CountyScore

Hampden County

Massachusetts · MA

#9 in Massachusetts
57.7
County Score

County Report Card

About Hampden County, Massachusetts

Moderately above the national median

Hampden County's composite score of 58.1 exceeds the national median of 50.0 by 16%. This represents solid U.S. livability, though at the lower end of the Massachusetts counties examined.

Slightly above state average

Hampden ranks fourth of eight counties with a score of 58.1, just above the state average of 57.1. It occupies the middle tier of Massachusetts livability despite being home to the Springfield metropolitan area.

Most affordable housing in the region

Hampden's cost score of 65.1 reflects the state's lowest median home value ($276,300) and among the lowest rents ($1,105 monthly). This affordability is a major advantage for budget-conscious families.

Lowest incomes and highest tax burden

The income score of 29.4 represents the lowest median household income in this group at $70,535, while the effective tax rate of 1.568% is the highest. This combination creates significant financial strain on households.

Best for very budget-conscious households

Hampden County suits families and retirees prioritizing maximum housing affordability in a more urban setting. It's most appropriate for those with stable, modest incomes who cannot afford higher-cost Massachusetts regions.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax58.2Cost65.1SafetyComing SoonHealth73.7SchoolsComing SoonIncome29.4Risk7.2WaterComing Soon
🏛58.2
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠65.1
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼29.4
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤73.7
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡7.2
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Hampden County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

San Joaquin County
California
57.7
Median income: $88,531
Dougherty County
Georgia
57.7
Median income: $46,784
Montgomery County
Pennsylvania
57.7
Median income: $111,521
District of Columbia
District of Columbia
57.8
Median income: $106,287
Stephenson County
Illinois
57.8
Median income: $61,943

Deep Dives

Hampden County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Hampden County

via TaxByCounty

Hampden taxes significantly above national average

Hampden County's effective tax rate of 1.568% is the highest in Massachusetts and well above the national median of 1.1%, placing it in America's top 10% of tax-burdened counties. The median tax bill of $4,332 exceeds the national median of $2,690, though homes average $276,300, just slightly less than the national median of $281,900. For wealth relative to property value, Hampden homeowners face one of the nation's steepest tax loads.

Hampden bears Massachusetts' highest tax rate

At 1.568%, Hampden County has the single highest effective tax rate in Massachusetts, nearly half a percentage point above the state average of 1.065%. The median tax of $4,332 falls below the state median of $5,149, reflecting Hampden's lower home values averaging $276,300. Hampden's combination of the highest state rate and below-average property values creates the state's most severe tax-to-affordability mismatch.

Hampden's rate vastly exceeds all peers

Hampden's 1.568% rate exceeds every other Massachusetts county, towering above Franklin (1.514%), Hampshire (1.466%), and dramatically above all southern and eastern counties. When compared to neighboring Connecticut and New York, Hampden's rate represents one of the region's least competitive tax environments. The county's legacy industrial economy and legacy pension obligations drive rates far above those of surrounding regions.

A $276,300 home costs roughly $4,332 yearly

The median Hampden property—valued at $276,300—generates an annual tax bill of approximately $4,332, nearly identical for mortgaged and outright owners at $4,316 and $4,360 respectively. Over 30 years, that totals roughly $129,960 in property taxes. For a county with below-average home values and below-average incomes, this tax burden represents one of Massachusetts' most challenging affordability pictures.

Assessment relief could ease tax burden

Hampden County's economically challenged towns sometimes carry assessments that haven't adjusted downward with declining incomes and property values, leaving homeowners overpaying relative to peer communities. Assessment appeals are free and should be seriously considered, especially in Hampden's high-tax environment. Successful appeals could free up hundreds of dollars annually—meaningful money in a region where median household income lags the state.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Hampden County

via CostByCounty

Hampden offers surprising affordability for region

Hampden County renters spend 18.8% of their income on housing, beating both the national average and Massachusetts' state median of 19.3%. With the lowest median household income ($70,535) among surveyed counties and rent at just $1,105 monthly, Hampden proves you don't need high income to achieve housing affordability.

Hampden punches above its weight on value

Hampden County ranks among the most affordable in Massachusetts despite having the state's lowest median household income at $70,535. Its 18.8% rent-to-income ratio beats the state average, and its $1,105 median rent ranks among the lowest statewide.

Springfield area undercuts all western counties

Hampden's $1,105 median rent edges out Berkshire ($1,042) as slightly pricier but beats Franklin ($1,169) and Hampshire ($1,332) by substantial margins. Home values ($276,300) are the state's lowest alongside Berkshire, making Hampden the ultimate affordability play.

Modest income stretched across reasonable costs

Renters allocate 18.8% of their $70,535 income to $1,105 monthly rent, while homeowners dedicate 25.9% to a $1,525 monthly payment on homes worth $276,300. Hampden achieves impressive affordability despite lower household incomes than most other surveyed counties.

Maximum affordability for budget-conscious relocators

Moving to Hampden County means accessing the state's lowest home values ($276,300) and some of the lowest rents ($1,105) while maintaining reasonable household economics. If affordability is paramount and you're willing to embrace Springfield's urban revitalization, Hampden delivers unmatched housing value in Massachusetts.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Hampden County

via IncomeByCounty

Hampden falls short of national income median

Hampden County's median household income of $70,535 lags the national median of $74,755 by 6%, placing it slightly below middle-class earnings nationally. The county's economy, centered on Springfield and smaller industrial cities, reflects the challenges of traditional manufacturing-dependent regions.

Lowest-income county in Massachusetts

Hampden's $70,535 median ranks last among all 14 Massachusetts counties, trailing the state average of $96,546 by 27%. The income gap reflects broader struggles in the region's traditional industrial base and limited high-wage employment opportunities.

Significantly trails surrounding counties

Hampden's $70,535 median trails Franklin County ($72,584) and Berkshire County ($72,565), with even larger gaps compared to Hampshire County ($86,391). The county faces the steepest income challenges across the entire region.

Affordable housing eases financial pressure

Hampden's 18.8% rent-to-income ratio and median home values of just $276,300 provide genuine affordability relief, the lowest housing costs statewide. While incomes lag, residents benefit from manageable property costs that preserve resources for other essentials.

Maximize modest earnings through smart planning

Hampden County residents must prioritize every dollar to build wealth, starting with emergency funds and then taking full advantage of tax-advantaged retirement accounts. Low housing costs create the opportunity for savings; discipline and strategic planning can overcome the income disadvantage.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Hampden County

via HealthByCounty

Hampden faces a public health crisis

Hampden County's 76.3-year life expectancy ranks lowest in Massachusetts and 3.2 years below the U.S. average of 79.5. At 20.6% reporting poor or fair health—the highest statewide—residents face the heaviest health burdens in the region.

Worst health outcomes in state

Hampden County's 76.3-year life expectancy trails Massachusetts' 79.7-year average by 3.4 years, the steepest gap of any county studied. Its 20.6% poor/fair health rate stands alone as the highest in the state, signaling a severe health crisis.

Significantly worse than all peers

Hampden's 76.3-year life expectancy lags Bristol (77.4 years), Berkshire (77.7 years), and every other county in the dataset. Its 20.6% poor/fair health rate dwarfs even Bristol's 16.7%, marking Hampden as a region in acute health distress.

Good mental health access amid crisis

Hampden County offers 1,167 mental health providers per 100,000 residents—the highest statewide—yet has just 67 primary care physicians per 100,000. The 3.3% uninsured rate exceeds the state average, complicating access despite mental health resources.

Coverage opens the path to health

Hampden County's 3.3% uninsured rate means 3,300 residents lack coverage, a barrier to managing the chronic diseases driving low life expectancy. Enroll in MassHealth or a marketplace plan immediately to access preventive and ongoing care.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Hampden County

via RiskByCounty

Hampden carries elevated national disaster risk

Hampden County's composite risk score of 92.78 places it well above the national average, in the relatively high tier of American disaster exposure. This elevated score reflects Hampden's concentration of multiple overlapping hazards, from floods to tornadoes to earthquakes. Residents here face significantly greater disaster risk than Americans in most other regions.

Second-highest risk in Massachusetts

Hampden County ranks second-riskiest in Massachusetts with a 92.78 composite score, trailing only Essex County (95.58) and running well above the state average of 78.84. Bristol County (89.85) and Barnstable (89.09) follow, but Hampden's 92.78 marks it clearly in the state's highest-risk tier. Hampden's central location and urban density drive substantial compound risk.

Higher risk than inland peers; similar to coast

Hampden's 92.78 score dramatically outpaces inland Franklin (60.72) and Hampshire (69.88), yet runs nearly even with coastal Bristol (89.85) and Barnstable (89.09). This positioning reflects Hampden's dense population concentration and multi-hazard exposure despite its inland geography. Urban development, not coastal location, drives Hampden's elevated risk profile.

Tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes dominate

Hampden residents face extreme tornado risk (82.73)—among the state's highest—along with severe flood risk (95.87) and significant earthquake exposure (90.59). Hurricane risk (93.20) and wildfire risk (39.31) round out the hazard picture. This county's risk stems from a unique combination of severe weather pathways, river systems, and seismic zones.

Multi-hazard protection strategy required

With flood (95.87), hurricane (93.20), earthquake (90.59), and especially tornado (82.73) risks all critically high, you need layered insurance coverage including federal flood insurance, earthquake protection, and enhanced wind/tornado riders. Structural hardening—from reinforced rooms to elevated utilities—should be a priority if you're in a high-risk zone. Hampden requires active, comprehensive disaster preparedness.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.