By Marianne Delorey
This table summarizes the last several articles about each of the towns in Worcester County and how they compare on elder friendly characteristics. The higher the ranking, the more elder friendly the town was considered to be in each of the areas studied. The areas included the extent of medical facilities available in the town, how affordable the town was, how extensive the transportation options were in the town and how well funded the senior center was.
Each town is categorized by the size of the elder population. Small towns had less than 500 elders. Medium towns had between 500 and 2,000 elders. Larger towns had more than 2000 elders.
The intent of this analysis is to encourage towns to examine how they can best support their elderly citizens and to encourage other elders to relocate to their community. I encourage readers to share their thoughts about their town and any metrics that may not be included in this analysis.
The Rankings of Small, Medium and Larger Towns in Central Massachusetts by Elder Friendly Characteristics
| Town | % of Pop Elderly | Town Size | Medical Ranking | Affordable Ranking | Trans-portation Ranking | Senior Center Funding
Ranking |
Overall Rank |
| Shrewsbury | 13.2% | Large | 3 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| Webster | 16.4% | Large | 6.5 | 8.5 | 1.5 | 2 | 2 |
| Southbridge | 14.9% | Large | 6.5 | 8 | 1.5 | 6 | 3.5 |
| Millbury | 16.5% | Large | 1.5 | 4.5 | 6 | 10 | 3.5 |
| Holden | 13.8% | Large | 2.5 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 5 |
| Auburn | 17.7% | Large | 7.5 | 3.5 | 6 | 8 | 6 |
| Leominster | 14.4% | Large | 6.5 | 6 | 11 | 3 | 7 |
| Milford | 13.1% | Large | 10.5 | 4.5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| Fitchburg | 12.9% | Large | 6 | 10.5 | 11 | 5 | 9 |
| Westborough | 13.1% | Large | 10 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 10 |
| Gardner | 15.5% | Large | 7 | 12 | 6 | 9 | 11 |
| Worcester | 12.3% | Large | 10.5 | 9.5 | 11 | 4 | 12 |
| Boylston | 13.2% | Medium | 10 | 4 | 7.5 | 1.5 | 1 |
| Ashburnham | 9.2% | Medium | 10 | 10 | 7.5 | 4 | 2 |
| Dudley | 11.2% | Medium | 7.5 | 20.5 | 7.5 | 1.5 | 3 |
| Mendon | 9.8% | Medium | 16.5 | 6 | 1 | 22 | 4 |
| West Boylston | 14.3% | Medium | 23.5 | 19 | 7.5 | 5 | 5 |
| N Brookfield | 13.7% | Medium | 3.5 | 28 | 7.5 | 18 | 6 |
| Spencer | 14.0% | Medium | 19 | 28 | 7.5 | 3 | 7 |
| Leicester | 12.3% | Medium | 17.5 | 20.5 | 7.5 | 12.5 | 8 |
| Paxton | 13.0% | Medium | 3.5 | 11.5 | 24.5 | 19 | 9 |
| Hopedale | 15.9% | Medium | 28.5 | 15 | 7.5 | 11 | 10.5 |
| Rutland | 8.0% | Medium | 14 | 14.5 | 24.5 | 9 | 10.5 |
| Lunenburg | 12.0% | Medium | 9.5 | 16 | 24.5 | 12.5 | 12 |
| Lancaster | 10.1% | Medium | 32.5 | 15 | 7.5 | 8 | 13.5 |
| Blackstone | 11.6% | Medium | 11.5 | 13 | 7.5 | 31 | 13.5 |
| Grafton | 10.5% | Medium | 11.5 | 11.5 | 24.5 | 16 | 15 |
| Westminster | 11.6% | Medium | 20.5 | 14 | 24.5 | 6 | 16 |
| Sutton | 9.8% | Medium | 10.5 | 5.5 | 24.5 | 30 | 17 |
| Oxford | 12.3% | Medium | 12.5 | 27.5 | 24.5 | 7 | 18 |
| Uxbridge | 8.2% | Medium | 24.5 | 17.5 | 7.5 | 25 | 19 |
| Sturbridge | 14.2% | Medium | 12 | 19.5 | 24.5 | 23 | 20.5 |
| Douglas | 7.8% | Medium | 9.5 | 18 | 24.5 | 27 | 20.5 |
| Harvard | 12.3% | Medium | 19 | 13 | 24.5 | 24 | 22 |
| W Brookfield | 25.0% | Medium | 22 | 20 | 24.5 | 15 | 23 |
| Barre | 11.5% | Medium | 22.5 | 19 | 24.5 | 17 | 24 |
| Winchendon | 11.5% | Medium | 15.5 | 33 | 7.5 | 28 | 25.5 |
| Athol | 15.8% | Medium | 22.5 | 27 | 24.5 | 10 | 25.5 |
| Northbridge | 11.8% | Medium | 20 | 27 | 24.5 | 14 | 27 |
| Templeton | 11.8% | Medium | 20 | 29.5 | 24.5 | 13 | 28 |
| Charlton | 10.0% | Medium | 30 | 14 | 24.5 | 20 | 29 |
| Clinton | 14.1% | Medium | 16 | 28 | 24.5 | 21 | 30 |
| Northborough | 13.0% | Medium | 35 | 19 | 24.5 | 16 | 31 |
| Upton | 8.3% | Medium | 22 | 15.5 | 24.5 | 34 | 32 |
| Warren | 13.5% | Medium | 18 | 25 | 24.5 | 29 | 33 |
| Sterling | 11.1% | Medium | 34 | 8.5 | 24.5 | 32 | 34 |
| Southborough | 9.1% | Medium | 25.5 | 17 | 24.5 | 33 | 35 |
| Royalston | 11.6% | Small | 2 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Phillipston | 10.3% | Small | 3 | 4.5 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| East Brookfield | 14.1% | Small | 6 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| Petersham | 19.1% | Small | 5 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| Hubbardston | 9.1% | Small | 7 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 5 |
| Millville | 7.2% | Small | 4 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 6 |
| New Braintree | 10.2% | Small | 1 | 10 | 10.5 | 6 | 7 |
| Brookfield | 14.4% | Small | 8 | 5.5 | 10.5 | 4 | 8 |
| Berlin | 12.5% | Small | 11 | 6.5 | 10.5 | 7 | 9 |
| Princeton | 11.7% | Small | 13 | 9.5 | 4 | 10 | 10 |
| Oakham | 8.9% | Small | 10 | 7 | 10.5 | 9 | 11 |
| Hardwick | 13.6% | Small | 9 | 4.5 | 10.5 | 13 | 12 |
| Bolton | 8.9% | Small | 12 | 7.5 | 10.5 | 12 | 13 |
Marianne Delorey, Ph.D. is the executive director of Colony Retirement Homes. She can be reached at 508-755-0444 or mdelorey@colonyretirement.com and www.colonyretirementhomes.com. Archives of articles from previous issues can be read at www.fiftyplusadvocate.com.
