To find your department

> >

Square miles per fire station

In this table The Boston Globe ranks communities in Massachusetts by the territory that fire stations cover, as measured by square miles per station. Communities with the best coverage are ranked at the top.

To count the stations, the newspaper started with an old list from the state fire marshal's office, and then telephoned and faxed every fire department in the state. If you know of a change in the number of stations in any community, please let us know. The Globe counted as a fire station only buildings with a fire engine or ladder truck. Stations were included whether or not they were staffed; many of the stations listed here are not staffed, or are staffed only part time. Figures for the area of each town come from the US Census Bureau.

Please send any questions or corrections to Bill Dedman, at Dedman@Globe.com.

Read the complete series

Rank	Community	Square miles per station	Square miles	Fire stations
1	Chelsea	0.7	2.2	3
2	Somerville	0.8	4.1	5
3	Cambridge	0.9	7.1	8
4	Winthrop	1.0	2.0	2
5	Everett	1.1	3.4	3
6	Lawrence	1.2	7.4	6
7	Nahant	1.2	1.2	1
8	Brookline	1.4	6.8	5
9	Watertown	1.4	4.2	3
10	Medford	1.4	8.4	6
11	Lynn	1.4	11.4	8
12	Boston	1.5	49.6	34
13	Revere	1.5	6.0	4
14	Hull	1.6	3.1	2
15	Belmont	1.6	4.7	3
16	Malden	1.7	5.1	3
17	Lowell	1.8	14.5	8
18	Arlington	1.8	5.5	3
19	Salem	2.0	8.2	4
20	Quincy	2.1	16.9	8
21	Marblehead	2.3	4.5	2
22	Waltham	2.3	13.6	6
23	Melrose	2.4	4.8	2
24	Millville	2.5	5.0	2
25	Woburn	2.6	12.9	5
26	New Bedford	2.9	20.2	7
27	Newton	3.0	18.2	6
28	Swampscott	3.1	3.1	1
29	Hanover	3.1	15.7	5
30	Winchester	3.1	6.3	2
31	Provincetown	3.3	9.9	3
32	Peabody	3.4	16.8	5
33	Worcester	3.5	38.6	11
34	Rockport	3.6	7.2	2
35	Brockton	3.6	21.6	6
36	Springfield	3.7	33.2	9
37	Holbrook	3.7	7.4	2
38	Blackstone	3.7	11.2	3
39	Hudson	3.9	11.8	3
40	Wakefield	4.0	7.9	2
41	Chicopee	4.0	23.9	6
42	Natick	4.0	16.1	4
43	Wenham	4.0	8.1	2
44	Millbury	4.1	16.3	4
45	Somerset	4.2	8.4	2
46	Milton	4.4	13.1	3
47	Newburyport	4.4	8.8	2
48	Weymouth	4.5	17.8	4
49	Avon	4.6	4.6	1
50	Chelmsford	4.6	23.2	5
51	Groveland	4.7	9.4	2
52	Holliston	4.8	19.0	4
53	Braintree	4.8	14.4	3
54	Reading	5.0	9.9	2
55	Abington	5.1	10.2	2
56	Beverly	5.1	15.4	3
57	Lynnfield	5.2	10.5	2
58	Wellesley	5.2	10.5	2
59	Randolph	5.3	10.5	2
60	Billerica	5.3	26.4	5
61	Framingham	5.3	26.4	5
62	Dedham	5.3	10.6	2
63	Hopedale	5.3	5.3	1
64	Maynard	5.4	5.4	1
65	Westwood	5.6	11.1	2
66	Holyoke	5.7	22.8	4
67	Saugus	5.7	11.5	2
68	Medway	5.8	11.5	2
69	Aquinnah	5.8	5.8	1
70	Methuen	5.8	23.1	4
71	Scituate	5.8	17.4	3
72	Swansea	5.8	23.4	4
73	West Springfield	5.8	17.5	3
74	Pembroke	5.9	23.5	4
75	Burlington	5.9	11.9	2
76	Tyngsborough	6.0	18.1	3
77	Fall River	6.1	36.6	6
78	Seekonk	6.1	18.4	3
79	Fairhaven	6.2	12.4	2
80	Wareham	6.2	37.3	6
81	Bellingham	6.3	19.0	3
82	North Attleborough	6.4	19.1	3
83	Needham	6.4	12.7	2
84	Ashland	6.5	12.9	2
85	Tisbury	6.6	6.6	1
86	Georgetown	6.6	13.2	2
87	Gloucester	6.7	26.6	4
88	Stoneham	6.7	6.7	1
89	Acton	6.8	20.3	3
90	Amesbury	6.8	13.6	2
91	Danvers	6.9	13.8	2
92	Whitman	7.0	7.0	1
93	Walpole	7.0	21.0	3
94	Tewksbury	7.0	21.1	3
95	Norwell	7.1	21.2	3
96	Attleboro	7.1	28.3	4
97	Dracut	7.1	21.4	3
98	Haverhill	7.1	35.6	5
99	Lenox	7.2	21.5	3
100	Erving	7.2	14.4	2
101	Shrewsbury	7.2	21.6	3
102	Webster	7.3	14.5	2
103	Clinton	7.3	7.3	1
104	West Newbury	7.3	14.6	2
105	Marion	7.3	14.7	2
106	Marlborough	7.4	22.2	3
107	Milford	7.4	14.9	2
108	Oak Bluffs	7.5	7.5	1
109	Hingham	7.6	22.7	3
110	Southborough	7.8	15.7	2
111	Manchester-by-the-Sea	7.9	7.9	1
112	Stockbridge	7.9	23.7	3
113	Wayland	8.0	15.9	2
114	Sherborn	8.1	16.2	2
115	Stoughton	8.1	16.3	2
116	Auburn	8.2	16.4	2
117	Sudbury	8.2	24.6	3
118	Lexington	8.3	16.5	2
119	Berkley	8.3	16.5	2
120	Yarmouth	8.4	25.3	3
121	Pittsfield	8.5	42.3	5
122	Chatham	8.5	17.1	2
123	Weston	8.7	17.3	2
124	Merrimac	8.8	8.8	1
125	Russell	8.9	17.9	2
126	Barnstable	8.9	62.6	7
127	Northbridge	9.0	18.1	2
128	Falmouth	9.2	45.9	5
129	South Hadley	9.2	18.4	2
130	Fitchburg	9.4	28.1	3
131	Acushnet	9.4	18.9	2
132	Kingston	9.5	18.9	2
133	Egremont	9.5	19.0	2
134	Longmeadow	9.5	9.5	1
135	Marshfield	9.5	28.6	3
136	Ayer	9.6	9.6	1
137	Taunton	9.6	47.9	5
138	Easton	9.7	29.2	3
139	Canton	9.8	19.6	2
140	Buckland	9.9	19.8	2
141	Leominster	9.9	29.8	3
142	Rockland	10.1	10.1	1
143	Uxbridge	10.1	30.4	3
144	Wellfleet	10.2	20.3	2
145	Cohasset	10.2	10.2	1
146	Chilmark	10.3	20.5	2
147	Bourne	10.3	41.3	4
148	Mansfield	10.4	20.7	2
149	East Brookfield	10.4	10.4	1
150	Boxborough	10.4	10.4	1
151	Westford	10.4	31.3	3
152	Norwood	10.5	10.5	1
153	Dennis	10.7	21.3	2
154	Palmer	10.7	32.0	3
155	Andover	10.7	32.1	3
156	Monroe	10.8	10.8	1
157	Townsend	11.0	33.1	3
158	Wilbraham	11.2	22.4	2
159	Groton	11.2	33.7	3
160	Dighton	11.3	22.5	2
161	Harwich	11.3	22.6	2
162	Sutton	11.3	33.9	3
163	Wrentham	11.5	22.9	2
164	Plainville	11.5	11.5	1
165	Alford	11.6	11.6	1
166	Pepperell	11.6	23.2	2
167	Duxbury	12.1	24.2	2
168	Agawam	12.1	24.2	2
169	Newbury	12.1	24.2	2
170	Rochester	12.1	36.4	3
171	Millis	12.3	12.3	1
172	Boxford	12.3	24.6	2
173	Hadley	12.4	24.7	2
174	Chester	12.4	37.1	3
175	Dartmouth	12.5	62.3	5
176	Freetown	12.5	37.4	3
177	Topsfield	12.8	12.8	1
178	Clarksburg	12.8	12.8	1
179	Williamsburg	12.9	25.7	2
180	Concord	12.9	25.9	2
181	East Longmeadow	13.0	13.0	1
182	Berlin	13.1	13.1	1
183	Holland	13.1	13.1	1
184	West Tisbury	13.2	26.4	2
185	Pelham	13.2	26.5	2
186	Carver	13.3	39.8	3
187	Huntington	13.5	26.9	2
188	Harvard	13.5	27.0	2
189	Franklin	13.5	27.0	2
190	North Reading	13.5	13.5	1
191	Lee	13.5	27.0	2
192	New Ashford	13.5	13.5	1
193	Easthampton	13.6	13.6	1
194	Gosnold	13.6	13.6	1
195	Oxford	13.8	27.5	2
196	Warren	13.8	27.6	2
197	West Boylston	13.8	13.8	1
198	Bedford	13.9	13.9	1
199	Amherst	13.9	27.8	2
200	North Andover	13.9	27.8	2
201	Lancaster	14.1	28.2	2
202	Eastham	14.4	14.4	1
203	Essex	14.4	14.4	1
204	Middleton	14.4	14.4	1
205	Orleans	14.5	14.5	1
206	Edgartown	14.5	29.0	2
207	Southampton	14.5	29.1	2
208	Medfield	14.6	14.6	1
209	Sandwich	14.7	44.0	3
210	Plymouth	14.7	102.7	7
211	Sunderland	14.8	14.8	1
212	Gill	14.8	14.8	1
213	Norton	14.9	29.8	2
214	Hamilton	14.9	14.9	1
215	Lincoln	15.0	15.0	1
216	Plympton	15.1	15.1	1
217	Montgomery	15.2	15.2	1
218	Norfolk	15.2	15.2	1
219	Dover	15.4	15.4	1
220	Paxton	15.5	15.5	1
221	Carlisle	15.5	15.5	1
222	Rehoboth	15.6	46.8	3
223	Hanson	15.7	15.7	1
224	Montague	15.7	31.4	2
225	Westfield	15.8	47.3	3
226	Salisbury	15.8	15.8	1
227	West Bridgewater	15.8	15.8	1
228	Shirley	15.9	15.9	1
229	Wales	16.0	16.0	1
230	Templeton	16.2	32.4	2
231	Nantucket	16.4	49.2	3
232	Ipswich	16.5	32.9	2
233	Mattapoisett	16.5	16.5	1
234	Brookfield	16.6	16.6	1
235	Deerfield	16.7	33.4	2
236	Athol	16.7	33.4	2
237	Dunstable	16.7	16.7	1
238	Hatfield	16.8	16.8	1
239	Wilmington	17.2	17.2	1
240	Halifax	17.3	17.3	1
241	East Bridgewater	17.5	17.5	1
242	Littleton	17.6	17.6	1
243	Goshen	17.7	17.7	1
244	Northampton	17.8	35.6	2
245	Princeton	17.9	35.8	2
246	Orange	18.0	36.0	2
247	Leyden	18.0	18.0	1
248	Stow	18.1	18.1	1
249	Holden	18.1	36.2	2
250	Mendon	18.3	18.3	1
251	West Stockbridge	18.6	18.6	1
252	Northborough	18.7	18.7	1
253	Rowley	18.8	18.8	1
254	Tyringham	18.9	18.9	1
255	Richmond	19.2	19.2	1
256	Hampden	19.6	19.6	1
257	Boylston	19.7	19.7	1
258	Bolton	20.0	20.0	1
259	Ashburnham	20.5	41.0	2
260	North Adams	20.6	20.6	1
261	Whately	20.7	20.7	1
262	New Braintree	20.9	20.9	1
263	Raynham	20.9	20.9	1
264	Southbridge	20.9	20.9	1
265	Foxborough	20.9	20.9	1
266	Hubbardston	21.0	41.9	2
267	West Brookfield	21.1	21.1	1
268	Plainfield	21.3	21.3	1
269	Oakham	21.5	21.5	1
270	Westborough	21.6	21.6	1
271	Hinsdale	21.7	21.7	1
272	Truro	21.7	21.7	1
273	Upton	21.7	21.7	1
274	North Brookfield	21.7	21.7	1
275	Dalton	21.9	21.9	1
276	Charlton	21.9	43.8	2
277	Greenfield	21.9	21.9	1
278	Dudley	22.1	22.1	1
279	Barre	22.3	44.6	2
280	Great Barrington	22.8	45.7	2
281	Adams	22.9	22.9	1
282	Leverett	23.0	23.0	1
283	Gardner	23.0	23.0	1
284	Cummington	23.1	23.1	1
285	Grafton	23.3	23.3	1
286	Bernardston	23.4	23.4	1
287	Shelburne	23.4	23.4	1
288	Becket	23.9	47.8	2
289	Rowe	24.1	24.1	1
290	Middleborough	24.1	72.3	3
291	Middlefield	24.2	24.2	1
292	Ashby	24.2	24.2	1
293	Sharon	24.2	24.2	1
294	Florida	24.6	24.6	1
295	Phillipston	24.6	24.6	1
296	Leicester	24.7	24.7	1
297	Heath	24.9	24.9	1
298	Brewster	25.4	25.4	1
299	Westport	25.7	51.5	2
300	Mashpee	25.8	25.8	1
301	Peru	26.0	26.0	1
302	Charlemont	26.4	26.4	1
303	Sandisfield	26.5	53.0	2
304	Shutesbury	27.2	27.2	1
305	Monterey	27.3	27.3	1
306	Westhampton	27.3	27.3	1
307	Cheshire	27.6	27.6	1
308	Lunenburg	27.7	27.7	1
309	Granby	28.1	28.1	1
310	Hopkinton	28.2	28.2	1
311	Bridgewater	28.2	28.2	1
312	Ludlow	28.2	28.2	1
313	Lanesborough	29.7	29.7	1
314	Hawley	30.9	30.9	1
315	Chesterfield	31.3	31.3	1
316	Sterling	31.6	31.6	1
317	Southwick	31.7	31.7	1
318	Worthington	32.1	32.1	1
319	Wendell	32.2	32.2	1
320	Tolland	32.8	32.8	1
321	Spencer	34.0	34.0	1
322	Windsor	35.1	35.1	1
323	Brimfield	35.2	35.2	1
324	Northfield	35.4	35.4	1
325	Hancock	35.8	35.8	1
326	Savoy	36.0	36.0	1
327	Lakeville	36.1	36.1	1
328	Rutland	36.4	36.4	1
329	Westminster	37.3	37.3	1
330	Warwick	37.6	37.6	1
331	Douglas	37.7	37.7	1
332	Conway	37.8	37.8	1
333	Otis	38.0	38.0	1
334	Washington	38.7	38.7	1
335	Sturbridge	38.9	38.9	1
336	Ware	40.0	40.0	1
337	Ashfield	40.4	40.4	1
338	Hardwick	40.8	40.8	1
339	Royalston	42.5	42.5	1
340	Granville	43.0	43.0	1
341	Colrain	43.5	43.5	1
342	Winchendon	44.1	44.1	1
343	Monson	44.8	44.8	1
344	Williamstown	46.9	46.9	1
345	New Marlborough	47.9	47.9	1
346	Sheffield	48.5	48.5	1
347	Blandford	53.6	53.6	1
348	Belchertown	55.4	55.4	1
349	New Salem	58.7	58.7	1
350	Petersham	68.3	68.3	1
--	Mount Washington	N/A	22.4	N/A