Data
The Data Center collects data from dozens of public and private sources. In addition, the Data Center completes population and employment projections to support the MetroFuture regional planning process. Data used by the Data Center falls into 14 major categories: arts and culture, civic vitality and governance, demographics, economy, education, environment and energy, housing, public health, public safety, technology, transportation, zoning and land use, and U.S. Census. Many datasets from these categories are available to the public on the MetroBoston DataCommon, however researchers with specific requests should contact the Data Center directly to discuss additional sources available.
Population and Employment Projections, 2010-2030
In May 2008, MAPC released MetroFuture: Making a Greater Boston Region, a new plan for growth and development in Metro Boston from now to 2030. MetroFuture was created through the participation of over 4,000 residents, municipal and state officials, business leaders, advocates, and community groups who worked to study current trends, develop alternatives, and craft a regional plan.
In order to support the MetroFuture planning process, the Data Center has published two sets of population and employment projections: a “current trends” projection and a “MetroFuture” projection. Both projections were created for the 101 cities and towns within the MAPC region, as well as 63 additional communities in eastern Massachusetts.
The current trends or baseline projection estimates the number of people and jobs likely to exist in your community if current patterns of growth and development continued to 2030. This projection indicates that the region is expected to add 465,000 people and 240,000 jobs between the years 2000 and 2030. For more information about how we developed this projection, click here to view details about our methodology. More findings are listed in the press release and two fact sheets below.
• the press release about our projections;
• a fact sheet about "Our Changing Population";
• a fact sheet about "Our Changing Economy";
• a spreadsheet with your community's numbers: population, households and jobs by sector;
• a pdf of the population projections by community; and
• a pdf of the employment projections by community.
The MetroFuture projection estimates the number of people and jobs for each of the 164 communities if the recommendations contained in the MetroFuture plan are followed. MetroFuture envisions great changes in the region’s development patterns. Under MetroFuture, more growth is directed to areas that are already developed, such as town centers and urban areas; as a result, less open space will be developed and local business districts will be revitalized. A greater variety of housing choices will create more options for working families and seniors. More new jobs will be located closer to where people live, where there is existing infrastructure, and where employees have more commuting choice.
• Download the MetroFuture projections
To make the MetroFuture scenario possible, municipalities will need new tools for managing growth, greater control over their finances, and supportive state policies, allowing communities to make wise land use decisions based on long-term planning goals, rather than the pressing need for additional revenues. Only time will tell whether the plan’s recommendations will become realized. However, if the regional pattern of development does not change, we are likely to face an ongoing housing shortage, a dramatic loss of open space, frequent water bans, increased traffic congestion, and fiscal crises on the local level. MetroFuture can point the region (and the Commonwealth) in a better direction. For more information see the MetroFuture project website.
How Are These Projections Used? The MetroFuture employment projections for the MAPC communities contained in the plan have been adopted by the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for use in the Regional Transportation Plan, which is required by federal law and sets priorities for future transportation spending. In addition, the Massachusetts Environmental Protection Act (MEPA) requires project proponents to demonstrate that their development is consistent with the regional plan. Local communities can use these numbers in a variety of ways, including as a way to estimate likely traffic and water impacts over time, and to help communities to plan for where and how to site development.
BACK TO TOP |
