Plymouth County is a county in the U.S. state of Massachusetts, south of Boston. As of the 2020 census, the population was 530,819. Its county seatsThe term shire town is the statutory term for the Massachusetts town having a county court and administration offices, but county seat is the standard term used in general communications by the Massachusetts government. See, for example: Secretary of the Commonwealth: . are Plymouth and Brockton. In 1685, the county was created by the Plymouth General Court, the legislature of Plymouth Colony, predating its annexation by the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Plymouth County is part of the Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (40%) is water. It is the third-largest county in Massachusetts by total area.

Adjacent counties The towns of Hingham and Hull in Plymouth County extend north of Norfolk County and face onto Massachusetts Bay, sharing a northern water boundary with Suffolk County. Norfolk County (north) Barnstable County (southeast) Bristol County (west)

National protected area Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area (part) Massasoit National Wildlife Refuge

Major highways

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 530,819. Of the residents, 21.0% were under the age of 18 and 19.4% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 43.5 years. For every 100 females there were 94.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 91.2 males. 87.5% of residents lived in urban areas and 12.5% lived in rural areas.

The racial makeup of the county was 77.5% White, 8.5% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 3.8% from some other race, and 8.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.5% of the population.

There were 197,288 households in the county, of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 26.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 24.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 214,770 housing units, of which 8.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 75.4% were owner-occupied and 24.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.2%.

Racial and ethnic composition +Plymouth County, Massachusetts – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010 Pop 2020% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)386,660401,847414,110415,341406,91995.37%92.32%87.58%83.92%76.66%Black or African American alone (NH)7,81715,00320,44933,99143,4821.93%3.45%4.32%6.87%8.19%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)6788058891,0247960.17%0.18%0.19%0.21%0.15%Asian alone (NH)1,4253,3764,3065,9287,6930.35%0.78%0.91%1.20%1.45%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x included in the Asian category in the 1980 Censusx included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census9511894xx0.02%0.02%0.02%Other race alone (NH)4,4284,67410,62511,64711,9661.09%1.07%2.25%2.35%2.25%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x not an option in the 1980 Censusx not an option in the 1990 Census10,81111,25135,917xx2.29%2.27%6.77%Hispanic or Latino (any race)4,4299,57111,53715,61923,9521.09%2.20%2.44%3.16%4.51%Total405,437435,276472,822494,919530,819 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

2010 census At the 2010 census, there were 494,919 people, 181,126 households, and 127,925 families in the county. The population density was . There were 200,161 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 85.5% white, 7.2% black or African American, 1.2% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 3.2% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.2% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 33.7% were Irish, 15.8% were Italian, 15.3% were English, 7.3% were German, and 3.7% were American.

Of the 181,126 households, 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.6% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.4% were non-families, and 23.8% of households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.18. The median age was 41.1 years.

The median household income was $73,131 and the median family income was $86,251. Males had a median income of $60,303 versus $43,837 for females. The per capita income for the county was $33,333. About 5.0% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.3% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over. 2000 census At the 2000 census there were 472,972 people, 168,361 households, and 122,398 families in the county. The population density was . There were 181,524 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 88.70% White, 4.56% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.92% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 3.06% from other races, and 2.52% from two or more races. 2.44%. were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 28.0% were of Irish, 12.8% Italian, 10.6% English and 5.1% American ancestry, 90.1% spoke English, 2.5% Spanish, 2.3% Portuguese, 1.5% French Creole and 1.0% French as their first language.

Of the 168,361 households 36.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.00% were married couples living together, 11.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.30% were non-families. 22.20% of households were one person and 9.00% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.23.

The age distribution was 26.80% under the age of 18, 7.20% from 18 to 24, 30.40% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 11.80% 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.30 males.

The median household income was $55,615 and the median family income was $65,554 (these figures had risen to $70,335 and $82,560 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $45,535 versus $31,389 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,789. About 4.90% of families and 6.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.30% of those under age 18 and 7.90% of those age 65 or over.

The leading ancestry group in Plymouth County is Irish, with 31%. Plymouth County, along with Norfolk County, Massachusetts, claims the highest percentage of people with Irish ancestry in the United States.

Demographic breakdown by town

Income

The ranking of unincorporated communities that are included on the list are reflective if the census designated locations and villages were included as cities or towns. Data is from the 2007–2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. Rank Town Per capitaincome Medianhouseholdincome Medianfamilyincome Population Number ofhouseholds Duxbury CDP $80,077 $113,672 $218,542 1,459 555 South Duxbury CDP $68,911 $139,712 $169,671 3,435 1,260 Hingham CDP $61,486 $104,926 $134,637 5,856 2,117 The Pinehills CDP $58,507 $91,875 $115,819 922 488 1 Hingham Town $56,671 $99,318 $132,744 21,916 8,046 2 Duxbury Town $55,510 $122,396 $139,873 14,978 5,256 3 Norwell Town $48,440 $109,167 $118,679 10,430 3,468 Green Harbor CDP $47,993 $128,828 $134,157 2,245 876 Marshfield Hills CDP $47,593 $102,344 $135,396 2,485 916 4 Scituate Town $47,122 $89,485 $111,893 18,115 6,957 Marion Center CDP $45,404 $83,413 $97,102 1,081 435 5 Marion Town $43,383 $87,793 $90,536 4,926 1,873 6 Hull Town $43,290 $72,036 $95,964 10,391 4,672 North Scituate CDP $43,214 $84,712 $107,606 5,394 1,955 Ocean Bluff-Brant Rock CDP $42,296 $77,245 $89,940 4,705 1,920 7 Marshfield Town $42,269 $93,743 $110,756 25,059 9,322 Scituate CDP $40,337 $69,388 $107,647 5,201 2,169 8 Hanover Town $39,631 $100,982 $114,484 13,813 4,729 North Lakeville CDP $39,363 $67,361 $103,456 2,174 840 9 Mattapoisett Town $39,312 $82,065 $95,568 6,073 2,436 10 Kingston Town $37,783 $77,288 $86,489 12,556 4,624 11 Plympton Town $37,755 $93,882 $102,773 2,799 991 Kingston CDP $36,335 $67,292 $75,671 5,695 2,250 Marshfield CDP $36,112 $71,938 $100,855 4,501 1,838 12 Pembroke Town $35,228 $82,064 $98,156 17,740 6,291 Massachusetts State $35,051 $65,981 $83,371 6,512,227 2,522,409 13 Lakeville Town $35,010 $93,260 $104,416 10,533 3,586 Plymouth Center CDP $34,997 $51,463 $80,924 6,900 3,177 14 Rochester Town $34,994 $98,728 $104,496 5,159 1,699 15 Halifax Town $34,880 $83,522 $89,456 7,516 2,798 Mattapoisett Center CDP $34,877 $65,034 $85,758 2,898 1,223 Plymouth County County $34,285 $74,698 $88,110 492,934 178,996 16 Plymouth Town $33,891 $76,631 $90,764 56,011 20,946 17 West Bridgewater Town $33,590 $80,729 $95,182 6,896 2,432 18 Abington Town $33,386 $81,677 $92,839 15,841 5,962 19 Hanson Town $32,864 $89,000 $96,705 10,148 3,436 North Pembroke CDP $32,239 $74,866 $80,776 3,090 1,180 20 East Bridgewater Town $31,802 $79,676 $98,113 13,704 4,682 21 Whitman Town $31,378 $74,610 $87,713 14,430 5,192 22 Middleborough Town $31,179 $73,490 $85,769 22,807 8,059 West Wareham CDP $31,166 $43,029 $63,452 2,178 963 Hanson CDP $30,630 $88,750 $95,085 1,932 666 23 Rockland Town $30,325 $63,896 $74,203 17,515 6,912 24 Bridgewater Town $29,460 $88,697 $101,641 26,508 7,927 25 Carver Town $29,176 $70,608 $85,996 11,481 4,286 26 Wareham Town $28,066 $52,556 $64,891 21,673 9,176 United States Country $27,915 $52,762 $64,293 306,603,772 114,761,359 Weweantic CDP $27,543 $45,833 $51,563 2,008 870 North Plymouth CDP $27,533 $54,000 $77,952 3,740 1,452 Onset CDP $27,391 $41,458 $44,507 1,026 605 Wareham Center CDP $27,391 $45,392 $54,357 3,122 1,533 Middleborough Center CDP $26,763 $59,112 $76,111 6,593 2,407 White Island Shores CDP $25,656 $88,519 $91,250 2,186 680 Bridgewater CDP $22,994 $60,744 $79,621 7,724 2,359 27 Brockton City $22,312 $49,848 $57,228 93,916 33,238

Government and politics

Elected Officials

Plymouth County is governed by three County Commissioners:Plymouth County official website

Chairman Jared L. Valanzola (R-Plymouth), Commissioner Sandra M. Wright (R-Bridgewater), and Commissioner Gregory M. Hanley (D-Abington)

Other county elected officials include Sheriff Joseph D. McDonald Jr. (R-Kingston), District Attorney Timothy Cruz (R-Marshfield), Treasurer Thomas J. O'Brien (D-Plymouth), Register of Deeds John R. Buckley Jr. (D-Scituate), Register of Probate Matthew McDonough (D-Marshfield), and Clerk of Courts Robert Creedon (D-Brockton)

Presidential election results From the late 19th to the mid 20th centuries, Plymouth County was a Republican Party stronghold in presidential elections. From 1876 to 1988, only three Democrats carried the county: Lyndon Johnson, Hubert Humphrey, and Jimmy Carter. Since 1992, however, it has become solidly Democratic, though less so relative to other counties in the state. In 2012, Mitt Romney lost the county by 4.2 points, the closest a Republican had come to winning a county in Massachusetts since 1988. However, it has become more Democratic afterwards, and in 2020, Joe Biden carried the county by 17 points, the largest margin of victory for a Democrat since 1996, only for Kamala Harris to carry it by only 9% four years later. At the state level, Plymouth County is more of a swing county and frequently splits its tickets in local and state elections.

County seal The seal was adopted by the Plymouth County Commissioners on March 31, 1931, under the authority of the General Laws, Chapter 34, Section 14, and was designed by Frederic T. Bailey of North Scituate who was, at that time and for many years, chairman of the county commissioners.