State desk
Ranks 47th of 50 on the Liberty Index.
Where Massachusetts stands on 12 policies, sourced from our 50-state trackers, with the latest headlines from 20 Massachusetts outlets.
12 policies · each strip is all 50 states, grouped by rule · Massachusetts in red. Free to cite with attribution.
A license is required and authorities retain suitability discretion, making it among the most restrictive states.
Massachusetts is 1 of 6 states with this rule
29 · Constitutional (Permitless) Carry15 · Shall-Issue Permit
Massachusetts taxes individual income at graduated rates rising to 9.00 percent across 2 brackets, ranking 7 of 41 among the states that tax income.
Massachusetts is 1 of 26 states with this rule
8 · No Income Tax1 · Capital Gains Only15 · Single Flat Rate
Massachusetts charges 27.56 cents per gallon in state tax, ranking 31 of 50, which is near the middle nationally. With the federal 18.40 cents added, a driver pays 45.96 cents per gallon in tax. Diesel is taxed at 27.56 cents.
Massachusetts is 1 of 16 states with this rule
17 · Among the Highest17 · Among the Lowest
Abolished in 1984.
Massachusetts is 1 of 23 states with this rule
23 · Retains the death penalty4 · Retains it, executions paused
Not a right-to-work state; union-security agreements are permitted.
Massachusetts is 1 of 24 states with this rule
26 · Right-to-Work
State minimum wage is $15.00, above the federal $7.25 floor.
Massachusetts is 1 of 30 states with this rule
12 · Matches the Federal Floor3 · Below Federal, So Federal Applies5 · No State Minimum Wage Law
No ID is required; voters confirm identity by signature or personal information matched against the registration rolls.
Massachusetts is 1 of 14 states with this rule
10 · Strict Photo ID14 · Photo ID Requested4 · Strict Non-Photo ID8 · ID Requested (No Photo)
No ESA, voucher, or tax-credit scholarship program.
Massachusetts is 1 of 17 states with this rule
17 · Universal / Near-Universal16 · Limited Program
NCSL does not list Massachusetts among no-duty-to-retreat states, and does not state a rule for it here. Verify with a primary source before relying on it.
Massachusetts is 1 of 12 states with this rule
31 · No Duty to Retreat7 · Recognized by Court Decision
Any registered voter may request a vote-by-mail ballot without giving a reason.
Massachusetts is 1 of 29 states with this rule
8 · All-Mail13 · Excuse Required
Massachusetts's unemployment rate was 4.3% in September 2026, seasonally adjusted, unchanged from August. It ranks 34th lowest of 51 (the 50 states and D.C.), down from 32nd. A year earlier, in September 2025, it was 4.6%. The U.S. rate was 4.2%.
Data retrieved from the BLS public API on October 30, 2026. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov.
Elected statewide to a four-year term.
Massachusetts is 1 of 43 states with this rule
5 · Appointed by the governor1 · Chosen by the legislature1 · Appointed by the state supreme court