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 52% in the 2018 midterm elections and 64% in the 2016 presidential elections. Both rates were slightly higher than Massachusetts (50% and 62%, respectively), and the region's 2016 rate was substantially higher than the nation's (55%). The region's 2016 presidential election participation rate was similar to the rates in all presidential elections since 2000.
Within the region, voter turnout was highest in the 2018 midterms in Norfolk County (56%), followed by Middlesex (52%) and Worcester (48%). Similarly, turnout in 2016 was highest in Norfolk (68%), compared to Middlesex (63%) and Worcester (61%).
Among individual communities, turnout in 2018 was highest in the Middlesex County towns of Sherborn, Carlisle (both at 79%), Stow (77%), Medfield and Wayland (both at 75%). In Norfolk County, turnout also was high in the towns of Dover (75%), Needham and Westwood (both at 73%). The Town of Southborough had the highest turnout of any Worcester County community (74%). Turnout was lowest in 2018 in the City of Framingham (42%) and the Town of Milford (47%).
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 50% | 56% | 57% | 54% | 55% | |||||
| Massachusetts | 56% | 45% | 59% | 45% | 62% | 45% | 61% | 41% | 62% | 50% |
| Region | 59% | 48% | 62% | 48% | 64% | 48% | 63% | 43% | 64% | 52% |
| Middlesex | 58% | 48% | 61% | 47% | 63% | 47% | 62% | 42% | 63% | 52% |
| Norfolk | 64% | 53% | 67% | 52% | 68% | 53% | 67% | 47% | 68% | 56% |
| Worcester | 56% | 45% | 59% | 44% | 61% | 45% | 59% | 40% | 61% | 48% |
| Acton town, Middlesex County | 72% | 61% | 73% | 59% | 76% | 59% | 74% | 53% | 77% | 66% |
| Ashland town, Middlesex County | 65% | 57% | 69% | 52% | 70% | 53% | 67% | 44% | 71% | 59% |
| Bedford town, Middlesex County | 70% | 55% | 71% | 58% | 74% | 58% | 73% | 53% | 74% | 64% |
| Bellingham town, Norfolk County | 60% | 49% | 66% | 49% | 69% | 51% | 68% | 44% | 69% | 55% |
| Boxborough town, Middlesex County | 68% | 58% | 72% | 59% | 79% | 63% | 79% | 55% | 72% | 58% |
| Carlisle town, Middlesex County | 85% | 75% | 92% | 77% | 94% | 77% | 93% | 69% | 90% | 79% |
| Concord town, Middlesex County | 74% | 64% | 77% | 64% | 79% | 64% | 75% | 55% | 77% | 69% |
| Dedham town, Norfolk County | 65% | 56% | 66% | 53% | 67% | 53% | 69% | 49% | 73% | 62% |
| Dover town, Norfolk County | 87% | 75% | 89% | 73% | 90% | 76% | 91% | 67% | 89% | 75% |
| Framingham city, Middlesex County | 50% | 40% | 50% | 39% | 51% | 37% | 51% | 34% | 53% | 42% |
| Groton town, Middlesex County | 76% | 66% | 83% | 64% | 83% | 64% | 81% | 56% | 85% | 72% |
| Harvard town, Worcester County | 66% | 56% | 71% | 58% | 70% | 57% | 72% | 54% | 75% | 66% |
| Holliston town, Middlesex County | 73% | 61% | 78% | 66% | 84% | 67% | 81% | 58% | 82% | 69% |
| Hopkinton town, Middlesex County | 75% | 65% | 81% | 63% | 85% | 64% | 83% | 57% | 81% | 64% |
| Hudson town, Middlesex County | 60% | 48% | 64% | 50% | 68% | 52% | 67% | 47% | 71% | 58% |
| Lexington town, Middlesex County | 75% | 65% | 78% | 63% | 79% | 63% | 77% | 54% | 75% | 64% |
| Lincoln town, Middlesex County | 60% | 54% | 67% | 57% | 74% | 63% | 80% | 59% | 81% | 73% |
| Littleton town, Middlesex County | 74% | 61% | 79% | 62% | 81% | 64% | 81% | 59% | 81% | 70% |
| Maynard town, Middlesex County | 65% | 55% | 70% | 58% | 73% | 58% | 73% | 53% | 74% | 66% |
| Medfield town, Norfolk County | 79% | 67% | 84% | 69% | 89% | 71% | 89% | 65% | 88% | 75% |
| Medway town, Norfolk County | 68% | 57% | 76% | 58% | 78% | 61% | 79% | 56% | 82% | 67% |
| Milford town, Worcester County | 56% | 41% | 56% | 42% | 58% | 42% | 60% | 42% | 62% | 47% |
| Millis town, Norfolk County | 70% | 58% | 75% | 61% | 78% | 63% | 79% | 58% | 82% | 70% |
| Natick town, Middlesex County | 71% | 57% | 71% | 56% | 74% | 56% | 73% | 50% | 73% | 63% |
| Needham town, Norfolk County | 78% | 70% | 82% | 68% | 84% | 69% | 82% | 62% | 84% | 73% |
| Sherborn town, Middlesex County | 88% | 78% | 93% | 78% | 95% | 80% | 91% | 68% | 91% | 79% |
| Southborough town, Worcester County | 80% | 69% | 85% | 67% | 86% | 67% | 86% | 62% | 87% | 74% |
| Stow town, Middlesex County | 78% | 67% | 84% | 69% | 86% | 70% | 85% | 62% | 87% | 77% |
| Sudbury town, Middlesex County | 81% | 69% | 86% | 68% | 88% | 69% | 87% | 60% | 85% | 72% |
| Walpole town, Norfolk County | 70% | 58% | 74% | 59% | 77% | 61% | 77% | 58% | 79% | 65% |
| Wayland town, Middlesex County | 80% | 70% | 84% | 70% | 87% | 68% | 86% | 60% | 86% | 75% |
| Wellesley town, Norfolk County | 72% | 61% | 72% | 58% | 72% | 59% | 73% | 54% | 71% | 61% |
| Westborough town, Worcester County | 61% | 49% | 64% | 49% | 67% | 50% | 68% | 46% | 69% | 56% |
| Westford town, Middlesex County | 74% | 61% | 79% | 63% | 83% | 63% | 79% | 55% | 83% | 69% |
| Weston town, Middlesex County | 74% | 64% | 79% | 64% | 81% | 65% | 80% | 55% | 77% | 64% |
| Westwood town, Norfolk County | 81% | 71% | 83% | 69% | 86% | 71% | 87% | 65% | 84% | 73% |
Number of People Who Voted
| 2000 | 2002 | 2004 | 2006 | 2008 | 2010 | 2012 | 2014 | 2016 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 105,405,100 | 122,295,345 | 131,257,328 | 129,067,662 | 136,669,237 | |||||
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Middlesex | 663,624 | 547,665 | 692,287 | 538,444 | 730,490 | 557,974 | 757,380 | 531,679 | 808,630 | 678,178 |
| Norfolk | 319,997 | 265,329 | 332,828 | 261,646 | 347,354 | 273,538 | 358,263 | 254,227 | 374,542 | 312,152 |
| Worcester | 313,307 | 256,661 | 342,475 | 262,841 | 366,048 | 274,348 | 370,868 | 257,004 | 396,096 | 316,659 |
| Acton town, Middlesex County | 10,468 | 8,949 | 10,799 | 8,711 | 11,635 | 9,298 | 12,022 | 8,736 | 12,967 | 11,184 |
| Ashland town, Middlesex County | 7,166 | 6,425 | 7,879 | 6,080 | 8,480 | 6,554 | 8,575 | 5,736 | 9,326 | 7,819 |
| Bedford town, Middlesex County | 6,819 | 5,395 | 6,914 | 5,710 | 7,435 | 5,915 | 7,719 | 5,664 | 8,066 | 6,926 |
| Bellingham town, Norfolk County | 7,004 | 5,778 | 7,882 | 5,924 | 8,413 | 6,449 | 8,584 | 5,662 | 8,982 | 7,236 |
| Boxborough town, Middlesex County | 2,457 | 2,077 | 2,589 | 2,091 | 2,866 | 2,307 | 2,965 | 2,102 | 3,069 | 2,751 |
| Carlisle town, Middlesex County | 2,905 | 2,561 | 3,144 | 2,629 | 3,246 | 2,696 | 3,374 | 2,541 | 3,391 | 2,989 |
| Concord town, Middlesex County | 9,742 | 8,445 | 10,205 | 8,473 | 10,582 | 8,765 | 11,055 | 8,274 | 11,447 | 10,191 |
| Dedham town, Norfolk County | 12,052 | 10,469 | 12,475 | 10,044 | 12,857 | 10,416 | 13,766 | 9,895 | 14,626 | 12,439 |
| Dover town, Norfolk County | 3,327 | 2,885 | 3,363 | 2,749 | 3,428 | 2,906 | 3,593 | 2,718 | 3,672 | 3,133 |
| Framingham city, Middlesex County | 26,615 | 21,398 | 26,194 | 20,314 | 27,085 | 20,149 | 28,063 | 19,009 | 30,028 | 24,390 |
| Groton town, Middlesex County | 5,134 | 4,592 | 5,851 | 4,582 | 6,137 | 4,876 | 6,362 | 4,512 | 6,812 | 5,837 |
| Harvard town, Worcester County | 3,066 | 2,627 | 3,405 | 2,850 | 3,489 | 2,878 | 3,642 | 2,715 | 3,776 | 3,372 |
| Holliston town, Middlesex County | 7,411 | 6,098 | 7,774 | 6,478 | 8,270 | 6,642 | 8,336 | 6,137 | 8,767 | 7,595 |
| Hopkinton town, Middlesex County | 6,789 | 6,020 | 7,643 | 6,020 | 8,394 | 6,458 | 8,703 | 6,275 | 9,336 | 8,011 |
| Hudson town, Middlesex County | 8,397 | 6,761 | 8,932 | 6,973 | 9,826 | 7,659 | 10,080 | 7,164 | 10,865 | 8,942 |
| Lexington town, Middlesex County | 16,834 | 14,710 | 17,467 | 14,146 | 17,962 | 14,503 | 18,439 | 13,301 | 18,591 | 16,094 |
| Lincoln town, Middlesex County | 3,383 | 2,885 | 3,425 | 2,764 | 3,496 | 2,865 | 3,750 | 2,789 | 3,957 | 3,556 |
| Littleton town, Middlesex County | 4,453 | 3,718 | 4,888 | 3,882 | 5,196 | 4,217 | 5,441 | 4,096 | 6,001 | 5,272 |
| Maynard town, Middlesex County | 5,270 | 4,436 | 5,530 | 4,493 | 5,674 | 4,541 | 5,817 | 4,315 | 6,090 | 5,475 |
| Medfield town, Norfolk County | 6,634 | 5,635 | 6,964 | 5,641 | 7,293 | 5,898 | 7,470 | 5,522 | 7,799 | 6,660 |
| Medway town, Norfolk County | 6,076 | 5,102 | 6,806 | 5,216 | 7,026 | 5,549 | 7,295 | 5,233 | 7,800 | 6,424 |
| Milford town, Worcester County | 11,482 | 8,586 | 11,962 | 8,977 | 12,394 | 9,045 | 12,951 | 9,265 | 13,826 | 10,600 |
| Millis town, Norfolk County | 4,167 | 3,424 | 4,440 | 3,571 | 4,608 | 3,732 | 4,775 | 3,528 | 5,050 | 4,347 |
| Natick town, Middlesex County | 17,288 | 13,942 | 17,323 | 13,701 | 18,155 | 14,010 | 18,864 | 13,680 | 20,097 | 17,349 |
| Needham town, Norfolk County | 16,271 | 14,534 | 16,905 | 13,883 | 17,336 | 14,254 | 17,426 | 13,411 | 18,472 | 16,445 |
| Sherborn town, Middlesex County | 2,568 | 2,276 | 2,664 | 2,222 | 2,705 | 2,292 | 2,689 | 2,029 | 2,723 | 2,412 |
| Southborough town, Worcester County | 4,849 | 4,359 | 5,463 | 4,365 | 5,732 | 4,534 | 5,867 | 4,244 | 6,083 | 5,179 |
| Stow town, Middlesex County | 3,369 | 2,955 | 3,754 | 3,117 | 4,024 | 3,385 | 4,288 | 3,219 | 4,487 | 4,069 |
| Sudbury town, Middlesex County | 9,250 | 7,989 | 9,894 | 7,830 | 10,327 | 8,328 | 10,679 | 7,571 | 10,940 | 9,646 |
| Walpole town, Norfolk County | 12,035 | 10,041 | 12,781 | 10,223 | 13,655 | 10,923 | 14,103 | 10,772 | 14,828 | 12,316 |
| Wayland town, Middlesex County | 7,663 | 6,637 | 7,901 | 6,449 | 8,168 | 6,384 | 8,310 | 5,901 | 8,608 | 7,550 |
| Wellesley town, Norfolk County | 13,904 | 11,944 | 14,221 | 11,441 | 14,560 | 11,968 | 15,181 | 11,231 | 15,266 | 13,182 |
| Westborough town, Worcester County | 8,215 | 6,649 | 8,732 | 6,690 | 9,063 | 6,829 | 9,257 | 6,463 | 9,776 | 7,966 |
| Westford town, Middlesex County | 10,810 | 8,978 | 11,648 | 9,327 | 12,582 | 9,772 | 12,976 | 9,303 | 14,071 | 11,864 |
| Weston town, Middlesex County | 6,158 | 5,291 | 6,348 | 5,127 | 6,503 | 5,248 | 6,720 | 4,731 | 6,696 | 5,568 |
| Westwood town, Norfolk County | 8,126 | 7,144 | 8,367 | 6,896 | 8,775 | 7,328 | 9,129 | 6,892 | 9,494 | 8,291 |
Notes: National data only available for presidential years.
Community Life Indicators
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| INDICATORS | TREND |
|---|---|
| Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Establishments | Not Applicable |
| Households Without Vehicles | Not Applicable |
| Means of Transportation to Work | Not Applicable |
| Average Travel Time to Work | Not Applicable |
| Households With Internet Access | Not Applicable |
| Voter Participation Rate | Not Applicable |
| Average Charitable Contribution | Not Applicable |
| Protected Land | Not Applicable |
| Drug Poisoning Mortality Rate | Not Applicable |
| Crimes Against People | Not Applicable |
| Incarceration Rates, by Race/Ethnicity | Not Applicable |
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