Barnstable County, Massachusetts

County Distress Index: Normal · 39.1 | 231,735 people · 10th most distressed in Massachusetts
American Default Research

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Barnstable County, MA falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 39.1 — 2247th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Economic Vitality, where wages are low relative to housing costs, business formation lags, and the local economy lacks dynamism. Within Massachusetts, it ranks 10th of 14 counties. Among its 3 neighboring counties, 2 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Barnstable County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 86.3 — worse than roughly 86% of U.S. counties.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 86.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 99
Rent-to-Income Ratio 99
Business Formation Rate 40
House Price Change (YoY) 74
Housing Cost Burden 82.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 96
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 96
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 87
Homeownership Rate 16
Structural Poverty 38.3
Unemployment Rate 90
Poverty Rate 12
Income vs. State Median 59
Child Poverty Rate 17
Disability Rate 35
Transfer Income Dependency 21
Legal Distress 29.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 29
Consumer Credit Distress 11.3
Debt in Collections 7
Medical Debt 19
Auto Loan Delinquency 14
Credit Card Delinquency 14
Uninsured Rate 1
Subprime Credit Population 10

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed.

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Barnstable County
Barnstable County, MA 39.1 Normal —
Bristol County, MA 55.8 Elevated +16.7
Plymouth County, MA 43.4 Normal +4.3
Dukes County, MA 29.3 Healthy -9.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Barnstable County
Waupaca County, WI 39.1 Normal 0.0
Hampshire County, MA 39.1 Normal +0.0
Stearns County, MN 39.1 Normal +0.0
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, CT 39.1 Normal -0.0
Kendall County, TX 39.0 Normal -0.1

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Barnstable County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Barnstable County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Barnstable County.

HOUSING ASSISTANCE CORP.
Hyannis
508-771-5400 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/Rehab

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Find an Attorney

Massachusetts Bar Association — Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Massachusetts Bar Association — Lawyer Referral Service 617-654-0400 (Boston); 1-800-392-6164 (statewide)

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Barnstable County residents at no cost.

Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS) 617-603-1700
Massachusetts Legal Aid (MLA) — Statewide Hotline 617-603-1700 (GBLS); see MassLegalHelp.org for regional offices
South Coastal Counties Legal Services (SCCLS) 508-979-7150 (New Bedford); 508-775-7020 (Hyannis)
Harvard Legal Aid Bureau 617-495-4408
Community Legal Aid, Inc. (508) 752-3718
Northeast Legal Aid, Inc. (978) 458-1465
Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association (617) 603-1700

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Barnstable County, Massachusetts?

    Barnstable County has a County Distress Index score of 39.1 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,247th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 10th in Massachusetts out of 14 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Barnstable County?

    The primary driver of distress in Barnstable County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 86.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Barnstable County compare to neighboring counties?

    Barnstable County (39.1) can be compared to its 3 neighboring counties: Bristol County, MA (55.8); Plymouth County, MA (43.4); Dukes County, MA (29.3).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses PCA-weighted percentile scoring across five statistically derived factors: Consumer Credit Distress (47.5%), Housing Cost Burden (22.3%), Structural Poverty (13.6%), Economic Vitality (9.2%), and Legal Distress (7.4%). Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • How often is the CDI updated?

    Annually, aligned to Census American Community Survey and Urban Institute Debt in America release windows — the slowest-moving source inputs. Between annual refreshes, faster-cadence indicators (BLS unemployment, QCEW wages) may drive light mid-year updates if a specific component moves meaningfully. Current data compiled April 14, 2026; next full refresh early 2027.

  • What does the Normal zone mean?

    The CDI divides counties into five zones: Healthy (below 46), Normal (46–55), Elevated (55–71), Serious (71–86), and Crisis (86 and above). Barnstable County's score of 39.1 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

  • What data sources power Barnstable County's CDI score?

    Barnstable County's CDI score draws on Urban Institute Debt in America (Equifax credit-bureau panel), U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates), Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, QCEW), U.S. Courts Administrative Office (F-5A bankruptcy filings), and HUD Fair Market Rents. Every number on this page traces to one of these public sources.

  • What is the population of Barnstable County?

    Barnstable County, Massachusetts has a population of approximately 231,735 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.