NHTSA FARS 2020–2024 · Census population
Most Dangerous Counties in Massachusetts
Quick answer: Middlesex County recorded the most road deaths in Massachusetts from 2020 to 2024 (276), while Hampden County had the highest death rate, 10.2 per 100,000 residents a year against 5.4 for the state as a whole.
Per 100,000 residents a year · counties with 10,000+ people
Highest death rate
| # | County | Deaths per 100k / year | Deaths 2020–2024 | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hampden County | 10.2 | 235 | 462,815 |
| 2 | Berkshire County | 9 | 58 | 129,430 |
| 3 | Franklin County | 9 | 32 | 70,944 |
| 4 | Bristol County | 7.2 | 210 | 582,270 |
| 5 | Plymouth County | 6.9 | 185 | 535,075 |
| 6 | Worcester County | 6.1 | 264 | 867,788 |
| 7 | Barnstable County | 6.1 | 71 | 231,668 |
| 8 | Dukes County | 5.7 | 6 | 20,933 |
| 9 | Norfolk County | 5.4 | 198 | 730,082 |
| 10 | Hampshire County | 5.3 | 43 | 162,028 |
| 11 | Essex County | 4.4 | 177 | 813,054 |
| 12 | Nantucket County | 4.1 | 3 | 14,483 |
| 13 | Suffolk County | 3.5 | 138 | 785,121 |
| 14 | Middlesex County | 3.4 | 276 | 1,638,365 |
14 counties · click a heading to sort
Every county in Massachusetts
| County | Deaths | Fatal crashes | Per 100k / yr | Pedestrians | At night | Alcohol | 2020→2024 | Deadliest roads |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middlesex County | 276 | 269 | 3.4 | 21% | 45% | 27% | I-495, I-93, US-3 | |
| Worcester County | 264 | 243 | 6.1 | 14% | 50% | 31% | US-20, I-90, I-290 | |
| Hampden County | 235 | 221 | 10.2 | 21% | 51% | 33% | I-91, I-90, US-20 | |
| Bristol County | 210 | 196 | 7.2 | 16% | 54% | 34% | I-195, US-6, SR-24 | |
| Norfolk County | 198 | 190 | 5.4 | 21% | 48% | 26% | I-95, SR-24, I-93 | |
| Plymouth County | 185 | 177 | 6.9 | 15% | 47% | 27% | SR-3, SR-24, SR-27 | |
| Essex County | 177 | 172 | 4.4 | 19% | 44% | 28% | I-495, US-1, SR-114 | |
| Suffolk County | 138 | 131 | 3.5 | 36% | 53% | 30% | I-93, I-90, SR-28 | |
| Barnstable County | 71 | 70 | 6.1 | 18% | 43% | 31% | SR-28, US-6, SR-6A | |
| Berkshire County | 58 | 56 | 9 | 12% | 27% | 21% | US-7, US-20, SR-8 | |
| Hampshire County | 43 | 41 | 5.3 | 19% | 46% | 29% | SR-9, SR-116, I-91 | |
| Franklin County | 32 | 31 | 9 | 6% | 23% | 26% | SR-2, SR-116, I-91 | |
| Dukes County | 6 | 6 | 5.7 | 0% | 50% | 17% | ||
| Nantucket County | 3 | 3 | 4.1 | 0% | 67% | 67% |
Deaths = people killed in crashes in the county, 2020–2024. Pedestrians = share of deaths who were on foot. At night = share of fatal crashes in the dark. Alcohol = share of fatal crashes where police reported a driver had been drinking. Rate = yearly average deaths ÷ average population × 100,000. Source: NHTSA FARS, U.S. Census Bureau.
More for Massachusetts: deadliest highways and roads · Massachusetts accidents today · get a police report · every state
Questions
Dangerous counties — FAQ
What is the most dangerous county in Massachusetts for driving?
Middlesex County recorded the most road deaths in Massachusetts from 2020 to 2024 (276), while Hampden County had the highest death rate, 10.2 per 100,000 residents a year against 5.4 for the state as a whole. Big counties lead on counts because more people drive there; the rate shows the risk for each resident.
How many people died on Massachusetts roads from 2020 to 2024?
1,896 people, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, about 379 a year.
Where does this ranking come from?
Every fatal crash in NHTSA's FARS census for 2020–2024, placed in the county where it happened, divided by the county's average population from the U.S. Census Bureau. Rates are only ranked for counties with at least 10,000 residents.