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Hampden County, Massachusetts Demographics 2026

Hampden County, Massachusetts has a population of 462,853, the 8th most populous county in Massachusetts. The median household income is $70,535 and the median home value is $276,300. The poverty rate is 15.7%.

Hampden County Quick Facts

Population 462,853
Median Household Income $70,535
Median Home Value $276,300
Poverty Rate 15.7%
Unemployment Rate 6.0%
Median Age 39.8 years
Homeownership Rate 62.2%
Affordability Ratio 3.9x
Bachelor's Degree+ 28.9%
High School Graduation 87.2%
Cities/Places 7
Population 462,853 8th of 14
Median Income $70,535 30% lower state
Poverty Rate 15.7%
Unemployment 6.0%

Economy & Housing

Employment

6.0% Unemployment Rate State: 5.1% | National: 5.2%
60.7% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 62.2%
Renter 37.8%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.9x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

56out of 100
High Diversity

A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.

State average: 51 | National average: 60

Education

Cities & Places in Hampden County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Springfield city154,751$51,33925.3%$222,700
Chicopee city55,213$66,92715.2%$251,800
Westfield city40,673$82,84711.0%$295,500
Holyoke city37,949$51,89223.7%$255,300
West Springfield Town city28,635$70,40110.4%$307,900
Agawam Town city28,510$82,3596.9%$290,000
Palmer Town city12,372$78,7898.6%$255,000

Explore Massachusetts Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Hampden County is located in Massachusetts with a total population of 462,853. It is the 8th most populous county out of 14 in Massachusetts. The county encompasses 7 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Hampden County is 39.8 years. This is about average than the state median of 40.0 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Hampden County is $70,535. This is 30% lower than the state median of $101,341. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 10% lower. The poverty rate stands at 15.7%. This is 57% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.0%. The unemployment rate is 6.0%. This is 17% higher than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $276,300. Housing costs are 47% lower than the state median of $525,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.9x. 62.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Hampden County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 60.2% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 26.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (26.6% vs 12.9%). The Asian population (2.5%) is well below the state average of 7.0%.

Education

28.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 38% lower than the state rate of 46.6%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 87.2%.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Hampden County, Massachusetts?

Hampden County has a population of 462,853, making it the 8th most populous county in Massachusetts.

What is the median income in Hampden County?

The median household income in Hampden County is $70,535 with a poverty rate of 15.7%.

How many cities are in Hampden County, Massachusetts?

Hampden County contains 7 Census-designated places.