Available Data

The MAPC Data Center collects data from dozens of public and private sources. The Center also completes population and employment projections to support the MetroFuture regional planning process. Data used by the 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 are readily available to the public on the MetroBoston DataCommon, however researchers with specific requests should contact the Data Center to discuss additional sources available.

Questions?

Contact Data Services Director Holly St. Clair at 617-451-2770, ext. 2014 or at hstclair@mapc.org.

Population and Employment Projections, 2010-2030

In May 2008, MAPC released MetroFuture: Making a Greater Boston Region, MAPC's plan for Greater Boston to better the lives of the people who live and work in the region between now and 2030. To support the MetroFuture planning process, the Data Center has published two sets of population and employment projections for the 101 cities and towns within the MAPC region, as well as 63 additional communities in eastern Massachusetts: a "current trends" projection and a "MetroFuture" projection.

The current trends 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. Read about our projections in the resources below.

• Population and Employment Projections Press Release
• Fact sheet, "Our Changing Population"
• Fact sheet, "Our Changing Economy"
• Spreadsheet with your community's numbers: population, households and jobs by sector
• PDF of the population projections by community
• 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. 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. MetroFuture can point the region (and the Commonwealth) towards a better future. View the MetroFuture Plan summary.

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.

MetroFuture Projections in Use

• 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.
• The Massachusetts Environmental Protection Act (MEPA) requires project proponents to demonstrate that their development is consistent with the MetroFuture regional plan.

U.S. Census Projects

Decision makers in metropolitan Boston rely on U.S. Census data every day to craft public policy and make business decisions. Additionally, Census population statistics determine the size of Massachusetts' congressional delegation, as well as our fair share of federal money.

As an official U.S. Census Bureau affiliate, the MAPC Data Center works on several projects related to the U.S. Census:

• providing technical assistance to local census data users;
• advocacy to ensure accurate decennial censuses;
• facilitating data sharing for accurate annual population estimates; and
• supporting statewide data infrastructure.

The Data Center also supports the creation of a statewide data center to function as a clearinghouse for U.S. Census and other demographic data for the state and work with the U.S. Census.

Visit our page on preparing for the 2010 Census.

Population Estimates Program

The Data Center is a supporter of developing statewide data infrastructure. MAPC has advocated for the creation of a Statewide Population Estimates Program housed at the UMass Boston Donahue Institute. Resources and support facilitated by MAPC:

• Fact sheet calling for the creation of the statewide population estimates program
• Letter of Support: Massachusetts congressmen to Governor Mitt Romney
• Letter of Support: MAPC Executive Director Marc Draisen to Speaker DiMasi, Senate President Travaglini, and the House and Senate Committees on Ways & Means
• Letter of Support: MAPC's Metro Mayors Coalition to Senator Murray and Representative DeLeo
• Letter of Support: Massachusetts Association of Regional Planning Agencies to Senator Therese Murray, Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means
• Press Release announcing the program and calling for more funding

Special Data Sets on MetroBoston DataCommon

Below is a list of special data sets available on our MetroBoston DataCommon online mapping tool.

Chinatown DataCommon

Sponsored by the Chinatown Human Development Overlay District (HD-OD) and maintained in cooperation with the Asian Community Development Corporation, it makes available a wealth of data about Boston's Chinatown neighborhood.

Mystic River DataCommon

The Mystic River DataCommon, prepared by the MAPC Data Services team, is a new resource to obtain data on the Mystic River and watershed area.