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

Counties in Massachusetts by poverty rate

Hampden County had the highest poverty rate of 14 counties in 2022, at 16.9%. Nantucket County had the lowest, at 6.3%. The median was 10.2% and the figure for Massachusetts was 10.4%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest16.9Hampden County
Lowest6.3Nantucket County
Median10.214 counties
Massachusetts10.4History

All counties, 2022

CSVChart (SVG)

Hampden CountyHampden County: 16.9 %16.9Suffolk CountySuffolk County: 16.4 %16.4Franklin CountyFranklin County: 13.5 %13.5Berkshire CountyBerkshire County: 12 %12Hampshire CountyHampshire County: 11.7 %11.7Bristol CountyBristol County: 11.4 %11.4Worcester CountyWorcester County: 10.6 %10.6Essex CountyEssex County: 9.8 %9.8Dukes CountyDukes County: 8.2 %8.2Middlesex CountyMiddlesex County: 8.2 %8.2Barnstable CountyBarnstable County: 7.7 %7.7Plymouth CountyPlymouth County: 7.7 %7.7Norfolk CountyNorfolk County: 6.5 %6.5Nantucket CountyNantucket County: 6.3 %6.3
%. Source: U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-08.

Full ranking

RankCounties2022 (%)Change on 2021
1Hampden County16.9-0.1 pts
2Suffolk County16.4-2.1 pts
3Franklin County13.5+2.8 pts
4Berkshire County12+1.1 pts
5Hampshire County11.70 pts
6Bristol County11.4-0.5 pts
7Worcester County10.6+0.6 pts
8Essex County9.8+0.2 pts
9Dukes County8.2+0.6 pts
9Middlesex County8.2+0.5 pts
11Barnstable County7.7-0.3 pts
11Plymouth County7.7+0.2 pts
13Norfolk County6.5-0.4 pts
14Nantucket County6.3+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/2022/2022-state-and-county/est22all.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 16.9% in 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest poverty rate?

Nantucket County, with 6.3% in 2022.

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