Community Life
Protected Land
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Source: Mass Audubon

What does this measure?

The percentage of acreage in Worcester County 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 county performing?

In 2012-16, nearly 255,500 acres - or 25% - of land in Worcester County was deemed "protected." This was similar to the state rate of 26% in the same year. Within Worcester County, Petersham had the greatest percentage of land protected, at 56%. Millville and Milford had the lowest percentages, at 3% and 4%, respectively.

Notes about the data

None

Protected Land, 2012-17
2012-17
Worcester County25%
Athol25%
Clinton14%
Fitchburg17%
Gardner28%
Northbridge13%
Southbridge20%
Spencer15%
Webster13%
Westborough23%
Worcester10%
Massachusetts26%
Additional Worcester County localities
Sturbridge28%
Paxton31%
Sterling35%
Southborough29%
Shrewsbury6%
Rutland42%
Royalston41%
Princeton46%
Phillipston39%
Petersham56%
Oxford9%
Sutton15%
Templeton23%
Upton21%
Uxbridge9%
Warren5%
West Boylston37%
West Brookfield23%
Westminster28%
Winchendon28%
Auburn8%
Ashburnham28%
Leominster30%
Hopedale19%
Blackstone7%
Bolton21%
Boylston31%
Brookfield32%
Charlton7%
Barre39%
Douglas24%
Dudley17%
East Brookfield22%
Grafton13%
Hardwick35%
Harvard28%
Holden45%
Berlin28%
Hubbardston44%
Lancaster12%
Leicester13%
Lunenburg17%
Mendon8%
Milford4%
Millbury8%
Millville3%
New Braintree17%
Northborough20%
North Brookfield14%
Oakham32%

Source: Mass Audubon




Number of Protected Acres, 2012-17
2012-17
Worcester County255,571
Athol5,285
Clinton634
Fitchburg3,132
Gardner4,068
Northbridge1,492
Southbridge2,649
Spencer3,335
Webster1,213
Westborough3,131
Worcester2,400
Massachusetts1,348,548
Additional Worcester County localities
Sturbridge6,908
Paxton3,051
Sterling7,144
Southborough2,856
Shrewsbury883
Rutland9,794
Royalston11,263
Princeton10,641
Phillipston6,210
Petersham24,368
Oxford1,524
Sutton3,206
Templeton4,862
Upton2,936
Uxbridge1,766
Warren808
West Boylston3,277
West Brookfield3,065
Westminster6,778
Winchendon7,886
Auburn810
Ashburnham7,426
Leominster5,665
Hopedale661
Blackstone494
Bolton2,713
Boylston3,897
Brookfield3,358
Charlton1,958
Barre11,133
Douglas5,946
Dudley2,365
East Brookfield1,462
Grafton1,867
Hardwick9,239
Harvard4,820
Holden10,476
Berlin2,356
Hubbardston11,850
Lancaster2,081
Leicester2,106
Lunenburg3,089
Mendon913
Milford341
Millbury862
Millville89
New Braintree2,312
Northborough2,458
North Brookfield1,989
Oakham4,300

Source: Mass Audubon







INDICATORS TREND
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Establishments 1
Increasing
Average Charitable Contribution 0
Maintaining
Households With Internet Access 1
Increasing
Protected Land 10 Not Applicable*
Voter Participation Rate -1
Decreasing
Voter Registration Rate 0
Maintaining
Arrest Rate by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Change in Total Population 1
Increasing
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Foreign-Born Population 1
Increasing
Language Diversity 1
Increasing
Population by Age -1
Decreasing
Households by Type 0
Maintaining
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Median Household Income 0
Maintaining
Household Income by Race/Ethnicity 0
Maintaining
80/20 Income Ratio 0
Maintaining
Income in Relation to Poverty Level 0
Maintaining
People Living in Poverty 0
Maintaining
People Living in Poverty, by Education Level 1
Increasing
People Living in Poverty, by Age 1
Increasing
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Homeownership Rates, by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Overall Housing Cost Burden -1
Decreasing
Cost of Rent, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Median Home Value by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Homelessness 10 Not Applicable*
Households Receiving SNAP by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Household Receiving Temporary Assistance 0
Maintaining
Households Without Vehicles 0
Maintaining
Education Levels of Adults by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Change in Employment by Sector 10 Not Applicable*
Change in Average Salary by Sector 10 Not Applicable*
Female to Male Earnings Ratio 0
Maintaining
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Employer Size 1
Increasing
Business Ownership, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Self-Employment Revenue 0
Maintaining
People Entering/Leaving County for Work 1
Increasing
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Preterm Births 10 Not Applicable*
Infant Mortality by Mother's Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Children with Elevated Blood Lead Levels -1
Decreasing
Prevalence of Children with Asthma 1
Increasing
People with Disabilities 1
Increasing
People Without Health Insurance -1
Decreasing
Cancer Incidence 0
Maintaining
Diabetes Incidence -1
Decreasing
Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions 1
Increasing
Opioid Overdose Mortality Rate 1
Increasing
Children Living in Poverty 0
Maintaining
Children Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Economically Disadvantaged Students 1
Increasing
Disengaged Youth -1
Decreasing
Prekindergarten Participation -1
Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 3 English, by Student Subgroup -1
Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math, by Student Subgroup -1
Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 10 English, by Student Subgroup -1
Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 10 Math, by Student Subgroup -1
Decreasing
High School Cohort Graduation Rate, by Student Group 1
Increasing
Arrest Rate by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Household Income by Race/Ethnicity 0
Maintaining
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Homeownership Rates, by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Cost of Rent, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Median Home Value by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Households Receiving SNAP by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Education Levels of Adults by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Business Ownership, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Infant Mortality by Mother's Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Children Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 3 English, by Student Subgroup -1
Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math, by Student Subgroup -1
Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 10 English, by Student Subgroup -1
Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 10 Math, by Student Subgroup -1
Decreasing
High School Cohort Graduation Rate, by Student Group 1
Increasing





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