Losing Ground 2020: Statistics

Town of Norton

Sixth Edition

Published February 2020, Losing Ground: Nature's Value In A Changing Climate reports on the pace and patterns of land development and land protection in Massachusetts between 2012 and 2017.
These statistics describe changes in land use between 2012 and 2017. Estimates of acres of land converted from a natural state to a developed state can be found here, as well as the rate of development in comparison to other areas. Natural land consists of forest, wetland, and water; open land consists of agricultural areas, bare soil, beaches, barrens, or low vegetation; development includes low density residential and commercial/industrial/high density residential development. Percentage calculations are based on the state's total land area, excluding major waterbodies.
Rank in relation to other towns/cities is indicated.
There are 351 towns/cities in Massachusetts.

Statistic

Value

Rank in state

Total area of newly developed land from 2012 to 2017 (acres)
121
55
Total area of newly developed land from 2012 to 2017, standardized by town size (acres per square mile)
4.1
86
Total area of development (acres)
4,318
81
Total area of natural land (acres)
13,210
95
Total area of open land (acres)
948
183
Percent developed land
23 %
160
Percent natural land
71 %
141
Percent open land
5 %
247
Size of town in acres
18,760
86
Size of town in square miles
29.3
86
The level of protection for the area is summarized below. We also consider the proportion of important conservation resources that are protected in the area, including BioMap2 Core Habitat and Critical Natural Landscape, Green Infrastructure Network, and relatively climate change resilient land. Percentage calculations are based on the state's total land area, excluding major waterbodies.
Rank in relation to other towns/cities is indicated.
There are 351 towns/cities in Massachusetts.

Statistic

Value

Rank in state

Total area of permanently conserved land (acres)
3,948
120
Overall percent permanently conserved
21 %
186
Total area of newly conserved land from 2012 to 2019 (acres)
1,377
17
Total area of newly conserved BioMap2 Core Habitat (acres)
340
45
Total area of newly conserved BioMap2 CNL (acres)
391
65
Total area of newly conserved TNC resilient land (acres)
8
180
Total area of newly conserved GIN (acres)
1,377
17
Size of town in acres
18,760
86
Size of town in square miles
29.3
86
 

Fifth Edition

Released in June 2014, Losing Ground: Planning for Resilience reports on the pace and patterns of land development and land protection in Massachusetts between 2005 and 2013.
These statistics describe changes in land use between 2005 and 2013. Estimates of acres of land converted from a natural state to a developed state can be found here, as well as the rate of development in comparison to other areas. Natural land consists of forest, wetland, and water; open land consists of agricultural areas, bare soil, beaches, barrens, or low vegetation; development includes low density residential and commercial/industrial/high density residential development. Percentage calculations are based on the state's total land area, excluding major waterbodies.
Rank in relation to other towns/cities is indicated.
There are 351 towns/cities in Massachusetts.

Statistic

Value

Rank in state

Total area of new development (acres)
113
67
Total area of newly developed land from 2005 to 2013, standardized by town size (acres per square mile)
3.9
102
Natural land converted to development (acres)
51
93
Open land converted to development (acres)
62
45
The level of protection for the area is summarized below. We also consider the proportion of important conservation resources that are protected in the area, including BioMap2 Core Habitat and Critical Natural Landscape, and relatively climate change resilient land. Percentage calculations are based on the state's total land area, excluding major waterbodies.
Rank in relation to other towns/cities is indicated.
There are 351 towns/cities in Massachusetts.

Statistic

Value

Rank in state

Area protected 2005 - 2013 (acres)
227
142
Percent BioMap2 Core Habitat protected
32 %
224
Percent BioMap2 Critical Natural Landscape protected
26 %
249
Percent TNC resilient land protected
35 %
159
 

Fourth Edition

Released in May 2009, Losing Ground: Beyond the Footprint reports on the patterns of development and their impact on the Nature of Massachusetts, 1999 - 2005.
These statistics describe changes in land use between 1999 and 2005. Estimates of acres of land converted from a natural state to a developed state can be found here, as well as the rate of development in comparison to other areas. Natural land consists of forest, wetland, and water; development includes low density residential and commercial/industrial/high density residential development.
Rank in relation to other towns/cities is indicated.
There are 351 towns/cities in Massachusetts.

Statistic

Value

Rank in state

Natural land (acres) converted to development (1999-2005)
316
23
Total area of newly developed land from 1999 to 2005, standardized by town size (acres per square mile)
10.8
35
Acres protected for this area is shown below.
Rank in relation to other towns/cities is indicated.
There are 351 towns/cities in Massachusetts.

Statistic

Value

Rank in state

Acres protected (1999-2005)
317
106