Editorial: Population central
The U.S. Census Bureau's mid-May release of city and county populations for 2023 prove Central Massachusetts – particularly Worcester – is an increasingly popular place.
The data shows Worcester County’s estimated population now sits at 866,866, an 0.84% increase from 2020. The population of Middlesex County, which includes areas like MetroWest inside of Central Massachusetts and those outside of it like Greater Cambridge, did shrink slightly over the same time period but sits at 1.62 million people.
Among the large communities in Central Massachusetts, Worcester took the crown, with a 1.25% increase to 207,621 people, while places like Framingham, Marlborough, Leominster, and Fitchburg all saw slight dips. It should be noted all these numbers are estimates by the Census Bureau, although they come after the 2020 decennial census, which showed the city of Worcester grew in population faster than any other major city in New England. After seemingly being relegated to also-ran status behind the Bostons, Providences, and Portlands of the region, at least in terms of its perceived positive momentum, Worcester is turning into a place to be.
Whether it is people from Eastern Massachusetts seeking cheaper costs of living, new workers finding employment opportunities in Central Massachusetts, or college students choosing to stay, the situation presents both opportunities and challenges for the region and its economy. Lack of housing is a major issue, and transportation infrastructure could be significantly better. Human services nonprofits are strained to the brink and, like most employers, are struggling to find the staffing to meet those needs. Organizations and communities can get locked into traditional ways of thinking, and these existing problems exacerbated by an influx of people need to have new solutions, however complex they may need to be.
Nonetheless, a rising population is an economic superpower, and organizations of all kinds need to understand the opportunity before them. More people living in the region means a larger workforce, to fill the entire range of job openings and fulfill business expansion plans. More people means more skillsets and an improved collective brainpower, spitting out new ideas with the potential for innovative breakthroughs. Central Massachusetts has the higher education infrastructure to support new learning and growth of key industries.
After years and years of talk, planning, hoping, and coaxing, Central Massachusetts finally has some wind in its sails, fueled by a variety of factors. If this opportunity to capitalize on strengthening our regional economy is seized today, it will have compound positive impacts for decades to come.
WBJ Web Partners
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