Massachusetts Snapshot: Voters as a percent of population 2012

By Matt Carroll, Globe Staff | May 30, 2013

Looking at the percent of voters who are part of community's population can provide a quick, rough measure of civic engagement. Smaller communities tended to do better than urban areas. (A handful of tiny towns had percents above 100 because the voter data and Census data are collected in different ways.) The voter data from the Secretary of state's office is from 2012. The Census data is from 2010.

Community:

Community	Registered voters	Registered voters as percent of population 2012	Rank
ABINGTON	10902	68.2	248
ACTON	14398	65.7	286
ACUSHNET	7478	72.6	140
ADAMS	5980	70.5	200
AGAWAM	21365	75.1	85
ALFORD	372	75.3	82
AMESBURY	11203	68.8	236
AMHERST	22425	59.3	329
ANDOVER	23490	70.8	189
AQUINNAH	398	128	2
ARLINGTON	30616	71.5	173
ASHBURNHAM	4266	70.2	205
ASHBY	2375	77.3	56
ASHFIELD	1359	78.2	42
ASHLAND	10735	64.7	299
ATHOL	6661	57.5	336
ATTLEBORO	27280	62.6	317
AUBURN	11784	72.8	131
AVON	3065	70.4	201
AYER	4961	66.8	266
BARNSTABLE	32923	72.8	131
BARRE	3518	65.2	292
BECKET	1354	76.1	68
BEDFORD	9842	73.9	102
BELCHERTOWN	9732	66.4	279
BELLINGHAM	10795	66.1	280
BELMONT	17821	72.1	159
BERKLEY	4424	69	232
BERLIN	2103	73.4	115
BERNARDSTON	1504	70.6	196
BEVERLY	25780	65.3	291
BILLERICA	26216	65.1	295
BLACKSTONE	6273	69.5	223
BLANDFORD	842	68.3	245
BOLTON	3519	71.9	164
BOSTON	387040	62.7	315
BOURNE	13645	69.1	229
BOXBOROUGH	3582	71.7	168
BOXFORD	6030	75.7	75
BOYLSTON	3162	72.6	140
BRAINTREE	25124	70.3	202
BREWSTER	8198	83.5	16
BRIDGEWATER	15787	59.4	327
BRIMFIELD	2618	72.5	145
BROCKTON	55039	58.7	331
BROOKFIELD	2261	66.7	272
BROOKLINE	40353	68.7	242
BUCKLAND	1330	69.9	211
BURLINGTON	17123	69.9	211
CAMBRIDGE	69357	66	282
CANTON	15506	71.9	164
CARLISLE	3933	81.1	23
CARVER	8176	71	185
CHARLEMONT	800	63.2	312
CHARLTON	9514	73.3	118
CHATHAM	5603	91.5	8
CHELMSFORD	24504	72.5	145
CHELSEA	14271	40.6	351
CHESHIRE	2335	72.2	154
CHESTER	891	66.6	274
CHESTERFIELD	888	72.7	136
CHICOPEE	35761	64.7	299
CHILMARK	902	104.2	3
CLARKSBURG	1135	66.7	272
CLINTON	9363	68.8	236
COHASSET	5829	77.3	56
COLRAIN	1185	70.9	188
Community	Registered voters	Registered voters as percent of population 2012	Rank
CONCORD	13012	73.6	113
CONWAY	1547	81.5	21
CUMMINGTON	679	77.9	45
DALTON	4667	69.1	229
DANVERS	18963	71.6	172
DARTMOUTH	24104	70.8	189
DEDHAM	17899	72.4	150
DEERFIELD	3676	71.7	168
DENNIS	11762	82.8	20
DIGHTON	4860	68.6	244
DOUGLAS	6194	73.1	124
DOVER	4184	74.9	88
DRACUT	20065	68.1	252
DUDLEY	7145	62.7	315
DUNSTABLE	2230	70.1	209
DUXBURY	11470	76.2	65
EAST BRIDGEWATER	9623	69.8	214
EAST BROOKFIELD	1479	67.8	253
EASTHAM	4269	86.1	11
EASTHAMPTON	11921	74.3	97
EAST LONGMEADOW	11318	72	163
EASTON	15965	69.1	229
EDGARTOWN	3293	81	24
EGREMONT	982	80.2	29
ERVING	1107	61.5	321
ESSEX	2725	77.8	47
EVERETT	19903	47.8	350
FAIRHAVEN	10960	69	232
FALL RIVER	50556	56.9	338
FALMOUTH	25376	80.5	27
FITCHBURG	21905	54.3	344
FLORIDA	538	71.5	173
FOXBOROUGH	12189	72.3	153
FRAMINGHAM	36948	54.1	345
FRANKLIN	21038	66.5	275
FREETOWN	6357	71.7	168
GARDNER	11809	58.4	333
GEORGETOWN	6202	75.8	72
GILL	1098	73.2	120
GLOUCESTER	20910	72.6	140
GOSHEN	756	71.7	168
GOSNOLD	144	192	1
GRAFTON	12364	69.6	218
GRANBY	4538	72.7	136
GRANVILLE	1169	74.6	93
GREAT BARRINGTON	4606	64.8	298
GREENFIELD	11608	66.5	275
GROTON	7820	73.5	114
GROVELAND	4716	73	127
HADLEY	3894	74.2	99
HALIFAX	5362	71.3	178
HAMILTON	5837	75.2	83
HAMPDEN	3635	70.7	192
HANCOCK	525	73.2	120
HANOVER	9743	70.2	205
HANSON	7013	68.7	242
HARDWICK	1736	58.1	334
HARVARD	4287	65.8	283
HARWICH	10452	85.4	13
HATFIELD	2567	78.3	41
HAVERHILL	43400	71.3	178
HAWLEY	249	73.9	102
HEATH	509	72.1	159
HINGHAM	16974	76.6	62
HINSDALE	1417	69.7	216
HOLBROOK	7092	65.7	286
HOLDEN	12912	74.4	94
HOLLAND	1864	75.1	85
HOLLISTON	10507	77.6	50
HOLYOKE	25781	64.6	302
HOPEDALE	3951	66.8	266
HOPKINTON	10395	69.6	218
HUBBARDSTON	3179	72.5	145
HUDSON	12878	67.6	257
HULL	8211	79.8	33
HUNTINGTON	1433	65.7	286
IPSWICH	10501	79.7	34
KINGSTON	8934	70.7	192
LAKEVILLE	7765	73.2	120
LANCASTER	4807	59.7	326
LANESBOROUGH	2205	71.3	178
LAWRENCE	40493	53	346
LEE	4086	68.8	236
LEICESTER	7480	68.2	248
LENOX	3811	75.8	72
LEOMINSTER	26277	64.5	306
LEVERETT	1493	80.7	25
LEXINGTON	22174	70.6	196
LEYDEN	558	78.5	39
LINCOLN	4546	71.5	173
LITTLETON	6458	72.4	150
LONGMEADOW	12206	77.3	56
LOWELL	54683	51.3	348
LUDLOW	13634	64.6	302
LUNENBURG	7345	72.8	131
LYNN	50578	56	343
LYNNFIELD	9279	80	31
MALDEN	30968	52.1	347
MANCHESTER-BY-THE-SEA	4173	81.2	22
MANSFIELD	15250	65.8	283
MARBLEHEAD	15375	77.6	50
MARION	3922	79.9	32
MARLBOROUGH	21737	56.5	340
MARSHFIELD	18824	74.9	88
MASHPEE	10586	75.6	79
MATTAPOISETT	5054	83.6	15
MAYNARD	7255	71.8	166
MEDFIELD	8533	71	185
MEDFORD	37539	66.8	266
MEDWAY	9291	72.9	129
MELROSE	19552	72.5	145
MENDON	4268	73.1	124
MERRIMAC	4606	72.7	136
METHUEN	30736	65	296
MIDDLEBOROUGH	16060	69.5	223
MIDDLEFIELD	356	68.3	245
MIDDLETON	5805	64.6	302
MILFORD	17791	63.5	309
MILLBURY	9122	68.8	236
MILLIS	5699	72.2	154
MILLVILLE	2038	63.9	308
MILTON	19592	72.6	140
MONROE	68	56.2	342
MONSON	5661	66.1	280
MONTAGUE	5866	69.5	223
MONTEREY	744	77.4	54
MONTGOMERY	614	73.3	118
MOUNT WASHINGTON	125	74.9	88
NAHANT	2665	78.2	42
NANTUCKET	8443	83	19
NATICK	24330	73.7	111
NEEDHAM	21347	73.9	102
NEW ASHFORD	183	80.3	28
NEW BEDFORD	53519	56.3	341
NEW BRAINTREE	721	72.2	154
NEWBURY	5210	78.2	42
NEWBURYPORT	13827	79.4	36
NEW MARLBOROUGH	1135	75.2	83
NEW SALEM	737	74.4	94
NEWTON	57639	67.7	254
NORFOLK	6618	58.9	330
NORTH ADAMS	9112	66.5	275
NORTHAMPTON	20800	72.9	129
NORTH ANDOVER	18968	66.9	265
NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH	19326	67.3	261
NORTHBOROUGH	10717	75.7	75
NORTHBRIDGE	10489	66.8	266
NORTH BROOKFIELD	3290	70.3	202
NORTHFIELD	2153	71	185
NORTH READING	10972	73.7	111
NORTON	12039	63.3	311
NORWELL	7788	74.1	101
NORWOOD	20723	72.5	145
OAK BLUFFS	3483	76.9	60
OAKHAM	1365	71.8	166
ORANGE	4815	61.4	322
ORLEANS	5429	92.2	7
OTIS	1132	70.2	205
OXFORD	8932	65.2	292
PALMER	8297	68.3	245
PAXTON	3161	65.8	283
PEABODY	35849	69.9	211
PELHAM	1028	77.8	47
PEMBROKE	12699	71.2	183
PEPPERELL	8202	71.3	178
PERU	599	70.7	192
PETERSHAM	961	77.9	45
PHILLIPSTON	1177	70	210
PITTSFIELD	30182	67.5	258
PLAINFIELD	473	73	127
PLAINVILLE	5845	70.7	192
PLYMOUTH	39277	69.6	218
PLYMPTON	2094	74.3	97
PRINCETON	2737	80.2	29
PROVINCETOWN	2975	101.1	4
QUINCY	63444	68.8	236
RANDOLPH	20295	63.2	312
RAYNHAM	9797	73.2	120
READING	17583	71.1	184
REHOBOTH	8576	73.9	102
REVERE	26298	50.8	349
RICHMOND	1167	79.1	37
ROCHESTER	4065	77.7	49
ROCKLAND	12505	71.5	173
ROCKPORT	5789	83.3	18
ROWE	290	73.8	109
ROWLEY	4533	77.4	54
ROYALSTON	877	69.7	216
RUSSELL	1023	57.6	335
RUTLAND	5856	73.4	115
SALEM	28481	68.9	234
SALISBURY	5976	72.1	159
SANDISFIELD	615	67.2	263
SANDWICH	15659	75.7	75
SAUGUS	18024	67.7	254
SAVOY	462	66.8	266
SCITUATE	13780	76	70
SEEKONK	9638	70.2	205
SHARON	12799	72.7	136
SHEFFIELD	2267	69.6	218
SHELBURNE	1379	72.8	131
SHERBORN	3140	76.2	65
SHIRLEY	4095	56.8	339
SHREWSBURY	23216	65.2	292
SHUTESBURY	1477	83.4	17
SOMERSET	13406	73.8	109
SOMERVILLE	49047	64.7	299
SOUTHAMPTON	4283	73.9	102
SOUTHBOROUGH	7071	72.4	150
SOUTHBRIDGE	11168	66.8	266
SOUTH HADLEY	11211	64	307
SOUTHWICK	6401	67.4	259
SPENCER	7843	67.1	264
SPRINGFIELD	94641	61.8	320
STERLING	5920	75.8	72
STOCKBRIDGE	1547	79.5	35
STONEHAM	15285	71.3	178
STOUGHTON	18151	67.3	261
STOW	5032	76.4	64
STURBRIDGE	6631	71.5	173
SUDBURY	12412	70.3	202
SUNDERLAND	2540	68.9	234
SUTTON	6833	76.2	65
SWAMPSCOTT	10257	74.4	94
SWANSEA	11892	75	87
TAUNTON	35281	63.1	314
TEMPLETON	5174	64.6	302
TEWKSBURY	21503	74.2	99
TISBURY	3386	85.7	12
TOLLAND	367	75.7	75
TOPSFIELD	4702	77.3	56
TOWNSEND	6212	69.6	218
TRURO	1760	87.9	9
TYNGSBOROUGH	8260	73.1	124
TYRINGHAM	310	94.8	6
UPTON	5142	68.2	248
UXBRIDGE	10140	75.4	81
WAKEFIELD	17295	69.4	226
WALES	1297	70.6	196
WALPOLE	17050	70.8	189
WALTHAM	35565	58.7	331
WARE	6410	64.9	297
WAREHAM	15091	69.2	228
WARREN	3203	62.4	318
WARWICK	563	72.2	154
WASHINGTON	412	76.6	62
WATERTOWN	22517	70.6	196
WAYLAND	9884	76.1	68
WEBSTER	11636	69.4	226
WELLESLEY	18947	67.7	254
WELLFLEET	2721	98.9	5
WENDELL	684	80.7	25
WENHAM	2894	59.4	327
WESTBOROUGH	11598	63.5	309
WEST BOYLSTON	5099	66.5	275
WEST BRIDGEWATER	5177	74.9	88
WEST BROOKFIELD	2524	68.2	248
WESTFIELD	25061	61	324
WESTFORD	16115	73.4	115
WESTHAMPTON	1260	78.4	40
WESTMINSTER	5532	76	70
WEST NEWBURY	3199	75.5	80
WESTON	8178	72.6	140
WESTPORT	11598	74.7	92
WEST SPRINGFIELD	17287	60.9	325
WEST STOCKBRIDGE	1113	85.2	14
WEST TISBURY	2394	87.4	10
WESTWOOD	10638	72.8	131
WEYMOUTH	35181	65.5	289
WHATELY	1177	78.7	38
WHITMAN	9966	68.8	236
WILBRAHAM	10509	73.9	102
WILLIAMSBURG	1926	77.6	50
WILLIAMSTOWN	4810	62	319
WILMINGTON	15588	69.8	214
WINCHENDON	6311	61.3	323
WINCHESTER	15426	72.2	154
WINDSOR	664	73.9	102
WINTHROP	11458	65.5	289
WOBURN	25704	67.4	259
WORCESTER	103767	57.3	337
WORTHINGTON	897	77.6	50
WRENTHAM	7899	72.1	159
YARMOUTH	18260	76.7	61