State mortality · CDC NCHS 2017
Massachusetts - Mortality Statistics
40,574 deaths in 2017 across 10 tracked causes, at a state average age-adjusted rate of 46.8 per 100,000.
Data updated 2026-05-19
- 40,574
- Deaths, 2017
- Cancer
- Leading cause
- −16%
- vs national avg
- 46.8
- Avg age-adj /100K
The verdict
Massachusetts's leading killer is cancer at 149.3 per 100K (age-adjusted); the state's average age-adjusted rate across tracked causes runs 16% below the national figure.
- 149.3
- Cancer /100K, leading
- −16%
- vs national avg rate
- -26.1%
- rate, 1999–2017
- 40,574
- total deaths, 2017
Source: CDC WONDER, Underlying Cause of Death (CDC NCHS / NVSS), 2017. Age-adjusted rates allow fair comparison across states.
Where Massachusetts sits among all 51 states
Average age-adjusted death rate across the leading causes, 2017
46.8 Lower than 90% lower than 90% of 51 states
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more states. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source CDC WONDER, Underlying Cause of Death (CDC NCHS / NVSS) · 2017
Massachusetts recorded 40,574 deaths in 2017 across 10 tracked causes (CDC WONDER · methodology). Total annual deaths fell from 43,435 in 1999 to 40,574 in 2017 (-6.6%) - a modest trend over 18 years.
Key Statistics
Top 5 Causes of Death
The five leading causes account for 34,104 deaths (84.1% of all deaths) in Massachusetts.
All Causes of Death in Massachusetts (2017)
| # | Cause of death | Deaths | % of total | Age-adj /100K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cancer | 12,934 | 31.9% | 149.3 |
| 2 | Heart disease | 12,140 | 29.9% | 134.7 |
| 3 | Unintentional injuries | 3,821 | 9.4% | 51.5 |
| 4 | CLRD | 2,842 | 7.0% | 32.5 |
| 5 | Stroke | 2,367 | 5.8% | 26.5 |
| 6 | Alzheimer's disease | 1,841 | 4.5% | 19.9 |
| 7 | Influenza and pneumonia | 1,433 | 3.5% | 15.9 |
| 8 | Diabetes | 1,321 | 3.3% | 15.1 |
| 9 | Kidney disease | 1,193 | 2.9% | 13.4 |
| 10 | Suicide | 682 | 1.7% | 9.5 |
Mortality Trends Over Time
Show the full 19-year data table (deaths, rate, year-over-year change)
| Year | Total Deaths | Avg Age-Adj Rate | Deaths YoY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 43,435 | 63.3 | - |
| 2000 | 43,782 | 63.1 | +0.8% |
| 2001 | 43,103 | 61.6 | -1.6% |
| 2002 | 43,180 | 61.1 | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 42,549 | 59.5 | -1.5% |
| 2004 | 40,991 | 56.9 | -3.7% |
| 2005 | 40,727 | 56.0 | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 40,281 | 54.8 | -1.1% |
| 2007 | 39,348 | 52.8 | -2.3% |
| 2008 | 39,576 | 52.2 | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 38,502 | 50.2 | -2.7% |
| 2010 | 38,066 | 48.9 | -1.1% |
| 2011 | 38,197 | 48.2 | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 37,595 | 46.6 | -1.6% |
| 2013 | 38,425 | 46.8 | +2.2% |
| 2014 | 38,408 | 46.1 | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 39,963 | 47.4 | +4.0% |
| 2016 | 39,608 | 46.7 | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 40,574 | 46.8 | +2.4% |
National Comparison
How Massachusetts compares to the national average in 2017.
Among 51 states tracked for Cancer, Massachusetts sits at #35, with an age-adjusted rate of 149.3 per 100,000 -- a higher position on this list means a higher rate.
Nearby States & Comparisons
Compare mortality data with states bordering Massachusetts (2017).
| State | Deaths (Top Cause) | Leading Cause | Age-Adj Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts (this state) | 12,934 | Cancer | 149.3 |
| Connecticut | 7,138 | Heart disease | 141.6 |
| New Hampshire | 2,760 | Cancer | 153.5 |
| New York | 44,092 | Heart disease | 171.2 |
| Rhode Island | 2,339 | Heart disease | 155.7 |
| Vermont | 1,434 | Cancer | 164.5 |
Dig deeper into Massachusetts's mortality data
What the 2017 Massachusetts Mortality Record Shows
Across 10 tracked cause-of-death categories, CDC WONDER logged 40,574 deaths in Massachusetts during 2017. Cancer led with 12,934 deaths (149.3 per 100,000, age-adjusted), putting the state at #35 of 51 states for this cause, where a higher rank corresponds to a higher rate nationally. The five biggest causes account for 34,104 deaths, or 84.1% of the state total.
Massachusetts's average age-adjusted rate across all tracked causes was 46.8 per 100,000 - 16% below the national average of 55.5. A below-national rate like this one is a favorable aggregate read, but aggregate numbers can hide a cause or two running above benchmark even while the overall picture looks good. Over the 1999–2017 window, total deaths decreased by 6.6%, and the state-wide average age-adjusted rate declined by 26.1%.
How to read this record & data notes
For planners, clinicians, and individual readers, the practical read of the 2017 Massachusetts record is layered: the state-wide average frames overall burden, the top-causes ranking identifies where the mortality load concentrates, and the multi-year trend indicates whether conditions are improving or worsening. Because age-adjusted rates use the year 2000 US standard population, differences between states and across years are not driven by demographic aging alone, they reflect real variation in exposure, prevention, and care delivery. These figures describe population-level mortality statistics and are not a substitute for medical advice; individual risk depends on personal health history, behaviors, and access to care. Consult a qualified healthcare professional about diagnosis, treatment, or prevention decisions. Data source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics, CDC WONDER Underlying Cause of Death, covering 1999–2017.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the leading cause of death in Massachusetts? ▼
How many people died in Massachusetts in 2017? ▼
What are the top 3 causes of death in Massachusetts? ▼
How does Massachusetts's mortality rate compare to the national average? ▼
Has the death rate in Massachusetts increased or decreased over time? ▼
What years of mortality data are available for Massachusetts? ▼
Where does Massachusetts rank nationally for Cancer? ▼
What the Massachusetts record means
Massachusetts's average age-adjusted rate runs 16% below the national figure, read the leading cause, the spread, and the trend together, not any single number.
- Cancer is the leading cause at 149.3/100K, see how every state compares. Cancer by state
- Put Massachusetts side by side with another state before drawing conclusions. Compare states
- The state-wide rate fell 26.1% from 1999 to 2017 - trends matter more than a single year. Mortality trends
Rates are age-adjusted to the 2000 U.S. standard population; the state average summarizes the leading causes, not all-cause mortality. Population statistics, not personal risk.
Data source & methodology
Rates are per 100,000 population. Age-adjusted rates use the year 2000 US standard population. Data covers 1999–2017. Source: CDC WONDER, Underlying Cause of Death (CDC NCHS / NVSS).
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
According to the CDC National Center for Health Statistics, PlainHealthData's mortality figures are rendered directly from 9,690 official state-year-cause records (NCHS Leading Causes of Death, 1999-2017, finalized data verified June 2026) -- no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-19.