffolk County job market

  6. 6

    Cumberland County ME

    52%

    Median household income
    $92,983
    People in the labor force
    178,277
    Unemployment
    2.7%

    Based on 178,277 people in the labor force.

    Cumberland County job market

  7. 7

    Hampshire County MA

    50%

    Median household income
    $86,391
    People in the labor force
    84,724
    Unemployment
    3.8%

    Based on 84,724 people in the labor force.

    Hampshire County job market

  8. 8

    Washington County RI

    49%

    Median household income
    $102,478
    People in the labor force
    68,079
    Unemployment
    2.2%

    Based on 68,079 people in the labor force.

    Washington County job market

  9. 9

    Washington County VT

    49%

    Median household income
    $79,853
    People in the labor force
    31,485
    Unemployment
    2.5%

    Based on 31,485 people in the labor force.

    Washington County job market

  10. 10

    Rockingham County NH

    48%

    Median household income
    $113,927
    People in the labor force
    187,440
    Unemployment
    2.1%

    Based on 187,440 people in the labor force.

    Rockingham County job market

  11. 11

    Windsor County VT

    48%

    Median household income
    $75,247
    People in the labor force
    28,481
    Unemployment
    2.6%

    Based on 28,481 people in the labor force.

    Windsor County job market

  12. 12

    Newport County RI

    48%

    Median household income
    $100,859
    People in the labor force
    41,772
    Unemployment
    2.3%

    Based on 41,772 people in the labor force.

    Newport County job market

  13. 13

    Grafton County NH

    48%

    Median household income
    $84,021
    People in the labor force
    49,742
    Unemployment
    1.6%

    Based on 49,742 people in the labor force.

    Grafton County job market

  14. 14

    Essex County MA

    46%

    Median household income
    $99,431
    People in the labor force
    439,969
    Unemployment
    4.3%

    Based on 439,969 people in the labor force.

    Essex County job market

  15. 15

    Berkshire County MA

    46%

    Median household income
    $72,565
    People in the labor force
    64,387
    Unemployment
    3.9%

    Based on 64,387 people in the labor force.

    Berkshire County job market

  16. 16

    Hillsborough County NH

    46%

    Median household income
    $100,436
    People in the labor force
    238,420
    Unemployment
    2.2%

    Based on 238,420 people in the labor force.

    Hillsborough County job market

  17. 17

    Worcester County MA

    46%

    Median household income
    $93,561
    People in the labor force
    470,233
    Unemployment
    4.2%

    Based on 470,233 people in the labor force.

    Worcester County job market

  18. 18

    Franklin County MA

    45%

    Median household income
    $72,584
    People in the labor force
    36,087
    Unemployment
    3.8%

    Based on 36,087 people in the labor force.

    Franklin County job market

  19. 19

    Plymouth County MA

    45%

    Median household income
    $109,698
    People in the labor force
    292,998
    Unemployment
    4.2%

    Based on 292,998 people in the labor force.

    Plymouth County job market

  20. 20

    Barnstable County MA

    44%

    Median household income
    $94,452
    People in the labor force
    123,123
    Unemployment
    3.8%

    Based on 123,123 people in the labor force.

    Barnstable County job market

  21. 21

    Kent County RI

    44%

    Median household income
    $91,278
    People in the labor force
    94,170
    Unemployment
    2.5%

    Based on 94,170 people in the labor force.

    Kent County job market

  22. 22

    Addison County VT

    44%

    Median household income
    $88,478
    People in the labor force
    20,527
    Unemployment
    2.3%

    Based on 20,527 people in the labor force.

    Addison County job market

  23. 23

    Strafford County NH

    44%

    Median household income
    $86,564
    People in the labor force
    77,884
    Unemployment
    1.7%

    Based on 77,884 people in the labor force.

    Strafford County job market

  24. 24

    Merrimack County NH

    43%

    Median household income
    $93,944
    People in the labor force
    82,494
    Unemployment
    1.7%

    Based on 82,494 people in the labor force.

    Merrimack County job market

  25. 25

    Windham County VT

    43%

    Median household income
    $68,021
    People in the labor force
    22,905
    Unemployment
    2.8%

    Based on 22,905 people in the labor force.

    Windham County job market

Full ranking

All 42 counties that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.

RankCountyScoreSample
1Middlesex County MA61%932,913
2Norfolk County MA59%415,556
3Bristol County RI54%26,320
4Chittenden County VT54%96,362
5Suffolk County MA53%465,838
6Cumberland County ME52%178,277
7Hampshire County MA50%84,724
8Washington County RI49%68,079
9Washington County VT49%31,485
10Rockingham County NH48%187,440
11Windsor County VT48%28,481
12Newport County RI48%41,772
13Grafton County NH48%49,742
14Essex County MA46%439,969
15Berkshire County MA46%64,387
16Hillsborough County NH46%238,420
17Worcester County MA46%470,233
18Franklin County MA45%36,087
19Plymouth County MA45%292,998
20Barnstable County MA44%123,123
21Kent County RI44%94,170
22Addison County VT44%20,527
23Strafford County NH44%77,884
24Merrimack County NH43%82,494
25Windham County VT43%22,905
26Kennebec County ME43%61,561
27Providence County RI41%350,743
28Franklin County VT41%25,954
29Carroll County NH40%26,290
30Hancock County ME40%29,764
31Bristol County MA40%313,254
32Belknap County NH40%33,358
33York County ME40%119,821
34Penobscot County ME39%74,881
35Cheshire County NH39%40,060
36Hampden County MA39%225,875
37Rutland County VT38%28,528
38Sullivan County NH37%21,939
39Androscoggin County ME37%55,605
40Aroostook County ME35%27,119
41Somerset County ME32%21,869
42Oxford County ME31%25,630

How this ranking works

A county's score is the share of its employed residents in management, business, financial and professional occupations, from the Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates.

Only counties with at least 20,000 people in the labor force are ranked. The figure describes where residents work by occupation, not where their employers are.

Sample bar: counties with fewer than 20,000 people in the labor force are not ranked.

Sources: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (occupation by county). Data as of November 2026.

Our job data covers professional roles on the career sites of employers we track, so figures describe that market, not every job. Spot an error? Tell us.

Questions

Which county ranks first: counties with the highest share of white-collar workers in new england?
Middlesex County has the highest share of white-collar workers in New England: 61% of its workers are in management, business, financial or professional occupations, against 44% in the typical large county.
How many counties are ranked?
42 counties have at least 20,000 people in the labor force, so the list has 42 entries.
How is the ranking calculated?
A county's score is the share of its employed residents in management, business, financial and professional occupations, from the Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Only counties with at least 20,000 people in the labor force are ranked. The figure describes where residents work by occupation, not where their employers are.
How often is it updated?
Every month. This is the November 2026 edition. Older editions stay on this site at their own dated addresses.

More rankings

Cite this ranking

NextChapter, “Counties with the highest share of white-collar workers in New England,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/counties-with-the-most-white-collar-workers-in-new-england

Link to it: <a href="https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/counties-with-the-most-white-collar-workers-in-new-england">Counties with the highest share of white-collar workers in New England (NextChapter, November 2026)</a>

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