Data / Rankings / Unemployment rate / Cities in Massachusetts

Cities in Massachusetts by unemployment rate

Springfield, MA had the highest unemployment rate of 58 cities in July 2026, at 8%. Cambridge, MA had the lowest, at 3.6%. The median was 4.7% and the figure for Massachusetts was 4.4%. Source: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Highest8Springfield, MA
Lowest3.6Cambridge, MA
Median4.758 cities
Massachusetts4.4History

All cities, July 2026

Springfield, MA: 8 %Springfield, MA8Holyoke, MA: 7.1 %Holyoke, MA7.1Lawrence, MA: 6.8 %Lawrence, MA6.8New Bedford, MA: 6.6 %New Bedford, MA6.6Brockton, MA: 6.1 %Brockton, MA6.1Fall River, MA: 6.1 %Fall River, MA6.1Southbridge Town, MA: 6.1 %Southbridge Town, MA6.1Chicopee, MA: 5.9 %Chicopee, MA5.9Randolph Town, MA: 5.9 %Randolph Town, MA5.9Fitchburg, MA: 5.8 %Fitchburg, MA5.8Gardner, MA: 5.8 %Gardner, MA5.8North Adams, MA: 5.7 %North Adams, MA5.7Taunton, MA: 5.7 %Taunton, MA5.7Greenfield, MA: 5.6 %Greenfield, MA5.6Lowell, MA: 5.3 %Lowell, MA5.3Lynn, MA: 5.2 %Lynn, MA5.2Methuen, MA: 5.2 %Methuen, MA5.2Leominster, MA: 5.1 %Leominster, MA5.1Haverhill, MA: 5 %Haverhill, MA5Palmer Town, MA: 5 %Palmer Town, MA5Bridgewater Town, MA: 4.9 %Bridgewater Town, MA4.9Chelsea, MA: 4.9 %Chelsea, MA4.9Peabody, MA: 4.9 %Peabody, MA4.9Salem, MA: 4.9 %Salem, MA4.9West Springfield Town, MA: 4.9 %West Springfield Town, MA4.9Worcester, MA: 4.9 %Worcester, MA4.9Gloucester, MA: 4.8 %Gloucester, MA4.8Westfield, MA: 4.8 %Westfield, MA4.8Attleboro, MA: 4.7 %Attleboro, MA4.7Boston, MA: 4.7 %Boston, MA4.7Revere, MA: 4.7 %Revere, MA4.7Winthrop Town, MA: 4.7 %Winthrop Town, MA4.7Weymouth Town, MA: 4.6 %Weymouth Town, MA4.6Everett, MA: 4.5 %Everett, MA4.5Malden, MA: 4.5 %Malden, MA4.5Agawam Town, MA: 4.4 %Agawam Town, MA4.4Easthampton, MA: 4.4 %Easthampton, MA4.4Pittsfield, MA: 4.4 %Pittsfield, MA4.4Beverly, MA: 4.3 %Beverly, MA4.3Braintree Town, MA: 4.3 %Braintree Town, MA4.3Marlborough, MA: 4.3 %Marlborough, MA4.3North Attleborough Town, MA: 4.3 %North Attleborough Town, MA4.3Quincy, MA: 4.3 %Quincy, MA4.3Woburn, MA: 4.3 %Woburn, MA4.3Medford, MA: 4.2 %Medford, MA4.2Melrose, MA: 4.2 %Melrose, MA4.2Amesbury, MA: 4.1 %Amesbury, MA4.1Framingham, MA: 4.1 %Framingham, MA4.1Waltham, MA: 4.1 %Waltham, MA4.1Watertown, MA: 4.1 %Watertown, MA4.1Amherst Town, MA: 4 %Amherst Town, MA4Franklin Town, MA: 4 %Franklin Town, MA4Newburyport, MA: 4 %Newburyport, MA4Newton, MA: 4 %Newton, MA4Northampton, MA: 4 %Northampton, MA4Barnstable Town, MA: 3.8 %Barnstable Town, MA3.8Somerville, MA: 3.7 %Somerville, MA3.7Cambridge, MA: 3.6 %Cambridge, MA3.6Springfield, MA: 8 %Springfield, MA8Holyoke, MA: 7.1 %Holyoke, MA7.1Lawrence, MA: 6.8 %Lawrence, MA6.8New Bedford, MA: 6.6 %New Bedford, MA6.6Brockton, MA: 6.1 %Brockton, MA6.1Fall River, MA: 6.1 %Fall River, MA6.1Southbridge Town, MA: 6.1 %Southbridge Town, MA6.1Chicopee, MA: 5.9 %Chicopee, MA5.9Randolph Town, MA: 5.9 %Randolph Town, MA5.9Fitchburg, MA: 5.8 %Fitchburg, MA5.8Gardner, MA: 5.8 %Gardner, MA5.8North Adams, MA: 5.7 %North Adams, MA5.7Taunton, MA: 5.7 %Taunton, MA5.7Greenfield, MA: 5.6 %Greenfield, MA5.6Lowell, MA: 5.3 %Lowell, MA5.3Lynn, MA: 5.2 %Lynn, MA5.2Methuen, MA: 5.2 %Methuen, MA5.2Leominster, MA: 5.1 %Leominster, MA5.1Haverhill, MA: 5 %Haverhill, MA5Palmer Town, MA: 5 %Palmer Town, MA5Bridgewater Town, MA: 4.9 %Bridgewater Town, MA4.9Chelsea, MA: 4.9 %Chelsea, MA4.9Peabody, MA: 4.9 %Peabody, MA4.9Salem, MA: 4.9 %Salem, MA4.9West Springfield Town, MA: 4.9 %West Springfield Town, MA4.9Worcester, MA: 4.9 %Worcester, MA4.9Gloucester, MA: 4.8 %Gloucester, MA4.8Westfield, MA: 4.8 %Westfield, MA4.8Attleboro, MA: 4.7 %Attleboro, MA4.7Boston, MA: 4.7 %Boston, MA4.7Revere, MA: 4.7 %Revere, MA4.7Winthrop Town, MA: 4.7 %Winthrop Town, MA4.7Weymouth Town, MA: 4.6 %Weymouth Town, MA4.6Everett, MA: 4.5 %Everett, MA4.5Malden, MA: 4.5 %Malden, MA4.5Agawam Town, MA: 4.4 %Agawam Town, MA4.4Easthampton, MA: 4.4 %Easthampton, MA4.4Pittsfield, MA: 4.4 %Pittsfield, MA4.4Beverly, MA: 4.3 %Beverly, MA4.3Braintree Town, MA: 4.3 %Braintree Town, MA4.3Marlborough, MA: 4.3 %Marlborough, MA4.3North Attleborough Town, MA: 4.3 %North Attleborough Town, MA4.3Quincy, MA: 4.3 %Quincy, MA4.3Woburn, MA: 4.3 %Woburn, MA4.3Medford, MA: 4.2 %Medford, MA4.2Melrose, MA: 4.2 %Melrose, MA4.2Amesbury, MA: 4.1 %Amesbury, MA4.1Framingham, MA: 4.1 %Framingham, MA4.1Waltham, MA: 4.1 %Waltham, MA4.1Watertown, MA: 4.1 %Watertown, MA4.1Amherst Town, MA: 4 %Amherst Town, MA4Franklin Town, MA: 4 %Franklin Town, MA4Newburyport, MA: 4 %Newburyport, MA4Newton, MA: 4 %Newton, MA4Northampton, MA: 4 %Northampton, MA4Barnstable Town, MA: 3.8 %Barnstable Town, MA3.8Somerville, MA: 3.7 %Somerville, MA3.7Cambridge, MA: 3.6 %Cambridge, MA3.6
%. Source: BLS, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, cities and towns, not seasonally adjusted: unemployment rate (measure 03). Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCitiesJuly 2026 (%)Change on July 2025
1Springfield, MA80 pts
2Holyoke, MA7.1+0.4 pts
3Lawrence, MA6.8-0.2 pts
4New Bedford, MA6.6+0.1 pts
5Brockton, MA6.1-0.1 pts
5Fall River, MA6.10 pts
5Southbridge Town, MA6.1+0.2 pts
8Chicopee, MA5.9+0.2 pts
8Randolph Town, MA5.9-0.2 pts
10Fitchburg, MA5.8-0.2 pts
10Gardner, MA5.8-0.4 pts
12North Adams, MA5.7+0.6 pts
12Taunton, MA5.7+0.1 pts
14Greenfield, MA5.6+0.8 pts
15Lowell, MA5.3-0.2 pts
16Lynn, MA5.2-0.3 pts
16Methuen, MA5.2-0.2 pts
18Leominster, MA5.1+0.2 pts
19Haverhill, MA50 pts
19Palmer Town, MA5+0.2 pts
21Bridgewater Town, MA4.9-0.1 pts
21Chelsea, MA4.9-0.1 pts
21Peabody, MA4.9+0.1 pts
21Salem, MA4.9-0.1 pts
21West Springfield Town, MA4.90 pts
21Worcester, MA4.9-0.2 pts
27Gloucester, MA4.8-0.5 pts
27Westfield, MA4.8-0.2 pts
29Attleboro, MA4.7-0.3 pts
29Boston, MA4.7-0.1 pts
29Revere, MA4.7-0.1 pts
29Winthrop Town, MA4.7+0.4 pts
33Weymouth Town, MA4.6+0.1 pts
34Everett, MA4.5+0.2 pts
34Malden, MA4.5-0.2 pts
36Agawam Town, MA4.4-0.1 pts
36Easthampton, MA4.4-0.1 pts
36Pittsfield, MA4.4+0.1 pts
39Beverly, MA4.3-0.3 pts
39Braintree Town, MA4.3-0.2 pts
39Marlborough, MA4.30 pts
39North Attleborough Town, MA4.3+0.2 pts
39Quincy, MA4.3-0.2 pts
39Woburn, MA4.3-0.1 pts
45Medford, MA4.2+0.1 pts
45Melrose, MA4.2+0.1 pts
47Amesbury, MA4.1-0.2 pts
47Framingham, MA4.1-0.1 pts
47Waltham, MA4.1-0.1 pts
47Watertown, MA4.10 pts
51Amherst Town, MA4-0.6 pts
51Franklin Town, MA4-0.1 pts
51Newburyport, MA4-0.5 pts
51Newton, MA4-0.2 pts
51Northampton, MA4+0.1 pts
56Barnstable Town, MA3.8+0.2 pts
57Somerville, MA3.70 pts
58Cambridge, MA3.6-0.3 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, 2026-07) [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, 2026-07. 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=2026-07. 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, 2026-07. 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=2026-07.

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, 2026-07 [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=2026-07 (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, 2026-07}},
  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=2026-07. 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, 2026-07
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=2026-07
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate/massachusetts-cities?period=2026-07.
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  -
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Rank Cities in Massachusetts by unemployment rate using official data, and cite the source.
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Questions

Which city has the highest unemployment rate?

Springfield, MA, with 8% in July 2026, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Which city has the lowest unemployment rate?

Cambridge, MA, with 3.6% in July 2026.

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