Housing Growth Stagnates in Boston Suburbs

Boston economists are sounding the alarm: while the city itself is adding plenty of housing, there's not a lot happening in the suburbs. That may adversely affect older folks who want to sell and younger people looking to buy.

1 minute read

November 30, 2017, 10:00 AM PST

By Philip Rojc @PhilipRojc

Bill Damon / Flickr

Tim Logan discusses work by Northeastern University economist Barry Bluestone, who argues that as central Boston adds more housing, "working families are being priced out by graduate students and young professionals, while too little is being built in more-affordable areas."

Boston's share of the region's construction, Logan writes, has nearly doubled since 2012. "While a handful of towns — from Plymouth to Framingham to Chelmsford — have added large amounts of housing in the past few years, most towns near Boston have added very little, especially in the form of modestly priced apartment and condo buildings."

Already unaffordable to many, the area's real estate market may pay the price down the line. "[Building too little housing is] a mistake, Bluestone said, and one that many towns will realize only when aging baby boomers want to sell their single-family homes but have nowhere smaller to move to. Those folks will either stay put, which will prevent needed housing from coming onto the market, or uproot entirely and leave the area for a lack of somewhere suitable to live."

FULL STORY: There’s barely any housing being built in the suburbs

Tuesday, November 28, 2017 in The Boston Globe

Community / Economic Development Housing Urban Development Massachusetts Boston Boston Suburbs Housing construction Real Estate Greater Boston Housing Report Card housing affordability Baby Boomers View More

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Learn More

Advertise with us

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.