RANK #472 / 1001 NAT · #3 / 12 MA · POP 462,815
1YR FORECAST: +1.7%
5YR OUTLOOK: +29%
Hampden County, located in the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, offers a blend of urban, suburban, and rural environments. Springfield, the largest city and county seat, is a cultural and economic hub, home to attractions like the Basketball Hall of Fame and the 735-acre Forest Park. The county is bisected by the Connecticut River and features mountains to the west and valleys to the east, providing ample outdoor recreation opportunities in state forests such as Chester-Blandford and Granville. Public transportation is available through the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA), serving many of the county's cities and towns. Life in Hampden County often appeals to families seeking a balance between community and access to amenities. Towns like Longmeadow are noted for their schools and suburban atmosphere. The economy is diverse, with major employment sectors including healthcare and social assistance, manufacturing, and retail trade. While the county has a history rooted in manufacturing, there is ongoing investment in various sectors, including energy, contributing to its evolving economic landscape.
Hampden County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +3.3% YoY, population -0.0%, wages +3.0%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below-average climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 10.6x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
New England Wind Offshore Wind Project (partial contribution to Hampden County energy supply)
Avangrid
|
$1,900M | Approved |
|
Vineyard Wind 1 Offshore Wind Farm (partial contribution to Hampden County energy supply)
Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners
|
$806M | Under Construction |
|
Hampden Battery Storage Project
Undisclosed (active in ISO-NE interconnection queue)
|
$250M | Planned |
|
Community Solar & Battery Storage Portfolio (Multiple Projects)
Various (BWC East Brook, LLC, ASD Three Rivers Road MA Solar LLC, NSTAR Electric Company, Blandford Sun, LLC, Mt. Tom Solar, LLC, etc.)
|
$50M | Operating |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Hampden County scores 52/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#472). Median household income is $71,306 and job growth is running at -0.5%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Hampden County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $298,800 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.24 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,136/month on average.
Population and employment in Hampden County are both close to flat — population -0.0% YoY and jobs -0.5%. Home values shifted +3.3% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
Not particularly — 1.44% of Hampden County's population moved in from another state, which is below the national average. Most residents are long-term locals rather than recent transplants.