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Stoughton MA CenterPhoto: Marcbela (Marc N. Belanger) · Public domain
A+Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Stoughton · FEMA

Less hazard damage per building is expected in Stoughton than in 95% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Stoughton gets an A+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns, #12 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%), then hurricanes (16%). Flood insurance has paid 25 claims here since 1979.

River and rain flooding 74%Hurricanes 16%Earthquakes 7%

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

less than 95%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#12 of 283 in Massachusetts
Hazard risk
A+#12 of 283
in Massachusetts · lower than 95% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
74% of expected building damage
Flood claims
25
paid since 1979 · $82K
Flooded more than once
1
properties
Disasters paid out here
14
of 29 declared for Norfolk County

What stands out about Stoughton’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

Lower expected damage than 95% of U.S. townsFEMA’s model of yearly storm and flood damage per dollar of building.Remembers 20107 flood claims were paid for 2010 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Stoughton 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

74%of expected building damage
Well below average · lower than 83% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Hurricanes

16%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 5 years in the area

Earthquakes

7%of expected building damage
About average · higher than 54% of U.S. census tracts
Smaller shares here
 Tornadoes Strong wind Ice storms Lightning Winter storms Hail Wildfire Cold waves Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Stoughton’s grade

River and rain flooding is 74% of the building damage FEMA expects in Stoughton, and Stoughton’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 83% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 16% (higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts).

Where Stoughton sits
Stoughton
Least damageMiddleMost damage

A+ #12 of 283 in Massachusetts; lower expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Stoughton’s residents live in 7 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding74%Hurricanes16%Earthquakes7%Everything else3%

The typical Massachusetts town has lower expected damage than 76% of U.S. towns; within the state, Stoughton has less expected damage per building than 96% of Massachusetts towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.5M a year in losses across Stoughton: $4.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A firm figure. It combines 7 census tracts by where Stoughton’s residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Stoughton flood? Sometimes: 25 flood claims since 1979

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Stoughton, from FEMA’s records: 2.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 60% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1979: 3 claims1980: 0 claims1981: 0 claims1982: 0 claims1983: 0 claims1984: 0 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 1 claim1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 6 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 1 claim1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 1 claim2005: 4 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 1 claim2009: 0 claims2010: 7 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 1 claim2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims199620052010
19792026
Biggest named events
  • The March 2010 nor’easter6 claims · $25K
  • The December Storm - nor’easter1 claim · $2K
25
paid claims since 1979
$82K
paid to owners
1
homes flooded more than once
$3K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Stoughton isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Norfolk County.
Disasters

14 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Stoughton

Disasters that paid out in Stoughton itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Stoughton), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2022Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$151K to the Town of Stoughton for repairs
  2. 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$220K to the Town of Stoughton for repairs
  3. 2018Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$6K to the Town of Stoughton for repairs
  4. 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$419K to the Town of Stoughton for repairs
  5. 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$189K to the Town of Stoughton for repairs
  6. 2011Tropical Storm Irene$59K to the Town of Stoughton for repairs
Show all 14
  1. 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$87K to the Town of Stoughton for repairs
  2. 2010Hurricane Earl$4K to the Town of Stoughton for repairs
  3. 2010Severe Storms and Flooding511 households applied for aid$918K aid approved$214K to the Town of Stoughton for repairs
  4. 2005Severe Storms and Flooding9 households applied for aid$35K aid approved
  5. 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$129K to the Town of Stoughton for repairs
  6. 2003Snow$128K to the Town of Stoughton for repairs
  7. 2003Snow$90K to the Town of Stoughton for repairs
  8. 2001Snow$75K to the Town of Stoughton for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in StoughtonNorfolk County only

Norfolk County has had 29 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.

Were you here?

Old photos of Stoughton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Stoughton archive →
Next door

Stoughton and its neighbors

Stoughton is 3rd of the 4 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Sharon: hazard risk A+Canton: hazard risk AAvon: hazard risk A+SharonCantonAvonStoughton
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
AvonA+among the lowest damageriver and rain flooding1
SharonA+less damage than 96%river and rain flooding26
StoughtonA+less damage than 95%river and rain flooding25
CantonAless damage than 90%river and rain flooding26

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Stoughton faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Hurricane season
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Earthquakes
  • Drop, cover and hold on.
  • Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
  • Know how to shut off the gas.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Stoughton

Is Stoughton at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Stoughton has lower expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #12 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%) and hurricanes (16%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Stoughton flood?

Flood insurance has paid 25 claims in Stoughton since 1979, $82K in all, or 2.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 60% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from March 2010 Nor'easter (6).

Is Stoughton 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 Norfolk County, 43% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.5% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Stoughton?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Stoughton’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 Stoughton?

By FEMA money that reached Stoughton, Severe Storms and Flooding (2010): 511 households applied for aid, $918K approved, and $214K to the Town of Stoughton for repairs. By flood claims, March 2010 Nor'easter: 6 paid, $25K.

Is Stoughton at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (74%), and Stoughton’s rate for it is lower than 83% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Stoughton.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Stoughton’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.