In Hampden County, Massachusetts, rent on a two-bedroom takes about three in ten dollars of the typical household's income
In Hampden County, 30.3% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is higher than in 97% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 76% of U.S. counties.
What drives Hampden County's score
In Hampden County, housing costs weigh most: the score for housing costs is 93.2. Jobs come next, at 77.4.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Hampden County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Hampden County does better than most counties on two measures: people without health insurance (3.0%, 2020 to 2024) and median household income ($71,287, 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 93.2 of 100
Housing costs
Biggest factorRenters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent25.9% · 2020 to 202489th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income30.3% · fiscal year 202797th percentile
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- 77.4 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year5.6% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202688th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working23.4% · 2020 to 202465th percentile
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- 59.8 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind7.2% · August 202576th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind5.3% · August 202551st percentile
- People with a subprime credit score40.5% · second quarter of 202651st percentile
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- 49.2 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector24.6% · August 202555th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people113.2 · 202542nd percentile
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- 48.5 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line16.0% · 202470th percentile
- Children below the poverty line22.3% · 202473rd percentile
- People with a disability16.9% · 2020 to 202458th percentile
- People without health insurance3.0% · 2020 to 20242nd percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$71,287 · 202437th percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Hampden County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Hampden County, 18.3% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Hampden County
Massachusetts
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Hampden County, benefit checks' share of income has tripled since 1969, reaching 32.2% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in nearly twice as much as benefit checks
In Hampden County, Massachusetts, benefit checks' share of income tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 32.2%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
SNAP food aid is one of the benefit checks counted in the income totals above.
The share of households in Hampden County getting SNAP food aid nearly doubled to 25.5%, the highest on the chart
Biggest rise: 2009 to 2010, reaching 17.4%. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Hampden County, Massachusetts.
How Hampden County has changed
Hampden County's population had its largest drop, from 459,721 in 1974 to 444,059 in 1979.
Hampden County's population was about the same in 2024 as in 1969
High on the chart: 470,032 in 2014. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Hampden County, Massachusetts.
The number of jobs located in Hampden County made its largest gain on the way to its 2000 high, from 185,897 in 1995 to 204,121 in 2000.
The number of jobs located in Hampden County was about the same in 2025 as in 1990
High on the chart: 204,121 in 2000. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Hampden County, Massachusetts.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 6.7% | 2025 5.5% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 11.2% | 2024 16.0% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $31,319 | 2024 $71,287 |
The table uses 5.5% for 2025; the score uses 5.6% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Hampden County's history
2011
A tornado in June 2011 did $227.6 million in property damage and killed three people. NOAA Storm Events Database
2011
A thunderstorm in July 2011 did $1.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2011
A flood in August 2011 did $1 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2013
Hail in August 2013 did $3 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 465,825, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
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Since 1985
24 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Hampden County, 5 of them for flooding. FEMA
Hampden County beside its neighbors
Hampden County scores higher than all six counties that border it, in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Of the group, Hampden County gets the largest share of its income from benefit checks (32.2%).
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hampden County, MA | 76 | 16.0% | 32.2% |
| Capitol Planning Region, CT | 51 | 10.4% | 17.1% |
| Berkshire County, MA | 43 | 11.3% | 27.1% |
| Northwest Hills Planning Region, CT | 42 | 8.6% | 17.0% |
| Worcester County, MA | 37 | 9.6% | 18.8% |
| Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region, CT | 35 | 7.7% | 21.8% |
| Hampshire County, MA | 23 | 12.3% | 18.7% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Hampden County the poorest county in Massachusetts?
Yes, Hampden County's poverty rate was 16.0% in 2024, the highest of 14 counties in Massachusetts (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Hampden County ranks 1st of 14 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Hampden County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Cambridge Credit Counseling Corporation
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Springfield Partners for Community Action
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Way Finders, Inc.
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Community Legal Aid
Legal aid
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MassLegalHelp.org
Legal help website
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Hampden County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Hampden County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.