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.  The urban core followed similar decreasing trends, with an overall decrease of 23.6 percent. Springfield had the largest decrease of CSOs (57.7 percent), while Chicopee actually increased a slight amount due to one CSO that was not counted in the previous year (3.2 percent).

Data Source: Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection

Indicator Trend Percent Change Rating -23.6%

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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.  Urban core communities received significantly more aid per capita than the Pioneer Valley as whole (almost $90 more per capita in 2007). Trends were similar to the region however, with an overall increase of 24.2 percent. The two urban core areas included in this measure followed similar trends. Springfield experienced an increase of 25.2%, while Holyoke’s aid levels increased by 21.7 percent.

Data Source: Massachusetts Department of Revenue, Cherry Sheets (Chicopee not included in Urban Core for this measure)

Indicator Trend Percent Change Rating 24.2%

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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 increased between 2005 and 2006 from 3.5 to 3.8 crimes reported per 100 people representing an 8.6% change.  While crime rates were significantly higher in the urban core than the region as a whole, the trend there was less drastic (an increase of 1.4 percent). Urban crime rates remained about twice those in the valley (7.3 and 7.2 per 100 people in 2005 and 2006). Trends varied drastically in the two urban core areas, with a decrease of 2.7 percent in crimes in Springfield while crime in Holyoke increased by 29 percent.

Data Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (Chicopee not included in Urban Core for this measure)

Indicator Trend Percent Change Rating 1.4%

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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 1990 and 2000, the percentage of housing units in the Pioneer Valley that were owner-occupied increased by 16.6% (from 45.1% to 61.7 percent).  Owner-occupied units were rarer in the urban core (35.5% of units in 2000). The urban core also experienced a much slower rate of increase than the Pioneer Valley as a whole, with a 1.2% change from 1990 to 2000. Trends varied more widely in the urban core communities. Chicopee experienced a decrease in owner-occupied units (-1.1%), while Springfield’s rates increased by 1.2%, and Holyoke’s increased by 2 percent.

Data Source:United States Census Bureau 1990 and 2000 Decennial Census

Indicator Trend Percent Change Rating 1.2%

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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 1990 and 2000, the percentage of home owners in the Pioneer Valley who were housing cost burdened increased from 19.9% to 21.3% (representing a 1.4% change).  In the urban core 23.7% of owners paid more than 30% of their income towards the cost of their property in 1990 and 17.9% in 2000. This was a 5.8% decrease. Trends varied amongst the three urban core areas, ranging from a 7.8% decrease in Holyoke to a 6.3% increase in Chicopee.

Data Source: United States Census Bureau 1990 and 2000 Decennial Census

Indicator Trend Percent Change Rating -5.8%

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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 1990 and 2000, the percentage of renters in the Pioneer Valley who were housing cost burdened decreased from 40.9% to 38.0% (representing a -2.9% change).  In the urban core, 45.0% of owners paid more than 30% of their income towards their mortgages in 1990 while 41.7% did the same in 2000. This was a 3.2% decrease. Trends varied in the three urban core areas; Springfield and Holyoke both experienced decreases (4.6% and 2.4% respectively) while Chicopee’s urban core experienced an increase of 8.2 percent.

Data Source: United States Census Bureau 1990 and 2000 Decennial Census

Indicator Trend Percent Change Rating -3.2%

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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.  Median sales prices followed different trends in the areas encompassing the urban core, remaining quite stable and experiencing only a 0.2% increase. This stability in price was consistent across both urban core areas as Holyoke experienced a decrease of less than 1% and Springfield experienced no change at all in the median sale price of a single family home.

Data Source: The Warren Group

Indicator Trend Percent Change Rating 0.2%

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