Census returns decline slightly
State so far cites 73% responding; Boston at 61%
As Massachusetts census workers continue door-to-door efforts to count residents, the US Census Bureau reported that 73 percent of residents mailed in census forms this year, a slight drop from the 74 percent participation rate of a decade ago.
Census officials said they were not surprised, noting that with the exception of the 2000 Census, response rates have fallen in the last four decades.
“Even maintaining that particular level of participation is a win,’’ said Kathy Ludgate, regional director for the Census Bureau in New England. “Would I have loved more responses? Sure.’’
About 8,000 workers are in the process of visiting homes of Massachusetts residents who did not mail in forms by the end of April, part of a final push to complete the once-a-decade count by July 19. A poor showing could lead to decreased federal funding or elimination of one of the state’s 10 congressional seats. The count also helps the federal government determine funding for state agencies and programs, including money that goes to schools, health care centers, and housing agencies.
Secretary of State William Galvin, the state’s designated census coordinator, said Massachusetts needs to count an additional 100,000 to 200,000 residents to reach a total of about 6.7 million people in order to keep its legislative status quo. Galvin called the mail-in response rate “sufficient’’ progress toward that goal.
“I’d be happy if the numbers were higher,’’ he said.
The bureau reported that participation in some cities and towns increased from the 2000 Census. In Boston, 61 percent of residents returned their forms, compared with 59 percent 10 years ago. Other communities that showed gains included Waltham (71 percent compared with 68 percent in 2000), Fitchburg (71 percent, up from 69 percent), and Holyoke (72 percent compared with 70 percent in 2000).
Communities where participation dropped included Worcester (69 percent in 2000 to 68 percent this year), Quincy (73 percent to 68 percent), and Fall River (68 percent to 64 percent). Participation in the town of Orleans on Cape Cod fell by nearly half, from 100 percent in 2000 to 51 percent this year. Ludgate said she did not know what caused the dramatic drop. Orleans town officials did not respond to requests seeking comment.
Overall, New England participation was mixed, with three states improving since 2000, and three losing ground, according to the Census Bureau. Vermont’s mail-in returns rose from 65 percent in 2000 to 67 percent, Rhode Island’s improved from 70 percent in 2000 to 71 in 2010, and Maine’s rose from 65 to 66 percent.
As in Massachusetts, participation rates in Connecticut and New Hampshire dropped by one point.
Census Bureau officials said home visits by census takers, along with community outreach efforts will help the totals. Galvin said his office donated $1,500 to help census outreach efforts in the Roxbury neighborhood where two 14-year-olds were fatally shot in separate incidents during the last month.
“It’s gotten worse there on the crime front; there’s more murder and instability,’’ he said. “Taking a census in that context is very difficult.’’
Not everyone receives census forms in the mail. Ludgate said communities on Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, and along the Lower Cape are being counted this year exclusively by census workers.
Megan Woolhouse can be reached at mwoolhouse@globe.com. 
