This just in from Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller’s weekly email newsletter …

The Boston Foundation recently released its Greater Boston Housing Report Card 2019 looking at housing affordability and housing production in the 147 cities and towns in the five counties surrounding Boston.

We’re expensive. More specifically, the Report found that metro-Boston, which includes Newton, is one of the nation’s most expensive places to buy (4th in the U.S.) or rent (3rd in the U.S.). The authors highlighted that the limited supply of housing stock and high cost contributes to persistent racial segregation.

The Report evaluated each city and town. Newton had low scores except for housing best practices, e.g., accessory dwelling and inclusionary zoning ordinances. The scale goes from 0.0 to the best grade of 1.0.

            Newton’s Grades

0.83  Incorporating housing best practices

0.38   Percent of multi-family rental housing

0.35   Affordability of current housing stock

0.30   Community’s racial composition

0.09   Production of multi-family housing

Read the full Report here.