Massachusetts Most-Divorced Towns – 2012

New data released by the United States Census Department in December 2012 reports that on average 9.2 percent of Massachusetts residents have reported themselves at one time as being divorced. Conveniently published by WCVB Boston on January 7, 2013, this date is released just in time to encourage any Valentine’s Day cynics that love might not always be forever.

The top five towns in Massachusetts for December 2012, in descending order, are Townsend (27.9 percent), Onset (27.4 percent), the Slasconset section of Nantucket (25 percent), the Devens section of Shirley (23.1 percent), and tied for fifth are Monson and North Eastham (both 21.7 percent). This same report at the end of 2011 had Onset with the highest rate of divorce in Massachusetts at 27.48 percent. Onset was followed not so closely by Great Barrington (22.08 percent), Monson (21.73 percent), Orleans (21.11 percent), and Vineyard Haven (19.29 percent). While Monson and Onset make a repeat appearance, the other towns on the list are new to the top five, showing a significant increase of divorce in some towns and a drop in others.