Winchester

0.0% of residential land allows multifamily by right

Share of residential zoned land where 3-family or larger multifamily housing is permitted by right — no planning board hearing required. Derived from MA Zoning Atlas 2023 district data. For the 107 towns not yet covered by the Zoning Atlas, this reflects permit mix (share of permitted units that are multifamily) as a fallback.

Source: Permit mix proxy (Census BPS) — NZA data not yet available for this town

Compliant — zoning adopted

Whether the municipality has complied with the MBTA Communities Act, which requires towns served by the MBTA to zone for multifamily housing by right near transit. Non-compliant towns lose access to certain state grant programs.

1.05 permits per 1,000 residents

Annual residential building permits per 1,000 residents, averaged over recent years. Measures whether the town is actually building housing relative to its existing population.

36.4% of renters cost-burdened · $1,149,600 median home value

Weighted composite of rent burden and median home value, weighted by renter share. In high-renter towns, rent burden dominates. In low-renter towns, home value dominates. Captures both active cost burden on existing renters and passive exclusion via high prices.

Track record of the town meeting or city council voting in favor of pro-housing zoning articles. Measures democratic accountability.

2 reps, 2 senators

Strong pro-housing voting record at the State House