Bristol County, Massachusetts

County Distress Index: Elevated · 55.8 | 581,841 people · 2nd most distressed in Massachusetts
American Default Research

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Bristol County, MA registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 55.8 — 1212th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within Massachusetts, it ranks 2nd of 14 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 6 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Bristol County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 88.4 — worse than roughly 88% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 88.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 87
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 87
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 97
Homeownership Rate 90
Economic Vitality 82.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 89
Rent-to-Income Ratio 87
Business Formation Rate 75
House Price Change (YoY) 45
Structural Poverty 54.7
Unemployment Rate 86
Poverty Rate 43
Income vs. State Median 79
Child Poverty Rate 53
Disability Rate 38
Transfer Income Dependency 33
Legal Distress 44.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 45
Consumer Credit Distress 37.5
Debt in Collections 36
Medical Debt 24
Auto Loan Delinquency 35
Credit Card Delinquency 57
Uninsured Rate 1
Subprime Credit Population 47

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Bristol County
Bristol County, MA 55.8 Elevated —
Providence County, RI 59.9 Elevated +4.0
Plymouth County, MA 43.4 Normal -12.5
Barnstable County, MA 39.1 Normal -16.7
Newport County, RI 35.5 Normal -20.3
Norfolk County, MA 35.3 Normal -20.6
Bristol County, RI 29.9 Healthy -25.9
Dukes County, MA 29.3 Healthy -26.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Bristol County
Fayette County, KY 55.8 Elevated -0.0
Lexington County, SC 55.9 Elevated +0.1
Virginia Beach city, VA 55.5 Elevated -0.3
Charleston County, SC 55.5 Elevated -0.3
Knox County, TN 55.5 Elevated -0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Bristol County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Bristol County.

CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES - FALL RIVER
Fall River
508-674-4681 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial Counseling
NAVICORE SOLUTIONS - MANSFIELD, MA
Mansfield
866-472-4557 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/Rehab
PRO-HOME, INC.
Taunton
508-821-2514 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingPre-Purchase

See all counselors in Massachusetts →

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 Bristol 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.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Massachusetts →

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Bristol County has a County Distress Index score of 55.8 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,212th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 2nd in Massachusetts out of 14 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Bristol County?

    The primary driver of distress in Bristol County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 88.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Bristol County compare to neighboring counties?

    Bristol County (55.8) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Providence County, RI (59.9); Plymouth County, MA (43.4); Barnstable County, MA (39.1).

  • 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 Elevated 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). Bristol County's score of 55.8 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Bristol 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 Bristol County?

    Bristol County, Massachusetts has a population of approximately 581,841 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.