Norfolk County, Massachusetts

County Distress Index: Normal · 35.3 | 727,473 people · 11th most distressed in Massachusetts
American Default Research

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Norfolk County, MA falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 35.3 — 2461st 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 11th of 14 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Norfolk County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 87.6 — worse than roughly 88% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 87.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 90
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 88
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 95
Homeownership Rate 76
Economic Vitality 83.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 97
Rent-to-Income Ratio 93
Business Formation Rate 45
House Price Change (YoY) 60
Legal Distress 14.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 14
Structural Poverty 12.3
Unemployment Rate 67
Poverty Rate 6
Income vs. State Median 9
Child Poverty Rate 1
Disability Rate 4
Transfer Income Dependency 1
Consumer Credit Distress 11.2
Debt in Collections 7
Medical Debt 20
Auto Loan Delinquency 14
Credit Card Delinquency 15
Uninsured Rate 1
Subprime Credit Population 9

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Norfolk County
Norfolk County, MA 35.3 Normal —
Providence County, RI 59.9 Elevated +24.6
Bristol County, MA 55.8 Elevated +20.6
Suffolk County, MA 50.5 Elevated +15.3
Worcester County, MA 48.9 Normal +13.6
Plymouth County, MA 43.4 Normal +8.1
Middlesex County, MA 32.5 Healthy -2.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Norfolk County
Dane County, WI 35.0 Healthy -0.3
Ada County, ID 35.7 Normal +0.4
Bucks County, PA 34.7 Healthy -0.6
Lake County, IL 36.1 Normal +0.8
Dakota County, MN 36.1 Normal +0.8

Download Data

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

Find Help in Norfolk County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Norfolk County.

NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES OF THE SOUTH SHORE DBA NEIGHBORWORKS HOUSING SOLUTIONS
Quincy
617-770-2227 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFair HousingHome Improvement/Rehab
QUINCY COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAMS, INC.
Quincy
617-479-8181 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFair HousingHomeless/DisplacementPre-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 Norfolk 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 Norfolk County, Massachusetts?

    Norfolk County has a County Distress Index score of 35.3 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,461st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 11th in Massachusetts out of 14 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Norfolk County?

    The primary driver of distress in Norfolk County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 87.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Norfolk County compare to neighboring counties?

    Norfolk County (35.3) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Providence County, RI (59.9); Bristol County, MA (55.8); Suffolk County, MA (50.5).

  • 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). Norfolk County's score of 35.3 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Norfolk 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 Norfolk County?

    Norfolk County, Massachusetts has a population of approximately 727,473 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.