1. MetroWest demographic trends
Population is growing steadily but slowly: 3.7% growth between 2000 and 2010. Ashland’s increase was
13%.
Population is growing older and more diverse, with residents over 35 growing by 10% and non-White
and Hispanic residents growing by 63.2% and 45.5%. Ashland’s over 35 population grew by 58%
A shift towards service-sector employment, with jobs in finance, education, health-care, trade and other
service-related jobs increasing from 82.4% of total employment in 2001 to 87.6% in 2011.
A housing stock that is unaffordable to many residents, with 37% of households paying more than 30%
of their income on housing.