While housing issues show up in communities across the state, the “Building Homes. Building Futures” study provides an updated, comprehensive look at housing in four western Massachusetts counties—Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire. Led by Wayfinders and UMass-Amherst Donahue Institute, the research builds on past reports and gives everyone an opportunity to learn about the state of housing across the region and in their community, so that they can make informed decisions and take action to support a local housing vision.

The report details demographic trends that include the proportion of older adults. Across all four counties in western Massachusetts, the share of residents aged 65 and older is rising, expected to increase from one in five residents (20%) in 2020 to a projected one in four residents (26%) in 2035. In Franklin County, people over 65 will grow to an estimated one in three residents (32%) by 2035.

The full report dives deeper into specific communities as well as into data trends in population, affordability and the housing market. Various pieces of the report may be useful to communities working to become more age- and dementia friendly as coalitions advocate for inclusion of older adults in local and regional planning efforts.

More information is available here.