What does this measure?
The percentage of acreage in MetroWest that is classified as "Protected" under the Massachusetts Land Protection Program.
Why is this important?
Designating an area as "protected" places restrictions on land use that enables the continued development of a diverse wildlife and nature habitat while still providing access for the public to use and enjoy.
How is our region doing?
As of 2013, about 384,000 acres - or 21% of all land in MetroWest - was deemed "protected." This was a slightly smaller percentage than Massachusetts as a whole (25%). Among the region's counties, Worcester had the largest share of protected land (23%) while Middlesex and Norfolk had the least (19%).
Among local communities, Milford had the least protected land (3%), along with other towns on the western side of the region, such as Medway (4%), Bellingham and Hudson (both at 9%). Towns with the largest percentages of protected land were concentrated northwest of Boston, including Lincoln (40%), Wayland (32%), Sudbury and Carlisle (both at 31%). Southwest of Boston, Medfield also had one of the highest rates of land protection (33%), while nearby Westwood had one of the lowest (8%).
Notes about the data
MassAudubon is expected to release an update in the fourth quarter of 2019.
2005-13 | |
---|---|
Massachusetts | 25% |
Region | 21% |
Middlesex | 19% |
Norfolk | 19% |
Worcester | 23% |
Acton town, Middlesex County | 18% |
Ashland town, Middlesex County | 21% |
Bedford town, Middlesex County | 22% |
Bellingham town, Norfolk County | 9% |
Boxborough town, Middlesex County | 19% |
Carlisle town, Middlesex County | 31% |
Concord town, Middlesex County | 30% |
Dedham town, Norfolk County | 20% |
Dover town, Norfolk County | 25% |
Framingham city, Middlesex County | 14% |
Franklin town, Norfolk County | 13% |
Groton town, Middlesex County | 30% |
Harvard town, Worcester County | 26% |
Holliston town, Middlesex County | 20% |
Hopkinton town, Middlesex County | 21% |
Hudson town, Middlesex County | 9% |
Lexington town, Middlesex County | 16% |
Lincoln town, Middlesex County | 40% |
Littleton town, Middlesex County | 13% |
Marlborough city, Middlesex County | 17% |
Maynard town, Middlesex County | 29% |
Medfield town, Norfolk County | 33% |
Medway town, Norfolk County | 4% |
Milford town, Worcester County | 3% |
Millis town, Norfolk County | 29% |
Natick town, Middlesex County | 19% |
Needham town, Norfolk County | 15% |
Sherborn town, Middlesex County | 15% |
Southborough town, Worcester County | 19% |
Stow town, Middlesex County | 27% |
Sudbury town, Middlesex County | 31% |
Walpole town, Norfolk County | 15% |
Waltham city, Middlesex County | 15% |
Wayland town, Middlesex County | 32% |
Wellesley town, Norfolk County | 13% |
Westborough town, Worcester County | 22% |
Westford town, Middlesex County | 17% |
Weston town, Middlesex County | 24% |
Westwood town, Norfolk County | 8% |
2005-13 | |
---|---|
Massachusetts | 1,256,223 |
Region | 384,342 |
Middlesex | 100,878 |
Norfolk | 48,954 |
Worcester | 234,510 |
Acton town, Middlesex County | 2,282 |
Ashland town, Middlesex County | 1,769 |
Bedford town, Middlesex County | 1,912 |
Bellingham town, Norfolk County | 1,104 |
Boxborough town, Middlesex County | 1,288 |
Carlisle town, Middlesex County | 3,126 |
Concord town, Middlesex County | 4,896 |
Dedham town, Norfolk County | 1,340 |
Dover town, Norfolk County | 2,470 |
Framingham city, Middlesex County | 2,293 |
Franklin town, Norfolk County | 2,217 |
Groton town, Middlesex County | 6,403 |
Harvard town, Worcester County | 4,449 |
Holliston town, Middlesex County | 2,428 |
Hopkinton town, Middlesex County | 3,788 |
Hudson town, Middlesex County | 714 |
Lexington town, Middlesex County | 1,740 |
Lincoln town, Middlesex County | 3,865 |
Littleton town, Middlesex County | 1,430 |
Marlborough city, Middlesex County | 2,369 |
Maynard town, Middlesex County | 991 |
Medfield town, Norfolk County | 3,075 |
Medway town, Norfolk County | 328 |
Milford town, Worcester County | 310 |
Millis town, Norfolk County | 2,294 |
Natick town, Middlesex County | 1,929 |
Needham town, Norfolk County | 1,192 |
Sherborn town, Middlesex County | 1,576 |
Southborough town, Worcester County | 1,843 |
Stow town, Middlesex County | 3,119 |
Sudbury town, Middlesex County | 4,891 |
Walpole town, Norfolk County | 2,029 |
Waltham city, Middlesex County | 1,344 |
Wayland town, Middlesex County | 3,224 |
Wellesley town, Norfolk County | 903 |
Westborough town, Worcester County | 3,059 |
Westford town, Middlesex County | 3,423 |
Weston town, Middlesex County | 2,640 |
Westwood town, Norfolk County | 589 |
INDICATORS | TREND |
---|---|
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Establishments | Increasing |
Households Without Vehicles | Maintaining |
Means of Transportation to Work | Not Applicable |
Average Travel Time to Work | Increasing |
Households With Internet Access | Not Applicable |
Voter Participation Rate | Decreasing |
Average Charitable Contribution | Maintaining |
Protected Land | Not Applicable |
Drug Poisoning Mortality Rate | Increasing |
Crimes Against People | Decreasing |
Incarceration Rates, by Race/Ethnicity | Not Applicable |