Data from the new report by Smart Growth America and the Surface Transportation Policy Project
MASSACHUSETTS FACT SHEET
Sprawl Scores for Massachusetts Counties
A lower number indicates a higher degree of sprawl. The mean score on the county sprawl index is 100.
Metro Area County Worcester County Plymouth County Bristol County Norfolk County Essex County Middlesex County Suffolk County Hampshire County Hampden County County Sprawl Score 99.44 100.26 113.62 113.64 118.56 121.56 179.37 87.77 108.58
Boston-Worcester-Lawrence, MA-NH-ME-CT
Springfield, MA NECMA
For the complete report, visit www.smartgrowthamerica.org
How Sprawl Is Related to Health for each Massachusetts County
The table below illustrates the study's findings by calculating the expected impact of sprawl on the body mass index and weight of an average person (height- 5'7"). The last two columns calculate the expected impact of sprawl on the probability of being obese or having hypertension.
Expected Body Mass Index 26.10 26.10 26.05 26.05 26.04 26.03 25.83 26.14 26.07 Expected probability of obesity 18.1% 18.1% 17.7% 17.7% 17.5% 17.4% 15.7% 18.5% 17.8% Expected probability of having hypertension 23.9% 23.9% 23.6% 23.6% 23.5% 23.4% 22.2% 24.2% 23.7%
Metro Area
Boston-WorcesterLawrence, MA-NH-MECT
Springfield, MA NECMA
County Worcester County Plymouth County Bristol County Norfolk County Essex County Middlesex County Suffolk County Hampshire County Hampden County
Expected Weight 166.65 166.64 166.34 166.34 166.23 166.17 164.90 166.91 166.45
Measuring the Health Effects of Sprawl
Smart Growth America ▪ Surface Transportation Policy Project