Worcester County Is Less Healthy Than Massachusetts As A Whole: Data

MILFORD, MA — Worcester County residents are less healthy as a whole compared to statewide averages in Massachusetts, according to a new report from the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.

Researchers analyzed U.S. counties on dozens of factors, including a range of behaviors and access to health care, that can help determine how long a person lives and the quality of their lives. The analysis is based on 2017-2021 health data.

In general, the County Health Rankings and Roadmap report shows Worcester County residents are healthier than the U.S. average — but Massachusetts happens to have a healthier population than the nation as a whole.

By the numbers, here’s a snapshot of Worcester County and how it compares to Massachusetts and the nation on selected measures:

• Premature deaths in Worcester County (deaths under age 75) totaled 6,500, compared to 5,900 in Massachusetts and 8,000 nationwide (data from 2019-21)
• 13 percent of adults smoke, compared with 11 percent statewide and 15 percent nationally;
• 31 percent of adults are obese, compared with 28 percent statewide and 34 percent nationally;
• 21 percent of residents are physically inactive, equal to the statewide number, and 23 percent nationally;
• 91 have access to exercise facilities, compared with 95 percent statewide and 84 percent nationally;
• 18 percent of adults drink excessively, compared with 19 percent statewide and on par with the national figure;
• Teen births were 8 per 1,000 females age 15 to 19 in the county compared to 7 per 1,000 statewide, and 17 per 1,000 nationwide.

The report also showed that Worcester County is almost even with Massachusetts on average on social and environmental factors like education and poverty.

• 12 percent of children live in poverty, same as statewide and 16 percent nationally;
• 23 percent of children live in single-parent households, same as statewide and 25 percent nationally;

Two areas where Worcester was above both the state and national average were in air pollution and driving habits. Worcester County averaged 8.2 micrograms per cubic meter of fine particulate matter in the air per 2019 data, higher than the statewide rate of 6.8 and 7.4 nationally.

Perhaps related: 73 percent of county residents drive alone to work, dwarfing the 64 percent and 72 percent statewide and national share. About 45 percent of county residents also endure a long (30+ minutes each way) daily commute alone, compared to 43 percent statewide and 36 percent nationwide.

More information is found on the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute’s County Health Rankings and Roadmap page.