Data / Rankings / Unemployment rate / Cities in Massachusetts

Cities in Massachusetts by unemployment rate

Springfield, MA had the highest unemployment rate of 58 cities in September 2025, at 7.1%. Barnstable Town, MA had the lowest, at 3.3%. The median was 4.35% and the figure for Massachusetts was 4.6%. Source: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest7.1Springfield, MA
Lowest3.3Barnstable Town, MA
Median4.3558 cities
Massachusetts4.6History

All cities, September 2025

Springfield, MA: 7.1 %Springfield, MA7.1Lawrence, MA: 6.1 %Lawrence, MA6.1Holyoke, MA: 6 %Holyoke, MA6Brockton, MA: 5.8 %Brockton, MA5.8New Bedford, MA: 5.7 %New Bedford, MA5.7Southbridge Town, MA: 5.7 %Southbridge Town, MA5.7Gardner, MA: 5.6 %Gardner, MA5.6Amherst Town, MA: 5.5 %Amherst Town, MA5.5Fitchburg, MA: 5.5 %Fitchburg, MA5.5Fall River, MA: 5.4 %Fall River, MA5.4Randolph Town, MA: 5.3 %Randolph Town, MA5.3Chicopee, MA: 5.2 %Chicopee, MA5.2North Adams, MA: 5.2 %North Adams, MA5.2Lowell, MA: 5.1 %Lowell, MA5.1Lynn, MA: 5 %Lynn, MA5Taunton, MA: 5 %Taunton, MA5Chelsea, MA: 4.9 %Chelsea, MA4.9Methuen, MA: 4.8 %Methuen, MA4.8Worcester, MA: 4.8 %Worcester, MA4.8Haverhill, MA: 4.7 %Haverhill, MA4.7Westfield, MA: 4.7 %Westfield, MA4.7Bridgewater Town, MA: 4.6 %Bridgewater Town, MA4.6Salem, MA: 4.6 %Salem, MA4.6Attleboro, MA: 4.5 %Attleboro, MA4.5Boston, MA: 4.5 %Boston, MA4.5West Springfield Town, MA: 4.5 %West Springfield Town, MA4.5Leominster, MA: 4.4 %Leominster, MA4.4Revere, MA: 4.4 %Revere, MA4.4Woburn, MA: 4.4 %Woburn, MA4.4Franklin Town, MA: 4.3 %Franklin Town, MA4.3Gloucester, MA: 4.3 %Gloucester, MA4.3Malden, MA: 4.3 %Malden, MA4.3Palmer Town, MA: 4.3 %Palmer Town, MA4.3Peabody, MA: 4.3 %Peabody, MA4.3Pittsfield, MA: 4.3 %Pittsfield, MA4.3Quincy, MA: 4.3 %Quincy, MA4.3Weymouth Town, MA: 4.3 %Weymouth Town, MA4.3Beverly, MA: 4.2 %Beverly, MA4.2Braintree Town, MA: 4.2 %Braintree Town, MA4.2Greenfield, MA: 4.2 %Greenfield, MA4.2Medford, MA: 4.2 %Medford, MA4.2Newburyport, MA: 4.2 %Newburyport, MA4.2Newton, MA: 4.2 %Newton, MA4.2Agawam Town, MA: 4.1 %Agawam Town, MA4.1Everett, MA: 4 %Everett, MA4Framingham, MA: 4 %Framingham, MA4Marlborough, MA: 4 %Marlborough, MA4Waltham, MA: 4 %Waltham, MA4Watertown, MA: 4 %Watertown, MA4Melrose, MA: 3.9 %Melrose, MA3.9Amesbury, MA: 3.8 %Amesbury, MA3.8Easthampton, MA: 3.8 %Easthampton, MA3.8Winthrop Town, MA: 3.8 %Winthrop Town, MA3.8Cambridge, MA: 3.7 %Cambridge, MA3.7North Attleborough Town, MA: 3.7 %North Attleborough Town, MA3.7Northampton, MA: 3.7 %Northampton, MA3.7Somerville, MA: 3.6 %Somerville, MA3.6Barnstable Town, MA: 3.3 %Barnstable Town, MA3.3Springfield, MA: 7.1 %Springfield, MA7.1Lawrence, MA: 6.1 %Lawrence, MA6.1Holyoke, MA: 6 %Holyoke, MA6Brockton, MA: 5.8 %Brockton, MA5.8New Bedford, MA: 5.7 %New Bedford, MA5.7Southbridge Town, MA: 5.7 %Southbridge Town, MA5.7Gardner, MA: 5.6 %Gardner, MA5.6Amherst Town, MA: 5.5 %Amherst Town, MA5.5Fitchburg, MA: 5.5 %Fitchburg, MA5.5Fall River, MA: 5.4 %Fall River, MA5.4Randolph Town, MA: 5.3 %Randolph Town, MA5.3Chicopee, MA: 5.2 %Chicopee, MA5.2North Adams, MA: 5.2 %North Adams, MA5.2Lowell, MA: 5.1 %Lowell, MA5.1Lynn, MA: 5 %Lynn, MA5Taunton, MA: 5 %Taunton, MA5Chelsea, MA: 4.9 %Chelsea, MA4.9Methuen, MA: 4.8 %Methuen, MA4.8Worcester, MA: 4.8 %Worcester, MA4.8Haverhill, MA: 4.7 %Haverhill, MA4.7Westfield, MA: 4.7 %Westfield, MA4.7Bridgewater Town, MA: 4.6 %Bridgewater Town, MA4.6Salem, MA: 4.6 %Salem, MA4.6Attleboro, MA: 4.5 %Attleboro, MA4.5Boston, MA: 4.5 %Boston, MA4.5West Springfield Town, MA: 4.5 %West Springfield Town, MA4.5Leominster, MA: 4.4 %Leominster, MA4.4Revere, MA: 4.4 %Revere, MA4.4Woburn, MA: 4.4 %Woburn, MA4.4Franklin Town, MA: 4.3 %Franklin Town, MA4.3Gloucester, MA: 4.3 %Gloucester, MA4.3Malden, MA: 4.3 %Malden, MA4.3Palmer Town, MA: 4.3 %Palmer Town, MA4.3Peabody, MA: 4.3 %Peabody, MA4.3Pittsfield, MA: 4.3 %Pittsfield, MA4.3Quincy, MA: 4.3 %Quincy, MA4.3Weymouth Town, MA: 4.3 %Weymouth Town, MA4.3Beverly, MA: 4.2 %Beverly, MA4.2Braintree Town, MA: 4.2 %Braintree Town, MA4.2Greenfield, MA: 4.2 %Greenfield, MA4.2Medford, MA: 4.2 %Medford, MA4.2Newburyport, MA: 4.2 %Newburyport, MA4.2Newton, MA: 4.2 %Newton, MA4.2Agawam Town, MA: 4.1 %Agawam Town, MA4.1Everett, MA: 4 %Everett, MA4Framingham, MA: 4 %Framingham, MA4Marlborough, MA: 4 %Marlborough, MA4Waltham, MA: 4 %Waltham, MA4Watertown, MA: 4 %Watertown, MA4Melrose, MA: 3.9 %Melrose, MA3.9Amesbury, MA: 3.8 %Amesbury, MA3.8Easthampton, MA: 3.8 %Easthampton, MA3.8Winthrop Town, MA: 3.8 %Winthrop Town, MA3.8Cambridge, MA: 3.7 %Cambridge, MA3.7North Attleborough Town, MA: 3.7 %North Attleborough Town, MA3.7Northampton, MA: 3.7 %Northampton, MA3.7Somerville, MA: 3.6 %Somerville, MA3.6Barnstable Town, MA: 3.3 %Barnstable Town, MA3.3
%. Source: BLS, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, cities and towns, not seasonally adjusted: unemployment rate (measure 03). Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCitiesSeptember 2025 (%)Change on September 2024
1Springfield, MA7.1+0.9 pts
2Lawrence, MA6.1+0.4 pts
3Holyoke, MA6+0.5 pts
4Brockton, MA5.8+1.3 pts
5New Bedford, MA5.7+0.6 pts
5Southbridge Town, MA5.7+0.7 pts
7Gardner, MA5.6+1.2 pts
8Amherst Town, MA5.5+0.5 pts
8Fitchburg, MA5.5+0.8 pts
10Fall River, MA5.4+0.8 pts
11Randolph Town, MA5.3+1.1 pts
12Chicopee, MA5.2+0.8 pts
12North Adams, MA5.2+0.6 pts
14Lowell, MA5.1+0.7 pts
15Lynn, MA5+1.1 pts
15Taunton, MA5+0.8 pts
17Chelsea, MA4.9+0.9 pts
18Methuen, MA4.8+0.7 pts
18Worcester, MA4.8+0.7 pts
20Haverhill, MA4.7+0.8 pts
20Westfield, MA4.7+0.6 pts
22Bridgewater Town, MA4.6+0.6 pts
22Salem, MA4.6+0.8 pts
24Attleboro, MA4.5+0.6 pts
24Boston, MA4.5+0.7 pts
24West Springfield Town, MA4.5+0.4 pts
27Leominster, MA4.4+0.7 pts
27Revere, MA4.4+0.9 pts
27Woburn, MA4.4+1.1 pts
30Franklin Town, MA4.3+0.7 pts
30Gloucester, MA4.3+0.6 pts
30Malden, MA4.3+0.8 pts
30Palmer Town, MA4.3-0.2 pts
30Peabody, MA4.3+0.7 pts
30Pittsfield, MA4.3+0.7 pts
30Quincy, MA4.3+0.9 pts
30Weymouth Town, MA4.3+0.6 pts
38Beverly, MA4.2+0.8 pts
38Braintree Town, MA4.2+0.7 pts
38Greenfield, MA4.2+0.5 pts
38Medford, MA4.2+0.9 pts
38Newburyport, MA4.2+0.8 pts
38Newton, MA4.2+0.8 pts
44Agawam Town, MA4.1+0.8 pts
45Everett, MA4+1 pts
45Framingham, MA4+1 pts
45Marlborough, MA4+0.7 pts
45Waltham, MA4+0.7 pts
45Watertown, MA4+0.6 pts
50Melrose, MA3.9+0.5 pts
51Amesbury, MA3.8+0.7 pts
51Easthampton, MA3.8+0.7 pts
51Winthrop Town, MA3.8+0.4 pts
54Cambridge, MA3.7+0.7 pts
54North Attleborough Town, MA3.7+0.2 pts
54Northampton, MA3.7+0.5 pts
57Somerville, MA3.6+0.7 pts
58Barnstable Town, MA3.3+0.2 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

Unemployed people as a percentage of the labour force, using the survey definition of unemployment: without work, available and looking for work.

More on how it is measured
  • Spain: EPA, aged 16 and over.
  • EU: Labour Force Survey, aged 15 to 74.
  • United States: civilian labour force aged 16 and over, from the Current Population Survey for the nation and from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics models, consistent with that survey, for states, counties and cities.
  • United Kingdom regions: Labour Force Survey, aged 16 and over, seasonally adjusted.
  • Canada: Labour Force Survey, aged 15 and over, seasonally adjusted, for the country and the provinces.
  • Australia: Labour Force Survey, aged 15 and over, seasonally adjusted, for the nation and the six states; the ABS publishes no seasonally adjusted series for the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory.
  • New Zealand: Household Labour Force Survey, aged 15 and over, seasonally adjusted for the country and not seasonally adjusted for regional council areas.
  • Norway: Statistics Norway Labour Force Survey, aged 15 to 74, seasonally adjusted monthly figures.
  • Sweden: Labour Force Survey, aged 15 to 74, seasonally adjusted and smoothed (the series Statistics Sweden gives in its monthly release), national.
  • Switzerland: Swiss Labour Force Survey (SLFS), ILO definition, permanent resident population aged 15 and over, seasonally adjusted quarterly averages, national.
  • For other countries, the source may be OECD survey-based rates, annual survey-based rates compiled by the ILO in ILOSTAT, or annual ILO modelled estimates published by the World Bank.
  • ILO modelled estimates cover ages 15 and over.
  • The World series uses those ILO modelled estimates.

Survey-based for national and Eurostat series. Available for Spain, regions, provinces, EU countries, US states, US counties, US cities (those of 25,000 or more and smaller New England cities), United Kingdom regions, Canadian provinces, Australia and its six states, New Zealand with 10 of its regions, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland (national), not Spanish municipalities. For Spanish municipalities use registered_unemployment_rate.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the cities are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Local Area Unemployment Statistics, cities and towns, not seasonally adjusted: unemployment rate (measure 03). https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/la/la.data.0.CurrentU25-29. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2026). Local Area Unemployment Statistics, cities and towns, not seasonally adjusted: unemployment rate (measure 03) (Cities in Massachusetts by unemployment rate, 2025-09) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/la/la.data.0.CurrentU25-29

MLA 9

Local Area Unemployment Statistics, cities and towns, not seasonally adjusted: unemployment rate (measure 03), Cities in Massachusetts by unemployment rate, 2025-09. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 30 Sept. 2026, https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/la/la.data.0.CurrentU25-29. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate/massachusetts-cities?period=2025-09. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2026. Local Area Unemployment Statistics, cities and towns, not seasonally adjusted: unemployment rate (measure 03). Cities in Massachusetts by unemployment rate, 2025-09. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/la/la.data.0.CurrentU25-29. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate/massachusetts-cities?period=2025-09.

Harvard

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026) Local Area Unemployment Statistics, cities and towns, not seasonally adjusted: unemployment rate (measure 03), Cities in Massachusetts by unemployment rate, 2025-09 [Dataset]. Available at: https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/la/la.data.0.CurrentU25-29, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate/massachusetts-cities?period=2025-09 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{bureau_cities_in_massachusetts_by_2026,
  author = {{U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics}},
  title = {{Local Area Unemployment Statistics, cities and towns, not seasonally adjusted: unemployment rate (measure 03): Cities in Massachusetts by unemployment rate, 2025-09}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/la/la.data.0.CurrentU25-29},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate/massachusetts-cities?period=2025-09. Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Local Area Unemployment Statistics, cities and towns, not seasonally adjusted: unemployment rate (measure 03). https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/la/la.data.0.CurrentU25-29. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
TI  - Local Area Unemployment Statistics, cities and towns, not seasonally adjusted: unemployment rate (measure 03): Cities in Massachusetts by unemployment rate, 2025-09
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/30
PB  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/la/la.data.0.CurrentU25-29
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate/massachusetts-cities?period=2025-09
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate/massachusetts-cities?period=2025-09.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Local Area Unemployment Statistics, cities and towns, not seasonally adjusted: unemployment rate (measure 03). https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/la/la.data.0.CurrentU25-29. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
Embed this chart

Paste this code into a web page or a blog post. The chart shows the latest figures as they are published, with the source and a link back to this page.

Sites that read oEmbed links, such as WordPress, can show the chart when you paste the link to this page.

Use this data in your AI agent

Invokely serves this figure to AI assistants through MCP and to code through a REST API, with the source and citation attached. Ask your assistant:

Rank Cities in Massachusetts by unemployment rate using official data, and cite the source.
rank_places {"indicator":"unemployment_rate","level":"municipality","within":"Massachusetts","limit":10}
GET https://invokely.ai/api/v1/rank?indicator=unemployment_rate&level=municipality&within=Massachusetts&limit=10

Connect Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor in one step. The trial answers 25 calls a day without an account.

Questions

Which city has the highest unemployment rate?

Springfield, MA, with 7.1% in September 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Which city has the lowest unemployment rate?

Barnstable Town, MA, with 3.3% in September 2025.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, cities and towns, not seasonally adjusted: unemployment rate (measure 03). Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Unemployment rate: other rankings

Cities in Massachusetts: more rankings