Massachusetts hurricane risk
Worcester County has the highest hurricane risk in Massachusetts, scoring 96.6 out of 100 — rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
| # | County | NRI score | Rating |
NOAA events 2016–2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Worcester County | 96.6 | Relatively High | 0 |
| 2 | Middlesex County | 95.5 | Relatively High | 0 |
| 3 | Barnstable County | 94.5 | Relatively High | 0 |
| 4 | Suffolk County | 93.7 | Relatively High | 0 |
| 5 | Essex County | 93.3 | Relatively High | 0 |
| 6 | Hampden County | 93.2 | Relatively High | 0 |
| 7 | Norfolk County | 92.2 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 8 | Bristol County | 91.4 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 9 | Nantucket County | 90.9 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 10 | Plymouth County | 90.7 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 11 | Hampshire County | 83.8 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 12 | Berkshire County | 83.6 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 13 | Dukes County | 80.8 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 14 | Franklin County | 78.6 | Relatively Low | 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.
Hurricane risk nationally:
Other hazard risks in Massachusetts:
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest hurricane risk county in Massachusetts?
Worcester County, MA has the highest hurricane risk in Massachusetts, with a FEMA National Risk Index score of 96.6 out of 100 (rated "Relatively High").
What causes hurricane risk in Massachusetts?
Hurricane risk covers expected annual losses from tropical cyclone winds — storm surge is captured separately under coastal flooding. High scores concentrate along the Gulf Coast and Atlantic Seaboard from Texas through New England, with Florida's peninsula and barrier islands typically leading national rankings. The NRI score also accounts for population exposure and community resilience.