Nantucket County, Massachusetts

County Distress Index: Healthy · 32.3 | 14,444 people · 13th most distressed in Massachusetts
American Default Research

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

Nantucket County, MA ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 32.3 — 2631st 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 13th of 14 counties. It scores higher than all 1 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Nantucket County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 74.2 — above the national median.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 74.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 95
Rent-to-Income Ratio 95
Business Formation Rate 5
House Price Change (YoY) 39
Housing Cost Burden 47.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 67
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 19
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 95
Homeownership Rate 38
Consumer Credit Distress 24.8
Debt in Collections 18
Medical Debt 32
Auto Loan Delinquency 10
Credit Card Delinquency 31
Uninsured Rate 35
Subprime Credit Population 31
Structural Poverty 19.5
Unemployment Rate 95
Poverty Rate 5
Income vs. State Median 20
Child Poverty Rate 5
Disability Rate 5
Transfer Income Dependency 5
Legal Distress 5.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 5

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Nantucket County
Nantucket County, MA 32.3 Healthy —
Dukes County, MA 29.3 Healthy -3.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Nantucket County
Whitley County, IN 32.3 Healthy +0.0
Benzie County, MI 32.3 Healthy +0.0
Gunnison County, CO 32.4 Healthy +0.0
Bureau County, IL 32.2 Healthy -0.1
Henry County, OH 32.5 Healthy +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Nantucket 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 Nantucket 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 Nantucket County, Massachusetts?

    Nantucket County has a County Distress Index score of 32.3 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,631st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 13th in Massachusetts out of 14 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Nantucket County?

    The primary driver of distress in Nantucket County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 74.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Nantucket County compare to neighboring counties?

    Nantucket County (32.3) can be compared to its 1 neighboring county: Dukes County, MA (29.3).

  • 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). Nantucket County's score of 32.3 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Nantucket 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 Nantucket County?

    Nantucket County, Massachusetts has a population of approximately 14,444 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.