Massachusetts natural disaster risk
Massachusetts ranks #41 of 51 from the lowest population-weighted county-score mean in our state comparison. Its highest hazard-score means are riverine flooding, hurricane, earthquake.
RelocateMath computes these state means by weighting FEMA county scores by population. A mean of county percentiles is not a national state percentile or an official FEMA state rating.
The vertical line marks county-score scale midpoint (50).
Find your county's risk in Massachusetts
All 14 county rows with a FEMA score are available below, initially ordered by population.
| County | Population | Risk score | FEMA rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middlesex County | 1,638,365 | 96.9 | Relatively High |
| Worcester County | 867,788 | 93.5 | Relatively Moderate |
| Essex County | 813,054 | 95.6 | Relatively High |
| Suffolk County | 785,121 | 93.5 | Relatively Moderate |
| Norfolk County | 730,082 | 92.0 | Relatively Moderate |
| Bristol County | 582,270 | 89.9 | Relatively Moderate |
| Plymouth County | 535,075 | 90.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| Hampden County | 462,815 | 92.8 | Relatively Moderate |
| Barnstable County | 231,668 | 89.1 | Relatively Moderate |
| Hampshire County | 162,028 | 69.9 | Relatively Low |
| Berkshire County | 129,430 | 84.0 | Relatively Moderate |
| Franklin County | 70,944 | 60.7 | Relatively Low |
| Dukes County | 20,933 | 16.8 | Very Low |
| Nantucket County | 14,483 | 38.7 | Very Low |
The county rows show FEMA's own county percentile scores and rating categories; the state figures above are our weighted means. County data cannot establish a property's safety. Expected loss is modeled annual loss per resident, not a premium quote. The insurance figure is what owners with a mortgage reported paying in 2024 (Census American Community Survey), not a current quote. For a specific home, check the address on FEMA's flood map and get insurance quotes before you commit. Our guide explains how to check natural disaster risk before you move.
Lowest FEMA county risk scores in Massachusetts
- Dukes County 16.8
- Franklin County 60.7
- Hampshire County 69.9
- Berkshire County 84.0
- Barnstable County 89.1
- Bristol County 89.9
- Plymouth County 90.4
- Norfolk County 92.0
Cities in Massachusetts
- Boston, MA county-score mean 93.2
- Providence, RI county-score mean 82.4
- Worcester, MA county-score mean 93.5
Frequently asked questions
Is Massachusetts safe from natural disasters?
Massachusetts's population-weighted county-score mean is 92.3 out of 100 (very high county-score mean), #41 of 51 from the lowest mean in our state comparison. A state average cannot show whether an individual home is safe. About 35% of residents live in counties FEMA rates relatively high or very high.
What natural disasters happen in Massachusetts?
The highest population-weighted county hazard-score means in Massachusetts are riverine flooding, hurricane, earthquake (means 95, 93, 91 on the 0–100 county-score scale). These are not national state percentiles.
Which counties have the lowest modeled risk scores in Massachusetts?
Among counties with at least 20,000 people, the lowest FEMA county risk scores are in Dukes County, Franklin County, Hampshire County. Conditions vary within each county; check an individual address separately.