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Massachusetts Water Quality Rankings

269 cities ranked · Data from EPA SDWIS

79.7
State avg score
269
Cities ranked
84%
A or B grade
7%
D or F grade
253
Health violations
137
PFAS detected
Analysis

Massachusetts water quality overview

Massachusetts's drinking water quality is good overall, with a state average score of 79.7 out of 100 — 5.2 points above the national average of 74.5. The median city score is 82.7, reflecting how water quality is distributed across the state's 269 ranked cities. 84% of Massachusetts cities earned an A or B grade, indicating broadly strong water quality infrastructure. Only 9 cities received a failing grade. PFAS "forever chemicals" were detected in 137 of 269 cities (51%). Of those, 103 cities exceed the 2024 EPA maximum contaminant levels — a health concern requiring action. 5 cities have lead levels exceeding the EPA action level of 15 ppb, typically a sign of aging lead service lines or lead solder in older plumbing. Residents in these areas should use an NSF 53-certified filter. 253 cities have recorded health-based violations with the EPA — meaning contaminant levels exceeded safe limits or required testing was missed. Use the table below to find your city's specific record.

Grade Distribution

How Massachusetts cities scored

42%
42%
10%
A
112
42%
Excellent
B
113
42%
Good
C
26
10%
Fair
D
9
3%
Poor
F
9
3%
Failing
Score Distribution

Score distribution by range

137 69 0
2
10
12
20
56
137
32
0–9
10–19
20–29
30–39
40–49
50–59
60–69
70–79
80–89
90–100
Comparison

State vs national average

B
Massachusetts
79.7/100
B-
National avg
74.5/100
▲ 5.2 pts above national average
City Map

Water quality across Massachusetts

Each dot is a city, colored by grade. Size reflects population served. Click any city to view its full report.

Highlights

Top & bottom cities in Massachusetts

Best 10 cities

  1. 1 A+ Adams 96.8 8K
  2. 2 A+ Harwich 95.9 39K
  3. 3 A West Springfield 94.9 29K
  4. 4 A Pembroke 94.8 18K
  5. 5 A Newbury 94.8 2K
  6. 6 A Essex 94.7 4K
  7. 7 A Sandwich 94.5 79K
  8. 8 A West Newbury 94.5 3K
  9. 9 A Provincetown 93.7 22K
  10. 10 A Edgartown 93.5 8K

Worst 10 cities

  1. 260 F Milford 38.5 30K
  2. 261 F Wrentham 39.5 13K
  3. 262 F Norfolk 40.7 8K
  4. 263 F Grafton 41.8 11K
  5. 264 F Hudson 42.2 20K
  6. 265 F Acton 42.4 21K
  7. 266 F North Attleborough 42.4 29K
  8. 267 F Plymouth 43.4 47K
  9. 268 F Harvard 44 2K
  10. 269 D Leicester 45.9 5K
Full Rankings

All 269 cities in Massachusetts

# City Grade Score Score Population Violations Issues
1 Adams
A+
 96.8
8K 7 Health Unresolved
2 Harwich
A+
 95.9
39K 5 Health Unresolved
3 West Springfield
A
 94.9
29K 16 Health Unresolved
4 Pembroke
A
 94.8
18K 22 Health Unresolved
5 Newbury
A
 94.8
2K 29 Health Unresolved
6 Essex
A
 94.7
4K 40 Unresolved
7 Sandwich
A
 94.5
79K 37 Health
8 West Newbury
A
 94.5
3K 6 Health Unresolved
9 Provincetown
A
 93.7
22K 11 Health Unresolved
10 Edgartown
A
 93.5
8K 11 Health Unresolved
11 Dennis
A
 93.2
65K 40 Health Unresolved
12 Mattapoisett
A
 93
37K 12 Health Unresolved
13 Dalton
A
 93
6K 44 Health Unresolved
14 Hadley
A
 92.9
5K 22 Health Unresolved
15 Easthampton
A
 92.6
16K 49 Health Unresolved
16 Williamsburg
A
 92.5
2K 57 Health Unresolved
17 Rockport
A
 92.3
10K 10 Health Unresolved
18 Douglas
A
 92.1
4K 47 Health Unresolved
19 Southborough
A
 92
11K 6 Health Unresolved
20 Amesbury
A
 91.7
17K 28 Unresolved
21 North Andover
A
 91.5
31K 13 Health Unresolved
22 Fairhaven
A
 91.5
14K 10 Health Unresolved
23 Athol
A
 91.2
10K 7 Health Unresolved
24 Chatham
A
 91.1
30K 68 Health Unresolved
25 Erving
A
 91.1
561 6 Health Unresolved
26 Methuen
A
 90.7
53K 25 Health Unresolved
27 Avon
A
 90.7
5K 81 Health PFAS Unresolved
28 Weymouth
A
 90.6
59K 31 Health Unresolved
29 Orange
A
 90.5
7K 6 Health Unresolved
30 Southbridge
A
 90.3
19K 4 Health Unresolved
31 Gloucester
A
 90.2
37K 79 Health Unresolved
32 Shelburne
A
 90.2
2K 17 Health Unresolved
33 South Hadley
A-
 89.8
21K 73 Health Unresolved
34 Weston
A-
 89.8
12K 20 Health Unresolved
35 Hancock
A-
 89.8
1K 24 Health Unresolved
36 Eastham
A-
 89.7
6K 1 Unresolved
37 North Brookfield
A-
 89.7
4K 38 Health Unresolved
38 Ashland
A-
 89.5
19K 19 Health Unresolved
39 Littleton
A-
 89.5
10K 27 Health Unresolved
40 Monson
A-
 89.5
4K 55 Health Unresolved
41 Hatfield
A-
 89.5
3K 34 Health Unresolved
42 East Longmeadow
A-
 89.4
16K 9 Health Unresolved
43 Lanesborough
A-
 89.4
2K 49 Health Unresolved
44 Saugus
A-
 89.2
27K 13 Health Unresolved
45 Marblehead
A-
 89.2
20K 8 Health Unresolved
46 Colchester
A-
 89.1
663 8 Unresolved
47 Lynn
A-
 89
101K 12 Health PFAS Unresolved
48 Pittsfield
A-
 89
44K 105 Health Unresolved
49 Northbridge
A-
 89
8K 30 Health Unresolved
50 Swampscott
A-
 88.8
15K 10 Health Unresolved
51 Seekonk
A-
 88.8
15K 9 Health PFAS Unresolved
52 Clinton
A-
 88.7
16K 23 Health Unresolved
53 Brockton
A-
 88.5
106K 62 Health Unresolved
54 Northampton
A-
 88.5
30K 80 Health Unresolved
55 West Stockbridge
A-
 88.5
535 8 Health Unresolved
56 West Bridgewater
A-
 88.4
8K 76 Health PFAS Unresolved
57 Marlborough
A-
 88.3
42K 22 Health Unresolved
58 Williamstown
A-
 88.3
8K 31 Health Unresolved
59 Southwick
A-
 88.2
8K 110 Health Unresolved
60 Nahant
A-
 88.1
3K 15 Health Unresolved
61 Groveland
A-
 88
7K 38 Health PFAS Unresolved
62 Holyoke
A-
 87.9
40K 31 Unresolved
63 Hamilton
A-
 87.9
7K 67 Health PFAS Unresolved
64 Marion
A-
 87.9
6K 24 Health Unresolved
65 Paxton
A-
 87.7
4K 18 Health Unresolved
66 Wenham
A-
 87.6
4K 12 Health PFAS Unresolved
67 Beverly
A-
 87.5
138K 15 Unresolved
68 Salisbury
A-
 87.5
20K 34 PFAS Unresolved
69 Whitman
A-
 87.5
15K 21 Health Unresolved
70 Uxbridge
A-
 87.5
12K 24 Health PFAS Unresolved
71 Wilbraham
A-
 87.5
9K 9 Health Unresolved
72 New Bedford
A-
 87.4
101K 3 Health Unresolved
73 Mendon
A-
 87.3
501 90 Health Unresolved
74 Lenox
A-
 87.2
10K 1 Unresolved
75 Amherst
A-
 87
39K 12 Health Unresolved
76 Walpole
A-
 87
24K 42 Health Unresolved
77 Egremont
A-
 87
1K 41 Health Unresolved
78 Wilmington
A-
 86.9
22K 31 Health Unresolved
79 Chicopee
A-
 86.8
56K 7 Unresolved
80 Chelsea
A-
 86.8
38K 19 Health Unresolved
81 Easton
A-
 86.8
23K 4 Health PFAS Unresolved
82 Southampton
A-
 86.8
5K 7 Health Unresolved
83 Agawam
A-
 86.7
29K 14 Health Unresolved
84 Brookline
A-
 86.6
63K 8 Health Unresolved
85 Norwood
A-
 86.6
30K 10 Health Unresolved
86 Canton
A-
 86.6
22K 21 Health PFAS Unresolved
87 Framingham
A-
 86.5
72K 6 Health Unresolved
88 Watertown
A-
 86.5
35K 8 Health Unresolved
89 Winchendon
A-
 86.5
6K 52 Health Unresolved
90 Acushnet
A-
 86.4
8K 94 Health Unresolved
91 Cheshire
A-
 86.4
1K 49 Health Unresolved
92 Russell
A-
 86.4
1K 34 Health Unresolved
93 Needham
A-
 86.3
33K 49 Health PFAS Unresolved
94 Attleboro
A-
 86.2
47K 16 Health PFAS Unresolved
95 Stoneham
A-
 86.2
23K 18 Health Unresolved
96 Newburyport
A-
 86.2
20K 37 Health PFAS Unresolved
97 Yarmouth
A-
 86.1
39K 32 Health Unresolved
98 Greenfield
A-
 86.1
18K 86 Health Unresolved
99 Arlington
A-
 85.8
46K 7 Health Unresolved
100 Salem
A-
 85.7
44K 1 Unresolved
101 Reading
A-
 85.5
27K 4 Health Unresolved
102 Mansfield
A-
 85.5
23K 21 Health PFAS Unresolved
103 North Reading
A-
 85.5
16K 54 Health Unresolved
104 Lunenburg
A-
 85.5
7K 13 Health PFAS Unresolved
105 East Brookfield
A-
 85.4
2K 8 Health Unresolved
106 Quincy
A-
 85.2
106K 7 Health Unresolved
107 Waltham
A-
 85.2
65K 15 Health Unresolved
108 Gardner
A-
 85.2
21K 47 Health Unresolved
109 Freetown
A-
 85.2
2K 7 Unresolved
110 Northfield
A-
 85.2
1K 128 Health Unresolved
111 Manchester
A-
 85.1
5K 69 Health PFAS Unresolved
112 Foxborough
A-
 85
19K 70 Health PFAS Unresolved
113 Somerville
B+
 84.8
81K 15 Health Unresolved
114 Oak Bluffs
B+
 84.8
24K 102 Health Unresolved
115 Hanson
B+
 84.6
10K 80 Health PFAS Unresolved
116 Lowell
B+
 84.5
115K 41 Health PFAS Unresolved
117 Dedham
B+
 84.5
42K 4 Health PFAS Unresolved
118 Natick
B+
 84.5
37K 116 Health PFAS Unresolved
119 Norton
B+
 84.5
19K 15 Health PFAS Unresolved
120 Belmont
B+
 84.3
27K 7 Health Unresolved
121 Millis
B+
 84.3
9K 67 Health PFAS Unresolved
122 Lincoln
B+
 84.2
6K 63 Health PFAS Unresolved
123 Lee
B+
 84.2
5K 94 Health Unresolved
124 Whately
B+
 83.9
900 12 Unresolved
125 Taunton
B+
 83.8
62K 67 Health Unresolved
126 Wayland
B+
 83.8
13K 58 Health PFAS Unresolved
127 Stockbridge
B+
 83.5
3K 124 Health Unresolved
128 Bedford
B+
 83.3
26K 96 Health Unresolved
129 Revere
B+
 83.2
62K 20 Health Unresolved
130 Billerica
B+
 83
42K 34 Health PFAS Unresolved
131 Hopedale
B+
 83
6K 39 Health PFAS Unresolved
132 Springfield
B+
 82.9
168K 22 Health Unresolved
133 Westfield
B+
 82.8
42K 81 Health Unresolved
134 Andover
B+
 82.8
37K 4 Health Unresolved
135 Franklin
B+
 82.7
33K 21 Health PFAS Unresolved
136 Westminster
B+
 82.7
4K 91 Health Unresolved
137 Dudley
B+
 82.6
6K 162 Health Unresolved
138 Danvers
B+
 82.5
28K 36 Health PFAS Unresolved
139 Everett
B+
 82.3
49K 11 Health Unresolved
140 Randolph
B+
 82.3
34K 21 Health PFAS Unresolved
141 Tisbury
B+
 82.3
6K 35 Health Unresolved
142 Fitchburg
B+
 82.2
42K 16 Health PFAS Unresolved
143 Concord
B+
 82.2
19K 14 Health PFAS Unresolved
144 Lexington
B+
 82.1
34K 10 Health Unresolved
145 Holbrook
B+
 82.1
11K 19 Health PFAS Unresolved
146 Topsfield
B+
 82.1
5K 51 Health PFAS Unresolved
147 Sturbridge
B+
 82.1
5K 83 Health Unresolved
148 Shrewsbury
B+
 82
38K 9 Health PFAS Unresolved
149 Swansea
B+
 82
17K 15 Health PFAS Unresolved
150 Ashburnham
B+
 82
15K 100 Health Unresolved
151 Raynham
B+
 81.8
15K 5 PFAS Unresolved
152 East Bridgewater
B+
 81.8
15K 59 Health PFAS Unresolved
153 Blackstone
B+
 81.6
10K 78 Health PFAS Unresolved
154 Woburn
B+
 81.5
41K 22 Health PFAS Unresolved
155 Duxbury
B+
 81.5
16K 12 Health PFAS Unresolved
156 Lawrence
B+
 81.4
89K 183 Health Unresolved
157 Groton
B+
 81.4
7K 80 Health Unresolved
158 Wakefield
B+
 81.2
27K 52 Health PFAS Unresolved
159 Bolton
B+
 81.1
923 42 Health Unresolved
160 Cambridge
B+
 81
118K 67 Health PFAS Unresolved
161 Medfield
B+
 80.9
13K 86 Health PFAS Unresolved
162 Milton
B+
 80.8
29K 8 Health Unresolved
163 Burlington
B+
 80.8
27K 157 Health Unresolved
164 Winthrop
B+
 80.8
19K 11 Health Unresolved
165 Brewster
B+
 80.7
35K 28 Health Unresolved
166 Worthington
B+
 80.4
565 7 Lead Unresolved
167 Newton
B
 80
88K 54 Health Unresolved
168 Norwell
B+
 80
11K 14 Health PFAS Unresolved
169 Templeton
B+
 80
6K 138 PFAS Unresolved
170 Northborough
B
 79.8
14K 217 Health Unresolved
171 Bernardston
B
 79.8
1K 214 Health Unresolved
172 Boylston
B
 79.5
3K 108 Health PFAS Unresolved
173 West Boylston
B
 79.4
7K 79 Health PFAS Unresolved
174 Rowley
B
 79.4
6K 74 Health PFAS Unresolved
175 Braintree
B
 79.1
39K 79 Health PFAS Unresolved
176 Ware
B
 79.1
10K 155 Health PFAS Unresolved
177 Brookfield
B
 79.1
1K 288 Health Unresolved
178 Falmouth
B
 79
98K 40 Health Unresolved
179 Worcester
B
 78.9
207K 16 Health Unresolved
180 Holden
B
 78.8
18K 67 Health PFAS Unresolved
181 North Adams
B
 78.8
13K 190 Health PFAS Unresolved
182 Dracut
B
 78.7
35K 120 Health PFAS Unresolved
183 Sunderland
B
 78.7
3K 237 Health Unresolved
184 Tewksbury
B
 78.2
34K 142 Health PFAS Unresolved
185 Abington
B
 78.1
34K 17 Health PFAS Unresolved
186 Sutton
B
 78.1
3K 152 Health Unresolved
187 Merrimac
B
 78
7K 208 Health PFAS Unresolved
188 Spencer
B
 78
7K 113 Health Unresolved
189 Middleton
B
 77.9
7K 9 PFAS Unresolved
190 Peabody
B
 77.8
54K 116 Health PFAS Unresolved
191 Sterling
B
 77.8
7K 110 Health PFAS Unresolved
192 Mashpee
B
 77.5
37K 110 Health Unresolved
193 Stoughton
B
 77.5
29K 23 Health PFAS Unresolved
194 Westford
B
 77.4
19K 40 Health PFAS Unresolved
195 Ayer
B
 77.4
8K 69 Health Unresolved
196 Melrose
B
 77.3
29K 18 Health Unresolved
197 Leominster
B
 77.2
42K 138 Health PFAS Unresolved
198 Wareham
B
 77.2
21K 65 Health PFAS Unresolved
199 Somerset
B
 76.9
18K 24 Health Unresolved
200 Cohasset
B
 76.9
8K 48 Health PFAS Unresolved
201 Boston
B
 76.8
676K 10 Health Lead Unresolved
202 Palmer
B
 76.4
5K 87 Health Unresolved
203 Ipswich
B
 76.2
13K 50 Health PFAS Unresolved
204 Webster
B
 76
18K 105 Health PFAS Unresolved
205 Wellesley
B
 75.8
33K 29 Health PFAS Unresolved
206 Longmeadow
B
 75.8
16K 28 Health Unresolved
207 Plainville
B
 75.8
9K 29 Health PFAS Unresolved
208 Orleans
B
 75.6
19K 36 Health Unresolved
209 Middleborough
B
 75.5
16K 108 Health PFAS Unresolved
210 Townsend
B
 75.3
7K 117 Health PFAS Unresolved
211 Lynnfield
B
 75.2
13K 118 Health PFAS Unresolved
212 Bourne
B-
 74.8
8K 76 Health PFAS Unresolved
213 Marshfield
B-
 74.2
34K 68 Health PFAS Unresolved
214 Chelmsford
B-
 74.2
32K 141 Health PFAS Unresolved
215 Bellingham
B-
 74
16K 38 Health PFAS Unresolved
216 Fall River
B-
 73.9
94K 55 Health Unresolved
217 Lancaster
B-
 72.8
6K 48 Health Lead Unresolved
218 Medway
B-
 72
13K 240 Health PFAS Unresolved
219 Sudbury
B-
 71.7
18K 197 Health PFAS Unresolved
220 West Brookfield
B-
 71.3
3K 261 Health Unresolved
221 Pepperell
B-
 71.2
9K 91 Health PFAS Unresolved
222 Belchertown
B-
 70.9
4K 211 Health Unresolved
223 Hopkinton
B-
 70.3
13K 170 Health PFAS Unresolved
224 Maynard
B-
 70.3
10K 188 Health PFAS Unresolved
225 Malden
B-
 70.2
66K 24 Health Lead Unresolved
226 Wellfleet
C+
 69.8
915 192 Health Unresolved
227 Hingham
C+
 69.5
46K 35 Health PFAS Unresolved
228 Bridgewater
C+
 69
29K 44 Health PFAS Unresolved
229 Deerfield
C+
 68.7
2K 222 Health Unresolved
230 Hinsdale
C+
 68.5
2K 308 Health Unresolved
231 Great Barrington
C+
 68.4
6K 136 Health Unresolved
232 Georgetown
C+
 68.2
9K 89 Health Unresolved
233 Warren
C+
 68.1
2K 369 Health Unresolved
234 Halifax
C+
 67.8
8K 50 Health PFAS Unresolved
235 Dartmouth
C+
 66.5
25K 21 Health PFAS Unresolved
236 Huntington
C+
 66.3
2K 38 Health Unresolved
237 Barre
C
 64.9
4K 132 Health Unresolved
238 Millbury
C
 64.7
12K 52 Health PFAS Unresolved
239 Haverhill
C
 64.2
63K 73 Health Unresolved
240 Chester
C
 63.8
750 143 Health Unresolved
241 Kingston
C
 63.5
15K 80 Health Unresolved
242 Medford
C
 62.6
62K 12 Health Lead Unresolved
243 Scituate
C
 61.9
19K 67 Health PFAS Unresolved
244 Shirley
C
 61.8
4K 343 Health PFAS Unresolved
245 Upton
C
 61.7
4K 119 Health Unresolved
246 Holliston
C-
 59.6
16K 155 Health PFAS Unresolved
247 Carver
C-
 59.3
2K 209 Health Unresolved
248 Winchester
C-
 58
23K 61 Health Unresolved
249 Tyngsborough
C-
 58
5K 450 Health PFAS Unresolved
250 Rutland
C-
 56.6
6K 417 Health Unresolved
251 Hanover
C-
 56.2
15K 42 Health PFAS Unresolved
252 Auburn
D+
 54.9
15K 309 Health PFAS Unresolved
253 Sharon
D+
 54.3
17K 37 Health PFAS Unresolved
254 Chilmark
D+
 54.1
930 146 Health Unresolved
255 Dighton
D+
 52.1
106K 54 Health PFAS Unresolved
256 Barnstable
D+
 51.5
5K 136 Health PFAS Unresolved
257 Boxborough
D+
 50
963 972 Health Unresolved
258 Westborough
D
 48.6
22K 81 Health PFAS Unresolved
259 Nantucket
D
 47
31K 214 Health Unresolved
260 Leicester
D
 45.9
5K 361 Health Unresolved
261 Harvard
F
 44
2K 369 Health Unresolved
262 Plymouth
F
 43.4
47K 294 Health Unresolved
263 North Attleborough
F
 42.4
29K 243 Health PFAS Unresolved
264 Acton
F
 42.4
21K 376 Health PFAS Unresolved
265 Hudson
F
 42.2
20K 156 Health Unresolved
266 Grafton
F
 41.8
11K 203 Health PFAS Unresolved
267 Norfolk
F
 40.7
8K 181 Health PFAS Unresolved
268 Wrentham
F
 39.5
13K 187 Health PFAS Unresolved
269 Milford
F
 38.5
30K 226 Health PFAS Unresolved
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