Suffolk County, Massachusetts

County Distress Index: Normal · 49.0 | 768,425 people · 5th most distressed in Massachusetts
American Default Research

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Suffolk County, MA falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 49.0 — 1667th 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. It scores higher than all 4 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five domains of financial distress. Suffolk County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 91.6 — worse than roughly 92% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 91.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 90
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 88
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 81
Homeownership Rate 100
Rent-to-Income Ratio 100
Income & Poverty 59.1
Poverty Rate 62
Income vs. State Median 53
Child Poverty Rate 62
Employment & Wages 50.4
Unemployment Rate 74
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 65
Business Formation Rate 12
Debt & Delinquency 32.9
Debt in Collections 30
Medical Debt 21
Student Loan Delinquency 36
Auto Loan Delinquency 49
Credit Card Delinquency 50
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 11
Community Vulnerability 11.1
Uninsured Rate 3
Disability Rate 19

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed. The median line is shown on each bar.

Neighbors and Peers

How Suffolk County compares to its 4 neighboring counties and population peers.

Neighboring Counties

County Score Zone vs. Suffolk County
Suffolk County, MA 49.0 Normal —
Essex County, MA 46.4 Normal -2.7
Plymouth County, MA 40.6 Normal -8.4
Norfolk County, MA 35.8 Normal -13.2
Middlesex County, MA 33.3 Healthy -15.8

Population Peers

County Score Zone vs. Suffolk County
Summit County, OH 49.0 Normal -0.1
San Luis Obispo County, CA 49.2 Normal +0.2
Santa Cruz County, CA 48.8 Normal -0.2
Hays County, TX 48.8 Normal -0.2
Davidson County, TN 48.8 Normal -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Suffolk County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Suffolk County.

ACTION FOR BOSTON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, INC.
Boston
617-348-6449 Website
Foreclosure Prevention
ASIAN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Boston
617-482-2380
Financial CounselingFinancial CounselingFair HousingHome Improvement/Rehab
CHELSEA RESTORATION CORPORATION
Chelsea
617-889-2277 Website
Foreclosure PreventionPre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education
CODMAN SQUARE NEIGHBORHOOD DEV. CORP.
Dorchester
617-825-4224 Website
Foreclosure PreventionPost-PurchasePre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education
ECUMENICAL SOCIAL ACTION COMMITTEE, INC.
JAMAICA PLAIN
617-524-2555-108 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial Counseling

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 Suffolk 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 Suffolk County, Massachusetts?

    Suffolk County has a County Distress Index score of 49.0 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,667th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 5th in Massachusetts out of 14 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Suffolk County?

    The primary driver of distress in Suffolk County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 91.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Suffolk County compare to neighboring counties?

    Suffolk County (49.0) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Essex County, MA (46.4); Plymouth County, MA (40.6); Norfolk County, MA (35.8).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses percentile-rank averaging across five domains: Debt & Delinquency, Income & Poverty, Housing Cost Burden, Employment & Wages, and Community Vulnerability. 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.

  • What is the population of Suffolk County?

    Suffolk County, Massachusetts has a population of approximately 768,425 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.