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ATTACHMENT C: MA DPH RURAL DEFINITION
RURAL TOWN & RURAL CLUSTER LIST
The original framework for a state definition was created in 2002. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) - State Office of Rural Health (SORH) worked with its advisory council, the Massachusetts Rural Council on Health to develop this definition. In 2021 the definition was approved as one of MDPH’s Data Standards to help support the collection and reporting of demographic data in a consistent and representative manner. For more information on the definition : State Office of Rural Health Rural Definition | Mass.gov This framework is updated with the release of new census data every ten years. Below is the list of Rural Towns and their affiliated clusters. These clusters were identified by rural partners from those communities and represent geographic areas that have been historically classified together. Clusters may represent areas of shared services, cultural commonality, or geographic cohesion.
| County |
| Towns |
| Rural Level |
| Cluster |
| Franklin |
| ASHFIELD |
| rural level 1 |
| West Franklin |
| Franklin |
| BUCKLAND |
| rural level 2 |
| West Franklin |
| Franklin |
| CHARLEMONT |
| rural level 2 |
| West Franklin |
| Franklin |
| COLRAIN |
| rural level 2 |
| West Franklin |
| Franklin |
| CONWAY |
| rural level 1 |
| West Franklin |
| Franklin |
| HAWLEY |
| rural level 2 |
| West Franklin |
| Franklin |
| HEATH |
| rural level 2 |
| West Franklin |
| Franklin |
| MONROE |
| rural level 2 |
| West Franklin |
| Franklin |
| ROWE |
| rural level 2 |
| West Franklin |
| Franklin |
| SHELBURNE |
| rural level 2 |
| West Franklin |
| Berkshire |
| ALFORD |
| rural level 2 |
| Southern Berkshires |
| Berkshire |
| EGREMONT |
| rural level 2 |
| Southern Berkshires |
| Berkshire |
| GREAT BARRINGTON |
| rural level 2 |
| Southern Berkshires |
| Berkshire |
| LEE |
| rural level 2 |
| Southern Berkshires |
| Berkshire |
| LENOX |
| rural level 2 |
| Southern Berkshires |
| Berkshire |
| MONTEREY |
| rural level 2 |
| Southern Berkshires |
| Berkshire |
| MOUNT WASHINGTON |
| rural level 2 |
| Southern Berkshires |
| Berkshire |
| NEW MARLBOROUGH |
| rural level 2 |
| Southern Berkshires |
| Berkshire |
| OTIS |
| rural level 2 |
| Southern Berkshires |
| Berkshire |
| SANDISFIELD |
| rural level 2 |
| Southern Berkshires |
| Berkshire |
| SHEFFIELD |
| rural level 2 |
| Southern Berkshires |
| Berkshire |
| STOCKBRIDGE |
| rural level 2 |
| Southern Berkshires |
| Berkshire |
| TYRINGHAM |
| rural level 2 |
| Southern Berkshires |
| Berkshire |
| WEST STOCKBRIDGE |
| rural level 2 |
| Southern Berkshires |
| Bristol |
| BERKLEY |
| rural level 1 |
| Southeastern Mass |
| Bristol |
| DIGHTON |
| rural level 1 |
| Southeastern Mass |
| Bristol |
| FREETOWN |
| rural level 1 |
| Southeastern Mass |
| Plymouth |
| HALIFAX |
| rural level 1 |
| Southeastern Mass |
| Plymouth |
| MARION |
| rural level 1 |
| Southeastern Mass |
| Plymouth |
| MATTAPOISETT |
| rural level 1 |
| Southeastern Mass |
| Plymouth |
| PLYMPTON |
| rural level 1 |
| Southeastern Mass |
| Bristol |
| REHOBOTH |
| rural level 1 |
| Southeastern Mass |
| Plymouth |
| ROCHESTER |
| rural level 1 |
| Southeastern Mass |
| Plymouth |
| WEST BRIDGEWATER |
| rural level 1 |
| Southeastern Mass |
| Hampshire |
| BELCHERTOWN |
| rural level 1 |
| Quaboag Valley |
| Hampden |
| BRIMFIELD |
| rural level 1 |
| Quaboag Valley |
| Worcester |
| BROOKFIELD |
| rural level 1 |
| Quaboag Valley |
| Worcester |
| EAST BROOKFIELD |
| rural level 1 |
| Quaboag Valley |
| Hampden |
| HOLLAND |
| rural level 1 |
| Quaboag Valley |
| Hampden |
| MONSON |
| rural level 1 |
| Quaboag Valley |
| Worcester |
| NORTH BROOKFIELD |
| rural level 1 |
| Quaboag Valley |
| Hampden |
| PALMER |
| rural level 1 |
| Quaboag Valley |
| Hampden |
| WALES |
| rural level 1 |
| Quaboag Valley |
| Hampshire |
| WARE |
| rural level 1 |
| Quaboag Valley |
| Worcester |
| WARREN |
| rural level 1 |
| Quaboag Valley |
| Worcester |
| WEST BROOKFIELD |
| rural level 1 |
| Quaboag Valley |
| Berkshire |
| ADAMS |
| rural level 1 |
| Northern Berkshires |
| Berkshire |
| CHESHIRE |
| rural level 1 |
| Northern Berkshires |
| Berkshire |
| CLARKSBURG |
| rural level 2 |
| Northern Berkshires |
| Berkshire |
| FLORIDA |
| rural level 2 |
| Northern Berkshires |
| Berkshire |
| NEW ASHFORD |
| rural level 1 |
| Northern Berkshires |
| Berkshire |
| NORTH ADAMS |
| rural level 2 |
| Northern Berkshires |
| Berkshire |
| SAVOY |
| rural level 1 |
| Northern Berkshires |
| Berkshire |
| WILLIAMSTOWN |
| rural level 2 |
| Northern Berkshires |
| Worcester |
| ATHOL |
| rural level 2 |
| North Quabbin |
| Franklin |
| ERVING |
| rural level 2 |
| North Quabbin |
| Franklin |
| NEW SALEM |
| rural level 2 |
| North Quabbin |
| Franklin |
| ORANGE |
| rural level 2 |
| North Quabbin |
| Worcester |
| PETERSHAM |
| rural level 2 |
| North Quabbin |
| Worcester |
| PHILLIPSTON |
| rural level 2 |
| North Quabbin |
| Worcester |
| ROYALSTON |
| rural level 1 |
| North Quabbin |
| Franklin |
| WARWICK |
| rural level 2 |
| North Quabbin |
| Franklin |
| WENDELL |
| rural level 2 |
| North Quabbin |
| Worcester |
| ASHBURNHAM |
| rural level 1 |
| North Central |
| Middlesex |
| ASHBY |
| rural level 1 |
| North Central |
| Worcester |
| BOYLSTON |
| rural level 1 |
| North Central |
| Worcester |
| CLINTON |
| rural level 1 |
| North Central |
| Worcester |
| HUBBARDSTON |
| rural level 1 |
| North Central |
| Worcester |
| LANCASTER |
| rural level 1 |
| North Central |
| Worcester |
| PRINCETON |
| rural level 1 |
| North Central |
| Worcester |
| STERLING |
| rural level 1 |
| North Central |
| Worcester |
| TEMPLETON |
| rural level 1 |
| North Central |
| Middlesex |
| TOWNSEND |
| rural level 1 |
| North Central |
| Worcester |
| WESTMINSTER |
| rural level 1 |
| North Central |
| Worcester |
| WINCHENDON |
| Rural level 1 |
| North Central |
| Nantucket |
| NANTUCKET |
| rural level 2 |
| Nantucket |
| Barnstable |
| BREWSTER |
| rural level 1 |
| Lower/Outer Cape |
| Barnstable |
| CHATHAM |
| rural level 1 |
| Lower/Outer Cape |
| Barnstable |
| EASTHAM |
| rural level 1 |
| Lower/Outer Cape |
| Barnstable |
| ORLEANS |
| rural level 1 |
| Lower/Outer Cape |
| Barnstable |
| PROVINCETOWN |
| rural level 2 |
| Lower/Outer Cape |
| Barnstable |
| TRURO |
| rural level 2 |
| Lower/Outer Cape |
| Barnstable |
| WELLFLEET |
| rural level 2 |
| Lower/Outer Cape |
| Hampden |
| BLANDFORD |
| rural level 1 |
| Hilltowns |
| Hampden |
| CHESTER |
| rural level 1 |
| Hilltowns |
| Hampshire |
| CHESTERFIELD |
| rural level 1 |
| Hilltowns |
| Hampshire |
| CUMMINGTON |
| rural level 1 |
| Hilltowns |
| Hampshire |
| GOSHEN |
| rural level 1 |
| Hilltowns |
| Hampden |
| GRANVILLE |
| rural level 1 |
| Hilltowns |
| Hampshire |
| HUNTINGTON |
| rural level 1 |
| Hilltowns |
| Hampshire |
| MIDDLEFIELD |
| rural level 1 |
| Hilltowns |
| Hampden |
| MONTGOMERY |
| rural level 1 |
| Hilltowns |
| Hampshire |
| PLAINFIELD |
| rural level 2 |
| Hilltowns |
| Hampden |
| RUSSELL |
| rural level 1 |
| Hilltowns |
| Hampshire |
| SOUTHAMPTON |
| rural level 1 |
| Hilltowns |
| Hampden |
| SOUTHWICK |
| rural level 1 |
| Hilltowns |
| Hampden |
| TOLLAND |
| rural level 1 |
| Hilltowns |
| Hampshire |
| WESTHAMPTON |
| rural level 1 |
| Hilltowns |
| Hampshire |
| WILLIAMSBURG |
| rural level 1 |
| Hilltowns |
| Hampshire |
| WORTHINGTON |
| rural level 1 |
| Hilltowns |
| Essex |
| BOXFORD |
| rural level 1 |
| Essex |
| Essex |
| ESSEX |
| rural level 1 |
| Essex |
| Essex |
| NEWBURY |
| rural level 1 |
| Essex |
| Essex |
| ROWLEY |
| rural level 1 |
| Essex |
| Essex |
| WEST NEWBURY |
| rural level 1 |
| Essex |
| Worcester |
| BARRE |
| rural level 1 |
| East Quabbin |
| Worcester |
| HARDWICK |
| rural level 2 |
| East Quabbin |
| Worcester |
| NEW BRAINTREE |
| rural level 2 |
| East Quabbin |
| Worcester |
| OAKHAM |
| rural level 1 |
| East Quabbin |
| Worcester |
| PAXTON |
| rural level 1 |
| East Quabbin |
| Worcester |
| RUTLAND |
| rural level 1 |
| East Quabbin |
| Franklin |
| BERNARDSTON |
| rural level 2 |
| East Franklin |
| Franklin |
| DEERFIELD |
| rural level 1 |
| East Franklin |
| Franklin |
| GILL |
| rural level 2 |
| East Franklin |
| Franklin |
| GREENFIELD |
| rural level 2 |
| East Franklin |
| Franklin |
| LEVERETT |
| rural level 1 |
| East Franklin |
| Franklin |
| LEYDEN |
| rural level 2 |
| East Franklin |
| Franklin |
| MONTAGUE |
| rural level 2 |
| East Franklin |
| Franklin |
| NORTHFIELD |
| rural level 2 |
| East Franklin |
| Franklin |
| SHUTESBURY |
| rural level 1 |
| East Franklin |
| Franklin |
| SUNDERLAND |
| rural level 1 |
| East Franklin |
| Franklin |
| WHATELY |
| rural level 1 |
| East Franklin |
| Dukes |
| AQUINNAH |
| rural level 2 |
| Dukes County |
| Dukes |
| CHILMARK |
| rural level 2 |
| Dukes County |
| Dukes |
| EDGARTOWN |
| rural level 2 |
| Dukes County |
| Dukes |
| GOSNOLD |
| rural level 2 |
| Dukes County |
| Dukes |
| OAK BLUFFS |
| rural level 2 |
| Dukes County |
| Dukes |
| TISBURY |
| rural level 2 |
| Dukes County |
| Dukes |
| WEST TISBURY |
| rural level 2 |
| Dukes County |
| Hampshire |
| GRANBY |
| rural level 1 |
| Central Pioneer Valley |
| Hampshire |
| HADLEY |
| rural level 1 |
| Central Pioneer Valley |
| Hampden |
| HAMPDEN |
| rural level 1 |
| Central Pioneer Valley |
| Hampshire |
| HATFIELD |
| rural level 1 |
| Central Pioneer Valley |
| Hampshire |
| PELHAM |
| rural level 1 |
| Central Pioneer Valley |
| Berkshire |
| BECKET |
| rural level 1 |
| Central Berkshires |
| Berkshire |
| DALTON |
| rural level 1 |
| Central Berkshires |
| Berkshire |
| HANCOCK |
| rural level 2 |
| Central Berkshires |
| Berkshire |
| HINSDALE |
| rural level 1 |
| Central Berkshires |
| Berkshire |
| LANESBOROUGH |
| rural level 1 |
| Central Berkshires |
| Berkshire |
| PERU |
| rural level 2 |
| Central Berkshires |
| Berkshire |
| RICHMOND |
| rural level 1 |
| Central Berkshires |
| Berkshire |
| WASHINGTON |
| rural level 1 |
| Central Berkshires |
| Berkshire |
| WINDSOR |
| rural level 1 |
| Central Berkshires |
| Worcester |
| CHARLTON |
| rural level 1 |
| Blackstone Valley |
| Worcester |
| DOUGLAS |
| rural level 1 |
| Blackstone Valley |
| Worcester |
| MENDON |
| rural level 1 |
| Blackstone Valley |
| Worcester |
| STURBRIDGE |
| rural level 1 |
| Blackstone Valley |
| Worcester |
| SUTTON |
| rural level 1 |
| Blackstone Valley |
| Worcester |
| UPTON |
| rural level 1 |
| Blackstone Valley |
| Middlesex |
| AYER |
| rural level 1 |
| 495 Corridor |
| Worcester |
| BERLIN |
| rural level 1 |
| 495 Corridor |
| Worcester |
| BOLTON |
| rural level 1 |
| 495 Corridor |
| Middlesex |
| BOXBOROUGH |
| rural level 1 |
| 495 Corridor |
| Middlesex |
| CARLISLE |
| rural level 1 |
| 495 Corridor |
| Norfolk |
| DOVER |
| rural level 1 |
| 495 Corridor |
| Middlesex |
| DUNSTABLE |
| rural level 1 |
| 495 Corridor |
| Worcester |
| HARVARD |
| rural level 1 |
| 495 Corridor |
| Middlesex |
| LINCOLN |
| rural level 1 |
| 495 Corridor |
| Middlesex |
| SHERBORN |
| rural level 1 |
| 495 Corridor |
| Middlesex |
| SHIRLEY |
| rural level 1 |
| 495 Corridor |
| Middlesex |
| STOW |
| rural level 1 |
| 495 Corridor |
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