Children and Families
Reports of Domestic Violence

Increasing


Reports of Domestic Violence

What does this measure?

The rate of reported domestic violence victims per 1,000 residents. Domestic violence includes assaults, sex offenses, and violations of orders of protection among any family members (not just spouses or intimate partners).

Why is this important?

Domestic violence has unique negative effects on victims and families. Domestic violence can cause serious and permanent emotional and psychological damage, which hurts one's quality of life and ability to contribute to society and perform at work.

How is the region doing?

In 2022, there were 2.8 reported victims of domestic violence per 1,000 residents in the MetroWest region, or just over 8,800 reported victims. The rate increased from 1.7 in 2000 to 3.7 in 2010 before declining in subsequent years. The region's 2022 rate was lower than Massachusetts' rate (4.6).

Among the region's counties, Worcester County had the highest rate (3.9), Norfolk (2.6) and Middlesex had the lowest rate at 2.2. Marlborough in Middlesex County had the highest rate (7.6), followed by Maynard in Middlesex (4.3) and Milford in Worcester (4.1). The lowest rates in the region were found in the Middlesex County town of Weston and Norfolk County town of Medfield (both at 0.5) followed by Bedford and Carlisle in Middlesex (both at 0.6).

Notes about the data

As a rule, domestic violence tends to be underreported, causing possible inconsistencies in the data and difficulty in making long-term comparisons. Rates reflect reported victims, not the number of individual incidents. For some local communities, domestic violence report data was either unavailable or incomplete. Comparable data for the nation and other areas were not available.

Reports of Domestic Violence
20002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022
Massachusetts2.32.62.72.83.33.53.64.04.34.34.54.34.24.04.54.54.44.34.14.14.54.54.6
Region1.71.81.71.82.02.22.42.83.43.43.73.53.43.23.53.53.43.33.13.02.72.72.8
Middlesex County0.70.70.80.91.21.41.51.92.92.93.02.82.82.62.72.82.62.52.52.32.22.12.2
Norfolk County1.11.31.31.61.71.91.92.02.12.42.52.72.32.12.42.62.72.72.52.52.22.32.6
Worcester County4.14.23.93.73.74.14.55.15.45.35.85.65.45.16.05.75.45.45.04.74.24.23.9
Acton town, Middlesex County2.03.52.82.00.61.91.62.31.61.82.61.92.02.33.13.02.62.62.02.31.71.41.3
Ashland town, Middlesex County3.43.03.31.92.91.92.33.43.72.53.32.62.12.72.83.43.22.51.41.51.61.81.3
Bedford town, Middlesex County0.20.10.10.21.10.81.41.11.20.91.00.50.80.90.80.81.20.30.6
Bellingham town, Norfolk County1.63.02.03.92.64.23.63.63.63.53.33.62.94.04.14.25.13.13.83.83.02.8
Boxborough town, Middlesex County2.41.01.82.00.61.01.41.22.61.41.43.31.71.52.54.02.72.02.71.42.2
Carlisle town, Middlesex County1.51.00.61.01.30.80.40.6
Concord town, Middlesex County1.31.11.20.80.61.81.51.71.11.91.61.21.81.81.11.41.60.71.30.60.71.31.2
Dedham town, Norfolk County2.92.31.70.70.81.41.61.82.52.32.52.51.72.01.91.71.41.11.40.80.91.41.7
Dover town, Norfolk County0.21.21.81.80.51.20.91.01.50.81.01.21.21.21.30.21.2
Framingham city, Middlesex County0.02.32.93.63.14.64.43.93.74.04.13.43.4
Franklin town, Norfolk County1.31.51.82.41.61.62.01.91.51.72.11.61.31.21.31.01.81.21.71.41.51.41.8
Groton town, Middlesex County1.40.90.83.61.20.60.21.00.50.80.30.31.11.41.71.51.10.81.41.11.21.71.1
Harvard town, Worcester County0.20.81.82.11.80.31.00.81.50.61.11.51.81.52.31.21.80.60.51.12.0
Holliston town, Middlesex County1.20.91.91.41.81.21.41.21.61.31.40.91.61.31.11.91.81.21.52.21.91.21.3
Hopkinton town, Middlesex County0.70.40.40.10.10.61.81.91.21.11.71.91.61.41.01.31.32.01.71.71.01.51.6
Hudson town, Middlesex County9.98.79.69.88.87.47.97.86.89.17.76.17.16.34.03.13.42.52.72.41.51.81.7
Lexington town, Middlesex County0.10.20.30.00.30.10.10.20.20.10.20.20.20.10.10.10.20.20.60.50.71.11.0
Lincoln town, Middlesex County0.20.10.10.51.62.31.61.62.42.22.61.42.20.91.62.52.21.61.61.41.2
Littleton town, Middlesex County1.52.62.62.73.13.31.31.43.33.02.82.11.51.92.22.61.83.22.42.51.61.11.5
Marlborough city, Middlesex County3.44.55.55.86.24.14.04.96.46.26.97.05.85.56.75.75.76.25.76.76.06.87.6
Maynard town, Middlesex County2.83.51.70.80.60.92.33.61.72.56.05.54.84.73.14.55.12.63.33.12.82.34.3
Medfield town, Norfolk County0.80.40.70.71.21.20.90.90.71.01.71.02.01.41.00.50.90.70.5
Medway town, Norfolk County0.91.11.30.90.50.60.91.31.71.82.03.12.21.80.50.20.81.72.51.30.51.21.7
Milford town, Worcester County4.12.71.62.34.44.33.34.74.64.44.65.13.63.63.74.1
Millis town, Norfolk County0.10.10.60.10.60.10.32.92.92.31.91.52.5
Natick town, Middlesex County2.42.62.82.83.12.82.62.53.12.42.82.52.92.02.31.51.81.92.4
Needham town, Norfolk County1.01.30.91.11.11.21.01.10.80.80.91.00.71.11.01.41.00.81.21.01.11.01.0
Sherborn town, Middlesex County1.00.71.40.50.50.71.40.72.61.21.43.03.51.21.92.81.80.9
Southborough town, Worcester County0.30.31.61.62.01.50.42.40.71.2
Stow town, Middlesex County0.50.70.71.12.11.51.01.11.70.92.71.60.93.22.82.93.82.52.02.51.21.12.0
Sudbury town, Middlesex County1.00.91.31.40.60.91.91.41.31.11.01.21.11.10.91.00.91.31.30.81.51.81.0
Walpole town, Norfolk County3.12.73.02.42.84.53.94.53.12.94.93.53.53.43.23.13.93.43.33.52.52.43.4
Waltham city, Middlesex County0.72.82.22.12.72.62.62.32.62.92.62.52.02.12.01.62.31.51.21.21.3
Wayland town, Middlesex County0.80.10.50.20.20.80.60.10.20.20.10.20.50.10.20.10.1
Wellesley town, Norfolk County1.51.31.21.21.21.21.91.01.00.81.00.81.20.81.20.90.80.60.60.80.80.50.9
Westborough town, Worcester County1.92.22.42.42.12.92.31.93.32.12.81.81.62.02.72.02.42.21.83.53.63.73.3
Westford town, Middlesex County0.70.70.40.20.70.30.40.20.61.31.91.41.50.91.11.31.31.01.31.21.00.81.1
Weston town, Middlesex County0.11.10.60.30.10.70.50.70.70.70.30.30.50.50.5
Westwood town, Norfolk County0.10.10.20.10.30.10.31.61.81.41.62.22.21.71.21.61.01.61.41.51.31.9

Source: Massachusetts State Police
Notes: Rates are per 1,000 residents.




Number of Domestic Violence Reports
20002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022
Massachusetts14,50916,91117,36918,21621,20322,71623,26825,91728,31128,46029,33128,44427,57126,70130,33130,53830,24729,17928,42828,43730,75131,59132,050
Region4,7685,1165,0065,3205,7616,4067,0308,0779,98310,26910,86410,56510,2049,65910,73010,85010,53110,3439,9059,3418,5698,6108,835
Middlesex County9511,0981,1691,3851,7561,9762,2732,7474,2984,3984,5404,2814,2514,1164,1794,3654,1713,9933,9963,7143,4763,5053,582
Norfolk County7098248351,0701,1161,2221,2341,3081,3881,5821,6811,8051,5811,4391,6361,8031,9001,9231,7921,7321,5741,6261,907
Worcester County3,1083,1943,0022,8652,8893,2083,5234,0224,2974,2894,6434,4794,3724,1044,9154,6824,4604,4274,1173,8953,5193,4793,346
Acton town, Middlesex County4173594212393248343957424552717062624754403430
Ashland town, Middlesex County5046502944283551563955433546495956442426293224
Bedford town, Middlesex County3113151118151612147111312121748
Bellingham town, Norfolk County25463160406657565757546048676971885465655348
Boxborough town, Middlesex County1259103576137717981324181316812
Carlisle town, Middlesex County85357423
Concord town, Middlesex County2218201311322629203428233435212732142612132521
Dedham town, Norfolk County6754391619333844635862614351474436273619233744
Dover town, Norfolk County1710103756956777817
Framingham city, Middlesex County1157205252221325311281271292309252241
Franklin town, Norfolk County3944557150506060485466504340423361405746514860
Groton town, Middlesex County1398361262105933121619171291612131912
Harvard town, Worcester County1511131126510471012101581243714
Holliston town, Middlesex County1612261925161916231919132218152827182333281819
Hopkinton town, Middlesex County9651192627181625292523172222343131192931
Hudson town, Middlesex County179159175179164141153152134182147118138124786268505448293634
Lexington town, Middlesex County2791843654756223562115233534
Lincoln town, Middlesex County211413191414151417101671217151111108
Littleton town, Middlesex County1222222326281112292725191418212618332526161115
Marlborough city, Middlesex County126169210221234154152184245240264271228217264227229246227267238271311
Maynard town, Middlesex County2937188692437182761564949334855283533322645
Medfield town, Norfolk County1059915141111912201224171261297
Medway town, Norfolk County11141611771217222325392823621123341861623
Milford town, Worcester County11473456312312293134132127131148105106107125
Millis town, Norfolk County1151512242419161322
Natick town, Middlesex County7584908998928682106869891107758656666985
Needham town, Norfolk County2937273230352831232325302132304329253630363131
Sherborn town, Middlesex County4362236311561315581284
Southborough town, Worcester County3316162015424712
Stow town, Middlesex County34471396711618116222021271814189814
Sudbury town, Middlesex County1715222410153324221917221920171817252415303619
Walpole town, Norfolk County7163705665103891057367117858685797798868388646692
Waltham city, Middlesex County3916713512916515716013715917916215712813012910014296767380
Wayland town, Middlesex County1017221081321362311
Wellesley town, Norfolk County4036333331315126272128223523342523171823221427
Westborough town, Worcester County3440444538534236613851332937503745413567697271
Westford town, Middlesex County14159514694132941313522273231243330242026
Weston town, Middlesex County1137318688944666
Westwood town, Norfolk County1132424232520243332261926162622242131

Source: Massachusetts State Police




INDICATORS REGIONAL TREND
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Children Living in Poverty Maintaining
Children Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families Increasing
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Disengaged Youth Decreasing
Reports of Domestic Violence Increasing
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Establishments Increasing
Households Without Vehicles Maintaining
Means of Transportation to Work Not Applicable
Households With Internet Access Increasing
Voter Participation Rate Decreasing
Average Charitable Contribution Maintaining
People Without Health Insurance Decreasing
Opioid Overdose Mortality Rate Increasing
Crimes Against People Decreasing
Incarceration Rates, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Change in Total Population Increasing
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Foreign-Born Population Increasing
Language Diversity Increasing
Population by Age Not Applicable
Change in Population by Age/Gender Not Applicable
Seniors Living Alone Decreasing
People with Disabilities Maintaining
Change in Total Jobs by Sector Not Applicable
Business Ownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate Maintaining
Share of Workers who are Professionals, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Average Salary by Sector Not Applicable
High-Tech Jobs Decreasing
Female to Male Earnings Ratio Maintaining
Prekindergarten Participation Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 3 English, by Student Group Not Applicable
School Spending Per Student Maintaining
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group Not Applicable
Chronically Absent Students Increasing
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults Not Applicable
College Admission Rate, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty Maintaining
People Living in Poverty, by Education Level Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Households Receiving Temporary Assistance Maintaining
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income Maintaining
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Living Wage Not Applicable
80/20 Income Ratio Maintaining
Access to Financial Services, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeownership Rates Maintaining
Homeownership Rates, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Homeownership Increasing
Cost of Homeownership, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Rent Not Applicable
Cost of Rent, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homelessness Increasing
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Children Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Incarceration Rates, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Business Ownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Share of Workers who are Professionals, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 3 English, by Student Group Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group Not Applicable
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group Not Applicable
College Admission Rate, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Access to Financial Services, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeownership Rates, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Homeownership, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Rent, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable


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