County health data
Middlesex County, MA
CDC PLACES estimates diabetes at 8.5% of adults in Middlesex County (Massachusetts: 9.8%). This county has 8 HRSA shortage designations (3 area or population, 5 facility), 12 hospitals, and 13 health center sites.
License: a US government work, in the public domain (Public Domain Mark 1.0).
For help with food, housing, utilities, or rides in Middlesex County, call 211 or visit 211.org.
Health measures compared with the state
40 measures for adults in Middlesex County (about 1,310,019 adults). 24 have a Massachusetts figure from the same survey.
Largest differences from the Massachusetts figure: no leisure-time physical activity 18.3% vs 22.0% (-3.7 points), obesity 23.8% vs 27.4% (-3.6 points), and high blood pressure 27.6% vs 31.0% (-3.4 points).
Health Outcomes
| Measure | Middlesex County | Massachusetts | US | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arthritis | 22.9% | 26.1% | 26.3% | 2023 |
| High blood pressure | 27.6% | 31.0% | 34.0% | 2023 |
| Cancer, excluding non-melanoma skin cancer | 8.1% | n/a | n/a | 2023 |
| Current asthma | 11.1% | 11.9% | 10.2% | 2023 |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.9% | 3.7% | 4.0% | 2023 |
| COPD | 4.6% | 5.9% | 6.3% | 2023 |
| Depression | 23.7% | 22.4% | 21.8% | 2023 |
| Diagnosed diabetes | 8.5% | 9.8% | 11.8% | 2023 |
| High cholesterol, adults ever screened | 34.9% | 35.7% | 37.2% | 2023 |
| Obesity | 23.8% | 27.4% | 34.4% | 2023 |
| Stroke | 2.5% | 2.4% | 3.3% | 2023 |
| All teeth lost, ages 65 and older | 9.6% | n/a | n/a | 2022 |
Prevention
| Measure | Middlesex County | Massachusetts | US | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No health insurance, ages 18 to 64 | 4.0% | 3.5% | 9.3% | 2023 |
| Taking blood pressure medicine, adults with high blood pressure | 73.3% | n/a | n/a | 2023 |
| Routine checkup in the past year | 79.9% | 82.4% | 78.4% | 2023 |
| Cholesterol screening | 90.6% | n/a | n/a | 2023 |
| Colorectal cancer screening, ages 45 to 75 | 69.6% | n/a | n/a | 2022 |
| Dental visit in the past year | 73.8% | n/a | n/a | 2022 |
| Mammogram, women ages 50 to 74 | 82.0% | n/a | n/a | 2022 |
Health Risk Behaviors
| Measure | Middlesex County | Massachusetts | US | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking | 16.6% | 16.4% | 15.1% | 2023 |
| Current smoking | 9.1% | 9.8% | 12.1% | 2023 |
| No leisure-time physical activity | 18.3% | 22.0% | 24.5% | 2023 |
| Short sleep | 30.6% | n/a | n/a | 2022 |
Health Status
| Measure | Middlesex County | Massachusetts | US | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor health | 13.4% | 15.4% | 18.5% | 2023 |
| Frequent mental distress | 14.8% | 14.8% | 15.4% | 2023 |
| Frequent physical distress | 10.0% | 11.8% | 12.6% | 2023 |
Disability
| Measure | Middlesex County | Massachusetts | US | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability | 12.2% | 12.9% | 13.7% | 2023 |
| Any disability | 24.0% | n/a | n/a | 2023 |
| Hearing disability | 5.2% | 5.7% | 7.4% | 2023 |
| Independent living disability | 6.2% | 7.7% | 7.8% | 2023 |
| Mobility disability | 9.4% | 11.6% | 13.4% | 2023 |
| Self-care disability | 2.4% | 3.3% | 3.7% | 2023 |
| Vision disability | 3.3% | 3.4% | 5.0% | 2023 |
Health-Related Social Needs
| Measure | Middlesex County | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support | 21.5% | 2023 |
| Food insecurity in the past year | 9.5% | 2023 |
| Received food stamps in the past year | 10.3% | 2023 |
| Housing insecurity in the past year | 9.0% | 2023 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past year | 6.4% | 2023 |
| Loneliness | 34.2% | 2023 |
| Utility shut-off threat in the past year | 5.3% | 2023 |
Source: CDC PLACES county data, as of December 4, 2025. Publisher page
Source: CDC BRFSS prevalence data, as of September 15, 2026. Publisher page
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Health professional shortage areas
HRSA, the federal Health Resources and Services Administration, designates Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs): places, population groups, or facilities with too few primary care, mental health, or dental providers. An area designation covers a geographic area or a population group, such as low-income residents. A facility designation covers one site, such as a health center or clinic. Each has a score from 0 to 25 (0 to 26 for dental); a higher score means greater need.
HRSA lists 8 designated shortage rows in Middlesex County: primary care 3 (highest score 17), mental health 3 (highest score 21), and dental 2 (highest score 12). 3 cover a geographic area or population group; the other 5 are facility designations.
| Discipline | Area or population | Facility | Highest score |
|---|---|---|---|
| primary care | 1 | 2 | 17 |
| mental health | 2 | 1 | 21 |
| dental | 0 | 2 | 12 |
Area and population designations
| Designation | Discipline | Type | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| LI - Chelsea/Everett/Revere | mental health | HPSA Population | 18 |
| Chelsea/Everett/Revere | primary care | HPSA Population | 17 |
| LI - Lowell City | mental health | HPSA Population | 17 |
Facility designations (5)
| Designation | Discipline | Type | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOWELL COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER, INC. | mental health | Federally Qualified Health Center | 21 |
| Souza Baranowski Correctional Center | dental | Correctional Facility | 12 |
| LOWELL COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER, INC. | dental | Federally Qualified Health Center | 10 |
| LOWELL COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER, INC. | primary care | Federally Qualified Health Center | 9 |
| Souza Baranowski Correctional Center | primary care | Correctional Facility | 3 |
In the Type column, an HPSA Population designation covers one group of people in the area. In HRSA's designation names, LI means low-income residents.
Source: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas, as of October 14, 2026. Publisher page
Hospitals and readmission rates
CMS Care Compare lists 12 acute care or critical access hospitals in Middlesex County. The CMS file in this snapshot does not compare these rates with the national rate, so none is marked better or worse.
| Hospital | City | Stars | Heart failure | Pneumonia | COPD | Heart attack | Hip or knee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BEDFORD VA MEDICAL CENTER | BEDFORD | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| CAMBRIDGE HEALTH ALLIANCE | CAMBRIDGE | 3 | 21.1% | 15.4% | 20.1% | 14.4% | 7.3% |
| EMERSON HOSPITAL - | W CONCORD | 5 | 21.3% | 16.9% | 22.3% | n/a | 5.1% |
| LAHEY HOSPITAL & MEDICAL CENTER, BURLINGTON | BURLINGTON | 4 | 21.6% | 17.1% | 18.5% | 14.5% | 4.0% |
| LOWELL GENERAL HOSPITAL | LOWELL | 2 | 21.9% | 19.0% | 20.2% | 14.7% | 5.5% |
| MARLBOROUGH HOSPITAL | MARLBOROUGH | 2 | 21.1% | 17.5% | 22.3% | 14.4% | 5.2% |
| MELROSEWAKEFIELD HEALTHCARE | MELROSE | 3 | 21.8% | 18.7% | 20.1% | 15.5% | n/a |
| METROWEST MEDICAL CENTER | FRAMINGHAM | 1 | 22.9% | 18.1% | 19.5% | 13.8% | n/a |
| MOUNT AUBURN HOSPITAL | CAMBRIDGE | 4 | 20.3% | 18.0% | 20.9% | 14.4% | 5.5% |
| NASHOBA VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER | AYER | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| NEWTON-WELLESLEY HOSPITAL | NEWTON | 5 | 20.4% | 18.6% | 19.8% | 13.8% | 5.7% |
| WINCHESTER HOSPITAL | WINCHESTER | 3 | 23.3% | 18.2% | 19.9% | n/a | 5.9% |
Each rate is the share of patients readmitted within 30 days of discharge, July 2023 to June 2025. "n/a" means CMS did not publish a rate for that hospital.
Source: CMS Care Compare hospital general information, as of August 13, 2026. Publisher page
Source: CMS Care Compare unplanned hospital visits, as of September 30, 2026. Publisher page
Health centers
13 active health center sites in Middlesex County, run by 7 organizations.
| Site ↑ | Health center | Address | City |
|---|---|---|---|
| 801 Broadway | NEIGHBORHEALTH CORPORATION | 801 Broadway | Everett 02149 |
| CAB TRANSITIONS | GREATER LAWRENCE FAMILY HEALTH CENTER, INC | 365 East St | Tewksbury 01876 |
| Charles River Community Health at 43 Foundry Ave | CHARLES RIVER COMMUNITY HEALTH, INC | 43 Foundry Ave | Waltham 02453 |
| Commercial Street Clinic | SOUTH COVE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER, INC | 277 Commercial St | Malden 02148 |
| EDWARD M. KENNEDY COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER FRAMINGHAM | EDWARD M KENNEDY COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER, INC | 354 Waverley St | Framingham 01702 |
| Health on Wheels | LOWELL COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER, INC. | 161 Jackson St | Lowell 01852 |
| Kathyrn P. Stoklosa Middle School | LOWELL COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER, INC. | 560 Broadway St | Lowell 01854 |
| Kraft Care in Reach Mobile Van | LOWELL COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER, INC. | 161 Jackson St | Lowell 01852 |
| LCHC Consolidated Site | LOWELL COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER, INC. | 161 Jackson St | Lowell 01852 |
| Lowell CHC - 101 Jackson Street | LOWELL COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER, INC. | 101 Jackson St | Lowell 01852 |
| LOWELL HIGH SCHOOL HEALTH CTR | LOWELL COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER, INC. | 50 Father Morissette Blvd | Lowell 01852 |
| Lowell Transitional Living Center | GREATER LAWRENCE FAMILY HEALTH CENTER, INC | 205 Middlesex St | Lowell 01852 |
| Y2Y Harvard Square | BOSTON HEALTH CARE FOR THE HOMELESS PROGRAM | 1 Church St | Cambridge 02138 |
Source: HRSA health center service delivery and look-alike sites, as of October 14, 2026. Publisher page
Massachusetts rural health plan
The Massachusetts Rural Health Transformation Program will catalyze transformative investments that strengthen rural MA communities, enabling them to thrive and sustain improved health and well-being.
Initiatives, as the state's abstract names them (page 32):
- Population Health Advancement
- Innovation in Rural Care Models
- Training Healthcare for Retention. Innovation, & Excellence (THRIVE)
- Healthy Rural Communities
- EMS Service Integration
- Enhancing Technology Interoperability and Connectivity
- Facility Modernization & Re-Use
CMS says the abstract budgets are illustrative and are not award amounts, so none are shown.
Source: CMS Rural Health Transformation Program state project abstracts, as of December 2025. Publisher page
Neighboring counties
Medicare plans in Middlesex County, MA
About this data
County rates are CDC PLACES model-based estimates of adults, built from the CDC BRFSS survey and Census population data. State and US figures are BRFSS survey results for the same year. They are not averages of counties, and small differences may not be meaningful.
Shortage rows are HRSA designations with status Designated. Scores run from 0 to 25 (0 to 26 for dental); a higher score means greater need. Hospitals are acute care and critical accesshospitals CMS lists in the county, with 30-day rates of unplanned readmission. Health centers are active HRSA-funded and look-alike sites.
Rural health plan initiatives are copied as the state wrote them. Nothing here is medical advice.
Source: CDC PLACES county data, as of December 4, 2025. Publisher page
Source: CDC BRFSS prevalence data, as of September 15, 2026. Publisher page
Source: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas, as of October 14, 2026. Publisher page