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MAMassachusetts rankings

Towns that borrow the most from their library in Massachusetts

Ranked by books, movies, e-books and other items the town’s public library lent in a year, per resident. 255 towns with 2,500+ residents.

IMLS Public Libraries Survey, fiscal year 2024

Beverly
Massachusetts · Most library borrowing

Where Beverly lands: #84 of 255

8.6 per resident books, movies & e-books borrowed a year · Visit Beverly →

West Tisbury 1 West Tisbury Dukes County 34.6 per resident West Tisbury Free Public Library Hopkinton 2 Hopkinton Middlesex County 28.6 per resident Hopkinton Public Library Weston 3 Weston Middlesex County 23.5 per resident Weston Public Library
#TownLoans per residentLibraryLoans a year
1 West Tisbury West TisburyDukes County · 3,080 people 34.6 per resident West Tisbury Free Public Library 124,430
2 Hopkinton HopkintonMiddlesex County · 19,358 people 28.6 per resident Hopkinton Public Library 550,685
3 Weston WestonMiddlesex County · 11,579 people 23.5 per resident Weston Public Library 274,542
4 Lexington LexingtonMiddlesex County · 34,295 people 20.2 per resident Cary Memorial Library 688,083
5 Orleans OrleansBarnstable County · 6,415 people 19.1 per resident Snow Library 122,414
6 ConcordMiddlesex County · 18,223 people 18.8 per resident Concord Free Public Library 337,017
7 Lincoln LincolnMiddlesex County · 6,948 people 18.5 per resident Lincoln Public Library 126,707
8 Sudbury SudburyMiddlesex County · 19,306 people 18.2 per resident Goodnow Library 344,804
9 Williamsburg WilliamsburgHampshire County · 2,694 people 18.2 per resident Meekins Public Library 44,875
10 Wellesley WellesleyNorfolk County · 30,347 people 18.1 per resident Wellesley Free Library 553,870
11 Eastham EasthamBarnstable County · 5,811 people 17.9 per resident Eastham Public Library 104,222
12 Bedford BedfordMiddlesex County · 14,727 people 16.9 per resident Bedford Free Public Library 239,627
13 Carlisle CarlisleMiddlesex County · 5,239 people 16.7 per resident Gleason Public Library 86,292
14 Sherborn SherbornMiddlesex County · 4,427 people 16.7 per resident Sherborn Library 73,212
15 Littleton LittletonMiddlesex County · 10,280 people 15.8 per resident Reuben Hoar Library 159,741
16 Sunderland SunderlandFranklin County · 3,641 people 15.7 per resident Sunderland Public Library 57,190
17 Northfield NorthfieldFranklin County · 2,872 people 15.4 per resident Dickinson Memorial Library 44,228
18 West Newbury West NewburyEssex County · 4,591 people 15.2 per resident G. A. R. Memorial Library 69,523
19 Acton ActonMiddlesex County · 24,155 people 15.0 per resident Acton Memorial Library 356,630
20 Winchester WinchesterMiddlesex County · 23,406 people 14.8 per resident Winchester Public Library 334,152
21 Millis MillisNorfolk County · 8,888 people 14.8 per resident Millis Public Library 130,763
22 Harwich HarwichBarnstable County · 13,598 people 14.6 per resident Brooks Free Library 195,223
23 Groton GrotonMiddlesex County · 11,390 people 14.6 per resident Groton Public Library 162,988
24 TisburyDukes County · 4,893 people 14.3 per resident Vineyard Haven Public Library 69,842
25 Wellfleet WellfleetBarnstable County · 4,404 people 14.3 per resident Wellfleet Public Library 52,230
26 Newton Newton89,044 people 14.1 per resident Newton Free Library 1,230,976
27 Topsfield TopsfieldEssex County · 6,564 people 14.1 per resident Topsfield Town Library 91,888
28 Westwood WestwoodNorfolk County · 16,318 people 14.0 per resident Westwood Public Library 227,680
29 Needham NeedhamNorfolk County · 32,459 people 13.8 per resident Needham Free Public Library 443,033
30 Map of Brewster BrewsterBarnstable County · 10,420 people 13.8 per resident Brewster Ladies' Library 144,098
31 Oak Bluffs Oak BluffsDukes County · 5,407 people 13.8 per resident Oak Bluffs Public Library 74,210
32 Reading ReadingMiddlesex County · 25,612 people 13.6 per resident Reading Public Library 342,198
33 Cohasset CohassetNorfolk County · 8,427 people 13.5 per resident Paul Pratt Memorial Library 113,072
34 Harvard HarvardWorcester County · 6,927 people 13.4 per resident Harvard Public Library 91,982
35 MattapoisettPlymouth County · 6,634 people 13.4 per resident Mattapoisett Free Public Library 87,998
36 Chatham ChathamBarnstable County · 6,681 people 13.3 per resident Eldredge Public Library 88,275
37 Wayland WaylandMiddlesex County · 13,914 people 13.2 per resident Wayland Free Public Library 179,927
38 Townsend TownsendMiddlesex County · 9,100 people 13.2 per resident Townsend Public Library 118,534
39 Boxborough BoxboroughMiddlesex County · 5,496 people 13.1 per resident Sargent Memorial Library 70,758
40 Brookline BrooklineNorfolk County · 63,266 people 13.0 per resident Brookline Public Library 813,846
41 Westford WestfordMiddlesex County · 24,690 people 12.9 per resident J. V. Fletcher Library 314,442
42 Mashpee MashpeeBarnstable County · 15,384 people 12.8 per resident Mashpee Public Library 197,945
43 Southborough SouthboroughWorcester County · 10,493 people 12.8 per resident Southborough Public Library 133,703
44 Lenox LenoxBerkshire County · 5,079 people 12.8 per resident Lenox Library 64,791
45 Edgartown EdgartownDukes County · 5,278 people 12.7 per resident Edgartown Free Public Library 67,036
46 Natick NatickMiddlesex County · 36,873 people 12.6 per resident Morse Institute Library 372,975
47 Norwell NorwellPlymouth County · 11,361 people 12.6 per resident Norwell Public Library 141,891
48 Newburyport Newburyport18,652 people 12.5 per resident Newburyport Public Library 234,036
49 Great Barrington Great BarringtonBerkshire County · 7,202 people 12.5 per resident Mason Library 90,309
50 DoverNorfolk County · 5,930 people 12.5 per resident Dover Town Library 73,484
51 Sheffield SheffieldBerkshire County · 3,330 people 12.2 per resident Bushnell-Sage Library 40,613
52 Maynard MaynardMiddlesex County · 10,712 people 11.8 per resident Maynard Public Library 124,134
53 Hingham HinghamPlymouth County · 24,283 people 11.7 per resident Hingham Public Library 282,876
54 Williamstown WilliamstownBerkshire County · 9,150 people 11.7 per resident David & Joyce Milne Public Library 89,294
55 Hadley HadleyHampshire County · 5,306 people 11.7 per resident Hadley Public Library 61,898
56 Falmouth FalmouthBarnstable County · 33,039 people 11.5 per resident Falmouth Public Library 372,077
57 Duxbury DuxburyPlymouth County · 16,185 people 11.5 per resident Duxbury Free Library 184,553
58 Cambridge Cambridge118,796 people 11.3 per resident Cambridge Public Library 1,344,532
59 Andover AndoverEssex County · 36,652 people 11.1 per resident Memorial Hall Library 404,232
60 Medfield MedfieldNorfolk County · 13,068 people 11.1 per resident Medfield Memorial Library 145,585
61 Chelmsford ChelmsfordMiddlesex County · 36,446 people 10.9 per resident Chelmsford Public Library 390,881
62 Sharon SharonNorfolk County · 18,574 people 10.9 per resident Sharon Public Library 199,814
63 Seekonk SeekonkBristol County · 15,694 people 10.9 per resident Seekonk Public Library 169,833
64 RockportEssex County · 7,009 people 10.9 per resident Rockport Public Library 75,378
65 Manchester-by-the-Sea Manchester-by-the-SeaEssex County · 5,403 people 10.9 per resident Manchester-By-The-Sea Pub. Library 58,166
66 Scituate ScituatePlymouth County · 19,365 people 10.8 per resident Scituate Town Library 207,324
67 Granby GranbyHampshire County · 6,080 people 10.7 per resident Granby Free Public Library 64,548
68 Wakefield WakefieldMiddlesex County · 27,793 people 10.5 per resident Lucius Beebe Memorial Library 284,168
69 Belmont BelmontMiddlesex County · 27,175 people 10.5 per resident Belmont Public Library 280,217
70 Holden HoldenWorcester County · 20,064 people 10.5 per resident Gale Free Library 209,434
71 Ipswich IpswichEssex County · 13,930 people 10.5 per resident Ipswich Public Library 145,970
72 Bolton BoltonWorcester County · 5,737 people 10.5 per resident Bolton Public Library 60,154
73 Swampscott SwampscottEssex County · 15,277 people 10.4 per resident Swampscott Public Library 159,140
74 Sterling SterlingWorcester County · 8,183 people 10.2 per resident Conant Free Public Library 82,745
75 Holliston HollistonMiddlesex County · 15,094 people 10.0 per resident Holliston Public Library 148,306
76 Montague MontagueFranklin County · 8,482 people 9.9 per resident Montague Public Libraries 83,978
77 Northborough NorthboroughWorcester County · 15,750 people 9.5 per resident Northborough Free Library 148,338
78 Longmeadow LongmeadowHampden County · 15,696 people 9.3 per resident Richard Salter Storrs Library 145,092
79 KingstonPlymouth County · 14,027 people 9.2 per resident Kingston Public Library 126,744
80 Map of Shrewsbury ShrewsburyWorcester County · 38,876 people 9.1 per resident Shrewsbury Free Public Library 361,246
81 Essex EssexEssex County · 3,701 people 9.0 per resident T.O.H.P. Burnham Free Library 32,993
82 Map of Westborough WestboroughWorcester County · 21,944 people 8.9 per resident Westborough Public Library 192,231
83 West Boylston West BoylstonWorcester County · 7,782 people 8.9 per resident Beaman Memorial Public Library 68,784
84 Beverly Beverly42,665 people 8.6 per resident Beverly Public Library 363,064
85 Milton MiltonNorfolk County · 28,587 people 8.6 per resident Milton Public Library 244,177
86 Georgetown GeorgetownEssex County · 8,474 people 8.6 per resident Georgetown Peabody Library 72,435
87 Ashburnham AshburnhamWorcester County · 6,415 people 8.5 per resident Stevens Memorial Library 53,943
88 Ayer AyerMiddlesex County · 8,645 people 8.4 per resident Ayer Library 70,358
89 Dalton DaltonBerkshire County · 6,256 people 8.4 per resident Dalton Free Public Library 52,639
90 WilbrahamHampden County · 14,572 people 8.3 per resident Wilbraham Public Library 121,037
91 Hatfield HatfieldHampshire County · 3,325 people 8.3 per resident Hatfield Public Library 27,664
92 Burlington BurlingtonMiddlesex County · 26,274 people 8.2 per resident Burlington Public Library 211,901
93 West Brookfield West BrookfieldWorcester County · 3,859 people 8.2 per resident Merriam-Gilbert Public Library 31,468
94 Norwood NorwoodNorfolk County · 31,542 people 8.1 per resident Morrill Memorial Library 253,734
95 Middleton MiddletonEssex County · 9,816 people 7.9 per resident Flint Public Library 77,390
96 CantonNorfolk County · 24,748 people 7.8 per resident Canton Public Library 191,339
97 South HadleyHampshire County · 17,754 people 7.8 per resident South Hadley Public Library 140,608
98 Princeton PrincetonWorcester County · 3,529 people 7.8 per resident Princeton Public Library 27,190
99 Southampton SouthamptonHampshire County · 6,230 people 7.6 per resident Edwards Public Library 47,355
100 Ashland AshlandMiddlesex County · 18,873 people 7.5 per resident Ashland Public Library 138,389
101 Sturbridge SturbridgeWorcester County · 9,960 people 7.5 per resident Joshua Hyde Public Library 74,451
102 Hudson HudsonMiddlesex County · 20,077 people 7.4 per resident Hudson Public Library 145,564
103 Medway MedwayNorfolk County · 13,436 people 7.4 per resident Medway Public Library 99,460
104 Lynnfield LynnfieldEssex County · 13,064 people 7.4 per resident Lynnfield Public Library 96,342
105 Deerfield DeerfieldFranklin County · 5,158 people 7.4 per resident Tilton Library 38,286
106 Melrose Melrose29,650 people 7.3 per resident Melrose Public Library 212,321
107 Lancaster LancasterWorcester County · 8,606 people 7.3 per resident Thayer Memorial Library 61,577
108 Barre BarreWorcester County · 5,572 people 7.3 per resident Woods Memorial Library 40,579
109 Map of Foxborough FoxboroughNorfolk County · 18,615 people 7.1 per resident Boyden Library 130,386
110 Charlton CharltonWorcester County · 13,435 people 7.0 per resident Charlton Public Library 93,592
111 Upton UptonWorcester County · 8,189 people 7.0 per resident Upton Town Library 57,064
112 Avon AvonNorfolk County · 4,774 people 7.0 per resident Avon Public Library 33,364
113 Brookfield BrookfieldWorcester County · 3,460 people 7.0 per resident Merrick Public Library 24,122
114 Plainville PlainvilleNorfolk County · 9,943 people 6.9 per resident Plainville Public Library 67,634
115 WestminsterWorcester County · 8,374 people 6.9 per resident Forbush Memorial Library 57,276
116 Acushnet AcushnetBristol County · 10,624 people 6.8 per resident Acushnet Public Library 71,481
117 Newbury NewburyEssex County · 6,777 people 6.8 per resident Newbury Town Library 45,751
118 North ReadingMiddlesex County · 15,765 people 6.7 per resident Flint Memorial Library 103,725
119 Pepperell PepperellMiddlesex County · 11,663 people 6.7 per resident Lawrence Library 77,668
120 Sandwich SandwichBarnstable County · 20,522 people 6.6 per resident Sandwich Free Public Library 136,002
121 Lunenburg LunenburgWorcester County · 11,902 people 6.6 per resident Lunenburg Public Library 77,711
122 Waltham Waltham64,902 people 6.5 per resident Waltham Public Library 414,622
123 Lee LeeBerkshire County · 5,719 people 6.5 per resident Lee Library Association 37,168
124 Dartmouth DartmouthBristol County · 33,328 people 6.4 per resident Dartmouth Public Libraries 212,642
125 Athol AtholWorcester County · 12,011 people 6.4 per resident Athol Public Library 76,601
126 Lakeville LakevillePlymouth County · 11,944 people 6.4 per resident Lakeville Free Public Library 76,230
127 Boxford BoxfordEssex County · 8,208 people 6.4 per resident Boxford Town Library 51,567
128 Framingham Framingham72,399 people 6.3 per resident Framingham Public Library 444,933
129 Walpole WalpoleNorfolk County · 26,388 people 6.3 per resident Walpole Public Library 164,502
130 Marshfield MarshfieldPlymouth County · 25,879 people 6.3 per resident Ventress Memorial Library 162,403
131 Mansfield MansfieldBristol County · 23,931 people 6.3 per resident Mansfield Public Library 150,880
132 Marion MarionPlymouth County · 5,310 people 6.3 per resident Elizabeth Taber Library 33,528
133 Medford Medford59,354 people 6.2 per resident Charlotte and William Bloomberg Medford Public Library 402,792
134 Dedham DedhamNorfolk County · 25,237 people 6.2 per resident Dedham Public Library 153,752
135 Wilmington WilmingtonMiddlesex County · 23,336 people 6.2 per resident Wilmington Memorial Library 141,957
136 Southwick SouthwickHampden County · 9,217 people 6.2 per resident Southwick Public Library 57,219
137 West Bridgewater West BridgewaterPlymouth County · 7,708 people 6.2 per resident West Bridgewater Public Library 47,536
138 Rochester RochesterPlymouth County · 5,837 people 6.2 per resident Joseph H. Plumb Memorial Library 36,347
139 Quincy Quincy102,114 people 6.1 per resident Thomas Crane Public Library 620,934
140 Tewksbury TewksburyMiddlesex County · 31,273 people 6.1 per resident Tewksbury Public Library 188,669
141 Merrimac MerrimacEssex County · 6,748 people 6.1 per resident Merrimac Public Library 41,083
142 Map of Paxton PaxtonWorcester County · 5,002 people 6.1 per resident Richards Memorial Library 30,759
143 Woburn41,939 people 6.0 per resident Woburn Public Library 247,884
144 Salem Salem44,795 people 5.9 per resident Salem Public Library 262,510
145 Billerica BillericaMiddlesex County · 42,003 people 5.9 per resident Billerica Public Library 245,491
146 Somerset SomersetBristol County · 18,298 people 5.9 per resident Somerset Public Library 106,809
147 Tyngsborough TyngsboroughMiddlesex County · 12,550 people 5.9 per resident Tyngsborough Public Library 72,574
148 Rowley RowleyEssex County · 6,251 people 5.9 per resident Rowley Public Library 37,135
149 Boylston BoylstonWorcester County · 4,948 people 5.8 per resident Boylston Public Library 28,735
150 Shirley ShirleyMiddlesex County · 6,976 people 5.7 per resident Hazen Memorial Library 38,319
151 Gardner Gardner21,148 people 5.6 per resident Levi Heywood Memorial Library 116,065
152 Plympton PlymptonPlymouth County · 2,935 people 5.6 per resident Plympton Public Library 16,253
153 North Andover North AndoverEssex County · 31,490 people 5.5 per resident Stevens Memorial Library 171,522
154 Pembroke PembrokePlymouth County · 18,382 people 5.5 per resident Pembroke Public Library 100,984
155 Belchertown BelchertownHampshire County · 15,393 people 5.5 per resident Clapp Memorial Library 84,803
156 Nantucket NantucketNantucket County · 14,483 people 5.5 per resident Nantucket Atheneum 78,912
157 Hanover HanoverPlymouth County · 14,845 people 5.4 per resident John Curtis Free Library 79,227
158 Sutton SuttonWorcester County · 9,452 people 5.4 per resident Sutton Free Public Library 50,390
159 Stoneham StonehamMiddlesex County · 23,355 people 5.3 per resident Stoneham Public Library 119,240
160 Northbridge NorthbridgeWorcester County · 16,458 people 5.3 per resident Whitinsville Social Library 86,030
161 Fairhaven FairhavenBristol County · 15,903 people 5.3 per resident Millicent Library 83,505
162 Leominster Leominster43,909 people 5.1 per resident Leominster Public Library 222,726
163 Yarmouth YarmouthBarnstable County · 25,224 people 5.1 per resident Yarmouth Town Libraries 128,661
164 Blackstone BlackstoneWorcester County · 9,255 people 5.1 per resident Blackstone Free Public Library 46,533
165 Stow StowMiddlesex County · 7,165 people 5.1 per resident Randall Library 35,943
166 Hopedale HopedaleWorcester County · 6,027 people 5.1 per resident Bancroft Memorial Library 30,644
167 Dunstable DunstableMiddlesex County · 3,408 people 5.1 per resident Dunstable Free Public Library 17,119
168 Auburn AuburnWorcester County · 16,970 people 5.0 per resident Auburn Free Public Library 83,646
169 Oxford OxfordWorcester County · 13,385 people 4.9 per resident Oxford Free Public Library 65,057
170 Hampden HampdenHampden County · 4,946 people 4.9 per resident Hampden Free Public Library 24,242
171 Middleborough MiddleboroughPlymouth County · 24,505 people 4.8 per resident Middleborough Public Library 116,184
172 Marblehead MarbleheadEssex County · 20,413 people 4.8 per resident Abbot Public Library 97,681
173 WhitmanPlymouth County · 15,295 people 4.8 per resident Whitman Public Library 73,406
174 Bellingham BellinghamNorfolk County · 17,410 people 4.7 per resident Bellingham Public Library 81,284
175 Abington AbingtonPlymouth County · 17,053 people 4.7 per resident Abington Public Library 79,507
176 North Adams North Adams12,606 people 4.7 per resident North Adams Public Library 60,301
177 Nahant NahantEssex County · 3,325 people 4.7 per resident Nahant Public Library 15,607
178 Somerville Somerville81,036 people 4.6 per resident Somerville Public Library 368,150
179 Chicopee Chicopee55,295 people 4.6 per resident Chicopee Public Library 253,771
180 Bourne BourneBarnstable County · 20,323 people 4.6 per resident Jonathan Bourne Public Library 95,742
181 Groveland GrovelandEssex County · 6,777 people 4.6 per resident Langley Adams Library 31,207
182 East Bridgewater East BridgewaterPlymouth County · 14,456 people 4.5 per resident East Bridgewater Public Library 64,414
183 Rutland RutlandWorcester County · 9,353 people 4.5 per resident Rutland Free Public Library 41,382
184 Raynham RaynhamBristol County · 15,505 people 4.4 per resident Raynham Public Library 68,744
185 Halifax HalifaxPlymouth County · 7,748 people 4.4 per resident Holmes Public Library 33,488
186 Easton EastonBristol County · 25,316 people 4.3 per resident Ames Free Library of Easton, Inc. 107,779
187 Ashby AshbyMiddlesex County · 3,211 people 4.3 per resident Ashby Free Public Library 13,456
188 Plymouth PlymouthPlymouth County · 63,953 people 4.2 per resident Plymouth Public Library 272,085
189 Dracut DracutMiddlesex County · 32,574 people 4.2 per resident Moses Greeley Parker Memorial Lib. 135,704
190 Milford MilfordWorcester County · 30,431 people 4.2 per resident Milford Town Library 126,928
191 Hanson HansonPlymouth County · 10,660 people 4.2 per resident Hanson Public Library 44,550
192 WestportBristol County · 16,484 people 4.1 per resident Westport Free Public Library 66,683
193 Uxbridge UxbridgeWorcester County · 14,473 people 4.1 per resident Uxbridge Free Public Library 58,939
194 Millbury MillburyWorcester County · 13,961 people 4.1 per resident Millbury Public Library 57,426
195 Mendon MendonWorcester County · 6,325 people 4.1 per resident Taft Public Library 25,590
196 Pittsfield Pittsfield43,457 people 3.9 per resident Berkshire Athenaeum 168,754
197 Grafton GraftonWorcester County · 19,902 people 3.8 per resident Grafton Public Library 74,610
198 Swansea SwanseaBristol County · 17,359 people 3.8 per resident Swansea Free Public Library 66,017
199 Map of Hubbardston HubbardstonWorcester County · 4,371 people 3.8 per resident Hubbardston Public Library 16,472
200 Stoughton StoughtonNorfolk County · 29,225 people 3.7 per resident Stoughton Public Library 108,071
201 Rockland RocklandPlymouth County · 17,701 people 3.7 per resident Rockland Memorial Library 64,803
202 Salisbury SalisburyEssex County · 9,281 people 3.7 per resident Salisbury Public Library 34,007
203 Provincetown ProvincetownBarnstable County · 3,703 people 3.7 per resident Provincetown Public Library 13,805
204 Westfield Westfield40,378 people 3.6 per resident Westfield Athenaeum 147,417
205 Gloucester Gloucester30,075 people 3.6 per resident Gloucester Lyceum & Sawyer Free Lib 107,029
206 Wrentham WrenthamNorfolk County · 12,297 people 3.6 per resident Fiske Public Library 44,388
207 Dudley DudleyWorcester County · 11,929 people 3.6 per resident Pearle L. Crawford Memorial Library 42,885
208 Monson MonsonHampden County · 8,136 people 3.6 per resident Monson Free Library & Reading Room 29,292
209 Wareham WarehamPlymouth County · 23,302 people 3.5 per resident Wareham Free Library 81,751
210 Norton NortonBristol County · 19,240 people 3.5 per resident Norton Public Library 67,046
211 Boston Boston666,442 people 3.4 per resident Boston Public Library 2,241,712
212 Saugus SaugusEssex County · 28,773 people 3.4 per resident Saugus Public Library 97,390
213 Carver CarverPlymouth County · 11,712 people 3.4 per resident Carver Public Library 39,558
214 Adams AdamsBerkshire County · 8,074 people 3.4 per resident Adams Free Library 27,314
215 North Brookfield North BrookfieldWorcester County · 4,760 people 3.4 per resident Haston Free Public Library 16,160
216 BrimfieldHampden County · 3,705 people 3.4 per resident Brimfield Public Library 12,444
217 Attleboro Attleboro46,762 people 3.3 per resident Attleboro Public Library 152,192
218 Ludlow LudlowHampden County · 20,904 people 3.3 per resident Hubbard Memorial Library 68,344
219 Map of Douglas DouglasWorcester County · 9,207 people 3.3 per resident Simon Fairfield Public Library 29,793
220 Orange OrangeFranklin County · 7,573 people 3.3 per resident Wheeler Memorial Library 24,671
221 Worcester Worcester207,055 people 3.2 per resident Worcester Public Library 647,557
222 Malden Malden65,906 people 3.2 per resident Malden Public Library 209,642
223 Marlborough Marlborough41,647 people 3.2 per resident Marlborough Public Library 131,858
224 Holbrook HolbrookNorfolk County · 11,380 people 3.2 per resident Holbrook Public Library 35,939
225 Leicester LeicesterWorcester County · 11,113 people 3.2 per resident Leicester Public Library 35,084
226 Haverhill Haverhill67,698 people 3.0 per resident Haverhill Public Library 198,784
227 Rehoboth RehobothBristol County · 13,022 people 2.9 per resident Blanding Free Public Library 37,446
228 Berkley BerkleyBristol County · 6,829 people 2.8 per resident Berkley Public Library 18,894
229 Ware WareHampshire County · 10,048 people 2.7 per resident Young Men's Library Association 28,498
230 Berlin BerlinWorcester County · 3,378 people 2.6 per resident Berlin Public Library 10,815
231 Holland HollandHampden County · 2,583 people 2.6 per resident Holland Public Library 6,569
232 Webster WebsterWorcester County · 17,748 people 2.5 per resident Gladys E. Kelly Public Library 44,325
233 Hull HullPlymouth County · 10,138 people 2.5 per resident Hull Public Library 25,623
234 Dighton DightonBristol County · 8,193 people 2.4 per resident Dighton Public Library 19,720
235 Spencer SpencerWorcester County · 12,008 people 2.3 per resident Richard Sugden Public Library 27,833
236 Map of Winchendon WinchendonWorcester County · 10,440 people 2.2 per resident Beals Memorial Library 22,736
237 FreetownBristol County · 9,285 people 2.2 per resident James White Memorial Lib. 20,338
238 Clinton ClintonWorcester County · 15,563 people 2.1 per resident Bigelow Free Public Library 32,507
239 Springfield Springfield154,749 people 1.7 per resident Springfield City Library 261,583
240 Brockton Brockton105,386 people 1.7 per resident Brockton Public Library 181,836
241 New Bedford New Bedford100,998 people 1.7 per resident New Bedford Free Public Library 170,170
242 Lanesborough LanesboroughBerkshire County · 3,028 people 1.7 per resident Lanesborough Public Library 5,048
243 Fitchburg Fitchburg41,798 people 1.6 per resident Fitchburg Public Library 64,804
244 Cheshire CheshireBerkshire County · 3,216 people 1.5 per resident Cheshire Public Library 4,698
245 Taunton Taunton60,433 people 1.4 per resident Taunton Public Library 86,568
246 Templeton TempletonWorcester County · 8,252 people 1.4 per resident Boynton Public Library 11,336
247 Fall River Fall River94,082 people 1.2 per resident Fall River Public Library 114,926
248 Holyoke Holyoke37,813 people 1.2 per resident Holyoke Public Library 46,944
249 Everett Everett50,045 people 1.0 per resident Everett Public Libraries 49,487
250 Lowell Lowell118,368 people 0.9 per resident Samuel S. Pollard Memorial Library 106,180
251 Millville MillvilleWorcester County · 3,160 people 0.9 per resident Millville Free Public Library 2,931
252 Map of Chelsea Chelsea39,908 people 0.7 per resident Chelsea Public Library 25,534
253 Lynn Lynn101,709 people 0.6 per resident Lynn Public Library 64,794
254 Revere Revere60,012 people 0.4 per resident Revere Public Library 25,496
255 Lawrence Lawrence88,736 people 0.3 per resident Lawrence Public Library 29,312

How this ranking works

We rank every town by books, movies, e-books and other items the town’s public library lent in a year, per resident. The highest figure ranks #1. Each library reports its own yearly numbers to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (fiscal year 2024), and each town’s Library page shows how it compares with libraries of a similar size nationwide.

A town is ranked only when its library system serves that town alone, and the library’s own count of the people it serves is within 20% of the town’s population. Towns served by a county or regional system, or sharing a library with a neighbor, can’t be credited with the numbers, so they aren’t ranked. Libraries that didn’t respond to the survey aren’t ranked either. Vacation towns can rank high because summer residents and visitors use the library too.

Only towns with at least 2,500 residents are ranked; Census estimates for smaller places are too uncertain. Population and income: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Libraries: IMLS Public Libraries Survey. Town photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each town’s page.

Same ranking in other states

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