Is Massachusetts tap water hard or soft?
Mostly not. 0 % of the 13 cities with published data in Massachusetts have hard or very hard water (over 120 mg/L). The median is 1.9 gpg, from 0.7 gpg in Taunton to 5.4 gpg in Newburyport.
We have published hardness data for 13 cities in Massachusetts. The median is 1.9 gpg; the hardest water is in Newburyport (5.4 gpg), the softest in Taunton (0.7 gpg).
0 % of these cities have hard or very hard water (over 120 mg/L).
USGS classes: soft 0–60, moderately hard 61–120, hard 121–180, very hard >180 mg/L.
Cities in Massachusetts, hardest first
| gpg | mg/L | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Newburyport | 5.4 | 92 | moderately hard |
| Woburn | 4.8 | 83 | moderately hard |
| Bridgewater | 4.7 | 81 | moderately hard |
| Cambridge | 4.2 | 72 | moderately hard |
| Braintree Town | 3.7 | 63 | moderately hard |
| Franklin Town | 3.2 | 55 | soft |
| Haverhill | 1.9 | 32 | soft |
| Worcester | 1.7 | 30 | soft |
| Quincy | 1 | 18 | soft |
| Boston | 0.8 | 13 | soft |
| Malden | 0.8 | 13 | soft |
| Somerville | 0.8 | 13 | soft |
| Taunton | 0.7 | 13 | soft |
FAQ
Is Massachusetts water hard or soft?
Mostly not. 0 % of the 13 cities we cover have hard or very hard water; the median is 1.9 gpg.
Which city in Massachusetts has the hardest water?
Newburyport, at 5.4 gpg, has the hardest water of the 13 cities with published data.
Which city in Massachusetts has the softest water?
Taunton, at 0.7 gpg, has the softest water of the 13 cities with published data.
Do I need a water softener in Massachusetts?
Above about 120 mg/L (7 gpg) scale builds up in water heaters, kettles and dishwashers, and a softener or at least regular descaling pays off. Look up your own city in the table: in Massachusetts the values range from 0.7 gpg to 5.4 gpg.
On a private well? Well water hardness in Massachusetts by county →