The Town of Stockbridge is in the process of preparing a Housing Production Plan (HPP) that will provide up-to-date information on local housing issues, identify priority housing needs, and propose strategies to address those needs.
The Housing Trust will present the major findings from the first component of the HPP, the Housing Needs Assessment. This Assessment provides updated information on demographic and economic shifts, as well as housing market changes that have notable implications on community housing needs and demand. Demographic trends over the past eleven years show an increase in the number of older residents and a decrease in younger people. The median age of residents increased from 40.8 to 60.1 years between 2010 and 2021, based on U.S. Census data. During the same period, the number of middle-income households has declined, while lower income (under $25,000) and higher income (over $150,000) households have increased. Median household income has declined, from $55,096 in 2010 to $46,458 in 2021.
Rising housing prices make it more difficult for residents, those raised in the community, or those wanting to live in Stockbridge to find, or retain affordable living options. For example, the median single-family home price in 2022 was $575,000, requiring an estimated income of $148,000. As the Housing Needs Assessment documents, there are segments of the community spending 30% or even 50% of their income on housing costs.
The Stockbridge Affordable Housing Trust will present the draft Housing Needs Assessment on Monday, July 17th at 6:00 pm. Most important, the meeting will include a special program to gather the perspectives of attendees on the Town ‘s future housing agenda.
The meeting will be held in the Community Room (Town Offices at 50 Main Street), and all are welcome to attend. For more information or to submit comments about the project, please contact Janet Ackerman via email at JAckerman@stockbridge-ma.gov. To review the draft Housing Needs Assessment and Workshop presentation, visit the Town’s Affordable Housing Trust website at www.stockbridge-ma.gov after July 14th.
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