A new study by WalletHub.com found Massachusetts ranked as the 43rd safest state in the country during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The study included all 50 states and the District of Columbia (Washington D.C.), making Massachusetts the 9th least safe state, according to the study.
In the individual metrics considered when compiling the study, first being state being the best in each category, Massachusetts ranked:
- 5th: Highest Vaccination Rate
- 31st: Transmission Rate
- 34th: Hospitalization Rate
- 50th: Death Rate
Using a weighted scale across five key metrics (Vaccination Rate, Positive Test Rate, Hospitalization Rate, Death Rate and Transmission Rate) the study used a 100 point scale to assign a score to each state.
The score for Massachusetts: 44.15.
States in and around New England ranked by overall score:
- 4th: Maine, 72.23
- 7th: Vermont, 68.91
- 10th: Rhode Island, 68.37
- 16th Connecticut, 61.68
- 23rd: New Hampshire, 87.28
- 41st: Pennsylvania, 46.66
- 43rd: Massachusetts, 44.15
- 48th: New Jersey, 32.96
- 50th: New York, 30.71
The least safe state in during the COVID-19 pandemic in the study is Georgia. It ranked 50th in vaccination rate and has the highest death rate.
In between New Jersey and New York, ranked the 49th least safe state is Florida. It also ranked 47th in highest positive test rate.
The three states ranked safest by overall score, just in front of Maine, were Alaska (81.97), New Mexico (77.44) and Hawaii (72.90).
See how each state ranked in the map below, compare death rank compared to vaccination rate in the chart below or visit Wallethub.com to review the full results and methodology.