10 Massachusetts Towns Among Worst in the Country When it comes to Lead Paint!

Shouldn't we be done with lead paint by now? We've known that it's really bad at least since I was a kid... and I'm pretty old! But somewhere around 35% of US homes still have lead paint up on the walls! What cities and towns have the biggest lead paint problems? Paint Gnome stepped up to help answer that question, ranking 2024’s Most Lead Paint-Vulnerable Cities.

To help figure this out Paint Gnome compared the 500 biggest U.S. cities based on 2 categories: the number and share of homes built in the years when lead paint use was common and access to certified lead-based paint inspection, risk assessment, and abatement firms. It shouldn't be too surprising that 10 of the 50 most lead paint-vulnerable areas are right here in Massachusetts. I say it shouldn't be too surprising because Massachusetts is so old - but to tell the truth, I'm actually pretty surprised. I guess even though we have our fair share of issues and problems in Massachusetts, I like to think that we have our stuff together - at least above average in the US.

Massachusetts had the most cities and towns in the Top 50 with 10. Pennsylvania had the second most in the Top 50 with 6. California, Ohio, and New York tied for the third biggest lead paint problem, each with 4 entries in the Top 50. So Massachusetts (unfortunately in this case) was easily the big winner. Ugh...

So I'm sure you're wondering which 10 Massachusetts cities made the Top 50 Most Lead Paint-Vulnerable Cities of 2024. Well here they come! And if you'd like to see all 50 entries in the Top 50 - or see MORE than the Top 50 to see where your city or town may fall on the list, check out all of Paint Gnome's findings RIGHT HERE!

And if after the bad news you need some GOOD Massachusetts news, here's the 5 best towns in New England to find a job in 2024. There's a whopping one in the top 5 from Massachusetts. That's positive, right?

LOWELL
Lowell finished as the #47 most lead paint-vulnerable city in America. It finished just above Trenton, NJ and just below.....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vs2Ce0c5M10

WORCESTER
Worcester finished as the #46 most lead paint-vulnerable city in America. It finished just above Lowell, MA and just below Hartford, CT.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kf1Q6lkpfNQ

FALL RIVER
Fall River finished as the #41 most lead paint-vulnerable city in America. It finished just above Oakland, CA and just below.....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMiDN-hrd4o

SPRINGFIELD
Springfield finished as the #40 most lead paint-vulnerable city in America. It finished just above Fall River, MA and just below Duluth, MN.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5D4tiqsghHs

LAWRENCE
Lawrence finished as the #30 most lead paint-vulnerable city in America. It finished just above Allentown, PA and just below.....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0n3CnQIi-BM

BOSTON
Boston finished as the #29 most lead paint-vulnerable city in America. It finished just above Lawrence, MA and just below Berkeley, CA.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmCDvQecjA8

LYNN
Lynn finished as the #27 most lead paint-vulnerable city in America. It finished just above Berkeley, CA and just below St. Paul, MN.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkJ1hyyTPbE

NEWTON
Newton finished as the #24 most lead paint-vulnerable city in America. It finished just above Racine, WI and just below Hammond, IN.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLQR48fNmyA

NEW BEDFORD
New Bedford finished as the #21 most lead paint-vulnerable city in America. It finished just above Flint, MI and just below Syracuse, NY.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhtLe_v8s-Q

SOMERVILLE
Somerville finished as the #8 most lead paint-vulnerable city in America. It finished just above Cleveland, OH and just below Detroit, MI.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHtN62pAkVo