Counties most concerned about climate change in Massachusetts

Nationally, 72% of Americans believe global warming is happening. But when public opinion researchers zoom in on Americans, they find that attitudes and opinions about climate change can vary drastically from county to county—even when those counties are next door. Public opinion factors into how policy-makers respond to climate change, including taking steps to reduce CO2 levels and mitigate harmful impacts already being experienced. Stacker compiled a list of counties most concerned about climate change in Massachusetts using data from the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication. Counties are ranked by the percent of residents that are worried about global warming.

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#14. Hampden County

- Worried about global warming: 65.0%
--- 8.2% lower than Massachusetts average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 69.5%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 44.8%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 32.7%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 62.5%
- Total population: 366,130 people

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#13. Bristol County

- Worried about global warming: 65.8%
--- 7.4% lower than Massachusetts average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 68.8%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 44.5%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 33.9%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 64.1%
- Total population: 444,437 people

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#12. Worcester County

- Worried about global warming: 66.9%
--- 6.3% lower than Massachusetts average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 67.8%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 44.4%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 36.1%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 60.6%
- Total population: 649,131 people

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#11. Plymouth County

- Worried about global warming: 66.9%
--- 6.3% lower than Massachusetts average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 71.6%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 46.1%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 36.6%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 66.2%
- Total population: 403,379 people

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#10. Barnstable County

- Worried about global warming: 67.2%
--- 6.0% lower than Massachusetts average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 69.9%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 44.0%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 38.8%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 62.0%
- Total population: 180,920 people

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#9. Franklin County

- Worried about global warming: 69.7%
--- 3.5% lower than Massachusetts average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 71.9%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 45.0%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 39.3%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 66.2%
- Total population: 58,216 people

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#8. Berkshire County

- Worried about global warming: 70.2%
--- 3.0% lower than Massachusetts average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 72.8%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 47.4%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 38.7%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 64.8%
- Total population: 104,781 people

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#7. Nantucket

- Worried about global warming: 71.5%
--- 1.7% lower than Massachusetts average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 74.3%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 48.3%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 43.1%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 67.9%
- Total population: 8,911 people

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#6. Hampshire County

- Worried about global warming: 71.8%
--- 1.4% lower than Massachusetts average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 75.1%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 47.5%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 42.7%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 69.7%
- Total population: 137,120 people

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#5. Dukes County

- Worried about global warming: 72.1%
--- 1.1% lower than Massachusetts average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 74.0%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 48.0%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 42.2%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 68.4%
- Total population: 14,107 people

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#4. Essex County

- Worried about global warming: 72.7%
--- 0.5% lower than Massachusetts average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 71.3%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 50.5%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 39.2%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 65.2%
- Total population: 615,581 people

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#3. Norfolk County

- Worried about global warming: 74.3%
--- 1.1% higher than Massachusetts average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 75.3%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 52.3%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 43.9%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 72.3%
- Total population: 552,307 people

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#2. Middlesex County

- Worried about global warming: 75.4%
--- 2.2% higher than Massachusetts average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 75.1%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 53.2%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 44.6%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 72.3%
- Total population: 1,281,362 people

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#1. Suffolk County

- Worried about global warming: 80.5%
--- 7.3% higher than Massachusetts average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 78.7%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 58.8%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 41.7%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 77.5%
- Total population: 662,969 people