Since many connections can be made to your community, exploring local studies online can be a useful introduction to the Massachusetts Studies Program website. Check out the text, Massachusetts Places, A Local Studies Sourcebook for topics, models, activities and projects by other schools and groups, bibliography and more. The booklet also suggests appropriate office holders and sources in the community to contact for more detailed studies. The database has over 200 organizations with materials, sites or programs on local history, heritage, and watersheds. Go over the Local History alphabetical list.
State agencies have data.
Information on tax and school budgets is included. If you click on Community Profile, you will find data on population statistics, income, government, economics, housing, geography and more. Historical data, however, is generally missing. Look in your school library for the Historical Atlas of Massachusetts. It is a large handsome book with color maps and historical summary by periods.