Franklin County, Massachusetts

County Distress Index: Normal · 48.5 | 70,836 people · 6th most distressed in Massachusetts
American Default Research

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Franklin County, MA falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 48.5 — 1677th 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 6th of 14 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Franklin County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 91.8 — worse than roughly 92% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 91.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 96
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 94
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 94
Homeownership Rate 75
Economic Vitality 88.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 97
Rent-to-Income Ratio 97
Business Formation Rate 94
House Price Change (YoY) 9
Structural Poverty 61.4
Unemployment Rate 72
Poverty Rate 37
Income vs. State Median 94
Child Poverty Rate 33
Disability Rate 61
Transfer Income Dependency 58
Legal Distress 25.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 25
Consumer Credit Distress 20.3
Debt in Collections 16
Medical Debt 25
Auto Loan Delinquency 31
Credit Card Delinquency 21
Uninsured Rate 1
Subprime Credit Population 19

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Franklin County
Franklin County, MA 48.5 Normal —
Berkshire County, MA 49.6 Normal +1.1
Worcester County, MA 48.9 Normal +0.3
Bennington County, VT 43.0 Normal -5.5
Cheshire County, NH 42.8 Normal -5.7
Hampshire County, MA 39.1 Normal -9.4
Windham County, VT 37.0 Normal -11.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Franklin County
Eddy County, NM 48.5 Normal +0.0
Lewis County, WA 48.5 Normal -0.0
Mercer County, PA 48.5 Normal -0.1
Culpeper County, VA 48.5 Normal -0.1
Grant County, WA 48.6 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Franklin County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Franklin County.

FRANKLIN COUNTY REGIONAL HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Turners Falls
413-223-5201 Website
Foreclosure PreventionHome Improvement/RehabHomeless/DisplacementPost-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 Franklin 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 Franklin County, Massachusetts?

    Franklin County has a County Distress Index score of 48.5 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,677th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 6th in Massachusetts out of 14 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Franklin County?

    The primary driver of distress in Franklin County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 91.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Franklin County compare to neighboring counties?

    Franklin County (48.5) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Berkshire County, MA (49.6); Worcester County, MA (48.9); Bennington County, VT (43.0).

  • 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). Franklin County's score of 48.5 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Franklin 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 Franklin County?

    Franklin County, Massachusetts has a population of approximately 70,836 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.