MA / county disease rankings

Counties with the highest cancer incidence rates in Massachusetts

Among 14 Massachusetts counties with published values, the counties with the highest cancer incidence rates are Plymouth County, MA (490.2, 1.08 times the U.S. rate of 453.4), Berkshire County, MA (485.2, 1.07 times the U.S. rate of 453.4) and Worcester County, MA (471.8, 1.04 times the U.S. rate of 453.4). Values are per 100,000, age-adjusted. 5 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.