Dukes County Demographics

A map of Dukes County's Population by Race

Dukes County, Massachusetts has an estimated population of 20,933, a slight increase from the 20,600 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 80.0% White, 8.6% Multiracial, 3.9% Native American/Other, 3.3% Hispanic, 2.7% Black, and 1.5% Asian. This demographic dot map shows the population of Dukes County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Dukes has become less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Massachusetts overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Dukes County, that probability was 36.6% in 2020 and 34.9% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Dukes County is ranked the 13th most populous county in Massachusetts, out of 14 counties. Dukes County was ranked the 13th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Dukes County's White Population

16,741 residents of Dukes County, or 80.0% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Dukes County is considerably higher than in Massachusetts overall, where 66.6% of the population is White. Dukes County ranks 4th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 14 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Dukes County's White population has grown by an estimated 3.1%. White residents' share of Dukes County's population has increased from 78.8% to 80.0%.

Dukes County is more White than neighboring Bristol County (75.3% White), Nantucket County (68.2% White), and Plymouth County (76.1% White). Dukes County is less White than neighboring Newport County (82.4% White), and Barnstable County (85.2% White).

Dukes County's Black Population

574 residents of Dukes County, or 2.7% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Dukes County is slightly lower than in Massachusetts overall, where 6.4% of the population is Black. Dukes County ranks 9th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 14 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Dukes County's Black population has declined by an estimated 27.8%. Black residents' share of Dukes County's population has decreased from 3.9% to 2.7%.

Dukes County is less Black than neighboring Bristol County (4% Black), Nantucket County (9.4% Black), Newport County (3.2% Black), Plymouth County (7.8% Black), and Barnstable County (2.8% Black).

Dukes County's Asian Population

309 residents of Dukes County, or 1.5% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Dukes County is lower than in Massachusetts overall, where 7.3% of the population is Asian. Dukes County ranks 14th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 14 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Dukes County's Asian population has grown by an estimated 67.9%. Asian residents' share of Dukes County's population has increased from 0.9% to 1.5%.

Dukes County is less Asian than neighboring Bristol County (2.4% Asian), Nantucket County (1.7% Asian), Newport County (1.7% Asian), and Plymouth County (1.7% Asian).

Dukes County's Hispanic Population

682 residents of Dukes County, or 3.3% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Dukes County is lower than in Massachusetts overall, where 13.3% of the population is Hispanic. Dukes County ranks 14th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 14 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Dukes County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 27.7%. Hispanic residents' share of Dukes County's population has increased from 2.6% to 3.3%.

Dukes County is less Hispanic than neighboring Bristol County (10.2% Hispanic), Nantucket County (17% Hispanic), Newport County (6.7% Hispanic), Plymouth County (4.9% Hispanic), and Barnstable County (3.7% Hispanic).

Dukes County's Native American/Other Population

817 residents of Dukes County, or 3.9% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Dukes County is slightly higher than in Massachusetts overall, where 1.3% of the population is Native American/Other. Dukes County ranks 1st statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 14 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Dukes County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 10.4%. Native American/Other residents' share of Dukes County's population has decreased from 4.4% to 3.9%.

Dukes County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Bristol County (1.8% Native American/Other), Nantucket County (0.9% Native American/Other), Newport County (1.2% Native American/Other), Plymouth County (2.8% Native American/Other), and Barnstable County (1.7% Native American/Other).

Dukes County's Multiracial Population

1,810 residents of Dukes County, or 8.6% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Dukes County is slightly higher than in Massachusetts overall, where 5.1% of the population is Multiracial. Dukes County ranks 1st statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 14 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Dukes County's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 6.9%. Multiracial residents' share of Dukes County's population has decreased from 9.4% to 8.6%.

Dukes County is more Multiracial than neighboring Bristol County (6.2% Multiracial), Nantucket County (2.7% Multiracial), Newport County (4.9% Multiracial), Plymouth County (6.8% Multiracial), and Barnstable County (5.2% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.