Who took the survey?

Demographics are an important consideration for municipal plans that have the potential to change the cultural and physical environments of a community. For example, older residents may value various places differently than younger residents. People who have just moved to Charlestown may have a different vision for its future than residents who have lived there their entire lives. Depending on the Planning Commission's vision for Charlestown's future, they may want to direct acquisition efforts to reflect the values and perceptions of emergent, future populations, or they may want to ensure that policy decisions can meet the expectations of various populations already in the community. The graphical information below provide some understanding of who took the survey. Further analyses of survey data have been conducted, based on demographic information:

• How does age of respondents affect openspace valuation?
  
  
• How does residence time of respondents affect openspace valuation?
  
  
• Does the amount of land upon which people reside affect prioritization of openspace?
  
  
• Does property value of respondents affect openspace prioritization?

Residence Time

The majority of respondents have lived in Charlestown for 3-10 years, followed by 20+ year residents. This demographic characteristic is almost identical to demographics from Charlestown's Comprehensive Plan Survey of 1991. One consideration in openspace planning is that people may value potential openspace places differently, depending on how long they have lived in a community.

Part-time and Year-round Residency

With a considerable seasonal population, Charlestown is comprised of a significant population of part-time residents. 1,541 of Charlestown's 4,256 housing units are characterized as seasonal, recreational or occasional. Because the Planning Commission expressed an interest in gauging the extent of input from part-time residents, this question shows that survey findings are more indicative of positions held by year-round residents.

Households with School Children

1990 Census data report that 1,541 Charlestown residents, aged 3 years and older, are enrolled in school. Approximately 34% of the respondents reported they have school age children in their household. This is representative for survey demographics, considering that approximately 60% of survey respondents are over 50 years old.