Photo: Amy Ritterbusch · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Hopkinton’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 98% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hopkinton gets an A+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns, #3 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (68%), then hurricanes (17%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2024.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What Hopkinton faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Hurricanes
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Hopkinton’s grade
River and rain flooding is 68% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hopkinton, and Hopkinton’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 93% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 5%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
A+ #3 of 283 in Massachusetts; lower expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Hopkinton’s residents live in 4 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Massachusetts town has lower expected damage than 76% of U.S. towns; within the state, Hopkinton has less expected damage per building than 99% of Massachusetts towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.1M a year in losses across Hopkinton: $2.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Hopkinton flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2024
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Hopkinton, from FEMA’s records: 0.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 98% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Hopkinton isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Middlesex County.14 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Hopkinton
Disasters that paid out in Hopkinton itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Hopkinton), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$91K to the Town of Hopkinton for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$161K to the Town of Hopkinton for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$100K to the Town of Hopkinton for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm and Snowstorm$112K to the Town of Hopkinton for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$56K to the Town of Hopkinton for repairs
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$83K to the Town of Hopkinton for repairs
Show all 14
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding35 households applied for aid$36K aid approved$56K to the Town of Hopkinton for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$45K to the Town of Hopkinton for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding3 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding8 households applied for aid$12K aid approved
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$91K to the Town of Hopkinton for repairs
- 2003Snow$88K to the Town of Hopkinton for repairs
- 2003Snow$59K to the Town of Hopkinton for repairs
- 2001Snow$72K to the Town of Hopkinton for repairs
Middlesex County has had 27 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Hopkinton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Hopkinton archive →Hopkinton and its neighbors
Hopkinton has the lowest expected damage per building of the 7 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hopkinton | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Westborough | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Ashland | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| Southborough | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Holliston | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 21 |
| Milford | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Upton | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Cordaville | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Hopkinton faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- The season runs June through November and peaks from mid-August to mid-October.
- Bring in porch furniture and anything the wind can throw.
- Fill the gas tank and charge phones before the storm arrives.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Hopkinton
Is Hopkinton at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hopkinton has lower expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #3 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (68%) and hurricanes (17%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Hopkinton flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Hopkinton since 2024, $10K in all, or 0.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 98% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Hopkinton in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Middlesex County, 54% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Hopkinton?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Hopkinton’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Hopkinton?
By FEMA money that reached Hopkinton, Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding (2015): $161K to the Town of Hopkinton for repairs.
Is Hopkinton at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (68%), and Hopkinton’s rate for it is lower than 93% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hopkinton.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hopkinton’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.