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

Counties in Massachusetts by poverty rate

Suffolk County had the highest poverty rate of 14 counties in 2019, at 16.7%. Nantucket County had the lowest, at 5.5%. The median was 9.1% and the figure for Massachusetts was 9.5%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest16.7Suffolk County
Lowest5.5Nantucket County
Median9.114 counties
Massachusetts9.5History

All counties, 2019

CSVChart (SVG)

Suffolk CountySuffolk County: 16.7 %16.7Hampden CountyHampden County: 13.8 %13.8Bristol CountyBristol County: 11.3 %11.3Berkshire CountyBerkshire County: 11.2 %11.2Hampshire CountyHampshire County: 11.1 %11.1Worcester CountyWorcester County: 9.4 %9.4Franklin CountyFranklin County: 9.3 %9.3Essex CountyEssex County: 8.8 %8.8Plymouth CountyPlymouth County: 7.4 %7.4Dukes CountyDukes County: 7.3 %7.3Middlesex CountyMiddlesex County: 6.9 %6.9Barnstable CountyBarnstable County: 6.5 %6.5Norfolk CountyNorfolk County: 5.8 %5.8Nantucket CountyNantucket County: 5.5 %5.5
%. Source: U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-08.

Full ranking

RankCounties2019 (%)Change on 2018
1Suffolk County16.7-0.8 pts
2Hampden County13.8-2.9 pts
3Bristol County11.3+0.5 pts
4Berkshire County11.2-0.1 pts
5Hampshire County11.10 pts
6Worcester County9.4+0.4 pts
7Franklin County9.3-1.3 pts
8Essex County8.8-1.9 pts
9Plymouth County7.4+1.2 pts
10Dukes County7.3-0.4 pts
11Middlesex County6.9-0.4 pts
12Barnstable County6.5-1.5 pts
13Norfolk County5.8-0.7 pts
14Nantucket County5.5-0.4 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/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-08.

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Questions

Which county has the highest poverty rate?

Suffolk County, with 16.7% in 2019, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest poverty rate?

Nantucket County, with 5.5% in 2019.

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