Worcester County, Massachusetts

County Distress Index: Normal · 48.9 | 866,866 people · 5th most distressed in Massachusetts
American Default Research

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Worcester County, MA falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 48.9 — 1653rd 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 5th of 14 counties. Among its 8 neighboring counties, 6 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Worcester County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 84.4 — worse than roughly 84% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 84.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 86
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 81
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 96
Homeownership Rate 83
Economic Vitality 79.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 89
Rent-to-Income Ratio 83
Business Formation Rate 63
House Price Change (YoY) 55
Structural Poverty 35.3
Unemployment Rate 80
Poverty Rate 28
Income vs. State Median 47
Child Poverty Rate 27
Disability Rate 24
Transfer Income Dependency 17
Legal Distress 32.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 33
Consumer Credit Distress 32.6
Debt in Collections 31
Medical Debt 30
Auto Loan Delinquency 31
Credit Card Delinquency 47
Uninsured Rate 1
Subprime Credit Population 37

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Worcester County
Worcester County, MA 48.9 Normal —
Hampden County, MA 66.5 Serious +17.6
Providence County, RI 59.9 Elevated +11.0
Franklin County, MA 48.5 Normal -0.3
Cheshire County, NH 42.8 Normal -6.0
Hillsborough County, NH 41.6 Normal -7.2
Hampshire County, MA 39.1 Normal -9.7
Norfolk County, MA 35.3 Normal -13.6
Middlesex County, MA 32.5 Healthy -16.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Worcester County
St. Louis County, MO 49.0 Normal +0.1
Douglas County, NE 48.7 Normal -0.1
Santa Barbara County, CA 48.5 Normal -0.3
Prince William County, VA 48.5 Normal -0.4
Burlington County, NJ 49.4 Normal +0.5

Download Data

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

Find Help in Worcester County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Worcester County.

NEWVUE COMMUNITIES, INC.
Fitchburg
978-342-9561 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingPre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education
NSC (NACA COUNSELING SUBSIDIARY) - WORCESTER, MA
Worcester
602-627-6222 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFair Housing
RCAP SOLUTIONS, INC.
Worcester
978-630-6734
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingHomeless/Displacement

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 Worcester 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 Worcester County, Massachusetts?

    Worcester County has a County Distress Index score of 48.9 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,653rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 5th in Massachusetts out of 14 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Worcester County?

    The primary driver of distress in Worcester County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 84.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Worcester County compare to neighboring counties?

    Worcester County (48.9) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: Hampden County, MA (66.5); Providence County, RI (59.9); Franklin County, MA (48.5).

  • 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). Worcester County's score of 48.9 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Worcester 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 Worcester County?

    Worcester County, Massachusetts has a population of approximately 866,866 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.