Foster the Region's Business Climate and
Prospects for Sustainable Growth

Total Number of Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Sites on the Lower Connecticut River and Tributaries

Description:

As quoted from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, “Combined sewer overflows, or CSOs, were built as part of sewer collection systems that were designed to carry both sewage and storm water in the same pipe. When there is not a lot of storm water, this mix is transported to a wastewater treatment plant where it is processed. However, after heavy rainfall or snowmelt, storm water and sewage overload the system. Without CSOs, this mix would back up into homes, businesses, and public streets.  Combined sewer systems have regulator structures that allow overloaded systems to discharge into rivers, lakes and coastal areas subjecting them to higher pollutant loads. This can compromise a water body's uses and lead to water quality violations in the receiving waters.”  Throughout the Pioneer Valley, the total number of CSO sites on the Connecticut River has decreased from 59 to 52 between 2009 and 2010, representing an 11.9% reduction.  Between 2006 and 2007, Hampshire County eliminated its remaining CSOs.  Between 2008 and 2009, Franklin County eliminated its remaining three CSOs, and since 2008, Hampden County has eliminated thirteen CSOs.

Data Source: Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection

Indicator Trend Percent Change Rating -11.9%

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Amount of Non-School Local Aid Per Capita Received by the Region's Cities and Towns

Description:

The amount of non-school local aid includes all aid that a town receives for purposes other than education.  This includes the following sources: Unrestricted General Government Aid,, Local Share of Racing Taxes, Regional Public Libraries, Police Career Incentive, Urban Revitalization, Veteran’s Benefits, Exemptions for Veterans, Blind and Surviving Spouses, Exemptions for the Elderly, State Owned Land, and Public Libraries.  In the Pioneer Valley, the per-capita non-local school aid decreased dramatically between 2009 and 2010.  Hampden County saw the largest decrease (30.6%), while Franklin County had the smallest decrease (25.2 percent).

Data Source: Massachusetts Department of Revenue, Cherry Sheets

Indicator Trend Percent Change Rating -29.2%

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Rate of Property and Violent Crimes Reported

Description:

Property and violent crimes consist of the following crimes: Murder and Non-negligent Manslaughter, Forcible Rape, Robbery, Aggravated Assault, Burglary, Larceny-Theft, Motor Vehicle Theft and Arson.  The rate of property and violent crimes reported in the Pioneer Valley of 3.5 crimes reported per 100 people did not change between 2008 and 2009. This improvement was not found universally across the region.  Hampshire and Franklin counties both experienced decreases (4.5% and 8.7%, respectively), while Hampden County increased by 2.4 percent.

Data Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation

Indicator Trend Percent Change Rating 0.0%

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Percentage of Housing Units that are Owner-Occupied

Description:

Percentage of Housing Units that are Owner-Occupied includes all types of housing units and is calculated by dividing the number of owner-occupied housing units by the total number of housing units in the region.  Between 2008 and 2009, the percentage of housing units in the Pioneer Valley that were owner-occupied decreased by 2.0% (from 66.0 to 64.0 percent).  This decreasing trend of ownership was true across all three counties with Franklin County experiencing the largest decrease (3.1 percent).

Data Source: United States Census Bureau 2008 and 2009 American Community Survey

Indicator Trend Percent Change Rating -2.0%

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Percentage of Owners with Mortgages Paying more than 30% of Their Income on Selected Monthly Owner Costs

Description:

According to many government agencies, people who pay more than 30% of their income on housing costs are considered to be housing cost burdened.  The U.S. Census Bureau provides estimates on this statistic based on a survey of a sample of the population with the American Community Survey.  Data for this indicator includes all home owners who have mortgages.  Monthly owner costs include payment for mortgages, real estate taxes, various insurances, utilities, fuels, mobile home costs, and condominium fees.  Between 2008 and 2009, the percentage of home owners in the Pioneer Valley who were housing cost burdened decreased from 38.1% to 37.5% (representing a 0.6% change).  This slight decrease in the percentage of home owners who were housing cost burdened was consistent in Hampden County which experienced a 1.3% decrease, while Hampshire County and Franklin County saw increases of 1.0% and 1.4% respectively.

Data Source: United States Census Bureau 2008 and 2009 American Community Survey

Indicator Trend Percent Change Rating -0.6%

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Percentage of Renters Paying more than 30% of Their Income on Rent

Description:

According to many government agencies, people who pay more than 30% of their income on housing costs are considered to be housing cost burdened.  The U.S. Census Bureau provides estimates on this statistic based on a survey of a sample of the population with the American Community Survey.  Between 2008 and 2009, the percentage of renters in the Pioneer Valley who were housing cost burdened decreased from 53.8% to 52.7% (representing a 1.1% change).  This trend of decreasing housing cost burden was true in Hampden County and Franklin County which had 1.7% and 2.2% decreases, respectively.  However, Hampshire County experienced an increase in the percent of renters who were housing cost burdened with a change of 1.3 percent.

Data Source: United States Census Bureau 2008 and 2009 American Community Survey

Indicator Trend Percent Change Rating -1.1%

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Median Sale Price of a Single Family Home

Description:

Single family home sales include all transfers over $1,000 classified by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue with a 101 use code.  Between 2008 and 2009, the median sale price of a single family home in the Pioneer Valley decreased 4.7% from $192,301 to $183,342.  This decreasing trend was found throughout the region with all three counties experiencing decreases. Hampden and Franklin counties experienced the most significant decreases (5.3% and 4.4% respectively) while Hampshire County’s decrease in median sale price was slightly smaller representing a drop of 3.1 percent.

It would be remiss not to note that while the decrease in the cost of home sales is a positive trend long term in the context of an economic development desire for more affordable housing in the region, the marked decrease in home sale prices in 2009 is indicative of the negative occurrence of a major crisis in the housing market nationally.  In the short term, of course, this might be more likely to be interpreted as a negative trend.  Indeed, this year, when examining the previous two indicators referring to renter and homeowner affordability, this extreme drop in home prices has corresponded with a larger percentage of residents in the region being housing cost burdened.  As one might expect, after two years of extreme declines in home sale prices, this increase in housing cost burden is especially true with homeowners.

Data Source: The Warren Group

Indicator Trend Percent Change Rating -4.7%

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Building Permits Issued for New Residential Construction

Description:

Between 2008 and 2009, the number of building permits issued for new residential construction in the Pioneer Valley increased 26.8% from 496 to 629 permits. This increasing trend was found in both Hampshire and Franklin counties. Hampshire County experienced a significant increase of 259.3%, representing an increase of 54 to 194 permits Franklin County experienced an increase of 57.5%. Hampden County’s decrease in number of building permits issued for new residential construction was slightly smaller, representing a drop of 7.5%.

Data Source:

Indicator Trend Percent Change Rating 26.8%

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