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 2023, at 17.6%. Nantucket County had the lowest, at 6.5%. The median was 10.3% and the figure for Massachusetts was 10.5%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest17.6Hampden County
Lowest6.5Nantucket County
Median10.314 counties
Massachusetts10.5History

All counties, 2023

CSVChart (SVG)

Hampden CountyHampden County: 17.6 %17.6Suffolk CountySuffolk County: 15.1 %15.1Bristol CountyBristol County: 12.7 %12.7Berkshire CountyBerkshire County: 12.5 %12.5Hampshire CountyHampshire County: 12.4 %12.4Franklin CountyFranklin County: 11.9 %11.9Worcester CountyWorcester County: 10.9 %10.9Essex CountyEssex County: 9.6 %9.6Barnstable CountyBarnstable County: 8.9 %8.9Dukes CountyDukes County: 8.5 %8.5Plymouth CountyPlymouth County: 8 %8Middlesex CountyMiddlesex County: 7.7 %7.7Norfolk CountyNorfolk County: 7.7 %7.7Nantucket CountyNantucket County: 6.5 %6.5
%. Source: U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-08.

Full ranking

RankCounties2023 (%)Change on 2022
1Hampden County17.6+0.7 pts
2Suffolk County15.1-1.3 pts
3Bristol County12.7+1.3 pts
4Berkshire County12.5+0.5 pts
5Hampshire County12.4+0.7 pts
6Franklin County11.9-1.6 pts
7Worcester County10.9+0.3 pts
8Essex County9.6-0.2 pts
9Barnstable County8.9+1.2 pts
10Dukes County8.5+0.3 pts
11Plymouth County8+0.3 pts
12Middlesex County7.7-0.5 pts
12Norfolk County7.7+1.2 pts
14Nantucket County6.5+0.2 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/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.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 17.6% in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest poverty rate?

Nantucket County, with 6.5% in 2023.

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