Published Research Reports

Project Overview:

During the months of November and December of 2001, a citizen survey of Canton residents was designed and administered by the Institute for Regional Development at Bridgewater State College.  The Institute was subcontracted by Planner's Collaborative, a Boston-based planning firm, to conduct this survey as part of the Town of Canton's Master Plan Project.  The Institute worked closely with Planner's Collaborative, Canton's Planning Board and Master Master Plan Committee in the development of this survey.  The purpose of this survey was to obtain information and citizen perceptions about Canton to assist in planning for the future.

Highlights:

• The majority of the respondents (55.6%) rate the quality of life in Canton as "good" while just under forty percent of the respondents (37.7%) rate the quality of life as "excellent."

• The overwhelming majority of respondents (46.9%) said traffic congestion is the worst part about living in Canton; 12.2% site rapid growth as the major problem.

• Over half of the respondents (61.8%) feel more preserved open space would be very beneficial to the Town of Canton.

• Just over three-quarters of the respondents (76.8%) feel more resources should go towards beautification of the downtown area.

• 43.5 percent of the respondents think the image of Canton has stayed the same in the past five years, while 41.0% think the image of Canton has improved over the past five years.