Earthquake Risk in Massachusetts
All Massachusetts counties ranked by FEMA National Risk Index earthquake score
Earthquake risk — ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults — is rated for 14 of 14 Massachusetts counties in FEMA's National Risk Index. Middlesex County carries the state's highest earthquake score at 96.1, with $24M in expected annual earthquake losses.
No Massachusetts county reaches the High band for earthquake, and expected annual losses from earthquake total roughly $83M statewide. The full ranking below links to each county's complete 18-hazard risk profile.
County Rankings — Earthquake
| # | County | Earthquake Score | Rating | Ann. Freq. | Ann. Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middlesex County | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $24M | |
| 2 | Suffolk County | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $12M | |
| 3 | Essex County | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $15M | |
| 4 | Norfolk County | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $9M | |
| 5 | Hampden County | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $5M | |
| 6 | Worcester County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $6M | |
| 7 | Bristol County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $4M | |
| 8 | Plymouth County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $5M | |
| 9 | Barnstable County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $1M | |
| 10 | Berkshire County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $921K | |
| 11 | Hampshire County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $1M | |
| 12 | Franklin County | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $447K | |
| 13 | Dukes County | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $113K | |
| 14 | Nantucket County | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $65K |
14 Massachusetts counties with measurable earthquake risk. See the national earthquake ranking or all Massachusetts counties by overall risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Massachusetts county has the highest earthquake risk?
Middlesex County has the highest FEMA earthquake risk score in Massachusetts at 96.1 (Medium), with $24M in expected annual losses and about 0.00 events per year.
How many Massachusetts counties face significant earthquake risk?
14 Massachusetts counties record measurable earthquake risk in FEMA's National Risk Index; 0 of them are rated High or Very High.