Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | October 25, 2021 | Worcester Business Journal 5 C E N S U S F A C T B O O K I didn't consider moving during the pandemic F L AS H P O L L Since the pandemic started, have you considered moving to a more rural or suburban area? Data from the 2020 U.S. Census, which stopped being collected in October 2020, shows population growth in Central Massachusetts' urban areas like Worcester and Leominster, while population decreased in rural areas like Hardwick. During the coronavirus pandemic, a new narrative emerged saying people were moving from expensive urban areas to more rural and suburban regions. When polled online, the majority of WBJ readers said they didn't consider moving to a less densely packed community during the pandemic. No, I prefer living in an urban community. 28% "Flawed poll. There was no option for those who already live in a rural area." Yes, I moved to a more rural or suburban community than the one I left. No, as moving was not an option for me. 38% Yes, I looked at listings and/or available property. 22% COMMENTS 12% Fastest-growing large Central Mass. communities Community 2010 population 2020 population % change Hopkinton 14,925 18,758 25.68% Westborough 18,272 21,567 18.03% Lunenburg 10,086 11,782 16.82% Holden 17,346 19,905 14.75% Worcester 181,045 206,518 14.07% Littleton 8,924 10,141 13.64% Ashland 16,593 18,832 13.49% Clinton 13,606 15,428 13.39% Natick 33,006 37,006 12.12% Northborough 14,155 15,741 11.20% Of the 10 communities in Central Massachusetts with more than 10,000 in population, these grew the fastest over the last decade. The Legacy Farms development in Hopkinton is expected to be about 1,000 housing units when complete, contributing to the 26% population growth in the town. "Rutland is surging in new housing development," Settles said. Striking the right balance Hopkinton appears to be the big Central Massachusetts winner of the De- cennial Census. Its population grew 26% over the past decade to 18,758, making it one of two communities to achieve more than a 25% growth rate in the region and the only one with more than 3,000 residents. e town's location near 495, the Mass Pike, and the commuter rails made it a strategic option for working profession- als while young families were attracted to Hopkinton's high-ranking public school system, said Hopkinton Town Clerk Connor Degan. Not only was the town able to attract younger generations, but older generations remained in town even as they aged by either downsizing to homes in other parts of town or by moving into the recently developed age-restricted housing community. "We see the balance there struck between the aging population and population with school-age children," Degan said. Based in the eastern part of town, the Legacy Farms housing development has had a massive impact on the town's expansion, Degan said, as it is expected to add more than 1,000 homes to Hop- kinton by the time it is complete. e increased housing availability in a town already desirable because of its proximity to Boston, further motivated population growth. Hopkinton is becoming a hotspot for tech companies, particularly biotech firms, looking for a more affordable option compared to Boston, Degan said, and is now home to businesses like LakePharma and Lykan Bioscience, in addition to being the long-time home of Dell Technologies aer it acquired EMC Corp. in 2016. ese firms draw in professionals from other areas who settle into Hopkinton. Degan said if every piece of buildable land in Hopkinton was developed, the town could achieve a future population of 20,000 to 22,000 residents. "e fact we are seeing new money and new growth shows that we are grow- ing our tax base," Degan said about the benefits of population growth. Fastest-growing major New England city Worcester saw a 14% increase in its population, going from 181,045 in 2010 to 206,518 in 2020, making Worcester the fastest growing of the 10 largest cities in New England. Mixed-use buildings and a revamp- ing of village-entered strategic plans helped cities and towns to encourage growth, according to the CMRPC. is is exemplified by the Worcester buildings on Front Street across from the Union Station, in which the bottom spaces are used for retail or office space to encour- age workforce development while the upper floors are used for housing. Mean- while, a village model is when a town facilitates most of its resources in the town center to encourage accessibility. "Worcester has done some really cool things," Settles said about Worcester's strategic plans. e city implemented strategies such as growing available housing stock and focusing on public and private invest- ments to elevate the quality of life for residents, said Peter Dunn Worcester's chief development officer. In addition to increasing available housing, the city's commercial in- vestments led to job creation, which encouraged people to move into the city, Dunn said. He also cited small business startups, which added to the city's ame- nities, diverse entertainment options, Source: U.S. Census Bureau Continued on page 7 PHOTO/MATT WRIGHT

• Cover