Worcester County Insights

Children with Elevated Blood Lead Levels

	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021
Worcester County	3	2	1	2	2	2	3	2	2	1	1	1
Athol	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Clinton	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Fitchburg	10	6	0	0	0	0	7	0	4	0	0	0
Gardner	0	0	0	0	0	0	14	15	0	0	0	0
Northbridge	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Southbridge	0	0	0	18	13	0	15	0	0	0	0	0
Spencer	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Webster	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	14	0	0
Westborough	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Worcester	6	5	4	4	5	5	5	4	5	3	5	5
Massachusetts	4	4	4	3	4	3	4	3	3	3	3	3
Additional Worcester County localities
Ashburnham	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Auburn	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Barre	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Berlin	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Blackstone	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Bolton	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Boylston	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Brookfield	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Charlton	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Douglas	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Dudley	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
East Brookfield	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Grafton	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Hardwick	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Harvard	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Holden	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Hopedale	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Hubbardston	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Lancaster	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Leicester	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Lunenburg	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Mendon	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Milford	0	0	0	0	7	7	7	0	0	0	0	0
Millbury	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Millville	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
New Braintree	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Northborough	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
North Brookfield	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Oakham	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Oxford	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Paxton	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Petersham	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Phillipston	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Princeton	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Royalston	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Rutland	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Shrewsbury	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	0	0	0	0	0
Southborough	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Sterling	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Sturbridge	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Sutton	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Templeton	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Upton	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Uxbridge	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Warren	0	0	0	0	63	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
West Boylston	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
West Brookfield	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Westminster	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Winchendon	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Leominster	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Source: Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Notes: Rates are per 1,000 children ages 9 to 47 months that were screened.

Number of Children with Elevated Blood Lead Levels

	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021
Worcester County	56	37	26	32	46	34	61	32	32	22	22	24
Athol	N/A	N/A	N/A	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Clinton	N/A	N/A	0	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	0
Fitchburg	14	8	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	8	N/A	5	N/A	N/A	N/A
Gardner	N/A	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	6	7	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Northbridge	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	0	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	0	0
Southbridge	N/A	N/A	N/A	8	6	N/A	6	N/A	0	N/A	N/A	N/A
Spencer	N/A	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	0	N/A	0	0	N/A	0
Webster	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	6	N/A	N/A
Westborough	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Worcester	38	29	26	24	28	28	29	25	27	16	22	24
Massachusetts	817	628	654	598	668	594	651	556	493	457	430	448
Additional Worcester County localities
Ashburnham	0	N/A	N/A	0	N/A	0	0	0	0	N/A	0	N/A
Auburn	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	N/A
Barre	N/A	0	0	0	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	0
Berlin	0	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	0	0	0	0	0	0
Blackstone	0	0	0	N/A	0	0	0	0	0	0	N/A	N/A
Bolton	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Boylston	0	0	0	0	0	N/A	N/A	0	0	0	0	0
Brookfield	N/A	0	0	0	N/A	N/A	0	0	0	0	0	N/A
Charlton	0	N/A	N/A	0	0	0	N/A	0	0	0	0	0
Douglas	N/A	0	N/A	0	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	0	0	0	0
Dudley	0	N/A	N/A	0	0	0	N/A	0	N/A	0	0	0
East Brookfield	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	N/A	0
Grafton	N/A	N/A	0	0	N/A	0	0	0	N/A	N/A	0	N/A
Hardwick	N/A	0	0	0	0	0	0	N/A	N/A	0	0	0
Harvard	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Holden	0	N/A	0	0	0	0	N/A	0	N/A	0	N/A	0
Hopedale	0	0	N/A	0	0	0	N/A	0	N/A	N/A	0	0
Hubbardston	0	0	N/A	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Lancaster	N/A	0	N/A	0	N/A	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Leicester	0	0	0	N/A	N/A	0	N/A	0	0	N/A	0	0
Lunenburg	N/A	0	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	0	N/A	N/A	0	0	N/A
Mendon	0	0	0	0	0	N/A	N/A	0	0	0	0	0
Milford	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	6	6	6	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Millbury	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	0	N/A	0	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	0
Millville	0	0	0	N/A	N/A	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
New Braintree	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	N/A	0	0	0	0
Northborough	0	0	N/A	0	0	0	N/A	N/A	0	0	0	N/A
North Brookfield	N/A	N/A	N/A	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Oakham	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Oxford	0	0	0	N/A	N/A	0	N/A	0	0	0	0	0
Paxton	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Petersham	0	0	0	0	0	0	N/A	0	0	0	0	0
Phillipston	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	N/A	0
Princeton	0	0	0	0	N/A	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Royalston	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Rutland	0	0	0	0	0	N/A	N/A	0	N/A	N/A	0	N/A
Shrewsbury	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	6	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Southborough	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	N/A	0	0	0
Sterling	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	N/A	0	0	0	0
Sturbridge	0	0	0	0	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	0	0	0
Sutton	0	0	0	N/A	N/A	0	N/A	N/A	0	N/A	0	0
Templeton	N/A	N/A	N/A	0	0	N/A	0	N/A	0	N/A	0	N/A
Upton	0	0	0	0	N/A	0	0	0	0	0	0	N/A
Uxbridge	N/A	0	0	N/A	N/A	0	0	N/A	0	0	0	0
Warren	N/A	0	N/A	0	6	N/A	0	0	0	0	0	N/A
West Boylston	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
West Brookfield	0	0	0	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	0	0	0	0
Westminster	0	0	0	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	0	0	0	0	N/A
Winchendon	N/A	N/A	N/A	0	N/A	N/A	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Leominster	4	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

Source: Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Notes: Number of children ages 9 to 47 months that were screened and had elevated blood lead levels.

INDICATORS	TREND
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Establishments	1 Increasing
Average Charitable Contribution	0 Maintaining
Households With Internet Access	1 Increasing
Protected Land	10 Not Applicable*
Voter Participation Rate	-1 Decreasing
Voter Registration Rate	0 Maintaining
Arrest Rate by Race/Ethnicity	-1 Decreasing
Change in Total Population	1 Increasing
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity	1 Increasing
Foreign-Born Population	1 Increasing
Language Diversity	1 Increasing
Population by Age	-1 Decreasing
Households by Type	0 Maintaining
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity	-1 Decreasing
Median Household Income	0 Maintaining
Household Income by Race/Ethnicity	0 Maintaining
80/20 Income Ratio	0 Maintaining
Income in Relation to Poverty Level	0 Maintaining
People Living in Poverty	0 Maintaining
People Living in Poverty, by Education Level	1 Increasing
People Living in Poverty, by Age	1 Increasing
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity	1 Increasing
Homeownership Rates, by Race/Ethnicity	1 Increasing
Overall Housing Cost Burden	-1 Decreasing
Cost of Rent, by Race/Ethnicity	10 Not Applicable*
Median Home Value by Race/Ethnicity	10 Not Applicable*
Homelessness	10 Not Applicable*
Households Receiving SNAP by Race/Ethnicity	1 Increasing
Household Receiving Temporary Assistance	0 Maintaining
Households Without Vehicles	0 Maintaining
Education Levels of Adults by Race/Ethnicity	1 Increasing
Change in Employment by Sector	10 Not Applicable*
Change in Average Salary by Sector	10 Not Applicable*
Female to Male Earnings Ratio	0 Maintaining
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity	-1 Decreasing
Employer Size	1 Increasing
Business Ownership, by Race/Ethnicity	10 Not Applicable*
Self-Employment Revenue	0 Maintaining
People Entering/Leaving County for Work	1 Increasing
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity	1 Increasing
Preterm Births	10 Not Applicable*
Infant Mortality by Mother's Race/Ethnicity	10 Not Applicable*
Children with Elevated Blood Lead Levels	-1 Decreasing
Prevalence of Children with Asthma	1 Increasing
People with Disabilities	1 Increasing
People Without Health Insurance	-1 Decreasing
Cancer Incidence	0 Maintaining
Diabetes Incidence	-1 Decreasing
Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions	-1 Decreasing
Opioid Overdose Mortality Rate	1 Increasing
Children Living in Poverty	0 Maintaining
Children Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity	-1 Decreasing
Economically Disadvantaged Students	1 Increasing
Disengaged Youth	-1 Decreasing
Prekindergarten Participation	-1 Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 3 English, by Student Subgroup	-1 Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math, by Student Subgroup	-1 Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 10 English, by Student Subgroup	-1 Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 10 Math, by Student Subgroup	-1 Decreasing
High School Cohort Graduation Rate, by Student Group	1 Increasing
Arrest Rate by Race/Ethnicity	-1 Decreasing
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity	1 Increasing
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity	-1 Decreasing
Household Income by Race/Ethnicity	0 Maintaining
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity	1 Increasing
Homeownership Rates, by Race/Ethnicity	1 Increasing
Cost of Rent, by Race/Ethnicity	10 Not Applicable*
Median Home Value by Race/Ethnicity	10 Not Applicable*
Households Receiving SNAP by Race/Ethnicity	1 Increasing
Education Levels of Adults by Race/Ethnicity	1 Increasing
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity	-1 Decreasing
Business Ownership, by Race/Ethnicity	10 Not Applicable*
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity	1 Increasing
Infant Mortality by Mother's Race/Ethnicity	10 Not Applicable*
Children Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity	-1 Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 3 English, by Student Subgroup	-1 Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math, by Student Subgroup	-1 Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 10 English, by Student Subgroup	-1 Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 10 Math, by Student Subgroup	-1 Decreasing
High School Cohort Graduation Rate, by Student Group	1 Increasing

INDICATORS

TREND