1st Advantage MortgageHampshire County households have a median income of $87,001 and median rent of $1,388 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Massachusetts license first.
On this page
- Hampshire County at a glance
- Income in Hampshire County compared with Massachusetts
- The Hampshire County job picture
- What it costs to live in Hampshire County
- Counties near Hampshire County
- The communities that make up Hampshire County
- Budget math at the Hampshire County median
- More Hampshire County figures
- Before borrowing in Hampshire County
- Checklist for Hampshire County applicants
- Checking a lender's license in Massachusetts
- More guides for Hampshire County
- Frequently asked questions
Hampshire County at a glance
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Hampshire County's population at 162,028; only 9 of Massachusetts's 14 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 527 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 307 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Amherst Town-Northampton, MA metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Amherst Town is the biggest of its 20 Census places, at roughly 38,182 people (24% of the county total).
Income in Hampshire County compared with Massachusetts
At $87,001, the typical Hampshire County household income is 32% above the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Yearly household income | Hampshire County | Gap to Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.1% | +2.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 34.7% | +4.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.9% | +0.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 14.2% | -8.0 pts |
The spread is wide: 44% of Hampshire County households make $100,000 or more, and 21% make less than $35,000. Census counts 11.3% of Hampshire County residents in poverty, against 10.0% across Massachusetts. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.471 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Hampshire County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
The Hampshire County job picture
Education and health care employs 38% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 10%. The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 38% locally and 28% for Massachusetts. Averaged over the five survey years, 5.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 64% drive to work alone and 11% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 7.4% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Hampshire County share | +/- vs Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 37.8% | +9.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.1% | +0.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.8% | -5.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.7% | +2.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.7% | -1.3 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 4.7% | -2.6 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
What it costs to live in Hampshire County
A typical Hampshire County rental runs $1,388 a month including utilities, which is 21% below Massachusetts. By the Census definition, 57% of Hampshire County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $390,300, a typical Hampshire County house costs 4.5 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 68%. The median home was built in 1969, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Cost | Hampshire County | Massachusetts figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,388/mo | $1,762/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $390,300 | $562,100 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 68% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 57% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 30% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 7% | 8% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Counties near Hampshire County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Hampshire County's, from 14 to 44 miles away. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Hampshire County; Worcester County is highest at $95,939 and Hampden County lowest at $71,306. Some neighbors are in Connecticut. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Hampshire County resident follows Massachusetts rules.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hampshire County | - | $87,001 | $1,388/mo | 68% |
| Hampden County, MA | 14 mi | $71,306 | $1,136/mo | 62% |
| Franklin County, MA | 17 mi | $74,907 | $1,177/mo | 70% |
| Berkshire County, MA | 28 mi | $76,013 | $1,097/mo | 70% |
| Capitol Planning Region, CT | 36 mi | $93,394 | $1,411/mo | 66% |
| Worcester County, MA | 37 mi | $95,939 | $1,426/mo | 66% |
| Northwest Hills Planning Region, CT | 44 mi | $93,551 | $1,193/mo | 76% |
The communities that make up Hampshire County
20 Census places fall mainly inside Hampshire County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 137,179 residents, leaving about 15% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Granby has the highest median household income on the list ($135,750) and Ware the lowest ($45,158), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Worthington ($633) and steepest in Amherst Town ($1,671). This guide covers each of the 20 places and the rural areas around them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst Town | city | 38,182 | $66,968 | $1,671 | 8 mi |
| Northampton | city | 30,962 | $80,288 | $1,439 | 1 mi |
| South Hadley | town | 17,754 | $93,910 | $1,325 | 7 mi |
| Easthampton | city | 16,086 | $71,673 | $1,292 | 5 mi |
| Ware | CDP | 6,369 | $45,158 | $1,039 | 22 mi |
| Southampton | town | 6,230 | $123,125 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Hadley | town | 5,306 | $119,259 | $1,402 | 5 mi |
| Williamsburg | town | 2,694 | $104,792 | $1,420 | 6 mi |
| Belchertown | CDP | 2,355 | $77,428 | $970 | 14 mi |
| Westhampton | town | 1,552 | $100,000 | $1,304 | 6 mi |
| Hatfield | CDP | 1,449 | $110,972 | $1,172 | 4 mi |
| Pelham | town | 1,335 | $113,750 | $1,205 | 13 mi |
| Granby | CDP | 1,152 | $135,750 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Chesterfield | town | 1,055 | $103,967 | $1,078 | 9 mi |
Budget math at the Hampshire County median
Here is the Hampshire County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $87,001 a year is $7,250 of gross monthly income
- Less median rent of $1,388, which is 19% of it
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,222 left for all other debt payments
- $1,730: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Two-income households and single earners in Hampshire County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
More Hampshire County figures
College graduates make up 52% of the adult population. About 2% go without health insurance.
| Hampshire County | Massachusetts | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.4 | 40.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 51.6% | 47.3% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.6% | 8.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 1.7% | 2.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.4% | 11.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 18.4% | 18.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.3% | 10.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.0% | 5.2% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Hampshire County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 31.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 36.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.3% |
| 60+ min | 4.2% |
Before borrowing in Hampshire County
Where the Hampshire County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Six-figure budgets. For the 44% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
- 57% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Checklist for Hampshire County applicants
A short checklist for Hampshire County borrowers:
- Price the Hampshire County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Massachusetts borrowers.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Checking a lender's license in Massachusetts
Hampshire County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Massachusetts Division of Banks. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the Massachusetts state guide for the statewide picture.
More guides for Hampshire County
The Massachusetts guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hampshire County a high-income county?
Its $87,001 median ranks 10th of 14 Massachusetts counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Hampshire County rent compare with Massachusetts?
$1,388 locally versus $1,762 for the state, 21% below.
Which towns does the Hampshire County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 20 Census places: Amherst Town, Northampton, South Hadley, Easthampton, Ware.
Are Hampshire County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Who regulates personal lenders for Hampshire County residents?
The Massachusetts Division of Banks licenses consumer lenders in Massachusetts; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.