Hampden County, Massachusetts

County Distress Index: Serious · 66.5 | 460,291 people · 1st most distressed in Massachusetts
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Hampden County, MA shows significant household financial distress with a score of 66.5 — 579th 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 1st of 14 counties. It scores higher 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. Hampden County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 90.4 — worse than roughly 90% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 90.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 93
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 88
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 93
Homeownership Rate 90
Economic Vitality 83.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 88
Rent-to-Income Ratio 97
Business Formation Rate 75
House Price Change (YoY) 31
Structural Poverty 79.7
Unemployment Rate 89
Poverty Rate 76
Income vs. State Median 97
Child Poverty Rate 83
Disability Rate 55
Transfer Income Dependency 74
Consumer Credit Distress 51.9
Debt in Collections 56
Medical Debt 31
Auto Loan Delinquency 52
Credit Card Delinquency 76
Uninsured Rate 3
Subprime Credit Population 61
Legal Distress 42.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 43

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Hampden County
Hampden County, MA 66.5 Serious —
Berkshire County, MA 49.6 Normal -16.8
Worcester County, MA 48.9 Normal -17.6
Hampshire County, MA 39.1 Normal -27.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Hampden County
Montgomery County, OH 66.5 Serious +0.0
Jackson County, MO 66.3 Serious -0.2
Tulare County, CA 66.6 Serious +0.2
Lucas County, OH 66.8 Serious +0.4
Atlantic County, NJ 66.9 Serious +0.4

Download Data

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

Find Help in Hampden County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Hampden County.

CAMBRIDGE CREDIT COUNSELING CORPORATION
Agawam
800-757-1788 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingPre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education
HOLYOKE HOUSING AUTHORITY
Holyoke
413-539-2202 Website
Pre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education
SPRINGFIELD PARTNERS FOR COMMUNITY ACTION
SPRINGFIELD
413-263-6500-6500 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFair HousingHome Improvement/Rehab
WAY FINDERS, INC.
Springfield
413-233-1500 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingPost-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 Hampden 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 →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Hampden County has a County Distress Index score of 66.5 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 579th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 1st in Massachusetts out of 14 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Hampden County?

    The primary driver of distress in Hampden County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 90.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Hampden County compare to neighboring counties?

    Hampden County (66.5) can be compared to its 3 neighboring counties: Berkshire County, MA (49.6); Worcester County, MA (48.9); Hampshire 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 Serious 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). Hampden County's score of 66.5 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Hampden 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 Hampden County?

    Hampden County, Massachusetts has a population of approximately 460,291 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.