Massachusetts drought risk
Essex County has the highest drought risk in Massachusetts, scoring 89.9 out of 100 — rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
| # | County | NRI score | Rating |
NOAA events 2016–2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Essex County | 89.9 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 2 | Middlesex County | 86.8 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 3 | Worcester County | 72.6 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 4 | Plymouth County | 70 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 5 | Hampshire County | 64 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 6 | Bristol County | 60 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 7 | Hampden County | 58.7 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 8 | Franklin County | 56.7 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 9 | Norfolk County | 41.4 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 10 | Barnstable County | 31.3 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 11 | Berkshire County | 22.2 | Very Low | 0 |
| 12 | Nantucket County | 21.9 | Very Low | 0 |
| 13 | Dukes County | 19.9 | Very Low | 0 |
| 14 | Suffolk County | 0 | No Rating | 0 |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. Scores are 0–100 percentile rankings among all US counties. See the methodology page for definitions. Download the full CSV for all counties.
Drought risk nationally:
Other hazard risks in Massachusetts:
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest drought risk county in Massachusetts?
Essex County, MA has the highest drought risk in Massachusetts, with a FEMA National Risk Index score of 89.9 out of 100 (rated "Relatively Moderate").
What causes drought risk in Massachusetts?
Drought risk captures expected annual losses from prolonged precipitation deficits affecting agriculture, water supply, and ecosystems. High scores cover the western Great Plains, Southwest, and California's Central Valley. Climate change is increasing drought frequency and severity across much of the US, with multi-year droughts becoming more common in the West.