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 101 to 75 between 2001 and 2006, representing a 25.7% reduction.  While the number of CSO sites in Franklin and Hampshire counties has remained the same, Hampden County reduced its CSOs by 27.4% between 2001 and 2006.

Data Source: Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection

Indicator Trend Percent Change Rating -25.7%

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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: Lottery, Additional Assistance, 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-school local aid increased by 23.9% between 2006 and 2007.  Hampden County experienced the largest change in aid (25.2%), while Hampshire County had the smallest change (19.0 percent).

Data Source: Massachusetts Department of Revenue, Cherry Sheets

Indicator Trend Percent Change Rating 23.9%

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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 increased between 2005 and 2006 from 3.5 to 3.8 crimes reported per 100 people representing an 8.6% change.  While Franklin County had a 4.3% decrease, Hampden and Hampshire counties both increased (4.5% and 31.3% respectively).

Data Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation

Indicator Trend Percent Change Rating 8.6%

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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 2000 and 2006, the percentage of housing units in the Pioneer Valley that were owner-occupied stayed fairly consistent overall with a slight decrease of 0.3% (from 61.7% to 61.4 percent).  However, there were more significant changes within each county, with both Hampden and Hampshire counties showing a small decrease (1.3% and 1.5% respectively), while Franklin County had a larger increase of 7.5 percent.

Data Source: United States Census Bureau 2000 Decennial Census, and 2006 American Community Survey

Indicator Trend Percent Change Rating -0.3%

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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 2005 and 2006, the percentage of home owners in the Pioneer Valley who were housing cost burdened increased from 30.3% to 36% (representing a 5.7% change).  This increase in the percentage of home owners who were housing cost burdened was true in all three counties with Hampshire County seeing the smallest increase (2.0%) while Hampden County had a 5.9% increase and Franklin County saw an increase of 11 percent.

Data Source: United States Census Bureau 2005 and 2006 American Community Survey

Indicator Trend Percent Change Rating 5.7%

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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 2005 and 2006, the percentage of renters in the Pioneer Valley who were housing cost burdened increased from 50.6% to 52.7% (representing a 3.1% change).  Both Hampshire and Franklin counties showed an opposite trend, both having a decrease in the percent of renters who were housing cost burdened (7.6% and 4.7% respectively), while Hampden County saw an increase 5.8 percent.

Data Source: Estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey

Indicator Trend Percent Change Rating 3.1%

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Median Sale Price of a Single Family Home

Description:

Single family homes include all transfers over $1,000 classified by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue with a 101 use code.  Between 2006 and 2007, the median sale price of a single family home in the Pioneer Valley increased 1.8% from $202,889 to $206,595.  This increasing trend was true for all three counties of the Pioneer Valley.  Hampshire County experienced the greatest relative change in median sale prices with a 2.4% increase.

Data Source: The Warren Group

Indicator Trend Percent Change Rating 1.8%

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