COUNTY FATALITY DATA
Barnstable County: lower-rate fatality band
Barnstable County (MA) is in the lower per-capita third: 5.2/100k (#2,192 of 2,328). Data period: 2016-2023.
- 113
- Total Fatalities (2016-2023)
- 12
- Latest Year Deaths
- Near average count
- 5.2
- Per 100k Residents
- Well below average
- Increasing
- Trend
Lower per-capita fatality band
Barnstable County ranks #2,192 of 2,328 by deaths per 100,000 residents (5.2/100k) - bottom-third rate among rated U.S. counties.
Barnstable County in the lower-rate third
According to NHTSA FARS, Barnstable County sits in the lower-rate third at 5.2 per 100k (#2,192 of 2,328), #7 of 13 in MA.
- #2,192 of 2,328
- lower-rate third
- #619 of 3,137
- larger-book third
- #7 of 13
- in MA by rate
- Increasing
- fatality trend
NHTSA FARS milepost
Milepost BARNSTABLE-1 · Barnstable 5.2/100k · #2,192 of 2,328
Barnstable County · 5.2/100k · increasing
- BAND 5.2/100k
- VOL #2,192 of 2,328
- AVG 113 book
- YOY Increasing
- RATE 108 crash
- RANK -11.1% vs MA
Stamps derive from this county's NHTSA FARS row (per-100k or book, corpus rank, trend, nationwide peer NAME, vs-state gap), not a trip-risk forecast. PlainRoadSafety is informational only. See our disclaimer. Verify with NHTSA FARS → · Read with methodology → · Understanding road fatality data → · Massachusetts state profile →
How does Barnstable County compare?
2023 road deaths per 100,000 residents. Choose any comparison from the menu.
Barnstable County is About the same as the comparison
2023 road deaths from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System over population from the U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2023). Rates shown for counties with 10,000+ residents and a 2023 FARS record.
Among the 13 rated counties in Massachusetts, Barnstable County ranks 7 for per-capita risk, below the state's own per-capita average of 5.8 per 100,000 -- nationally, this rate puts it among the safest one in ten U.S. counties by that per-capita measure. The gap between Barnstable County's rate and the state average is 0.6 per 100,000. Its closest per-capita peer statewide is Worcester County, at 5.2 per 100,000 (a difference of 0.0). Its peer counties, highest to lowest per 100,000 residents: Franklin County (9.9), Hampden County (9.1), Bristol County (7.2), Berkshire County (7.1), Plymouth County (6.7), Hampshire County (5.5), Worcester County (5.2), Norfolk County (5.1), Dukes County (4.8), Essex County (4.7), Suffolk County (2.9), Middlesex County (2.6).
Barnstable County's rate vs. every rated U.S. county
Deaths per 100,000 residents -- counties with 10,000+ people, NHTSA FARS over Census population
5 Among the safer counties a lower per-capita rate than 94% of 2,328 rated counties
rated U.S. counties, bucketed by value
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more rated counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source NHTSA FARS over U.S. Census Bureau population estimates · 2026-09-03
More road safety data related to Barnstable County
Contextual links from this profile to rankings, tools, research, and peer geographies on PlainRoadSafety.
- Barnstable County vs other counties by ratePer-100k fatality comparison
- Massachusetts statewide fatality dataAll counties in this state
- Deadliest states for drivingContext for MA
- State fatality changesYear-over-year state trends
- Browse all U.S. countiesAlphabetical county index
- All state profiles51 state dashboards
- State vs U.S. safety comparisonRoute-level lookup tool
- National statistics downloadFARS CSV + findings
- How to read FARS fatality dataMethodology primer
- Per-mile vs per-capita road riskRate denominator explained
- Counties starting with BLetter index including MA counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How many traffic fatalities occurred in Barnstable County, Massachusetts?
Barnstable County recorded 113 total traffic fatalities across 108 reported crashes over the data period (2016-2023). The most recent year saw 12 fatalities. The county averages approximately 12.6 fatalities per year.
What is the leading cause of road fatalities in Barnstable County?
Despite a comparatively active crash history (108 recorded crashes), individual cause-code breakdowns are not published for Barnstable County in the current FARS release. Statewide data for Massachusetts may provide additional context.
Is the trend of road fatalities in Barnstable County increasing or decreasing?
The trend in Barnstable County is increasing. This indicates that traffic fatalities have risen over the data period, warranting attention to road safety initiatives.
What is the fatality rate per capita in Barnstable County?
Barnstable County has a fatality rate of 5.2 per 100,000 residents, which puts it among the safest one in ten U.S. counties by that per-capita measure among the 3,137 U.S. counties in this dataset.
Where does Barnstable County rank for road fatality rate?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System, Barnstable County ranks #2,192 of 2,328 U.S. counties by road-fatality rate per 100,000 residents (highest first) and #7 of 13 rated counties in MA, the same sort used on the deadliest-states and county rate listings. See /methodology#corpus-placement.
How does Barnstable County compare to the rest of Massachusetts?
Barnstable County's per-capita rate of 5.2 per 100,000 residents is below the Massachusetts county average of 5.8. Visit the Massachusetts state page for the full county-by-county breakdown.
Where does the road fatality data for Barnstable County come from?
All road fatality data comes from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), a census of fatal motor vehicle crashes on public roads in the United States. FARS data covers the period 2016-2023 and includes all crashes resulting in at least one fatality within 30 days.