Children and Families
Reports of Domestic Violence

Maintaining


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 2020, there were 2.4 reported victims of domestic violence per 1,000 residents in the MetroWest region, or just over 7,500 reported victims. The rate increased from 1.7 in 2000 to 3.6 in 2010 before declining in subsequent years. The region's 2020 rate was lower than Massachusetts' rate (3.8).

Among the region's counties, Worcester County had the highest rate (3.6), while Norfolk and Middlesex were each 2.0. Marlborough in Middlesex County had the highest rate (5.3), followed by Framingham in Middlesex (3.9) and Westborough in Worcester (3.1) . The lowest rates in the region were found in the Middlesex County town of Weston (0.4) followed by Harvard in Worcester and Medway in Norfolk (both at 0.5).

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
200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020
Massachusetts2.32.62.72.83.33.53.64.04.34.34.44.34.14.03.93.83.73.63.53.53.8
Region1.71.81.71.82.02.22.42.83.43.53.63.53.33.13.03.02.92.82.72.62.4
Middlesex County0.70.70.80.91.21.31.51.92.92.93.02.82.82.62.42.52.42.32.32.12.0
Norfolk County1.11.31.31.61.71.91.92.02.12.42.52.62.32.12.12.32.42.42.32.22.0
Worcester County4.14.23.93.73.74.14.55.15.45.35.85.55.45.05.04.64.34.34.03.93.6
Acton town, Middlesex County2.03.52.82.00.61.91.62.31.61.82.61.82.02.22.72.12.22.21.61.91.3
Ashland town, Middlesex County3.43.03.31.92.91.92.33.43.72.53.32.62.12.72.43.02.11.41.01.41.3
Bedford town, Middlesex County0.20.10.10.21.10.81.21.11.10.90.80.40.70.80.80.81.1
Bellingham town, Norfolk County1.63.02.03.92.64.23.63.63.63.53.23.62.93.22.92.94.22.52.72.9
Boxborough town, Middlesex County2.41.01.82.00.61.01.41.22.61.21.43.11.61.41.93.21.81.42.0
Carlisle town, Middlesex County1.31.00.61.01.10.8
Concord town, Middlesex County1.31.11.20.80.61.81.51.71.11.91.61.21.81.80.91.11.40.71.00.60.7
Dedham town, Norfolk County2.92.31.70.70.81.41.61.82.52.32.52.51.71.71.61.31.31.01.30.70.8
Dover town, Norfolk County0.21.21.81.80.51.20.91.01.00.80.70.80.81.21.0
Framingham city, Middlesex County0.02.32.93.52.94.34.43.93.74.03.9
Franklin town, Norfolk County1.31.51.82.41.61.62.01.91.51.72.11.61.31.21.11.01.71.21.61.21.4
Groton town, Middlesex County1.40.90.83.61.20.60.21.00.50.80.30.31.01.41.21.30.70.41.21.01.2
Harvard town, Worcester County0.20.81.82.11.80.31.00.81.50.61.11.51.41.11.20.81.70.50.5
Holliston town, Middlesex County1.20.91.91.41.81.21.41.21.61.31.40.91.61.30.81.71.51.01.52.01.3
Hopkinton town, Middlesex County0.70.40.40.10.10.61.71.91.21.11.71.61.61.31.01.31.11.81.51.61.0
Hudson town, Middlesex County9.98.79.69.88.87.47.97.86.89.17.76.17.16.33.12.73.22.22.62.31.2
Lexington town, Middlesex County0.10.20.30.00.30.10.10.20.20.10.20.20.20.10.10.10.20.20.50.40.6
Lincoln town, Middlesex County0.20.10.10.51.62.31.61.62.22.02.61.42.20.91.62.22.21.31.3
Littleton town, Middlesex County1.52.62.62.73.13.31.31.43.33.02.82.11.51.91.82.11.52.31.82.11.3
Marlborough city, Middlesex County3.44.55.55.86.24.14.04.96.46.26.96.95.85.56.05.15.05.14.85.85.3
Maynard town, Middlesex County2.83.51.70.80.60.92.33.61.72.55.95.44.84.62.84.14.12.33.22.52.5
Medfield town, Norfolk County0.80.40.70.71.21.20.90.90.71.01.71.02.01.40.60.40.9
Medway town, Norfolk County0.91.11.30.90.50.60.91.31.71.81.72.51.91.10.50.20.81.32.31.30.5
Milford town, Worcester County4.02.71.62.24.34.33.23.94.03.74.04.23.13.0
Millis town, Norfolk County0.10.10.60.10.60.10.32.82.32.21.6
Natick town, Middlesex County2.42.62.82.83.12.82.62.43.12.32.32.22.41.62.11.41.6
Needham town, Norfolk County1.01.30.91.11.11.21.01.10.80.80.91.00.71.10.81.00.80.50.90.91.0
Sherborn town, Middlesex County1.00.71.40.50.50.71.40.72.41.21.41.91.90.71.41.41.8
Southborough town, Worcester County0.30.11.21.21.51.20.32.2
Stow town, Middlesex County0.50.70.71.02.11.51.01.11.70.92.71.60.73.02.32.43.31.91.42.10.8
Sudbury town, Middlesex County1.00.91.31.40.60.91.91.41.31.11.01.21.11.00.90.90.91.21.00.81.3
Walpole town, Norfolk County3.12.73.02.42.84.53.94.53.12.94.93.53.53.42.92.53.52.72.93.32.1
Waltham city, Middlesex County0.72.82.22.12.72.62.62.32.62.92.62.52.02.12.01.62.31.51.2
Wayland town, Middlesex County0.80.10.50.20.20.80.60.10.20.20.20.30.10.1
Wellesley town, Norfolk County1.51.31.21.21.21.21.91.01.00.81.00.81.20.80.90.80.60.50.50.70.7
Westborough town, Worcester County1.92.22.42.42.12.92.31.93.32.12.71.71.62.02.21.42.11.81.62.93.1
Westford town, Middlesex County0.70.70.40.20.70.30.40.20.61.31.71.41.50.91.01.01.10.61.20.80.6
Weston town, Middlesex County0.11.00.60.30.10.70.50.30.50.40.30.30.4
Westwood town, Norfolk County0.10.10.20.10.30.10.31.61.81.41.62.22.11.31.11.30.91.01.21.3

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




Number of Domestic Violence Reports
200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020
Massachusetts14,49316,89317,35018,20721,18622,70323,25225,88028,29728,43329,10128,20427,31526,37626,04825,38125,21424,51024,22924,31726,177
Region4,7655,1115,0015,3175,7576,3987,0258,0659,97610,25810,79010,45910,0939,5379,3329,3098,9718,8828,6208,1767,502
Middlesex County9511,0961,1691,3831,7551,9722,2692,7444,2964,3964,5094,2384,2224,0703,8263,9813,8183,6283,6753,4333,180
Norfolk County7098238351,0701,1151,2211,2341,3081,3861,5771,6601,7821,5601,4141,4381,5701,6651,6821,5951,5281,374
Worcester County3,1053,1922,9972,8642,8873,2053,5224,0134,2944,2854,6214,4394,3114,0534,0683,7583,4883,5723,3503,2152,948
Acton town, Middlesex County417359421239324834395641445062505152384530
Ashland town, Middlesex County504650294428355156395543354641523724182423
Bedford town, Middlesex County31131511161515121161012121116
Bellingham town, Norfolk County2546316040665756575753604853484972434651
Boxborough town, Middlesex County125910357613671687101912912
Carlisle town, Middlesex County753564
Concord town, Middlesex County221820131132262920342823343518222813201113
Dedham town, Norfolk County675439161933384463586161434441333225341819
Dover town, Norfolk County17101037566545576
Framingham city, Middlesex County1157204249208308311280268291289
Franklin town, Norfolk County394455715050606048546650424036335639524047
Groton town, Middlesex County13983612621059331116131584141113
Harvard town, Worcester County1511131126510471097851133
Holliston town, Middlesex County161226192516191623191913221811242215233020
Hopkinton town, Middlesex County965119242718162525242016221832282918
Hudson town, Middlesex County17915917517916414115315213418214711813812461546343524523
Lexington town, Middlesex County279184365475622356171320
Lincoln town, Middlesex County2114131914141413171016712151599
Littleton town, Middlesex County122222232628111229272519141817211523192213
Marlborough city, Middlesex County126169210221234153152184245240264269228217238201200205194229210
Maynard town, Middlesex County293718869243718276055494830444425342729
Medfield town, Norfolk County1059915141111812201224178511
Medway town, Norfolk County1114161177121722232232251462101731186
Milford town, Worcester County112734562122121911111141061151219088
Millis town, Norfolk County115151223191813
Natick town, Middlesex County75849089989285811038181788959784958
Needham town, Norfolk County293727323035283123232530213224312516292730
Sherborn town, Middlesex County436223631056883668
Southborough town, Worcester County3112121512322
Stow town, Middlesex County34461396711618115211617241410156
Sudbury town, Middlesex County171522241015332422191722191916171722191526
Walpole town, Norfolk County716370566510389105736711785868573628869728252
Waltham city, Middlesex County39166135129165157160137159179162155127130128981429676
Wayland town, Middlesex County1017221081323411
Wellesley town, Norfolk County403633333131512627212822352327231714162019
Westborough town, Worcester County344044453853423661385032293741273935305660
Westford town, Middlesex County1415951469413293731352023232715302015
Weston town, Middlesex County11273186365445
Westwood town, Norfolk County113242423252024333120182115162021

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 Maintaining
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Establishments Increasing
Households Without Vehicles Maintaining
Means of Transportation to Work Not Applicable
Households With Internet Access Not Applicable
Voter Participation Rate Increasing
Average Charitable Contribution Maintaining
People Without Health Insurance Decreasing
Drug Poisoning 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 Increasing
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 Maintaining
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 Increasing
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 Increasing
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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