Counties with highest COVID-19 infection rates in Massachusetts
Written by:
November 17, 2022
Canva
Counties with highest COVID-19 infection rates in Massachusetts
The vaccine deployment in December 2020 signaled a turning point in the COVID-19 pandemic. By the end of May 2021, 40% of the U.S. population was fully vaccinated. But as vaccination rates lagged over the summer, new surges of COVID-19 came, including Delta in the summer of 2021, and now the Omicron variant, which comprises the majority of cases in the U.S.
Researchers around the world have reported that Omicron is more transmissible than Delta, making breakthrough and repeat infections more likely.
The United States as of Nov. 16 reached over 1 million COVID-19-related deaths and 98.1 million COVID-19 cases, according to Johns Hopkins University. Currently, 68.6% of the population is fully vaccinated, and 10.1% of vaccinated people have received the most recently available bivalent booster doses.
Stacker compiled a list of the counties with highest COVID-19 infection rates in Massachusetts using data from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and vaccination data from Covid Act Now. Counties are ranked by the highest infection rate per 100,000 residents within the week leading up to Nov. 10, 2022. Cumulative cases per 100,000 served as a tiebreaker.
Keep reading to see whether your county ranks among the highest COVID-19 infection rates in your state.
#14. Nantucket County, MA
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 61 (7 new cases, +75% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 33,134 (3,777 total cases)
--- 8.8% more cases per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 193 (22 total deaths)
--- 40.1% less deaths per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Population that is fully vaccinated: not available
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 33,134 (3,777 total cases)
--- 8.8% more cases per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 193 (22 total deaths)
--- 40.1% less deaths per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Population that is fully vaccinated: not available
#13. Plymouth County, MA
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 63 (326 new cases, -12% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,136 (136,220 total cases)
--- 14.2% less cases per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 347 (1,810 total deaths)
--- 7.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 74.2% (386,954 fully vaccinated)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,136 (136,220 total cases)
--- 14.2% less cases per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 347 (1,810 total deaths)
--- 7.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 74.2% (386,954 fully vaccinated)
#12. Norfolk County, MA
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 64 (453 new cases, -13% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,334 (164,922 total cases)
--- 23.4% less cases per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 298 (2,104 total deaths)
--- 7.5% less deaths per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 83.3% (588,399 fully vaccinated)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,334 (164,922 total cases)
--- 23.4% less cases per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 298 (2,104 total deaths)
--- 7.5% less deaths per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 83.3% (588,399 fully vaccinated)
#11. Suffolk County, MA
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 72 (579 new cases, +18% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 31,929 (256,682 total cases)
--- 4.8% more cases per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 262 (2,104 total deaths)
--- 18.6% less deaths per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 76.8% (617,135 fully vaccinated)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 31,929 (256,682 total cases)
--- 4.8% more cases per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 262 (2,104 total deaths)
--- 18.6% less deaths per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 76.8% (617,135 fully vaccinated)
#10. Worcester County, MA
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 77 (639 new cases, -2% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,560 (228,919 total cases)
--- 9.5% less cases per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 341 (2,830 total deaths)
--- 5.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 73.5% (610,660 fully vaccinated)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,560 (228,919 total cases)
--- 9.5% less cases per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 341 (2,830 total deaths)
--- 5.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 73.5% (610,660 fully vaccinated)
#9. Middlesex County, MA
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 78 (1,256 new cases, +2% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,737 (414,797 total cases)
--- 15.5% less cases per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 272 (4,390 total deaths)
--- 15.5% less deaths per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 83.9% (1,351,879 fully vaccinated)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,737 (414,797 total cases)
--- 15.5% less cases per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 272 (4,390 total deaths)
--- 15.5% less deaths per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 83.9% (1,351,879 fully vaccinated)
#8. Dukes County, MA
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 81 (14 new cases, +40% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,336 (4,218 total cases)
--- 20.1% less cases per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 0 (0 total deaths)
--- 100.0% less deaths per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Population that is fully vaccinated: not available
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,336 (4,218 total cases)
--- 20.1% less cases per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 0 (0 total deaths)
--- 100.0% less deaths per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Population that is fully vaccinated: not available
#7. Essex County, MA
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 83 (651 new cases, -4% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,902 (243,825 total cases)
--- 1.5% more cases per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 377 (2,974 total deaths)
--- 17.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 77.6% (612,571 fully vaccinated)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,902 (243,825 total cases)
--- 1.5% more cases per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 377 (2,974 total deaths)
--- 17.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 77.6% (612,571 fully vaccinated)
#6. Bristol County, MA
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 85 (478 new cases, +9% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,736 (173,724 total cases)
--- 0.9% more cases per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 412 (2,326 total deaths)
--- 28.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 69.3% (391,457 fully vaccinated)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,736 (173,724 total cases)
--- 0.9% more cases per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 412 (2,326 total deaths)
--- 28.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 69.3% (391,457 fully vaccinated)
#5. Franklin County, MA
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 88 (62 new cases, -19% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 19,823 (13,912 total cases)
--- 34.9% less cases per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 244 (171 total deaths)
--- 24.2% less deaths per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 72.6% (50,917 fully vaccinated)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 19,823 (13,912 total cases)
--- 34.9% less cases per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 244 (171 total deaths)
--- 24.2% less deaths per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 72.6% (50,917 fully vaccinated)
#4. Barnstable County, MA
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 92 (196 new cases, -10% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 21,489 (45,769 total cases)
--- 29.4% less cases per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 316 (674 total deaths)
--- 1.9% less deaths per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Population that is fully vaccinated: not available
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 21,489 (45,769 total cases)
--- 29.4% less cases per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 316 (674 total deaths)
--- 1.9% less deaths per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Population that is fully vaccinated: not available
#3. Hampshire County, MA
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 96 (154 new cases, +9% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,354 (37,560 total cases)
--- 23.3% less cases per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 249 (400 total deaths)
--- 22.7% less deaths per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 70.8% (113,914 fully vaccinated)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,354 (37,560 total cases)
--- 23.3% less cases per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 249 (400 total deaths)
--- 22.7% less deaths per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 70.8% (113,914 fully vaccinated)
#2. Berkshire County, MA
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 118 (147 new cases, -16% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,478 (33,083 total cases)
--- 13.1% less cases per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 341 (426 total deaths)
--- 5.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 62.6% (78,183 fully vaccinated)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,478 (33,083 total cases)
--- 13.1% less cases per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 341 (426 total deaths)
--- 5.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 62.6% (78,183 fully vaccinated)
#1. Hampden County, MA
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 121 (562 new cases, -1% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 34,704 (161,849 total cases)
--- 13.9% more cases per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 423 (1,973 total deaths)
--- 31.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 69.0% (321,823 fully vaccinated)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 34,704 (161,849 total cases)
--- 13.9% more cases per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 423 (1,973 total deaths)
--- 31.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Massachusetts
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 69.0% (321,823 fully vaccinated)
