Hampshire County, Massachusetts

County Distress Index: Normal · 39.1 | 162,502 people · 9th most distressed in Massachusetts
American Default Research

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Hampshire County, MA falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 39.1 — 2245th 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 9th of 14 counties. It scores lower than all 4 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Hampshire County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 89.2 — worse than roughly 89% of U.S. counties.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 89.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 96
Rent-to-Income Ratio 95
Business Formation Rate 96
House Price Change (YoY) 24
Housing Cost Burden 88.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 92
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 88
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 97
Homeownership Rate 75
Structural Poverty 40.9
Unemployment Rate 72
Poverty Rate 41
Income vs. State Median 80
Child Poverty Rate 17
Disability Rate 17
Transfer Income Dependency 16
Legal Distress 18.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 19
Consumer Credit Distress 9.0
Debt in Collections 7
Medical Debt 24
Auto Loan Delinquency 5
Credit Card Delinquency 11
Uninsured Rate 1
Subprime Credit Population 6

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Hampshire County
Hampshire County, MA 39.1 Normal —
Hampden County, MA 66.5 Serious +27.3
Berkshire County, MA 49.6 Normal +10.5
Worcester County, MA 48.9 Normal +9.7
Franklin County, MA 48.5 Normal +9.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Hampshire County
Stearns County, MN 39.1 Normal +0.0
Barnstable County, MA 39.1 Normal -0.0
Waupaca County, WI 39.1 Normal -0.0
Greene County, OH 39.2 Normal +0.1
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, CT 39.1 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Hampshire County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Hampshire County.

VALLEY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Northampton
413-586-5855x180 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingPost-PurchasePre-Lease/Pre-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 Hampshire 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 Hampshire County, Massachusetts?

    Hampshire County has a County Distress Index score of 39.1 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,245th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 9th in Massachusetts out of 14 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Hampshire County?

    The primary driver of distress in Hampshire County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 89.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Hampshire County compare to neighboring counties?

    Hampshire County (39.1) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Hampden County, MA (66.5); Berkshire County, MA (49.6); Worcester County, MA (48.9).

  • 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). Hampshire County's score of 39.1 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Hampshire 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 Hampshire County?

    Hampshire County, Massachusetts has a population of approximately 162,502 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.