Northern Middlesex Council of Governments
Town of Billerica
Serving the communities of Greater Lowell Massachusetts.
Northern Middlesex Council of Governments
Town of Billerica
Serving the communities of Greater Lowell Massachusetts.
Community Profile Pages
Billerica
Chelmsford
Dracut
Dunstable
Lowell
Pepperell
Tewksbury
Tyngsborough
Westford
|
Billerica at a Glance:
Town Contacts (as of August
2011)
Board of Selectmen: Phone: (978) 671-0939
| Robert Correnti - Chair | Robert Accomando - Vice Chair | Michael Rosa - Secretary |
| Andrew Deslaurier | David Gagliardi |
Town Department Contacts:
| Town Manager | John C. Curran | 978-671-0942 |
| Town Clerk | Shirley E. Schult | 978-671-0924 |
| Town Engineer | Kelly Conway | 978-671-0955 |
| Building Commissioner (Inspectors Office) | Mark LaLumiere | 978-671-0959 |
| Town Planner | Peter Kennedy | 978-671-0962 |
| Director of Public Works | Abdul Alkhatib | 978-671-1313 |
| Director of Public Health | Richard Berube | 978-671-0931 |
| Economic Development Coordinator | Stephanie Cronin | 978-808-5281 |
| Chief of Police | Chief Daniel Rosa | 978-667-1212 |
| Chief of Fire Department | Chief Anthony Capaldo | 978-663-3433 |
| Recreation Department Director | Peggy Hannon-Rizza | 978-671-0921 |
Planning Board: (978) 671-0962
| David Saviano - Chair | Vincent D. McDonald - Vice Chair | Marti Mahoney - Secretary |
| Robert Casey | Patricia Flemming | David Kinsella |
| Edward R. McLaughlin |
Conservation Commission: (978) 671-0966
| Joanne Giovino - Chair | Jon Metivier - Vice Chair | Diane DePaso - Secretary |
| Stephen Aziz | Betsy Gallagher | Paul Hayes |
| Peter Martell |
Public Water System:
100% of the community is serviced by town water. During FY99, 1,569 million gallons of water were pumped from the Town’s Treatment Plant on the Concord River and distributed throughout the community. The average daily volume of usage was 4.69 million gallons.
Trash Collection:
The Town has curbside trash collection and recycling. Total recycled waste collected in FY99 was 1,956.51 tons; total trash collected was 4.69 million gallons.
Sewer:
The Town is currently implementing an aggressive 15 million dollar sewer expansion program. When completed, this project will bring the public sewer system to over 70% of the community. The Town operates a Wastewater Treatment Plant with design capacity of 5.4 million gallons per day (MGD). Average daily flow for 1999 at the plant was 3 MGD.
Library:
The library expansion project is currently underway in 2000. The Billerica Public Library in FY2000 had circulation of 241,582 and was visited by 189,904 patrons. The number of patrons in the FY2000 is much lower then previous years due to the library being closed for renovations for a month.
Schools:
Billerica public school system is made up of six k – 5 elementary schools; two middle schools and one high school. 1999 – 2000 school enrollment: 6,604 pupils.
Public Safety:
Billerica Police Department has 66 permanent uniformed officers. Billerica Fire Department is staffed by 73 firefighters. In case of emergency call 911.
Chief of Police: Chief Daniel Rosa (978) 667-1212
Chief of Fire Department: Chief Anthony Capaldo (978) 663-3433
Rail:
Commuter rail service to North Station, Boston, is available at Lowell Gallagher Terminal or at North Billerica Station (Travel time 40 minutes). Freight rail service is available from the Springfield Terminal Railway, contact number: (978) 663 – 1073.
Bus:
Billerica is a member of the Lowell Regional Transit Authority (LRTA). Fixed bus service is provided, and paratransit services, including medical trips to Boston, are available for the elderly and disabled through LRTA’s Road Runner program. The LRTA route connects to the MBTA route at Chestnut St. Burlington with the bus connection to Alewife station.
2011 TAX RATE: Residential - $13.47 per $1,000, Commercial- $30.75 per $1,000
Community Census Profiles: 2010 Census data is currently becoming available in sections. Tables will be updated as new data is received. The 2000 Census Tables that have not been updated as of yet will remain below. Updated 1/25/12.
2010 Population Trends: Includes Community Population, Population by Age and Population by Race,
2010 Housing Profile: Includes Housing Units, Housing Occupancy, and Housing Tenure
2010 Household Relationship Profile: Includes Number of Households, Household Relationships, and Households by Type
Poverty Status (2000 U.S. Census)
| Persons Below Poverty Level | Billerica | Massachusetts |
| Number | 1,414 | 573,421 |
| Percentage | 3.8 | 9.3 |
Income Distribution (2000 U.S. Census)
| Income | Households | Percentage of Households |
| Less than $10,000 | 353 | 2.7 |
| $10,000-$14,999 | 401 | 3.1 |
| $15,000-$24,999 | 816 | 6.3 |
| $25,000-$34,999 | 875 | 6.8 |
| $35,000-$49,999 | 1,720 | 13.3 |
| $50,000-$74,999 | 3,324 | 25.6 |
| $75,000-$99,999 | 2,615 | 20.2 |
| $100,000-$149,999 | 2,103 | 16.2 |
| $150,000-$199,999 | 487 | 3.8 |
| $200,000 or more | 267 | 2.1 |
Sources of Income (2000 U.S. Census)
| # of Households | Average Income | |
| Wage and Salary | 11,544 | $74,166 |
| Social Security | 2,930 | $10,491 |
| Public Assistance | 132 | $2,174 |
| Retirement | 2,489 | $14,283 |
| Supplemental Security | 382 | $6,916 |
Median Household Income (2000 U.S. Census)
| 1970 | 1980 | 1990 | 2000 |
| $11,331 | $23,267 | $47,830 | $67,799 |
Median Home Sale Price (Banker & Tradesman)
| 1994 | 1996 | 1998 | 2000 | |
| Single Family | $136,000 | $144,000 | $164,900 | $215,000 |
| Condo | $38,000 | $35,000 | $63,800 | $82,250 |
| All Sales | $127,950 | $140,000 | $160,000 | $200,000 |
Housing Unit Permit Data
| 1990 | 1992 | 1994 | 1996 | 1998 | 2000 |
| 60 | 120 | 171 | 138 | 107 | 69 |
Housing Breakdown by Occupancy (2000 U.S. Census)
| # of Units | Percentage of Total Units | |
| Total Housing Units | 13,071 | 100 |
| Total Occupied Units | 12,919 | 98.8 |
| Owner Occupied | 10,899 | 83.4 |
| Renter Occupied | 2,020 | 15.4 |
| Total Vacant | 152 | 1.2 |
LAND USE CLASSIFICATION (Mass. GIS 1991)
| Billerica Land Use | Acreage (acres) | Percentage of Total |
| Residential | 6,664.89 | 39.6 |
| Commercial | 397 | 2.4 |
| Industrial | 992.9 | 5.9 |
| Agriculture | 542.81 | 3.2 |
| Open Space/ Recreation | 7,223.34 | 42.9 |
| Transportation/ Mining/ Waste | 673.07 | 4.0 |
| Water | 340.19 | 2.0 |
| Total Acreage | 16,834.22 | 100 |
RECREATION
Billerica Recreation Department
One Ed Hays Way
Billerica, MA 01821
Phone: (978) 671 – 0921
Fax: (978) 671 – 0927
Director:
Peggy Hannon-Rizza
The Recreation Department
offers year-round programs, trips and special events for all residents and
employees of Billerica.
Recreational sites/facilities
include:
Great Meadows National
Wildlife Refuge (55 acres)
Hiking, nature observation, cross-country skiing, canoeing
Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial
Park (200 acres)
Located off Treble Cove Rd., this park was deeded to the Town from Middlesex
County in 1995 via a legislative act. Features include Concord River frontage,
walking trails, show horse rink, soccer fields, radio control airport, fishing,
canoeing, cross country running trail, cross country skiing, community gardens,
special events, nature observation and the first in the nation Vietnam Veterans
Memorial.
Lampson Recreation Complex
Basketball courts, tennis courts, football field, softball fields, multi-use
field, ice-skating, recreation office.
Akeson Park
Soccer fields, canoe put-in/take-out site for Shawsheen River.
Pollard Park
Kids Konnection (children’s playground), picnicking, baseball field.
Micozzi Beach
Swimming, picnic area, playground, sand volleyball court, basketball,
handicapped accessible fishing pier, canoe put in/take out, nature observation.
Many of our Town’s athletic
fields are located on school property. At the Marshall Middle School facilities
include an out-door hockey rink. All elementary schools have a children’s
playground.
Eighteen hole public golf
course, driving range, Barrie Bruce Golf School.
Driving range, miniature golf
course.
Rifle target range, archery
Gymnasium, pool, ropes course,
game rooms, before/after school program, special events.
Nuttings Lake, Winning Pond,
Concord River, Shawsheen River.
| Labor Force - 2000 | 24,434 |
| # of Residents Employed | 23,860 |
| # of Residents Unemployed | 574 |
| Billerica Unemployment Rate | 2.3% |
| NMCOG Regional Unemployment Rate | 2.5% |
| State Unemployment Rate | 2.6% |
| Agriculture/ Forestry/ Fishing | 129 |
| Government | 2,063 |
| Construction | 1,736 |
| Manufacturing | 7,389 |
| TCPU | 1,503 |
| Trade | 6,490 |
| FIRE | 227 |
| Services | 6,093 |
| Total Employment/ Billerica | 25,630 |
TCPU = Transportation,
Communication and Public Utilities
FIRE = Finance, Insurance and Real Estate
conf = Data suppressed due to confidentiality
Means of Transportation to Work - 2000 (Census Transportation Planning Package 2000)
| Subject | 1990 Census | 2000 Census | Change 1990 to 2000 | |||
| Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | |
| Workers 16 years & over | 20,118 | 100.0 | 20,426 | 100.0 | 308 | 1.5 |
| Drove alone | 17,187 | 85.4 | 17,866 | 87.5 | 679 | 4.0 |
| Carpooled | 1,862 | 9.3 | 1,503 | 7.4 | -359 | -19.3 |
| Public transportation (including taxicab) | 394 | 2.0 | 461 | 2.3 | 67 | 17.0 |
| Bicycle or walked | 285 | 1.4 | 137 | 0.7 | -148 | -51.9 |
| Motorcycle or other means | 67 | 0.3 | 100 | 0.5 | 33 | 49.3 |
| Worked at home | 323 | 1.6 | 359 | 1.8 | 36 | 11.1 |
Travel Time To Work - 2000 (Census Transportation Planning Package 2000)
| Subject | 1990 Census | 2000 Census | Change 1990 to 2000 | |||
| Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | |
| Workers who did not work at home | 19,795 | 100.0 | 20,067 | 100.0 | 272 | 1.4 |
| Less than 5 minutes | 397 | 2.0 | 268 | 1.3 | -129 | -32.5 |
| 5 to 9 minutes | 1,876 | 9.5 | 1,431 | 7.1 | -445 | -23.7 |
| 10 to 14 minutes | 2,871 | 14.5 | 2,458 | 12.2 | -413 | -14.4 |
| 15 to 19 minutes | 3,457 | 17.5 | 3,169 | 15.8 | -288 | -8.3 |
| 20 to 29 minutes | 4,514 | 22.8 | 4,457 | 22.2 | -57 | -1.3 |
| 30 to 44 minutes | 4,311 | 21.8 | 4,875 | 24.3 | 564 | 13.1 |
| 45 or more minutes | 2,369 | 12.0 | 3,409 | 17.0 | 1,040 | 43.9 |
| Mean travel time to work (minutes) | 23.4 | X | 26.6 | X | 3.3 | X |
Media:
Lowell Sun
491 Dutton
Street, Lowell, (978) 458 – 7100
Billerica MinuteMan
15 Fletcher Street, Chelmsford, (978) 256 – 7196
Media One
12 Washer St, Lowell, (978) 694 – 1010
REGIONAL PLANNING AGENCY:
Northern Middlesex Council of
Governments
40 Church Street Suite 200 Lowell MA 01852
Beverly Woods, Executive Director
Phone: (978) 454 – 8021
Fax: (978) 454 – 8023