METHODOLOGY
Community Rankings
MassTrack is based on twelve economic, demographic and
community factors that were used to score and rank each of 351 Massachusetts
cities and towns. The reports for each city and town provide additional
information to more completely describe each community.
The twelve scoring variables, described below, were grouped
into three broad categories of importance to Massachusetts technology
organizations: taxes, education/workforce and development. Each of these three
categories was provided equal weight in calculating the scores for every
community. Closely ranked communities are not significantly different based on
the scores alone.
Communities were then ranked by score and assigned a value
from 1 to 5 stars. Assuming a bell-curve for the score, communities at 3 stars
represent the average, while communities at 4 stars are 1 standard deviation
above the average score and communities are 5 stars are 2 standard deviations
above the average. Similarly, 2 star and 1 star communities are 1 and 2
standard deviations below the average score, respectively.
For technical information about MassTrack variables,
methodology and scoring, please contact the Massachusetts High Technology
Council at www.mhtc.org.
Tax variables
Split Tax Rate
Whether the community has adopted a split tax rate (in which commercial or
industrial property is taxed at a higher rate than residential property) for FY
2008, according to the Massachusetts Department of Revenue. The Department of
Revenue has not yet certified the FY08 tax rate for the Town of Richmond, so FY
2007 figures are used for that municipality.
Tax Differential
The ratio of the Fiscal Year 2008 Commercial/Industrial tax rate vs. the
Residential tax rate, according to the Massachusetts Department of Revenue. For
Richmond, FY 2007 data are used.
Commercial Tax Rate
The FY2008 Commercial/Industrial tax rate per $1000 of assessed value,
according to the Massachusetts Department of Revenue. For Richmond, FY 2007
data are used.
Have Tax Increment Financing
Whether the community has been established as an Economic Target Area
for purposes of designating one or more Tax Increment Financing zones that
provide incentives for business investment.
Education and Workforce
MCAS Proficient/Advanced
The percentage of each city or town's 10th grade public high school students
that scored "advanced" or "proficient" on the 2008 MCAS (Massachusetts
Comprehensive Assessment System) mathematics test. Regional
Technical/Vocation/Agricultural schools were excluded from this calculation.
Other Regional School Districts were included, and the percentages for these
schools were applied to the communities that belong to regional districts.
MCAS Trend
The change in the percentage of each city or town's 10th grade public high
school students that scored "advanced" or "proficient" from 2007 to 2008 in the
MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System) mathematics test.
30 Minute College Graduate
The number of college educated adults in the population, as defined by the 2000
U.S. Census at the Block Group level, who are within a 30 minute drive time
from the center point of each community under normal traffic conditions.
Technology Workforce
The percentage of employees with each community's daytime workforce that is
employed in "technology innovation" sectors, as defined by the Massachusetts
Technology Collaborative. The technology innovation sectors were defined by
NAICS (North American Industry Classification System); corresponding SIC
(Standard Industrial Classification) codes were then matched to ZIPs and
Cities/Towns within Massachusetts to calculate the workforce percentage within
the technology sector. Post secondary education employees were not calculated
in this percentage. The source for this data is Dun & Bradstreet,
July-September 2008.
Development
MEPA Projects 2004-2007
The net number of Massachusetts Environmental Protection Agency permits that
were issued to each community for the period 2004-2007.
New Growth Trend
The average annual percent change in the value of commercial and industrial
property from FY 2005 to FY 2008, according to the Massachusetts Department of
Revenue.
Fast Track Permitting
Whether a community has accepted Chapter 43D, the Expedited Permitting Program,
as of October 15, 2008. This program is administered by the Massachusetts
Office of Housing and Economic Development.
Housing Starts Per Capita
The number of housing starts for Calendar 2007, as reported by the U.S. Census,
per 1000 households in the community according to the 2000 U.S. Census.
Descriptive Variables (Not Used for Rankings)
2000 Population
The 2000 population for each community, according to the U.S. Census.
2000 Households
The number of households in each community, according to the 2000 U.S. Census.
30 Minute Labor Force
The number of adults in the labor force, as defined by the 2000 U.S. Census at
the Block Group level, who are within a 30 minute drive time from the center
point of each community under normal traffic conditions.
College Graduate
The percentage of each city or town's population age 25 or older that has a
four-year college degree, according to the 2000 U.S. Census.
2000 Average Commute Time
The average commuting time, in minutes, according to the 2000 U.S. Census.
Median Household Income
The median household income for each community, according to the 2000 U.S.
Census.
Median Home Value
The median home value in each community, according to the 2000 U.S. Census.
Residential Tax Rate
The FY2008 Residential Tax Rate per $1000 of residential valuation, according
to the Massachusetts Department of Revenue.
Mileage to Acute Care Hospital and Hospital Name
The distance in miles from the center point of each community to the closest
Acute Care Hospital in the Massachusetts Hospital Association database.
Community Web Site
The URL for each community's official web site, where available.
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