Data / Rankings / Poverty rate (US official measure) / Counties in Massachusetts

Counties in Massachusetts by poverty rate, 2024

Hampden County had the highest poverty rate of 14 counties in 2024, at 16%. Norfolk County had the lowest, at 6.4%. The median was 9.5% and the figure for Massachusetts was 9.8%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest16Hampden County
Lowest6.4Norfolk County
Median9.514 counties
Massachusetts9.8History

All counties, 2024

CSVChart (SVG)

Hampden CountyHampden County: 16 %16Suffolk CountySuffolk County: 15.5 %15.5Hampshire CountyHampshire County: 12.3 %12.3Berkshire CountyBerkshire County: 11.3 %11.3Bristol CountyBristol County: 10.2 %10.2Franklin CountyFranklin County: 10.2 %10.2Worcester CountyWorcester County: 9.6 %9.6Essex CountyEssex County: 9.3 %9.3Barnstable CountyBarnstable County: 8.6 %8.6Dukes CountyDukes County: 8.5 %8.5Middlesex CountyMiddlesex County: 7.8 %7.8Plymouth CountyPlymouth County: 7.3 %7.3Nantucket CountyNantucket County: 6.5 %6.5Norfolk CountyNorfolk County: 6.4 %6.4
%. Source: U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-08.

Full ranking

RankCounties2024 (%)Change on 2023
1Hampden County16-1.6 pts
2Suffolk County15.5+0.4 pts
3Hampshire County12.3-0.1 pts
4Berkshire County11.3-1.2 pts
5Bristol County10.2-2.5 pts
5Franklin County10.2-1.7 pts
7Worcester County9.6-1.3 pts
8Essex County9.3-0.3 pts
9Barnstable County8.6-0.3 pts
10Dukes County8.50 pts
11Middlesex County7.8+0.1 pts
12Plymouth County7.3-0.7 pts
13Nantucket County6.50 pts
14Norfolk County6.4-1.3 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

People living in families or alone with income below the official US poverty thresholds, as a percentage of people whose poverty status can be determined. United States: Census Bureau Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE), all ages.

Absolute thresholds set by the US government, so not comparable with the EU at_risk_of_poverty_rate.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people of all ages in poverty, states and counties. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2024/2024-state-and-county/est24all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-08.

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Rank Counties in Massachusetts by poverty rate using official data, and cite the source.
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Questions

Which county has the highest poverty rate?

Hampden County, with 16% in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest poverty rate?

Norfolk County, with 6.4% in 2024.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people of all ages in poverty, states and counties. Retrieved 2026-10-08.

Poverty rate (US official measure): other rankings

Counties in Massachusetts: more rankings