Dukes County, Massachusetts

County Distress Index: Healthy · 29.3 | 20,819 people · 14th most distressed in Massachusetts
American Default Research

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Dukes County, MA ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 29.3 — 2791st 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 14th of 14 counties. It scores lower than all 3 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Dukes County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 69.0 — above the national median.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 69.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 93
Rent-to-Income Ratio 90
Business Formation Rate 3
House Price Change (YoY) 13
Housing Cost Burden 40.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 44
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 20
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 86
Homeownership Rate 49
Structural Poverty 28.0
Unemployment Rate 93
Poverty Rate 10
Income vs. State Median 46
Child Poverty Rate 17
Disability Rate 9
Transfer Income Dependency 5
Consumer Credit Distress 21.2
Debt in Collections 5
Medical Debt 17
Auto Loan Delinquency 19
Credit Card Delinquency 50
Uninsured Rate 18
Subprime Credit Population 20
Legal Distress 1.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 1

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Dukes County
Dukes County, MA 29.3 Healthy —
Bristol County, MA 55.8 Elevated +26.5
Barnstable County, MA 39.1 Normal +9.8
Nantucket County, MA 32.3 Healthy +3.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Dukes County
Kodiak Island Borough, AK 29.3 Healthy +0.0
Henry County, IL 29.3 Healthy -0.1
Oneida County, WI 29.2 Healthy -0.1
Brown County, MN 29.2 Healthy -0.1
Walsh County, ND 29.4 Healthy +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Dukes County

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 Dukes 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 Dukes County, Massachusetts?

    Dukes County has a County Distress Index score of 29.3 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,791st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 14th in Massachusetts out of 14 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Dukes County?

    The primary driver of distress in Dukes County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 69.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Dukes County compare to neighboring counties?

    Dukes County (29.3) can be compared to its 3 neighboring counties: Bristol County, MA (55.8); Barnstable County, MA (39.1); Nantucket County, MA (32.3).

  • 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 Healthy 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). Dukes County's score of 29.3 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Dukes 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 Dukes County?

    Dukes County, Massachusetts has a population of approximately 20,819 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.