Behind Census Numbers

We have known since December that Massachusetts’ population grew by an anemic 3.1 percent between 2000 and 2010, but this week the census released data that demonstrate the diversity within the state. Outlying areas, like the Berkshires and the Cape, lost population, while Boston and Worcester County grew. These patterns remind us that the state’s future is a battle between great economic energy and profound opposition to new construction, especially in areas around Boston.