Analysis of Opposition to Multifamily Housing in Shrewsbury, MA

Massachusetts is experiencing a critical shortage of affordable housing, driven by decades of underbuilding, which is exacerbated by local opposition to multifamily housing development. Although the Commonwealth has adopted policies to increase housing supply, such as Chapter 40B and the MBTA Communities Act, the impact of these efforts is mitigated by resistance from residents at the local level. This research analyzes whether common concerns voiced by opponents of multifamily, affordable housing, such as adverse impacts on school enrollment, property values, municipal services, and infrastructure, are substantiated by data. Using Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, as a case study, this research employs a quantitative analysis of local data from 1980 to 2023 to evaluate the relationship between multifamily housing development and its purported negative outcomes. Findings indicate that multifamily housing has minimal or no measurable impact on the areas of concern cited by opponents. This paper contributes to the literature by providing community-specific data analysis, thereby informing local housing discourse and policy. The results suggest that opposition to multifamily housing may be more rooted in perception than fact, and that local governments can play a pivotal role in bridging this gap through evidence-based communication and ongoing public engagement.