Community Life
Voter Participation Rate
Decreasing
Voter Participation Rate
What does this measure?
The percentage of the voting-age population (18 and over) that voted in an election.
Why is this important?
Voting is a basic right and responsibility of all citizens and an indication of the citizenry's interest in and commitment to participating in our political process. It also may indicate the extent to which citizens feel that government is responsive to their needs and concerns.
How is our region doing?
In MetroWest, voter participation was 46% in the 2022 midterm elections and 68% in the 2020 presidential elections. Both rates were slightly higher than Massachusetts (44% and 66%, respectively), and the region's 2020 rate was substantially higher than the nation's (62%). The region's 2020 presidential election participation rate was slightly higher than the rates in all presidential elections since 2000.
Within the region, voter turnout was highest in the 2022 midterm election in Norfolk County (50%), followed by Middlesex (47%) and Worcester (43%). Similarly, turnout in 2020 was highest in Norfolk (73%), compared to Middlesex (67%) and Worcester (66%).
Among individual communities, turnout in 2022 was highest in the Middlesex County towns of Carlisle (77%), Stow (75%), and Sherborn (73%). In Norfolk County, turnout also was high in the towns of Dover (76%), Medfield (71%) and Westwood (68%). The Town of Southborough had the highest turnout of any Worcester County community (68%). Turnout was lowest in 2022 in the City of Framingham (40%) and the City of Waltham (36%).
Notes about the data
Rates were calculated using Census estimates of the population 18 and over. National data only available for presidential years.
Voter Participation Rate
| 2000 | 2002 | 2004 | 2006 | 2008 | 2010 | 2012 | 2014 | 2016 | 2018 | 2020 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 50% | 56% | 57% | 54% | 55% | 62% | ||||||
| Massachusetts | 56% | 45% | 59% | 45% | 62% | 45% | 61% | 41% | 62% | 50% | 66% | 44% |
| Region | 59% | 48% | 62% | 48% | 64% | 48% | 63% | 43% | 64% | 52% | 68% | 46% |
| Middlesex County | 58% | 48% | 61% | 47% | 63% | 47% | 62% | 42% | 63% | 53% | 67% | 47% |
| Norfolk County | 64% | 53% | 67% | 52% | 68% | 53% | 67% | 47% | 68% | 56% | 73% | 50% |
| Worcester County | 56% | 45% | 59% | 44% | 61% | 45% | 59% | 40% | 62% | 48% | 66% | 43% |
| Acton town, Middlesex County | 68% | 57% | 69% | 55% | 72% | 56% | 70% | 50% | 73% | 62% | 77% | 57% |
| Ashland town, Middlesex County | 62% | 54% | 66% | 50% | 67% | 50% | 64% | 42% | 68% | 56% | 72% | 51% |
| Bedford town, Middlesex County | 69% | 54% | 70% | 58% | 74% | 57% | 73% | 52% | 74% | 63% | 80% | 61% |
| Bellingham town, Norfolk County | 57% | 46% | 63% | 47% | 66% | 49% | 64% | 42% | 66% | 53% | 73% | 48% |
| Boxborough town, Middlesex County | 64% | 54% | 68% | 55% | 74% | 58% | 73% | 51% | 74% | 60% | 79% | 58% |
| Carlisle town, Middlesex County | 80% | 71% | 87% | 73% | 89% | 73% | 88% | 65% | 85% | 75% | 91% | 73% |
| Concord town, Middlesex County | 74% | 63% | 77% | 64% | 78% | 64% | 75% | 55% | 77% | 69% | 86% | 70% |
| Dedham town, Norfolk County | 63% | 54% | 64% | 52% | 65% | 52% | 67% | 48% | 71% | 61% | 77% | 55% |
| Dover town, Norfolk County | 81% | 71% | 83% | 68% | 85% | 71% | 86% | 63% | 84% | 70% | 94% | 71% |
| Framingham city, Middlesex County | 50% | 40% | 49% | 38% | 51% | 37% | 50% | 34% | 53% | 42% | 56% | 40% |
| Franklin town, Norfolk County | 61% | 49% | 66% | 49% | 70% | 52% | 70% | 48% | 72% | 59% | 79% | 56% |
| Groton town, Middlesex County | 70% | 62% | 78% | 60% | 78% | 60% | 75% | 53% | 79% | 67% | 85% | 65% |
| Harvard town, Worcester County | 63% | 53% | 67% | 55% | 67% | 55% | 69% | 51% | 71% | 63% | 75% | 58% |
| Holliston town, Middlesex County | 71% | 59% | 77% | 65% | 82% | 65% | 79% | 57% | 80% | 68% | 86% | 65% |
| Hopkinton town, Middlesex County | 70% | 61% | 76% | 59% | 80% | 60% | 78% | 54% | 77% | 61% | 76% | 57% |
| Hudson town, Middlesex County | 58% | 46% | 61% | 47% | 66% | 50% | 64% | 45% | 68% | 56% | 72% | 53% |
| Lexington town, Middlesex County | 75% | 65% | 78% | 63% | 79% | 62% | 77% | 54% | 75% | 65% | 79% | 58% |
| Lincoln town, Middlesex County | 56% | 50% | 62% | 53% | 69% | 58% | 75% | 55% | 76% | 68% | 79% | 63% |
| Littleton town, Middlesex County | 70% | 58% | 75% | 59% | 77% | 61% | 77% | 56% | 77% | 67% | 85% | 64% |
| Marlborough city, Middlesex County | 51% | 42% | 53% | 40% | 54% | 40% | 53% | 37% | 57% | 46% | 58% | 40% |
| Maynard town, Middlesex County | 63% | 54% | 68% | 56% | 71% | 56% | 70% | 51% | 72% | 64% | 79% | 61% |
| Medfield town, Norfolk County | 75% | 64% | 80% | 65% | 84% | 68% | 84% | 61% | 84% | 71% | 91% | 67% |
| Medway town, Norfolk County | 63% | 53% | 71% | 54% | 73% | 57% | 73% | 52% | 77% | 62% | 84% | 60% |
| Milford town, Worcester County | 54% | 40% | 55% | 41% | 57% | 41% | 58% | 41% | 61% | 46% | 61% | 41% |
| Millis town, Norfolk County | 66% | 55% | 72% | 58% | 74% | 59% | 75% | 55% | 78% | 66% | 84% | 64% |
| Natick town, Middlesex County | 69% | 55% | 69% | 55% | 72% | 54% | 71% | 49% | 71% | 61% | 76% | 58% |
| Needham town, Norfolk County | 76% | 68% | 80% | 66% | 82% | 67% | 80% | 60% | 82% | 71% | 86% | 65% |
| Sherborn town, Middlesex County | 84% | 75% | 89% | 75% | 91% | 76% | 87% | 65% | 86% | 76% | 93% | 69% |
| Southborough town, Worcester County | 73% | 63% | 78% | 61% | 79% | 61% | 79% | 56% | 80% | 67% | 85% | 62% |
| Stow town, Middlesex County | 74% | 63% | 80% | 65% | 82% | 67% | 81% | 59% | 82% | 73% | 90% | 72% |
| Sudbury town, Middlesex County | 75% | 65% | 80% | 63% | 82% | 65% | 81% | 56% | 80% | 68% | 90% | 66% |
| Walpole town, Norfolk County | 68% | 56% | 71% | 57% | 75% | 59% | 74% | 56% | 76% | 63% | 80% | 60% |
| Waltham city, Middlesex County | 44% | 35% | 47% | 33% | 48% | 34% | 48% | 31% | 50% | 42% | 52% | 37% |
| Wayland town, Middlesex County | 78% | 68% | 82% | 67% | 85% | 66% | 83% | 58% | 83% | 73% | 90% | 67% |
| Wellesley town, Norfolk County | 69% | 59% | 69% | 55% | 69% | 56% | 70% | 52% | 70% | 60% | 73% | 52% |
| Westborough town, Worcester County | 61% | 48% | 63% | 49% | 66% | 50% | 67% | 46% | 69% | 55% | 66% | 48% |
| Westford town, Middlesex County | 69% | 57% | 74% | 59% | 78% | 59% | 74% | 51% | 77% | 65% | 83% | 62% |
| Weston town, Middlesex County | 70% | 61% | 74% | 60% | 76% | 61% | 75% | 52% | 72% | 60% | 79% | 58% |
| Westwood town, Norfolk County | 76% | 67% | 78% | 64% | 81% | 67% | 82% | 61% | 79% | 68% | 87% | 64% |
Number of People Who Voted
| 2000 | 2002 | 2004 | 2006 | 2008 | 2010 | 2012 | 2014 | 2016 | 2018 | 2020 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 105,405,100 | 122,295,345 | 131,257,328 | 129,067,662 | 136,669,237 | 158,383,403 | ||||||
| Massachusetts | 2,734,006 | 2,220,301 | 2,927,455 | 2,243,835 | 3,102,995 | 2,319,963 | 3,184,196 | 2,186,789 | 3,378,801 | 2,752,665 | 3,658,005 | 2,511,461 |
| Region | 1,296,928 | 1,069,655 | 1,367,590 | 1,062,931 | 1,443,892 | 1,105,860 | 1,486,511 | 1,042,910 | 1,579,268 | 1,306,989 | 1,715,310 | 1,195,901 |
| Middlesex County | 663,624 | 547,665 | 692,287 | 538,444 | 730,490 | 557,974 | 757,380 | 531,679 | 808,630 | 678,178 | 869,347 | 612,225 |
| Norfolk County | 319,997 | 265,329 | 332,828 | 261,646 | 347,354 | 273,538 | 358,263 | 254,227 | 374,542 | 312,152 | 411,042 | 287,919 |
| Worcester County | 313,307 | 256,661 | 342,475 | 262,841 | 366,048 | 274,348 | 370,868 | 257,004 | 396,096 | 316,659 | 434,921 | 295,757 |
| Acton town, Middlesex County | 10,468 | 8,949 | 10,799 | 8,711 | 11,635 | 9,298 | 12,022 | 8,736 | 12,967 | 11,184 | 14,018 | 10,360 |
| Ashland town, Middlesex County | 7,166 | 6,425 | 7,879 | 6,080 | 8,480 | 6,554 | 8,575 | 5,736 | 9,326 | 7,819 | 10,564 | 7,447 |
| Bedford town, Middlesex County | 6,819 | 5,395 | 6,914 | 5,710 | 7,435 | 5,915 | 7,719 | 5,664 | 8,066 | 6,926 | 8,902 | 6,646 |
| Bellingham town, Norfolk County | 7,004 | 5,778 | 7,882 | 5,924 | 8,413 | 6,449 | 8,584 | 5,662 | 8,982 | 7,236 | 9,933 | 6,736 |
| Boxborough town, Middlesex County | 2,457 | 2,077 | 2,589 | 2,091 | 2,866 | 2,307 | 2,965 | 2,102 | 3,069 | 2,751 | 3,440 | 2,470 |
| Carlisle town, Middlesex County | 2,905 | 2,561 | 3,144 | 2,629 | 3,246 | 2,696 | 3,374 | 2,541 | 3,391 | 2,989 | 3,670 | 2,879 |
| Concord town, Middlesex County | 9,742 | 8,445 | 10,205 | 8,473 | 10,582 | 8,765 | 11,055 | 8,274 | 11,447 | 10,191 | 12,391 | 9,732 |
| Dedham town, Norfolk County | 12,052 | 10,469 | 12,475 | 10,044 | 12,857 | 10,416 | 13,766 | 9,895 | 14,626 | 12,439 | 15,981 | 11,247 |
| Dover town, Norfolk County | 3,327 | 2,885 | 3,363 | 2,749 | 3,428 | 2,906 | 3,593 | 2,718 | 3,672 | 3,133 | 4,064 | 3,046 |
| Framingham city, Middlesex County | 26,615 | 21,398 | 26,194 | 20,314 | 27,085 | 20,149 | 28,063 | 19,009 | 30,028 | 24,390 | 32,235 | 22,339 |
| Franklin town, Norfolk County | 14,003 | 11,330 | 15,480 | 11,548 | 16,793 | 12,829 | 17,546 | 12,267 | 18,433 | 15,167 | 20,552 | 14,657 |
| Groton town, Middlesex County | 5,134 | 4,592 | 5,851 | 4,582 | 6,137 | 4,876 | 6,362 | 4,512 | 6,812 | 5,837 | 7,356 | 5,551 |
| Harvard town, Worcester County | 3,066 | 2,627 | 3,405 | 2,850 | 3,489 | 2,878 | 3,642 | 2,715 | 3,776 | 3,372 | 4,157 | 3,199 |
| Holliston town, Middlesex County | 7,411 | 6,098 | 7,774 | 6,478 | 8,270 | 6,642 | 8,336 | 6,137 | 8,767 | 7,595 | 9,667 | 7,210 |
| Hopkinton town, Middlesex County | 6,789 | 6,020 | 7,643 | 6,020 | 8,394 | 6,458 | 8,703 | 6,275 | 9,336 | 8,011 | 10,354 | 7,913 |
| Hudson town, Middlesex County | 8,397 | 6,761 | 8,932 | 6,973 | 9,826 | 7,659 | 10,080 | 7,164 | 10,865 | 8,942 | 11,653 | 8,353 |
| Lexington town, Middlesex County | 16,834 | 14,710 | 17,467 | 14,146 | 17,962 | 14,503 | 18,439 | 13,301 | 18,591 | 16,094 | 20,168 | 14,761 |
| Lincoln town, Middlesex County | 3,383 | 2,885 | 3,425 | 2,764 | 3,496 | 2,865 | 3,750 | 2,789 | 3,957 | 3,556 | 4,300 | 3,355 |
| Littleton town, Middlesex County | 4,453 | 3,718 | 4,888 | 3,882 | 5,196 | 4,217 | 5,441 | 4,096 | 6,001 | 5,272 | 6,722 | 5,067 |
| Marlborough city, Middlesex County | 14,747 | 12,437 | 15,633 | 11,862 | 16,387 | 12,420 | 16,821 | 11,673 | 18,336 | 14,526 | 19,293 | 13,298 |
| Maynard town, Middlesex County | 5,270 | 4,436 | 5,530 | 4,493 | 5,674 | 4,541 | 5,817 | 4,315 | 6,090 | 5,475 | 6,803 | 5,182 |
| Medfield town, Norfolk County | 6,634 | 5,635 | 6,964 | 5,641 | 7,293 | 5,898 | 7,470 | 5,522 | 7,799 | 6,660 | 8,486 | 6,353 |
| Medway town, Norfolk County | 6,076 | 5,102 | 6,806 | 5,216 | 7,026 | 5,549 | 7,295 | 5,233 | 7,800 | 6,424 | 8,475 | 6,209 |
| Milford town, Worcester County | 11,482 | 8,586 | 11,962 | 8,977 | 12,394 | 9,045 | 12,951 | 9,265 | 13,826 | 10,600 | 14,676 | 9,769 |
| Millis town, Norfolk County | 4,167 | 3,424 | 4,440 | 3,571 | 4,608 | 3,732 | 4,775 | 3,528 | 5,050 | 4,347 | 5,677 | 4,499 |
| Natick town, Middlesex County | 17,288 | 13,942 | 17,323 | 13,701 | 18,155 | 14,010 | 18,864 | 13,680 | 20,097 | 17,349 | 21,942 | 16,393 |
| Needham town, Norfolk County | 16,271 | 14,534 | 16,905 | 13,883 | 17,336 | 14,254 | 17,426 | 13,411 | 18,472 | 16,445 | 20,263 | 15,498 |
| Sherborn town, Middlesex County | 2,568 | 2,276 | 2,664 | 2,222 | 2,705 | 2,292 | 2,689 | 2,029 | 2,723 | 2,412 | 2,991 | 2,220 |
| Southborough town, Worcester County | 4,849 | 4,359 | 5,463 | 4,365 | 5,732 | 4,534 | 5,867 | 4,244 | 6,083 | 5,179 | 6,717 | 4,871 |
| Stow town, Middlesex County | 3,369 | 2,955 | 3,754 | 3,117 | 4,024 | 3,385 | 4,288 | 3,219 | 4,487 | 4,069 | 4,997 | 3,894 |
| Sudbury town, Middlesex County | 9,250 | 7,989 | 9,894 | 7,830 | 10,327 | 8,328 | 10,679 | 7,571 | 10,940 | 9,646 | 12,487 | 9,150 |
| Walpole town, Norfolk County | 12,035 | 10,041 | 12,781 | 10,223 | 13,655 | 10,923 | 14,103 | 10,772 | 14,828 | 12,316 | 16,295 | 12,126 |
| Waltham city, Middlesex County | 22,366 | 17,809 | 23,370 | 16,785 | 24,405 | 17,542 | 25,401 | 16,771 | 26,729 | 22,378 | 29,075 | 19,909 |
| Wayland town, Middlesex County | 7,663 | 6,637 | 7,901 | 6,449 | 8,168 | 6,384 | 8,310 | 5,901 | 8,608 | 7,550 | 9,390 | 6,864 |
| Wellesley town, Norfolk County | 13,904 | 11,944 | 14,221 | 11,441 | 14,560 | 11,968 | 15,181 | 11,231 | 15,266 | 13,182 | 16,494 | 12,146 |
| Westborough town, Worcester County | 8,215 | 6,649 | 8,732 | 6,690 | 9,063 | 6,829 | 9,257 | 6,463 | 9,776 | 7,966 | 10,698 | 7,700 |
| Westford town, Middlesex County | 10,810 | 8,978 | 11,648 | 9,327 | 12,582 | 9,772 | 12,976 | 9,303 | 14,071 | 11,864 | 15,383 | 11,330 |
| Weston town, Middlesex County | 6,158 | 5,291 | 6,348 | 5,127 | 6,503 | 5,248 | 6,720 | 4,731 | 6,696 | 5,568 | 7,140 | 5,176 |
| Westwood town, Norfolk County | 8,126 | 7,144 | 8,367 | 6,896 | 8,775 | 7,328 | 9,129 | 6,892 | 9,494 | 8,291 | 10,639 | 7,851 |
Notes: National data only available for presidential years.
Community Life Indicators
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| INDICATORS | REGIONAL TREND |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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