References and other information (Also see map legends for reference information)

Demographic Maps:
  • All data are from the U.S. Census Bureau*
  • When available, the maps will also display data at the neighborhood (Census Block Group) level when zoomed in
Economic Maps:
  • Bond rating, state aid, tax bill, and revenue data are from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue Division of Local Services Municipal Data Bank
  • Unemployment data are from the Massachusetts Division of Unemployment Assistance and are seasonally unadjusted
  • All other data are from the U.S. Census Bureau*
Education Maps:
  • SAT, MCAS, graduate plans, and dropout rate data are from the Massachusetts Department of Education
  • MCAS stands for Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System tests. Students in the 10th grade are required to pass to graduate. Because the Mass. DOE does not encourage or endorse the rankings of towns by MCAS score, MassStats only shows the percentage of 10th grade students passing for each topic tested (currently English and Math).
  • School district boundaries are from Caliper Corporation
  • Level of education attained is from the U.S. Census Bureau*
  • Per pupil expenditures are from the Massachusetts Department of Education. In the case of unified K-12 districts the data are exactly that reported by the DOE. In the case of non-unified districts, an approximate value was computed using pupil expenditures and enrollment for all districts that are in a town. It was assumed that expenditures were divided proportional to the enrollment from the town. For example, the town of Concord expenditure is calculated by adding the total expenditures of the Concord (K-8) District and its share of the total expenditures of the Concord-Carlisle Regional High School District and dividing that total by the enrollment of the (K-8) system plus its share of the Regional High School enrollment. Its share of enrollment and expenditures for the Concord-Carlisle Regional High School District was assumed to be proportional to the enrollments of the Concord (K-8) and Carlisle (K-8) districts. For actual per pupil expenditure data for towns with non-unified school districts, we recommend contacting officials in that town directly.
Housing Maps:
  • Tax Bill, Assessments, and Tax Rates are from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue Division of Local Services Municipal Data Bank.
  • Home and condo sales data are compiled from Banker & Tradesman
  • All others including housing tenure, occupancy, mortage, rent, building permits, age, and size are from the U.S. Census Bureau*
Crime Maps:
  • Crime data are from the Massachusetts State Police
  • Crime rates are per 100,000 population and were calculated using U.S. Census Bureau population data from the 2000 Census
Health Maps:
  • All data are from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health
  • Cancer data are standard incidence ratios for 1993-1997 as compiled by the Bureau of Health Statistics. it is important to keep in mind that an SIR compares the observed cancer incidence in a particular community with the expected incidence based on statewide average age-specific incidence rates. This means that valid comparisons can only be made between a community and the state as a whole. SIRs for different cities and towns cannot and should not be compared to each other. (Comparisons between two communities would be valid only if there were no differences in the age and sex distributions of the two communities' populations from 1993 through 1997.)
Political Maps:
  • Congressional, Senate, and House district boundaries are from Caliper Corporation.
  • Party enrollment data are from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue Division of Local Services Municipal Data Bank.
  • Election results data are from the Massachusetts Secretary of State
Environmental Maps:
  • Recycling rate data are from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
  • Community Preservation Act data are from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs and the Massachusetts Preservation Coalition. The CPA allows communities to create a local Community Preservation Fund in the municipality to be used for funds through a surcharge of up to 3% of the real estate tax levy on real property for open space, historic preservation and low and moderate housing. The act also creates a significant state matching fund of more than $25 million annually, which will serve as an incentive to communities to take advantage of the provisions of this legislation.
  • Vernal pool data are from the Massachusetts Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program and MassGIS.
  • Rare specied habitat data: NHESP 2003 Priority Habitats for State-Protected Rare Species. Priority habitats are not protected under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act, but the rare species that use the habitats are protected by that law.
  • Rare wildlife habitat data: NHESP 2003 Estimated Habitats for Rare Wildlife: For use with the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act Regulations (310 CMR 10)
  • Flood data are from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and are not available for Franklin County
Transportation Maps:
  • Vehicle data are from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue Division of Local Services Municipal Data Bank
  • Vehicles per capita were calculated using U.S. Census Bureau population data from the 2000 Census
  • Public transportation and commute time data are from the U.S. Census Bureau*
General Purpose Maps:
  • ZIP Code data are as of April 2004
*All data from the U.S. Census Bureau are for 2000 except where noted on the maps, data tables, and/or index.

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