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PantryPath Research · Senior Hunger Atlas

Senior Food Insecurity in
Massachusetts

Massachusetts's senior poverty rate is 10.2%, and 28.1% of seniors 65+ live alone — across 14 counties. Use the interactive map to see how senior food-insecurity risk varies within the state.

10.2%

Senior poverty (65+)

28.1%

Seniors living alone

43.7%

Senior SNAP take-up

$64,818

Senior median income

Massachusetts by county

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Toggle between five ACS metrics to see how senior food-insecurity risk varies within Massachusetts. Hover a county for its exact value.

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Massachusetts at a glance

Seniors in poverty

122K

Ages 65+

Senior poverty rate

10.2%

Ages 65+

Living alone

28.1%

1-person HH, 65+

Senior SNAP

43.7%

HH with 60+ member

Senior median income

$64,818

Householder 65+

Isolation index

0.39

Blended 0–1

County-level hotspots

Top five counties across 14 counties in Massachusetts.

Highest senior poverty

Ages 65+, rate

  1. 1 Suffolk 20.3%
  2. 2 Hampden 13.7%
  3. 3 Essex 10.8%
  4. 4 Bristol 10.7%
  5. 5 Worcester 9.5%

Most seniors living alone

1-person HH, 65+

  1. 1 Suffolk 33.9%
  2. 2 Franklin 31.3%
  3. 3 Hampden 31.3%
  4. 4 Berkshire 31.0%
  5. 5 Bristol 29.0%

Largest senior population

Absolute count, 65+

  1. 1 Middlesex 253K
  2. 2 Essex 141K
  3. 3 Worcester 138K
  4. 4 Norfolk 122K
  5. 5 Plymouth 99K

Every county in Massachusetts

All 14 counties across the five senior-hunger metrics plus senior population counts.

County Senior poverty Living alone Senior SNAP Senior income Seniors (count) Isolation idx
Barnstable 6.4% 26.5% 54.2% $77,653 72,855 0.27
Berkshire 8.3% 31.0% 40.1% $57,543 30,559 0.42
Bristol 10.7% 29.0% 39.2% $54,149 97,429 0.42
Dukes 2.2% 19.9% 70.6% $80,875 5,359 0.04
Essex 10.8% 27.9% 43.4% $64,344 141,448 0.40
Franklin 8.4% 31.3% 45.0% $57,606 16,626 0.43
Hampden 13.7% 31.3% 37.9% $47,267 79,546 0.55
Hampshire 7.1% 28.6% 42.9% $65,469 29,575 0.33
Middlesex 8.6% 27.0% 45.9% $76,233 252,855 0.33
Nantucket 7.5% 17.7% 22.4% $97,667 2,183 0.10
Norfolk 8.7% 27.8% 51.7% $76,037 122,320 0.35
Plymouth 8.5% 24.3% 46.5% $71,589 99,016 0.27
Suffolk 20.3% 33.9% 45.5% $48,322 98,880 0.75
Worcester 9.5% 26.4% 41.8% $59,544 138,025 0.34

Senior food help in Massachusetts

SNAP, CSFP senior boxes, Meals on Wheels, and senior-specific pantry programs.

Seniors Resource Guide

Massachusetts senior SNAP

Senior-specific SNAP rules, how to apply in Massachusetts, and benefit amounts.

Massachusetts SNAP guide

Find a food pantry

Search Massachusetts's verified pantries — many serve seniors with home delivery or box programs.

Massachusetts food pantries