Massachusetts landslide risk
Worcester County has the highest landslide risk in Massachusetts, scoring 93.4 out of 100 — rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
| # | County | NRI score | Rating |
NOAA events 2016–2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Worcester County | 93.4 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 2 | Berkshire County | 82.5 | Relatively Low | 1 |
| 3 | Franklin County | 81.9 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 4 | Norfolk County | 72.1 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 5 | Hampshire County | 70.8 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 6 | Hampden County | 67.7 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 7 | Barnstable County | 66.6 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 8 | Essex County | 62.6 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 9 | Plymouth County | 61.6 | Very Low | 0 |
| 10 | Middlesex County | 54.6 | Very Low | 0 |
| 11 | Bristol County | 46.4 | Very Low | 0 |
| 12 | Suffolk County | 36.2 | Very Low | 0 |
| 13 | Dukes County | 13.3 | Very Low | 0 |
| 14 | Nantucket County | 2.3 | Very 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.
Landslide risk nationally:
Other hazard risks in Massachusetts:
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest landslide risk county in Massachusetts?
Worcester County, MA has the highest landslide risk in Massachusetts, with a FEMA National Risk Index score of 93.4 out of 100 (rated "Relatively Moderate").
What causes landslide risk in Massachusetts?
Landslide risk covers expected losses from hillslope failures, rockfalls, and debris flows triggered by heavy rainfall, snowmelt, wildfire, or earthquakes. High scores concentrate in the Pacific Northwest, California coastal ranges, Appalachians, and Rocky Mountain foothills, where steep terrain combines with intense precipitation or seismic activity.