The rating on Hopkinton, Mass.'s bonds reflects: * A relatively small, but solid, residential tax base with access to employment opportunities throughout the western Boston metropolitan area; * High income and increasing median housing values; * Good financial performance; and * A manageable, but increasing debt burden. Hopkinton, about 26 miles west of Boston, continues to experience substantial growth, especially in the residential base. The town's location along Route 495 and the Massachusetts Turnpike attracts residents who commute to jobs around the Boston area. Employment opportunities in the town itself are heavily influenced by EMC Corp., a leading independent supplier of information storage technology, employing 1,100 and plans to expand operations. Other top employers are Moisture Systems Inc. (500 employees)
