Middlesex County

This page includes local event listings and directories of veterans’ services; posts and auxiliaries; veterans outreach centers, Aging Services Access Points; and veteran owned businesses, along with information about VA spending and veterans living in Middlesex County.

All events in Middlesex County are tagged #greater-boston; some towns are also tagged #boston-metro or #merrimack-valley. When you submit events, include the relevant tags and the name of the town in the event listing so they show up in the relevant calendars.

 
 

The mission of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Veterans’ Services (EOVS) is to act as the primary advocate on behalf of all the Commonwealth’s veterans. The Office provides outreach and support through various programs. EOVS offers assistance to eligible veterans and their surviving spouses through the MassVets Financial Benefits Program, administered by local veterans’ services.

Veterans may use the Mass Vet Benefit Calculator to see what they may qualify for and contact their local veterans’ services office to apply. MGL Chapter 115 requires each town/city have a veterans’ agent to administer these benefits, but two or more contiguous towns can also appoint someone to serve as veterans’ agent and form Veterans’ Services Districts.

Middlesex County Directories

Veterans Northeast Outreach Center

The Veterans Northeast Outreach Center (VNEOC)  in Haverhill provides a full continuum of care to veterans and their families in Essex, Middlesex, and Barnstable Counties, assisting at risk and low-income veterans with basic food and shelter needs, housing, advocacy, social engagement, community activities, case management, and VA benefits and claims assistance.

Veterans in the area who are homeless, or at immediate risk of becoming homeless, can contact VNOC at (978) 372-3626 for assistance.

Aging Services Access Points

Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) are private, non-profit agencies established under MGL Chapter 19A. ASAPs provide direct and protective services, including information and referrals; interdisciplinary case management; intake and assessment; developing, implementing, and monitoring service plans; reassessing needs; and investigating reports of elder abuse and neglect.

MassOptions is a service of the Executive Office of Health & Human Services (EOHHS) that can also help older adults, people with disabilities, and family members or caregivers identify aging and disability services and connect to those that can meet their needs. Call (800) 243-4636 or click here to complete a referral.

AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY DATA

  • Click here for a breakdown of the 2020 American Community Survey estimates for Middlesex, Suffolk, and Essex Counties in Northeast Massachusetts.

    • Middlesex County had the most veterans (54,833) and the most women veterans (3,642) of all counties.

    • Middlesex County had the most veterans in poverty and the most veterans with disabilities within the Northeast Region.

    There are substantial differences in lifetime earnings by educational attainment. Although veterans in Northeast Massachusetts were more likely to have graduated high school and more likely to have completed some college or an associate’s degree, they were less likely to have completed a bachelor’s degree or higher compared to non-veterans.

    • Middlesex County had the biggest gap with 42% of veterans having a bachelor’s degree or higher compared to almost 58% percent of non-veterans.

    Middlesex County veterans were as likely to be in the labor force and as likely to be employed compared to non-veterans. In inflation adjusted dollars in 2020:

    • Male veterans earned less than non-veteran men in Middlesex County.

    • Women veterans earned less than male veterans in the Northeast Region.

    • Women veterans earned more than non-veteran women in the Northeast Region.

  • You can explore 2021 American Community Survey census data referenced linked below, as well as other military and veteran census data with interactive maps/tables on the Census Reporter.

    • Estimates about Middlesex County veterans below referencing age, gender, and veteran status are based on data at the city/town and county level with 5-year estimates (most reliable).

    • Estimates about median incomes, service-connected disability, service era, and age, disability, and poverty status of veterans are available at the county level and service era at the city/town level with 1-year estimates (most current).

Around 3.5% of veterans in Middlesex County (1,438) experienced poverty in the prior year. Around half of veterans in poverty had a disability.

Based on 1-year estimates, 42,508 veterans lived in Middlesex County, including 2,543 women.

VA Spending in Middlesex County

Based on the 2021 VA GDX Report, the VA spent almost $587.3 million in Middlesex County in FY21, including over $233.4 million on VA compensation and pension benefit payments. VA doesn’t include the number of beneficiaries or spending by program in its report.

  • Based the VA Annual Benefits Reports, there were 2,241 veterans in Massachusetts on the VA’s pension rolls at the end of FY21, including 153 under age 65. Statewide spending was estimated to be $26.9 million annually.

  • This was a decrease compared to the end of FY20, when there were 2,490 veterans on the VA pension rolls, including 249 under age 65, with spending estimated at $29.4 million annually.

VA spending in Middlesex County included $304 million providing medical care to 15,769 patients, with an average cost of $19,296 per patient––the second highest spending per patient in Massachusetts.

VA also spent nearly $40.7 million on education and vocational rehabilitation and employment benefits in Middlesex County; and almost $7.3 million on insurance and indemnities.

 

VA Pension Benefits

Whether or not a veteran has time during “wartime” or “peacetime” service eras determines in part whether a veteran (or their survivor) is potentially eligible for the VA pension. Visit the Financial Security page for more information. Very low income veterans over age 65 with wartime service are potentially eligible for the VA pension whether or not they have a qualifying disability.

  • Almost 62% of veterans in poverty in Middlesex County were over age 65

  • Around 38% of veterans in poverty over age 65 did not report a disability (326).

  • Around 73% of disabled veterans in poverty were over age 65 (1,100).

Around 73.6% of all veterans (31,303) in Middlesex County served during wartime. All veterans with service in the Vietnam, Korea, and World War II eras are over age 65, which includes over 64% of veterans with wartime status in Middlesex County. More than 58% of all veterans (30,150) and nearly 35% of women veterans (883) in Middlesex County were over age 65. 

The 1-year estimates (most current) on this page are from 2021. Population estimates at the links on this page has been updated with the 2022 data.

VA Compensation Benefits

Around 30% (12,782) of Essex County Veterans reported having a disability. Disabled veterans are potentially eligible for VA compensation if they have a service connected disability. Visit the Financial Security page for more information. Although around 5.3% of Middlesex County’s disabled veterans fell below the poverty line, disabled veterans made up half of all veterans in poverty.

  • Around 76% of disabled veterans were over age 65.

  • Around 73% of disabled veterans in poverty were over age 65.

Based on the 2021 ACS data, there were 9,677 service-connected veterans in Middlesex County. At least 87% of these service-connected veterans had compensable disability ratings.