Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of NHTSA data, Massachusetts recorded 1,896 traffic deaths in 1,806 fatal crashes over the most recent five-year period — 5.4 per 100,000 residents per year, ranking #50 of 50 states (most dangerous first); the US average is 12.3.
Traffic Deaths (5-Yr Total)
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 (5-Yr) | 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 over the most recent five-year period, 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 over the most recent five-year period, 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.