MA / county disease rankings
Counties with the highest cancer death rates in Massachusetts
Among 14 Massachusetts counties with published values, the counties with the highest cancer death rates are Bristol County, MA (150.1, 1.05 times the U.S. rate of 143.2), Hampden County, MA (146.6, 1.02 times the U.S. rate of 143.2) and Plymouth County, MA (142.9, 1 times the U.S. rate of 143.2). Values are per 100,000, age-adjusted. 1 of the 14 are significantly above the U.S. rate.
Source: NCI and CDC State Cancer Profiles, both sexes, all ages. These are county-level figures, age-adjusted as published by the source, compared with the U.S. rate. A high rate does not prove an environmental cause: age, smoking, income, access to care, screening and chance all move county rates, and small counties swing widely. Significant means the lower bound of the county’s 95 percent confidence interval is above the U.S. rate.
All Massachusetts counties, highest first
All cancer cancer deaths, per 100,000, age-adjusted.
| Rank | County | State | Value | U.S. rate | Times reference | Significant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bristol County | MA | 150.1 | 143.2 | 1.05x | Significant |
| 2 | Hampden County | MA | 146.6 | 143.2 | 1.02x | No |
| 3 | Plymouth County | MA | 142.9 | 143.2 | 1x | No |
| 4 | Berkshire County | MA | 140.8 | 143.2 | 0.98x | No |
| 5 | Worcester County | MA | 140.8 | 143.2 | 0.98x | No |
| 6 | Franklin County | MA | 139.2 | 143.2 | 0.97x | No |
| 7 | Hampshire County | MA | 131.8 | 143.2 | 0.92x | No |
| 8 | Norfolk County | MA | 131.2 | 143.2 | 0.92x | No |
| 9 | Essex County | MA | 129.3 | 143.2 | 0.9x | No |
| 10 | Barnstable County | MA | 127.5 | 143.2 | 0.89x | No |
| 11 | Suffolk County | MA | 125.3 | 143.2 | 0.88x | No |
| 12 | Middlesex County | MA | 121.7 | 143.2 | 0.85x | No |
| 13 | Dukes County | MA | 118.6 | 143.2 | 0.83x | No |
| 14 | Nantucket County | MA | 99.1 | 143.2 | 0.69x | No |