Population 462,815 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Hampden County
Household size in Hampden County
| Period | Hampden County | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.56 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.57 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.56 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.51 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.05 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Hampden County run a little small, averaging 2.51 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Household size has edged down from 2.56 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. Households are largest in the center and smallest in the north.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Hampden County
| Period | Hampden County | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.8 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.4 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.3 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.7 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.9 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
At 40.7, the median age in Hampden County is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The median age has climbed from 38.8 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Of Massachusetts' 14 counties, only two are younger.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Hampden County
| Period | Hampden County | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.4% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 16.7% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 15.8% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 15.3% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in seven households in Hampden County (15.3%), well above the national share of 11.6%. No other Massachusetts county has a higher share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Hampden County
Renters in Hampden County
| Period | Hampden County | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.0% | 36.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 38.5% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 38.9% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 37.8% | 37.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Hampden County is about as common as it is nationally: 37.8% of households rent, against 34.8%. Among homeowners, 37.1% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged up 0.8 points, mirroring the country. Only two of Massachusetts' 14 counties have a higher share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Hampden County
| Period | Hampden County | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.4% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.3% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.2% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.7% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Hampden County than nationally: 7.7%, against 9.6% for the U.S. Massachusetts as a whole looks much the same. Vacancy has edged down 0.8 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Hampden County
| Period | Hampden County | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1956 | 1958 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1956 | 1959 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1957 | 1961 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1958 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | +2 | +5 | +6 |
Hampden County is a place of older homes: half were built before 1958, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Newer construction is concentrated in the southwest, while the center has the oldest housing. Only two of Massachusetts' 14 counties have older homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Hampden County
| Period | Hampden County | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $809 | $1,085 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $871 | $1,157 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $995 | $1,398 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,261 | $1,860 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$452 | +$775 | +$606 |
Rent in Hampden County runs $1,261 a month at the median, utilities included, below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $452 a month from 2006–10, a 56% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 32.8% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Only one other Massachusetts county has lower rents.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Hampden County
Bachelor's degrees in Hampden County
| Period | Hampden County | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.3% | 38.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 24.8% | 40.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.7% | 43.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 29.0% | 47.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.8 pts | +8.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
Nearly three in ten adults 25 and older in Hampden County (29.0%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 5.8 points, as it has nationally. Hampden County has the lowest share of college graduates of any Massachusetts county.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Hampden County
| Period | Hampden County | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 82.4% | 88.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 83.3% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 85.2% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 86.7% | 91.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.3 pts | +2.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over one in eight adults in Hampden County never finished high school, a bit more than nationally: 86.7% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 4.3 points, mirroring the country. Only one other Massachusetts county has a lower share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Hampden County
| Period | Hampden County | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.2% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.8% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.2% | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.3% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.9 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little harder to find in Hampden County than nationally: unemployment was 6.3%, against 5.4%. Only one other Massachusetts county has higher unemployment. Unemployment is down 3.9 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Hampden County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hampden County | 2.51 | 40.7 | 15.3% | 37.8% | 7.7% | 1958 | $1,261 | 29.0% | 86.7% | 6.3% |
| Columbia County | 2.25 | 49.0 | 11.1% | 23.7% | 19.4% | 1965 | $1,305 | 38.7% | 91.6% | 5.5% |
| Greene County | 2.43 | 48.0 | 6.9% | 22.8% | 28.7% | 1967 | $1,099 | 31.2% | 89.9% | 4.1% |
| Norfolk County | 2.59 | 41.9 | 7.9% | 31.3% | 5.0% | 1965 | $2,148 | 59.8% | 94.1% | 4.8% |
| Plymouth County | 2.66 | 43.5 | 10.7% | 22.4% | 7.9% | 1970 | $1,823 | 41.4% | 92.7% | 5.1% |
| Delaware County | 2.22 | 49.0 | 9.5% | 22.7% | 32.4% | 1968 | $916 | 28.3% | 88.8% | 6.0% |
| Broome County | 2.36 | 41.0 | 12.4% | 35.5% | 13.0% | 1960 | $1,042 | 31.7% | 90.7% | 6.9% |
| Tioga County | 2.36 | 44.4 | 12.6% | 20.9% | 8.1% | 1966 | $1,014 | 25.0% | 91.1% | 5.5% |
| Chemung County | 2.27 | 42.8 | 12.2% | 31.6% | 10.9% | 1957 | $1,117 | 27.5% | 90.8% | 5.9% |
| Steuben County | 2.37 | 43.6 | 9.6% | 26.7% | 16.2% | 1963 | $939 | 26.1% | 91.5% | 6.1% |
| Allegany County | 2.40 | 40.3 | 9.0% | 20.7% | 22.0% | 1964 | $782 | 27.7% | 91.9% | 7.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Solano County, CA · Genesee County, MI · Guilford County, NC · Hamilton County, TN · Hillsborough County, NH · Lancaster County, PA · Lucas County, OH · Pinal County, AZ · Sarasota County, FL · Adams County, CO
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Hampden County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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