Same inequality, new century. We're keeping score.

We’re bringing Thin Gold back online in phases. Some sections are still being checked and will return as each one is ready; our goal is to be fully back before the November 3 midterms.

8 races are being re-verified and are not shown here yet. They will return once confirmed.

Massachusetts 2nd District is the state's headline race: rated Solid D by Cook Political Report.

Every seat in the delegation below, in district order. A colored band across the top of a cell means a rater has made a claim about that race. A cell with no band is a settled seat, tinted by its 2024 presidential margin, which is a measured past result and not a 2026 forecast.

Fig. 2 · The Massachusetts delegation

All 3 Massachusetts House seats carry a rating.

Ratings Cook Political Report and Sabato's Crystal Ball, added October 18, 2026. A band means a rater made a claim.
Baselines 2024 presidential vote, The Downballot, as of October 3, 2026. A tint with no band is a measured past result.
Receipts FEC filings, as of June 30, 2026. This is the Massachusetts as-of date, not a site-wide one.
02 Solid D 05 Solid D 07 Solid D

Each rating word is the seat's displayed rating, taken from Cook Political Report for 3 districts. Open a district for every rater and date.

A race here is being re-verified and is not shown yet. Back soon.

Massachusetts races rated Toss-Up

0of 3

No Massachusetts race is a Toss-Up this cycle.

Massachusetts races no rater covers

0of 3

Every Massachusetts race carries a rating this cycle.

How a cell is encoded, and on what evidence

Rater judgment A handicapper's published claim about a specific race.

  • Solid D, band

Ratings drawn from Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball , added October 18, 2026. For the most current Cook Political Report ratings and analysis, see cookpolitical.com. Settled seats are tinted by their 2024 presidential-vote baseline as of October 3, 2026, sourced from The Downballot, and carry no band, because a baseline is a measured past result and never a rating. Fundraising figures from FEC filings, as of June 30, 2026.

Fig. 2

Massachusetts at a glance

No Massachusetts seat is rated Toss-Up, Tilt or Lean by the raters we carry.

3 seats on the 2026 ballot: 3 House seats. Ratings added August 25, 2026. A seat counts by the first rater with a live rating ( Cook Political Report , then Sabato’s Crystal Ball, then Split Ticket, then FiftyPlusOne).

  • Favor D 3
  • Toss-Up 0
  • Favor R 0
  • Not rated 0

Lean against the nation

No statewide 2024 baseline is on record for Massachusetts, because neither a Senate nor a governor race here carries one yet.

Of 3 House districts with a baseline, 3 voted more Democratic than the nation in 2024 and 0 more Republican.

House delegation, projected

Our model expects Democrats to win about 3 of 3 House seats here (run of October 18, 2026). Expected value across district win probabilities, not a call on any one seat.

The current party split of the delegation is not shown: seat-holder party is not yet a sourced field in our data.

Every Massachusetts race our displayed rating calls close

Toss-Up and Lean races by our displayed rating (Cook Political Report when live, Sabato’s Crystal Ball otherwise), ranked as they appear in the delegation above.

No Massachusetts race has a displayed rating of Toss-Up or Lean this cycle.

Massachusetts, district by district Cook Political Report ratings added October 18, 2026

Massachusetts, district by district

Each district is colored by the Cook Political Report rating. Blue and red mean a rated lean; gold is a Toss-up. Hatching means Cook Political Report has not rated the seat. The data table under the map lists every district’s rating and where its lines come from.

Massachusetts House districts colored by the Cook Political Report rating. Cook Political Report rates 3 of 3 House seats in Massachusetts and calls 0 of them a Toss-up. 3 seats are drawn on the map.MassachusettsMassachusetts District 2. Cook Political Report: Solid D.Massachusetts District 5. Cook Political Report: Solid D.Massachusetts District 7. Cook Political Report: Solid D.

Cook Political Report rating

  • Solid D
  • Likely D
  • Lean D
  • Toss-up
  • Lean R
  • Likely R
  • Solid R

State of each Cook Political Report rating

  • Unproven

Cook Political Report rates 3 of 3 House seats in Massachusetts and calls 0 of them a Toss-up. 3 seats are drawn on the map.

Ratings: Cook Political Report , added October 18, 2026. Current ratings and analysis at cookpolitical.com . District lines: U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line, 119th Congress districts, a federal work. This state’s districts are unchanged for 2026.
Data table: every House race in Massachusetts (3)
Every House race in Massachusetts: the Cook Political Report rating and where its lines come from. The date we added the ratings is in the figure's source line. Current ratings and analysis at cookpolitical.com.
DistrictCook Political ReportLines on the map
Massachusetts District 2 MA-02Solid DCensus district lines
Massachusetts District 5 MA-05Solid DCensus district lines
Massachusetts District 7 MA-07Solid DCensus district lines

Counties, by the numbers

Massachusetts: five economic indicators, county by county Household income: ACS 5-year, 2020-2024
Poverty: ACS 5-year, 2020-2024
Uninsured under 65: SAHIE, 2024
Rent burden: ACS 5-year, 2020-2024
Per-capita income: BEA CAINC1, 2024

Massachusetts: five economic indicators, county by county

Pick an indicator to shade the map. Each indicator gets its own gold ramp, scaled to this state's counties, with stronger gold for a higher value. A hatched county has no reading available yet; it is never estimated.

Massachusetts counties, shaded by the selected economic indicator. Massachusetts has 14 counties. 14 have at least one indicator available; a county with no value for an indicator is hatched and marked "Not yet available", never estimated.Barnstable County. Household income: $95,241. Poverty: 7.7%. Uninsured under 65: 3.1%. Rent burden: 59.8%. Per-capita income: Not yet available. Open the county card.Berkshire County. Household income: $76,013. Poverty: 11.4%. Uninsured under 65: 3.2%. Rent burden: 54.0%. Per-capita income: Not yet available. Open the county card.Bristol County. Household income: $85,625. Poverty: 11.3%. Uninsured under 65: 4.4%. Rent burden: 52.2%. Per-capita income: Not yet available. Open the county card.Dukes County. Household income: $125,786. Poverty: 4.4%. Uninsured under 65: 4.9%. Rent burden: 46.9%. Per-capita income: Not yet available. Open the county card.Essex County. Household income: $101,883. Poverty: 9.4%. Uninsured under 65: 3.7%. Rent burden: 56.9%. Per-capita income: Not yet available. Open the county card.Franklin County. Household income: $74,907. Poverty: 12.1%. Uninsured under 65: 3.2%. Rent burden: 57.4%. Per-capita income: Not yet available. Open the county card.Hampden County. Household income: $71,306. Poverty: 16.3%. Uninsured under 65: 3.8%. Rent burden: 54.0%. Per-capita income: Not yet available. Open the county card.Hampshire County. Household income: $87,001. Poverty: 11.3%. Uninsured under 65: 2.7%. Rent burden: 56.6%. Per-capita income: Not yet available. Open the county card.Middlesex County. Household income: $130,847. Poverty: 7.7%. Uninsured under 65: 2.9%. Rent burden: 47.1%. Per-capita income: Not yet available. Open the county card.Nantucket County. Household income: $139,688. Poverty: 3.2%. Uninsured under 65: 3.9%. Rent burden: 54.6%. Per-capita income: Not yet available. Open the county card.Norfolk County. Household income: $130,739. Poverty: 6.7%. Uninsured under 65: 2.4%. Rent burden: 51.5%. Per-capita income: Not yet available. Open the county card.Plymouth County. Household income: $114,201. Poverty: 7.1%. Uninsured under 65: 3.2%. Rent burden: 54.8%. Per-capita income: Not yet available. Open the county card.Suffolk County. Household income: $95,631. Poverty: 16.2%. Uninsured under 65: 3.7%. Rent burden: 52.0%. Per-capita income: Not yet available. Open the county card.Worcester County. Household income: $95,939. Poverty: 10.3%. Uninsured under 65: 3.2%. Rent burden: 50.6%. Per-capita income: Not yet available. Open the county card.

Median household income · ACS 5-year, 2020-2024

  • up to $76,013
  • $76,013 to $95,241
  • $95,241 to $101,883
  • $101,883 to $130,739
  • $130,739 to $139,688
  • Not yet available (0 of 14)

One gold ramp; stronger gold means a higher value. Classes are quintiles of the 14 counties with a value in Massachusetts. The ramp is not a party colour and does not mean better or worse.

Poverty rate · ACS 5-year, 2020-2024

  • up to 6.7%
  • 6.7% to 7.7%
  • 7.7% to 11.3%
  • 11.3% to 12.1%
  • 12.1% to 16.3%
  • Not yet available (0 of 14)

One gold ramp; stronger gold means a higher value. Classes are quintiles of the 14 counties with a value in Massachusetts. The ramp is not a party colour and does not mean better or worse.

Uninsured, under 65 · SAHIE, 2024

  • up to 2.9%
  • 2.9% to 3.2%
  • 3.2% to 3.7%
  • 3.7% to 3.9%
  • 3.9% to 4.9%
  • Not yet available (0 of 14)

One gold ramp; stronger gold means a higher value. Classes are quintiles of the 14 counties with a value in Massachusetts. The ramp is not a party colour and does not mean better or worse.

Renters paying 30% or more of income · ACS 5-year, 2020-2024

  • up to 50.6%
  • 50.6% to 52.2%
  • 52.2% to 54.6%
  • 54.6% to 56.9%
  • 56.9% to 59.8%
  • Not yet available (0 of 14)

One gold ramp; stronger gold means a higher value. Classes are quintiles of the 14 counties with a value in Massachusetts. The ramp is not a party colour and does not mean better or worse.

Per-capita personal income · BEA CAINC1, 2024

  • Not yet available (14 of 14)

No county in Massachusetts has a reading for this indicator yet, so there is no ramp to show. The ramp, once it has data, is one gold hue: not a party colour, and not a verdict of better or worse.

Massachusetts has 14 counties. 14 have at least one indicator available; a county with no value for an indicator is hatched and marked "Not yet available", never estimated.

Barnstable County, Massachusetts

Close
Median household income
$95,241Margin of error ±$2,510 (90% confidence). ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Poverty rate
7.7%Margin of error ±0.7 points (90% confidence). ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Uninsured, under 65
3.1%90% interval 2.7% to 3.5%. SAHIE, 2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Renters paying 30% or more of income
59.8%Margin of error ±3.8 points (90% confidence). ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Per-capita personal income
Not yet availableNo reading for this county is on file yet. It is not estimated.

Definition and source for each figure: see About these indicators, below the map.

Berkshire County, Massachusetts

Close
Median household income
$76,013Margin of error ±$3,051 (90% confidence). ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Poverty rate
11.4%Margin of error ±1.1 points (90% confidence). ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Uninsured, under 65
3.2%90% interval 2.8% to 3.6%. SAHIE, 2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Renters paying 30% or more of income
54.0%Margin of error ±4.1 points (90% confidence). ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Per-capita personal income
Not yet availableNo reading for this county is on file yet. It is not estimated.

Definition and source for each figure: see About these indicators, below the map.

Bristol County, Massachusetts

Close
Median household income
$85,625Margin of error ±$1,601 (90% confidence). ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Poverty rate
11.3%Margin of error ±0.5 points (90% confidence). ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Uninsured, under 65
4.4%90% interval 4.0% to 4.8%. SAHIE, 2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Renters paying 30% or more of income
52.2%Margin of error ±1.7 points (90% confidence). ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Per-capita personal income
Not yet availableNo reading for this county is on file yet. It is not estimated.

Definition and source for each figure: see About these indicators, below the map.

Dukes County, Massachusetts

Close
Median household income
$125,786Margin of error ±$14,169 (90% confidence). ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Poverty rate
4.4%Margin of error ±1.8 points (90% confidence). ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Uninsured, under 65
4.9%90% interval 4.2% to 5.6%. SAHIE, 2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Renters paying 30% or more of income
46.9%Margin of error ±20.9 points (90% confidence). ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Per-capita personal income
Not yet availableNo reading for this county is on file yet. It is not estimated.

Definition and source for each figure: see About these indicators, below the map.

Essex County, Massachusetts

Close
Median household income
$101,883Margin of error ±$1,515 (90% confidence). ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Poverty rate
9.4%Margin of error ±0.4 points (90% confidence). ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Uninsured, under 65
3.7%90% interval 3.4% to 4.0%. SAHIE, 2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Renters paying 30% or more of income
56.9%Margin of error ±1.6 points (90% confidence). ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Per-capita personal income
Not yet availableNo reading for this county is on file yet. It is not estimated.

Definition and source for each figure: see About these indicators, below the map.

Franklin County, Massachusetts

Close
Median household income
$74,907Margin of error ±$3,304 (90% confidence). ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Poverty rate
12.1%Margin of error ±1.3 points (90% confidence). ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Uninsured, under 65
3.2%90% interval 2.8% to 3.6%. SAHIE, 2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Renters paying 30% or more of income
57.4%Margin of error ±4.3 points (90% confidence). ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Per-capita personal income
Not yet availableNo reading for this county is on file yet. It is not estimated.

Definition and source for each figure: see About these indicators, below the map.

Hampden County, Massachusetts

Close
Median household income
$71,306Margin of error ±$1,758 (90% confidence). ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Poverty rate
16.3%Margin of error ±0.8 points (90% confidence). ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Uninsured, under 65
3.8%90% interval 3.4% to 4.2%. SAHIE, 2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Renters paying 30% or more of income
54.0%Margin of error ±1.9 points (90% confidence). ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Per-capita personal income
Not yet availableNo reading for this county is on file yet. It is not estimated.

Definition and source for each figure: see About these indicators, below the map.

Hampshire County, Massachusetts

Close
Median household income
$87,001Margin of error ±$3,028 (90% confidence). ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Poverty rate
11.3%Margin of error ±0.9 points (90% confidence). ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Uninsured, under 65
2.7%90% interval 2.4% to 3.0%. SAHIE, 2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Renters paying 30% or more of income
56.6%Margin of error ±4.0 points (90% confidence). ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Per-capita personal income
Not yet availableNo reading for this county is on file yet. It is not estimated.

Definition and source for each figure: see About these indicators, below the map.

Middlesex County, Massachusetts

Close
Median household income
$130,847Margin of error ±$1,164 (90% confidence). ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Poverty rate
7.7%Margin of error ±0.3 points (90% confidence). ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Uninsured, under 65
2.9%90% interval 2.7% to 3.1%. SAHIE, 2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Renters paying 30% or more of income
47.1%Margin of error ±1.1 points (90% confidence). ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Per-capita personal income
Not yet availableNo reading for this county is on file yet. It is not estimated.

Definition and source for each figure: see About these indicators, below the map.

Nantucket County, Massachusetts

Close
Median household income
$139,688Margin of error ±$16,786 (90% confidence). ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Poverty rate
3.2%Margin of error ±1.6 points (90% confidence). ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Uninsured, under 65
3.9%90% interval 3.4% to 4.4%. SAHIE, 2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Renters paying 30% or more of income
54.6%Margin of error ±21.3 points (90% confidence). ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Per-capita personal income
Not yet availableNo reading for this county is on file yet. It is not estimated.

Definition and source for each figure: see About these indicators, below the map.

Norfolk County, Massachusetts

Close
Median household income
$130,739Margin of error ±$2,551 (90% confidence). ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Poverty rate
6.7%Margin of error ±0.4 points (90% confidence). ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Uninsured, under 65
2.4%90% interval 2.2% to 2.6%. SAHIE, 2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Renters paying 30% or more of income
51.5%Margin of error ±1.8 points (90% confidence). ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Per-capita personal income
Not yet availableNo reading for this county is on file yet. It is not estimated.

Definition and source for each figure: see About these indicators, below the map.

Plymouth County, Massachusetts

Close
Median household income
$114,201Margin of error ±$1,841 (90% confidence). ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Poverty rate
7.1%Margin of error ±0.5 points (90% confidence). ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Uninsured, under 65
3.2%90% interval 2.9% to 3.5%. SAHIE, 2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Renters paying 30% or more of income
54.8%Margin of error ±2.9 points (90% confidence). ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Per-capita personal income
Not yet availableNo reading for this county is on file yet. It is not estimated.

Definition and source for each figure: see About these indicators, below the map.

Suffolk County, Massachusetts

Close
Median household income
$95,631Margin of error ±$1,765 (90% confidence). ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Poverty rate
16.2%Margin of error ±0.5 points (90% confidence). ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Uninsured, under 65
3.7%90% interval 3.4% to 4.0%. SAHIE, 2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Renters paying 30% or more of income
52.0%Margin of error ±1.1 points (90% confidence). ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Per-capita personal income
Not yet availableNo reading for this county is on file yet. It is not estimated.

Definition and source for each figure: see About these indicators, below the map.

Worcester County, Massachusetts

Close
Median household income
$95,939Margin of error ±$1,131 (90% confidence). ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Poverty rate
10.3%Margin of error ±0.5 points (90% confidence). ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Uninsured, under 65
3.2%90% interval 2.9% to 3.5%. SAHIE, 2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Renters paying 30% or more of income
50.6%Margin of error ±1.6 points (90% confidence). ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Last checked 2026-10-12.
Per-capita personal income
Not yet availableNo reading for this county is on file yet. It is not estimated.

Definition and source for each figure: see About these indicators, below the map.

About these indicators

What each measure is and where it comes from. A county card shows only the county's own figures; this applies to all of them.

Median household income
Median household income in the past 12 months, in 2024 inflation-adjusted dollars. ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (table B19013).
Poverty rate
Share of people whose income is below the federal poverty threshold. ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (table S1701).
Uninsured, under 65
Model-based share of people under 65 without health insurance, all incomes. SAHIE, 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Health Insurance Estimates.
Renters paying 30% or more of income
Share of renter households spending 30 percent or more of income on gross rent. ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (profile DP04).
Per-capita personal income
Total personal income divided by the county population, before taxes. BEA CAINC1, 2024. Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC1).
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (table B19013) · U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (table S1701) · U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Health Insurance Estimates · U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (profile DP04) · U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC1). County boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundaries (federal works). This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Data table: every county, every indicator (14 counties)
Massachusetts counties: every indicator, 14 rows
CountyHousehold incomePovertyUninsured under 65Rent burdenPer-capita income
Barnstable$95,2417.7%3.1%59.8%Not yet available
Berkshire$76,01311.4%3.2%54.0%Not yet available
Bristol$85,62511.3%4.4%52.2%Not yet available
Dukes$125,7864.4%4.9%46.9%Not yet available
Essex$101,8839.4%3.7%56.9%Not yet available
Franklin$74,90712.1%3.2%57.4%Not yet available
Hampden$71,30616.3%3.8%54.0%Not yet available
Hampshire$87,00111.3%2.7%56.6%Not yet available
Middlesex$130,8477.7%2.9%47.1%Not yet available
Nantucket$139,6883.2%3.9%54.6%Not yet available
Norfolk$130,7396.7%2.4%51.5%Not yet available
Plymouth$114,2017.1%3.2%54.8%Not yet available
Suffolk$95,63116.2%3.7%52.0%Not yet available
Worcester$95,93910.3%3.2%50.6%Not yet available

What the delegation says

What Massachusetts is worth

Massachusetts's stake in House control

0of 20

No Massachusetts House race is rated Toss-Up or Lean this cycle. 20 seats elsewhere carry that rating; Massachusetts's House delegation is settled ground.

Competitive = rated Toss-Up or Lean by the crediting rater · as of October 18, 2026

U.S. Senate in Massachusetts

Every rater we carry, with its own date. Candidates, incumbent, poll and forecast sit under each rating.

A race here is being re-verified and is not shown yet. Back soon.

Governor of Massachusetts

Ratings, candidates and incumbent where we hold them; every gap is marked with its reason.

A race here is being re-verified and is not shown yet. Back soon.

U.S. House seats in Massachusetts

Every district, in district order (3).

For all 3 districts: no poll on file.

Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Elections Division publishes the certified primary result on its official results page.

Massachusetts's published terms restrict reuse of its election data, and we honor that.

Massachusetts held its primary on September 1, 2026.

The Massachusetts legislature

Thin Gold does not yet cover state legislative races. Coverage is a separate, later track.

  • Upper chamber

    Not yet covered

    Will show which party controls it, how many seats are up in 2026, and how many are rated competitive.

  • Lower chamber

    Not yet covered

    Will show which party controls it, how many seats are up in 2026, and how many are rated competitive.

How to vote in Massachusetts

Registration deadlines, ID rules, and early-voting dates vary by state and by election. Thin Gold does not track these facts directly; the links above go straight to the authorities that do. Link set checked August 13, 2026.