Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of NHTSA data, Massachusetts recorded 1,896 traffic deaths in 1,806 fatal crashes from 2020 to 2024 — 5.4 per 100,000 residents per year, ranking #50 of 50 states (most dangerous first); the US average is 12.3.
Traffic Deaths 2020–2024
Deaths per 100K per Year
State Rank
Massachusetts Traffic Deaths by Year
The Most Dangerous Massachusetts Cities to Drive In
All 116 ranked Massachusetts cities by Road Danger Score (5-year traffic deaths per 100,000 residents, most dangerous first).
| # | City | Danger Score | Deaths (2020–2024) | Deaths per 100K/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sturbridge | 95/100 | 11 | 21.7 |
| 2 | Littleton | 86/100 | 8 | 15.3 |
| 3 | Lakeville | 84/100 | 9 | 14.6 |
| 4 | Chicopee | 82/100 | 38 | 13.6 |
| 5 | Wareham | 81/100 | 16 | 13.6 |
| 6 | Somerset | 79/100 | 12 | 13.0 |
| 7 | Abington | 78/100 | 11 | 12.7 |
| 8 | Holyoke | 77/100 | 24 | 12.6 |
| 9 | Gardner | 76/100 | 13 | 12.2 |
| 10 | Uxbridge | 76/100 | 9 | 12.1 |
| 11 | Springfield | 75/100 | 93 | 12.0 |
| 12 | Plainville | 75/100 | 6 | 11.9 |
| 13 | Sharon | 74/100 | 11 | 11.7 |
| 14 | Foxboro | 73/100 | 11 | 11.7 |
| 15 | Rehoboth | 73/100 | 8 | 11.6 |
| 16 | Swansea | 71/100 | 10 | 11.3 |
| 17 | Webster | 71/100 | 10 | 11.2 |
| 18 | West Springfield | 70/100 | 16 | 11.1 |
| 19 | Wilmington | 70/100 | 13 | 11.0 |
| 20 | Stoughton | 69/100 | 16 | 10.9 |
| 21 | Wrentham | 68/100 | 7 | 10.8 |
| 22 | Wilbraham | 68/100 | 8 | 10.8 |
| 23 | Oxford | 67/100 | 7 | 10.3 |
| 24 | Weston | 65/100 | 6 | 10.0 |
| 25 | Milton | 63/100 | 14 | 9.7 |
| 26 | Auburn | 60/100 | 8 | 9.3 |
| 27 | Hanson | 60/100 | 5 | 9.3 |
| 28 | Mashpee | 57/100 | 7 | 8.9 |
| 29 | Chelmsford | 56/100 | 16 | 8.7 |
| 30 | Andover | 55/100 | 16 | 8.6 |
| 31 | Bourne | 55/100 | 9 | 8.5 |
| 32 | Duxbury | 54/100 | 7 | 8.5 |
| 33 | Ludlow | 54/100 | 9 | 8.4 |
| 34 | Carver | 54/100 | 5 | 8.4 |
| 35 | Millbury | 53/100 | 6 | 8.4 |
| 36 | Mansfield | 53/100 | 10 | 8.2 |
| 37 | Athol | 53/100 | 5 | 8.2 |
| 38 | Bedford | 52/100 | 6 | 8.2 |
| 39 | Greenfield | 51/100 | 7 | 8.0 |
| 40 | Dedham | 50/100 | 10 | 7.9 |
| 41 | Bellingham | 49/100 | 7 | 7.7 |
| 42 | Falmouth | 49/100 | 13 | 7.7 |
| 43 | Bridgewater | 47/100 | 11 | 7.5 |
| 44 | Hingham | 46/100 | 9 | 7.3 |
| 45 | Newburyport | 46/100 | 7 | 7.3 |
| 46 | Yarmouth | 44/100 | 9 | 7.0 |
| 47 | Kingston | 44/100 | 5 | 7.0 |
| 48 | Brockton | 43/100 | 37 | 6.9 |
| 49 | Dennis | 41/100 | 5 | 6.6 |
| 50 | Pittsfield | 41/100 | 14 | 6.5 |
| 51 | Belchertown | 40/100 | 5 | 6.5 |
| 52 | Canton | 39/100 | 8 | 6.4 |
| 53 | Wakefield | 39/100 | 9 | 6.3 |
| 54 | Westborough | 38/100 | 7 | 6.2 |
| 55 | Fairhaven | 38/100 | 5 | 6.2 |
| 56 | Fall River | 37/100 | 29 | 6.1 |
| 57 | New Bedford | 37/100 | 31 | 6.0 |
| 58 | North Reading | 37/100 | 5 | 6.0 |
| 59 | Westwood | 37/100 | 5 | 6.0 |
| 60 | East Longmeadow | 36/100 | 5 | 6.0 |
| 61 | Hopkinton | 36/100 | 6 | 5.9 |
| 62 | Randolph | 34/100 | 10 | 5.7 |
| 63 | Danvers | 33/100 | 8 | 5.6 |
| 64 | Woburn | 33/100 | 12 | 5.6 |
| 65 | Quincy | 32/100 | 29 | 5.6 |
| 66 | Saugus | 31/100 | 8 | 5.5 |
| 67 | Easton | 30/100 | 7 | 5.4 |
| 68 | Pembroke | 30/100 | 5 | 5.4 |
| 69 | Stoneham | 28/100 | 6 | 5.2 |
| 70 | Methuen | 27/100 | 14 | 5.1 |
| 71 | Tewksbury | 26/100 | 8 | 5.0 |
| 72 | Leominster | 25/100 | 11 | 5.0 |
| 73 | Westford | 25/100 | 6 | 4.8 |
| 74 | Chelsea | 24/100 | 9 | 4.7 |
| 75 | Marshfield | 23/100 | 6 | 4.6 |
| 76 | Milford | 23/100 | 7 | 4.5 |
| 77 | Lowell | 22/100 | 26 | 4.5 |
| 78 | North Attleboro | 22/100 | 7 | 4.4 |
| 79 | Westfield | 21/100 | 9 | 4.4 |
| 80 | Worcester | 21/100 | 46 | 4.3 |
| 81 | Weymouth | 21/100 | 13 | 4.3 |
| 82 | Dracut | 21/100 | 7 | 4.3 |
| 83 | Northampton | 19/100 | 6 | 4.0 |
| 84 | Salem | 18/100 | 9 | 3.9 |
| 85 | Norwood | 17/100 | 6 | 3.8 |
| 86 | Medford | 16/100 | 11 | 3.7 |
| 87 | Burlington | 16/100 | 5 | 3.7 |
| 88 | Needham | 16/100 | 6 | 3.7 |
| 89 | Boston | 15/100 | 116 | 3.5 |
| 90 | Attleboro | 14/100 | 8 | 3.4 |
| 91 | Lynn | 14/100 | 17 | 3.3 |
| 92 | Plymouth | 14/100 | 11 | 3.2 |
| 93 | Haverhill | 14/100 | 11 | 3.2 |
| 94 | Wellesley | 13/100 | 5 | 3.1 |
| 95 | Waltham | 12/100 | 10 | 3.1 |
| 96 | Walpole | 12/100 | 4 | 3.0 |
| 97 | Framingham | 12/100 | 11 | 3.0 |
| 98 | Franklin | 11/100 | 5 | 3.0 |
| 99 | Lexington | 11/100 | 5 | 2.9 |
| 100 | Peabody | 11/100 | 8 | 2.9 |
| 101 | Newton | 11/100 | 13 | 2.9 |
| 102 | Revere | 10/100 | 8 | 2.8 |
| 103 | Shrewsbury | 9/100 | 5 | 2.5 |
| 104 | Lawrence | 9/100 | 11 | 2.5 |
| 105 | Amherst | 7/100 | 5 | 2.2 |
| 106 | Malden | 7/100 | 7 | 2.1 |
| 107 | Gloucester | 7/100 | 3 | 2.0 |
| 108 | Everett | 7/100 | 5 | 1.9 |
| 109 | Fitchburg | 7/100 | 4 | 1.9 |
| 110 | Belmont | 4/100 | 2 | 1.5 |
| 111 | Arlington | 4/100 | 3 | 1.3 |
| 112 | Watertown | 3/100 | 2 | 1.1 |
| 113 | Natick | 3/100 | 2 | 1.1 |
| 114 | Beverly | 3/100 | 2 | 0.9 |
| 115 | Middleboro | 3/100 | 1 | 0.8 |
| 116 | Somerville | 2/100 | 3 | 0.7 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many car accidents happen in Massachusetts?
NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System recorded 1,806 fatal car accidents in Massachusetts from 2020 to 2024, killing 1,896 people — an average of 379 traffic deaths per year.
How dangerous are Massachusetts roads compared to other states?
Massachusetts averages 5.4 traffic deaths per 100,000 residents per year, ranking #50 of 50 states (most dangerous first). The US average is 12.3 per 100,000.
What causes fatal car accidents in Massachusetts?
Of Massachusetts's fatal crashes in 2020–2024, 30% involved a drinking driver, 31% involved speeding, and 47% happened in dark conditions.
Which Massachusetts city is the most dangerous to drive in?
Among ranked Massachusetts cities, Sturbridge has the highest Road Danger Score (95/100) at 21.7 traffic deaths per 100,000 residents per year.