County population in July 2009:  156,044 (72% urban, 28% rural)

County owner-occupied houses and condos:  36,367

Renter-occupied apartments:  19,624

% of renters here:  35%

State:  32%

Land area:  529 sq. mi.

Water area:  16.4 sq. mi.

Population density:  295 people per square mile     (high)

Jan. 2011 cost of living index in Hampshire County:

94.8 (less than average, U.S. average is 100)

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Educational,health and social services  (38.0%), Manufacturing (16.5%), Retail trade  (10.3%).

Type of workers:

• Private wage or salary: 69%
  
• Government: 23%
  
• Self-employed, not incorporated: 8%
  
• Unpaid family work: 0%
  

Races in Hampshire County, Massachusetts:

• White Non-Hispanic Alone (87.9%)
• Hispanic or Latino (4.4%)
• Asian alone (3.7%)
• Black Non-Hispanic Alone (2.1%)
• Two or more races (1.6%)

Median resident age:  34.4 years

Massachusetts median age:  36.5 years

Males:  70,995   (46.6%)

Females:  81,256   (53.4%)

Average household size:

Hampshire County:  2.4 people

Massachusetts:  3 people

Estimated median household income in 2009:  

$56,660 ($46,098 in 1999)

This county:  $56,660

Massachusetts:  $64081

Median contract rent in 2009 for apartments:

$728 (lower quartile is $540, upper quartile is $1,027)

This county:  $728

State:  $864

Estimated median house or condo value in 2009:

$268,400 (it was $142,600 in 2000)

Hampshire County:  $268,400

Massachusetts:  $338,500

Lower value quartile  - $207,700

Upper value quartile:  - $349,800

Mean price in 2009:

Detached houses: $277,881

Here:  $277,881

State:  $412,156

Townhouses or other attached units:  $183,564

Here:  $183,564

State: $346,236

In 2-unit structures:  $203,809

Here:  $203,809

State: $348,924

In 3-to-4-unit structures:  $323,668

Here:  $323,668

State: $354,648

In 5-or-more-unit structure:  $414,603

Here:  $414,603

State: $326,862

Mobile homes:  $61,771

Here:  $61,771

State: $71,966

Occupied boats, RVs, vans, etc.:  $78,221

Here:  $78,221

State: $284,583

Health of residents in Hampshire County based on CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey Questionnaires from 2003 to 2009:

General health status score of residents in this county from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent) is 3.7.

This is better than average.

81.6% of residents exercised in the past month. This is more than average.

49.6% of residents smoked 100+ cigarettes in their lives. This is about average. 

99.5% of adult residents drank alcohol in the past 30 days. This is more than average.

77.8% of residents visited a dentist within the past year. This is more than average. 

Average weight of males is 192 pounds. This is about average. 

Average weight of females is 152 pounds. This is about average. 

Single-family new house construction building permits:

•  2007:  303 buildings,  average cost:  $214,800
•  2008:  184 buildings,  average cost:  $256.200
•  2009:  177 buildings,  average cost:  $248,500

Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2009: $3,335 (1.2%)

Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2009: $2,933 (1.2%)

Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2009:  11.5%

Hampshire County:  11.5%

Massachusetts:  10.3%

Median age of residents in 2009:  37 years old

(Males: 36 years old,  Females: 37 years old)

(Median age for: White residents: 39 years old, Black residents: 23 years old, American Indian residents: 49 years old, Asian residents: 24 years old, Hispanic or Latino residents: 27 years old, Other race residents: 23 years old)

Residents with income below the poverty level in 2009:

This county: 4.1%

Whole state: 4.4%

Area name:  Springfield, MA HUD Metro FMR Area

Fair market rent in 2006 for a 1-bedroom apartment in Hampshire County is $629 a month.

Fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $799 a month.

Fair market rent for a 3-bedroom apartment is $956 a month.

Cities in this county include:  Amherst, Northampton, South Hadley, Amherst Center, Easthampton, Belchertown, Ware, Middleborough Center, Granby, North Amherst.

Hampshire County has a predicted average indoor radon screening levelbetween 2 and 4 pCi/L (pico curies per liter) - Moderate Potential

2005 air pollution in Hampshire County:

Nitrogen Dioxide: 0.005 ppm (standard limit: 0.053 ppm). Below U.S. average.

Ozone (1-hour): 0.123 ppm (standard limit: 0.12 ppm). Above U.S. average.

Ozone (8-hour): 0.090 ppm (standard limit: 0.08 ppm). Above U.S. average.

Particulate Matter (PM10) 24-hour: 33 µg/m3(standard limit: 150 µg/m3). Near U.S. average.

Sulfur Oxides Annual: 0.003 ppm (standard limit: 0.03 ppm). Near U.S. average.

Sulfur Oxides 24-hour: 0.016 ppm (standard limit: 0.14 ppm). Near U.S. average.

Notable locations in this county outside city limits:

Notable locations in Hampshire County: McCrays Farms (A), Amherst Field Office and Research Park (B), Pelham Country Club (C), Rod and Gun Club (D), South Hadley Industrial Park (E), Southampton Country Club (F), Sportsman Club (G), The Orchards Country Club (H), Williamsburg Golf Club (I), Williamsburg Rod and Gun Club (J), Worthington Golf Course (K), Berkshire Show Basin Ski Area (L), Boy Scout Camp (M), Bryant Homestead (N), Camp Holy Cross (O), Camp Howe (P), Camp Norwich (Q), Campus Plaza (R), Cherry Hill Cross Country Ski Center (S), Cherry Hill Golf Course (T). 

Shopping Centers:Mountain Farms Mall (1), Mountain Farms Mall Shopping Center (2), Amherst Shoppers Park Shopping Center (3), Newton Street Shopping Center (4), Village Commons Shopping Center (5), Woodlawn Shopade Shopping Center (6), Caldor Shopping Center (7), Campus Plaza Shopping Center (8), Hadley Village Barn Shops Shopping Center (9).

Churches in Hampshire County include:United Methodist Church (A), Stony Brook Community Church (B), Sovereign Grace Baptist Church (C), Dwight Chapel (D), Saint Theresa Church (E), Saint Michaels Catholic Church (F), Falls Congregational Church (G), First Congregational Church (H), Pioneer Valley Baptist Church (I).

Cemeteries:Bofat Cemetery (1), Bryant Cemetery (2), Saint Brigids Cemetery (3), Dwight Cemetery (4), Torrey Cemetery (5), Evergreen Cemetery (6), Bell Cemetery (7).

Lakes, reservoirs, and swamps:Old Mill Pond (A), Ash Pond (B), Morton Pond (C), Arcadia Lake (D), Long Pond (E), Lower Pond (F), Scarboro Pond (G), Fuller Pond (H).

Streams, rivers, and creeks:Tower Brook (A), Cow Bridge Brook (B), Unquomonk Brook (C), Dry Brook (D), Shop Brook (E), Bronson Brook (F), Elmer Brook (G), Jewel Brook (H), Town Lot Brook (I).

Parks in Hampshire County include: Skinner State Park (1), Derby Track (2), Cummington Farm Village (3), Amethyst Conservation Area (4), Gardner State Park (5), Athletic Fields South (6), Pelham Town Hall Historic District (7), Southampton Center Historic District (8), Hadley Center Historic District (9).

Beach:Sandy Beach (A).

Post offices:South Hadley Post Office (A), Granby Post Office (B), Cummington Post Office (C), Plainfield Post Office (D), Williamsburg Post Office (E), Worthington Post Office (F), Chesterfield Post Office (G), Huntington Post Office (H), North Hatfield Post Office (I).

Neighboring counties: Berkshire County , Franklin County , Hampden County , Worcester County

Unemployment in Apr. 2010

Here:  6.3%

Massachusetts: 8.2%

Current college students: 29,423

People 25 years of age or older with a high school degree or higher: 89.4%

People 25 years of age or older with a bachelor's degree or higher: 37.9%

Number of foreign born residents: 9,973 

(44% naturalized citizens)

Hampshire County:  6.6%

Whole state: 12.2%

Year of entry for the foreign-born population

• 1995 to March 2000:  3,019
  
• 1990 to 1994:  1,258
  
• 1985 to 1989:  1,316
  
• 1980 to 1984: 1,211
  
• 1975 to 1979:  469
  
• 1970 to 1974:  394
  
• 1970 to 1974:  349
  
• 1965 to 1969:  1,957
  

Mean travel time to work (commute): 21.9 minutes

Percentage of county residents living and working in this county: 63.5%

Housing units in structures:

• One, detached:  35,500
• One, attached:  2,150
• Two:  5,415
• 3 or 4:  5,193
• 5 to 9:  3,810
• 10 to 19:  2,603
• 20 or more:  3,075
• Mobile homes:  880
• Boats, RVs, vans, etc.: 18

Housing units in Hampshire County with a mortgage:  20,650 (1,451 second mortgage, 3,533 home equity loan, 100 both second mortgage and home equity loan)

Houses without a mortgage: 8,582

Here:   70.6% with mortgage

State:  71.6% with mortgage

Religion statistics:

Percentage of population affiliated with a religious congregations: 33.77%

Here:  33.8%

USA:  50.2%

Total adherents: 51,409

Total congregations: 95

Food Environment Statistics:

Number of grocery stores:  32

This county:  2.07 / 10,000 pop.

Massachusetts: 1.98 / 10,000 pop.

Number of supercenters and club stores: 1

Hampshire County:  0.06 / 10,000 pop.

State:  0.05 / 10,000 pop.

Number of convenience stores (no gas):  24

Hampshire County:  1.55 / 10,000 pop.

Massachusetts:  2.22 / 10,000 pop.

Number of convenience stores (with gas):  30

This County:  1.94 / 10,000 pop.

Massachusetts:  1.77 / 10,000 pop.

Number of full-service restaurants:  158

Hampshire County:  10.22 / 10,000 pop.

Massachusetts: 8.76 / 10,000 pop.

Adult diabetes rate:

Here:  7.3%

Massachusetts: 8.1%

Adult obesity rate:

Here:  21.7%

Massachusetts: 22.5%

Low-income preschool obesity rate:

Hampshire County:  12.3%

State: 16.5%

Agriculture in Hampshire County:

Average size of farms:  94 acres

Average value of agricultural products sold per farm:  $64,722

Average value of crops sold per acre for harvested cropland:  $1216.50

The value of nursery, greenhouse, floriculture, and sod as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold:  17.14%

The value of livestock, poultry, and their products as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold:  31.27%

Average total farm production expenses per farm:  $57,101

Harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 39.05%

Average market value of all machinery and equipment per farm:  $56,507

The percentage of farms operated by a family or individual:  88.01%

Average age of principal farm operators:  54 years

Average number of cattle and calves per 100 acres of all land in farms:  12.29

Milk cows as a percentage of all cattle and calves:  45.43%

Corn for grain: 1289harvested acres

Soybeans for beans: 13harvested acres

Vegetables:  3,412harvested acres

Land in orchards:  266acres

Tornado activity:

Hampshire County historical area-adjusted tornado activity isslightly above Massachusetts state average. It is 2.1 times above overall U.S. average.

Earthquake activity:

Hampshire County-area historical earthquake activity is below Massachusetts state average. It is 88% smaller than the overall U.S. average.

On 1/19/1982 at 00:14:42, a magnitude 4.7 (4.5 MB, 4.7 MD, 4.5 LG, Class: Light, Intensity: IV - V) earthquake occurred 96.5 miles away from the county center

On 10/2/1994 at 11:27:22, a magnitude 3.7 (3.5 LG, 3.7 LG, Depth: 6.2 mi, Class: Light, Intensity: II - III) earthquake occurred 17.7 miles away from the county center

On 6/16/2000 at 04:02:53, a magnitude 3.3 (3.3 LG, Depth: 6.1 mi) earthquake occurred 18.5 miles away from the county center

On 10/2/1994 at 14:36:36, a magnitude 3.3 (3.1 LG, 3.3 LG, Depth: 6.2 mi) earthquake occurred 20.8 miles away from Hampshire County center

On 10/6/1992 at 15:38:04, a magnitude 3.4 (3.4 LG, Depth: 3.1 mi) earthquake occurred 87.2 miles away from the county center

On 7/24/2007 at 01:56:48, a magnitude 3.1 (3.1 MD, 2.7 LG, Depth: 9.3 mi) earthquake occurred 78.9 miles away from the county center

Magnitude types: regional Lg-wave magnitude (LG), duration magnitude (MD)

Quarters in Hampshire County, Massachusetts:

• 16,282 peoplein college dormitories (includes college quarters off campus)
• 1,059 peoplein nursing homes
• 245 peoplein local jails and other confinement facilities (including police lockups)
• 210 peoplein other noninstitutional group quarters
• 115 peoplein unknown juvenile institutions
• 112 peoplein mental (psychiatric) hospitals or wards
• 58 peoplein wards in general hospitals for patients who have no usual home elsewhere
• 42 peoplein homes for the mentally ill
• 34 peoplein homes or halfway houses for drug/alcohol abuse
• 26 peoplein other group homes
• 22 peoplein other nonhousehold living situations
• 20 peoplein homes for the mentally retarded
• 14 peoplein religious group quarters
• 6 peoplein agriculture workers' dormitories on farms

Average gross adjusted income of non-migrant taxpayers in this county in 2005 was $58,745

8.03% of this county's 2006 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2005 ($36,450 average adjusted gross income)

Here:  8.03%

Massachusetts average: 6.31%

0.74% of residents moved from foreign countries ($524 average AGI)

Hampshire County:  0.74%

Massachusetts average: 0.28%

4.59% relocated from other counties in Massachusetts ($21,316 average AGI)

2.70% relocated from other states ($14,610 average AGI)

Hampshire County:  2.70%

Massachusetts average: 2.46%

Percentage of residents relocating from other counties or countries

 

Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2005 and 2006: 

from Hampden County, MA  2.32% ($38,198 average AGI)

from Franklin County, MA  0.74% ($32,244)

from Worcester County, MA  0.46% ($36,102)

from Middlesex County, MA  0.31% ($46,128)

from Berkshire County, MA  0.18% ($30,755)

from Suffolk County, MA  0.15% ($33,702)

from Hartford County, CT  0.13% ($39,160)

8.33%of this county's 2005 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2006 ($38,073average adjusted gross income)

Here:  8.33%

Massachusetts average: 6.91%

0.16% of residents moved to foreign countries ($351 average AGI)

Hampshire County:  0.16%

Massachusetts average: 0.11%

4.74% relocated to other counties in Massachusetts ($19,439 average AGI)

2.58% relocated to other states($18,283 average AGI)

Hampshire County: 3.43%

Massachusetts average: 3.26%

Percentage of residents relocating to other counties or countries

to Hampden County, MA 0.77% 2.33% ($35,301 average AGI)

to Franklin County, MA   0.88% ($34,745)

to Middlesex County, MA  0.44% ($31,736)

to Worcester County, MA  0.39% ($31,232)

to Suffolk County, MA  0.25% ($26,132)

to Hartford County, CT   0.15% ($41,235)

to New York County, NY   0.14% ($32,304)

Births per 1000 population in Hampshire County

Births per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 9.6

Births per 1000 population from 2000 to 2006: 8.3

Deaths per 1000 population in Hampshire County

Deaths per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 7.6

Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 1990 to 1999: 4.9

Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 2000 to 2006: 3.5

Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare) in July 1, 2003: 20,873 (17,816 aged, 3,057 disabled)

Population without health insurance coverage in 2000: 9%

Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2000: 6%

Short term general hospitals per 100,000 population in 2004: 1.3

Short term general hospital admissions per 100,000 population in 2004: 5873.520

Short term general hospital beds per 100,000 population in 2004: 101.370

Emergency room visits per 100,000 population in 2004: 32321.6

General practice office based MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 788.450

Medical specialist MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 738.230

Dentists per 100,000 population in 1998: 27.39

Total births per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006 : 43.51

Total deaths per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006: 86.08

Limited-service eating places per 100,000 population in 2005 : 14.35

Beer, wine & liquor stores per 100,000 population in 2005: 1

Suicides per 1,000,000 population from 2000 to 2006: 64.2. This is less than state average.

Mechanisms of suicide: Deaths per 1,000,000 population:

Suffocation - 23.3

Poisoning - 19.5

Other - 21.4

Household type by relationship:

In family households: 103,393 (24,749 male householders, 9,130 female householders)

27,154 spouses, 36,179 children (33,853 natural, 1,061 adopted, 1,265 stepchildren), 1,172 grandchildren, 610 brothers or sisters, 786 parents, 1,095 other relatives, 2,518 non-relatives

In nonfamily households: 30,598 (9,092 male householders, (6,237 living alone)), 12,984 female householders(9,824 living alone)), 8,522 nonrelatives

In group quarters: 18,260 (1,483 institutionalized population)

Size of family households: 14,731 2-persons, 8,150 3-persons, 7,269 4-persons, 2,657 5-persons, 752 6-persons, 320 7-or-more-persons.

Size of nonfamily households: 16,061 1-person, 4,432 2-persons, 861 3-persons, 563 4-persons, 118 5-persons, 25 6-persons, 16 7-or-more-persons.

88.3% of residents of Hampshire County speak English at home.

3.4% of residents speak Spanish at home (71% speak English very well, 15% speak English well, 12% speak English not well, 2% don't speak English at all).

5.4% of residents speak other Indo-European language at home (79% speak English very well, 15% speak English well, 5% speak English not well, 1% don't speak English at all).

2.3% of residents speak Asian or Pacific Island language at home (61% speak English very well, 25% speak English well, 11% speak English not well, 2% don't speak English at all).

0.6% of residents speak other language at home (92% speak English very well, 8% speak English well).

In fiscal year 2004:

Federal Government expenditure: $842,836,000 ($5477 per capita)

Department of Defense expenditure: $88,079,000

Federal direct payments to individuals for retirement and disability: $302,026,000

Federal other direct payments to individuals: $169,354,000

Federal direct payments not to individuals: $1,543,000

Federal grants: $211,293,000

Federal procurement contracts: $72,710,000 ($56,220,000 Department of Defense)

Federal salaries and wages: $85,910,000 ($11,239,000 Department of Defense)

Federal Government direct loans: $69,296,000

Federal guaranteed/insured loans: $26,339,000

Federal Government insurance: $62,393,000

Population change from 

April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005:

Births: 6,677

Here:  44 per 1000 residents

State:  67 per 1000 residents

Deaths: 6,352

Here: 41 per 1000 residents

State: 46 per 1000 residents

Net international migration: +2,536

Here: +17 per 1000 residents

State: +25 per 1000 residents

Net internal migration: -1,600

Here: -10 per 1000 residents

State: -37 per 1000 residents

Population Growth in Hampshire County

Total withdrawal of fresh water for public supply: 12.29 millions of gallons per day (52% from ground, 48% from surface)

Median number of rooms in houses and condos:

Here:  6.2

State:  6.4

Median number of rooms in apartments:

Here:  3.9

State:  4.0

Year house built

• 2005 or later: 903
  
• 2000 to 2004: 4,424
  
• 1990 to 1999: 6,334
  
• 1980 to 1989: 7,486
  
• 1970 to 1979: 9,599
  
• 1960 to 1969: 6,015
  
• 1950 to 1959: 7,348
  
• 1940 to 1949: 3,179
  
• 1939 or earlier: 18,199
  

Place of birth for U.S.-born residents:

• This state: 96656
• Northeast: 25552
• Midwest: 5767
• South: 6898
• West: 4874

Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses in 2000: $131,200

Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities: 1%

Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities: 1%

Most commonly used house heating fuel in Hampshire County Houses and condos Apartments

Fuel oil, kerosene, etc. (56.9%)

Utility gas (21.3%)

Electricity (9.4%)

Bottled, tank, or LP gas (6.2%)

Wood (5.4%)

Electricity (33.3%)

Utility gas (31.9%)

Fuel oil, kerosene, etc. (27.1%)

Bottled, tank, or LP gas (5.8%)

Wood (1.2%)

Private vs. public school enrollment:

Students in private schools in grades 1 to 8 (elementary and middle school): 1,514

Here:  10.8%

Massachusetts:  10.8%

Students in private schools in grades 9 to 12 (high school): 766

Here:  10.2%

Massachusetts:  12.2%

Students in private undergraduate colleges: 7,823

Here:  30.6%

Massachusetts:  48.2%

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in 2006:

Businesses in Hampshire County, MA

Name 

7-Eleven

AT&T

Aeropostale

AutoZone

Bath & Body Works 

Bed Bath & Beyond 

Blockbuster

Burger King

Clarion

Comfort Inn

Domino's Pizza

Dunkin Donuts

Econo Lodge

FedEx

GNC

GameStop

H&R Block

Holiday Inn

Home Depot

Howard Johnson

JCPenney

KFC

Knights Inn

La-Z-Boy

Lowes

Marriott

Count

3

2

1

1

1

1

1

3

1

1

2

18

1

21

2

3

4

1

1

1

1

2

2

1

2

1 

Name 

Marshalls

MasterBrand Cabinets

McDonald's

Panera Bread

Payless

Quality

Quiznos

RadioShack

Rite Aid

Sears

Sprint Nextel

Staples

Starbucks

Subway

T-Mobile

T.J.Maxx

Taco Bell

Target

Toys"R"Us

UPS

Verizon Wireless

Walgreens

Walmart

Wendy's

Whole Foods Market

YMCA

Count

1

4

5

1

1

1

1

3

3

1

1

2

3

14

5

1

2

1

1

33

1

3

3

1

1

1

Hampshire County on our top lists:

#38 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the highest Ozone (1-hour) air pollution readings in 2005 (ppm)"

#48 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the highest percentage of residents relocating from foreign countries between 2005 and 2006 (pop. 50,000+)"

#72 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the highest Ozone (8-hour) air pollution readings in 2005 (ppm)"

#81 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the highest percentage of residents relocating from foreign countries between 2005 and 2006"