Boston, MA

Census Place

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2024 Population
666,442
US Senator
Elizabeth Warren
Democratic Party
US Senator
Ed Markey
Democratic Party
2024 Median Age
33.3
0.301% 1-year increase
2024 Poverty Rate
16.6%
1.52% 1-year decrease
2024 Median Household Income
$97,344
2.73% 1-year growth
2024 Median Property Value
$731,700
3% 1-year growth
2024 Employed Population
377,807
0.355% 1-year decline

About

None of the households in Boston, MA reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

87.1% of the residents in Boston, MA are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Boston, MA are Boston University (13,495 degrees awarded in 2023), Northeastern University (9,832 degrees), and University of Massachusetts-Boston (3,589 degrees).

In 2024, the median property value in Boston, MA was $731,700, and the homeownership rate was 35.7%.

Most people in Boston, MA drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 30.3 minutes. The average car ownership in Boston, MA was 1 car per household.

Photo by Robbie Shade
United StatesMassachusettsSuffolk County, MABoston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH

Population & Diversity

Boston, MA is home to a population of 666k people, from which 87.1% are citizens. As of 2024, 27.7% of Boston, MA residents were born outside of the country (184k people).

In 2024, there were 2.29 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (294k people) in Boston, MA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 128k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 68.4k Asian (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

87.1%
2024 Citizenship
87.1%
2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 87.1% of Boston, MA residents were US citizens, which is lower than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Boston, MA was 87.1%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Boston, MA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Boston, MA
  1. White (Non-Hispanic)
    294k ± 2.15k
  2. Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
    128k ± 2.65k
  3. Asian (Non-Hispanic)
    68.4k ± 1.06k
19.3%
Hispanic Population
128k people

In 2024, there were 2.29 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (294k people) in Boston, MA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 128k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 68.4k Asian (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

19.3% of the people in Boston, MA are hispanic (128k people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Boston, MA as a share of the total population.

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Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the Place level, so we are showing data for Massachusetts.
Most Common Origin
  1. China
    103,356 ± 7,834 people
  2. Brazil
    101,793 ± 7,776 people
  3. Dominican Republic
    101,190 ± 7,753 people

In 2023, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Massachusetts was China, the natal country of 103,356 Massachusetts residents, followed by Brazil with 101,793 and Dominican Republic with 101,190.

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Foreign-Born Population

27.7%
2024 Foreign-Born Population
184k people
27.3%
2023 Foreign-Born Population
181k people

As of 2024, 27.7% of Boston, MA residents (184k people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 14%. In 2023, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Boston, MA was 27.3%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Boston, MA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period
  1. Gulf War (2001-)
    3,943 ± 565
  2. Vietnam
    3,118 ± 502
  3. Gulf War (1990s)
    1,029 ± 265

Boston, MA has a large population of military personnel who served in Gulf War (2001-), 1.26 times greater than any other conflict.

The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in Boston, MA.

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Economy

The economy of Boston, MA employs 378k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Boston, MA were Health Care & Social Assistance (68,674 people), Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services (59,267 people), and Educational Services (50,798 people), and the highest paying industries were Management of Companies & Enterprises ($120,536), Finance & Insurance ($111,396), and Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($104,866).

Employment

Occupations

378k
2024 Value
± 5,196
−0.355%
1 Year decline
± 1.92%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Boston, MA declined at a rate of −0.355%, from 379k employees to 378k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Boston, MA, are Management Occupations (49,626 people), Business & Financial Operations Occupations (37,449 people), and Office & Administrative Support Occupations (32,759 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Boston, MA.

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Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Massachusetts.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Massachusetts (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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Industries

Employment by Industries

378k
2024 Value
± 5,196
−0.355%
1 Year decline
± 1.92%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Boston, MA declined at a rate of −0.355%, from 379k employees to 378k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Boston, MA, are Health Care & Social Assistance (68,674 people), Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services (59,267 people), and Educational Services (50,798 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Boston, MA, though some of these residents may live in Boston, MA and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

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Median Earnings by Industry

$71,391
Median earning men ± $1,268
$57,841
Median earning women ± $1,786

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($115,929), Professional, Scientific, & Management, & Administrative & Waste Management Services ($99,493), and Information ($97,000).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($93,050), Professional, Scientific, & Management, & Administrative & Waste Management Services ($85,783), and Manufacturing ($85,655).

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Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Massachusetts.
Y-Axis
2.61%
Year-over-year growth
Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 3.67M people employed in Massachusetts. This represents a 2.61% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 17.5%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Massachusetts.

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Civics

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Massachusetts went to Kamala Harris with 61.2% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (36%), followed by Other (1.48%).

Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey are the senators currently representing the state of Massachusetts. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Massachusetts is currently represented by 9 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Voting results are not available for Boston, MA. Showing the available data for Massachusetts.
2024 Election Results
  1. Kamala Harris (61.2%)
    Democratic Party
  2. Donald J. Trump (36%)
    Republican Party
  3. Other (1.48%)
    Other Party

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Massachusetts went to Kamala Harris with 61.2% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (36%), followed by Other (1.48%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Massachusetts for each registered party from 1976 to 2024.

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Senator Elections

US Senators from Massachusetts

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Massachusetts.
Elizabeth Warren
Senator from Massachusetts1
Assumed office on January 3, 2013
Ed Markey
Senator from Massachusetts2
Assumed office on July 16, 2013
Elected to the seat to succeed Mo Cowan, who had been appointed to the seat following the resignation of John Kerry, who had become Secretary of State.

Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey are the senators currently representing Massachusetts.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Massachusetts over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

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Education

In 2023, universities in Boston, MA awarded 46,995 degrees. The student population of Boston, MA in 2023 is skewed towards women, with 62,209 male students and 89,292 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Boston, MA are White (18,527 and 53.6%), Asian (5,079 and 14.7%), Hispanic or Latino (4,314 and 12.5%), and Black or African American (2,950 and 8.53%).

The largest universities in Boston, MA by number of degrees awarded are Boston University (13,495 and 28.7%), Northeastern University (9,832 and 20.9%), and University of Massachusetts-Boston (3,589 and 7.64%).

The most popular majors in Boston, MA are General Business Administration & Management (2,842 and 6.05%), General Computer & Information Sciences (1,411 and 3%), and General Business (1,303 and 2.77%).

The median tuition costs in Boston, MA are $44,208 for private four year colleges, and $7,968 and $32,416 respectively, for public four year colleges for in-state students and out-of-state students.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University
Measure

In 2023 in Boston, MA, the percentage of applicants admitted was 28.3%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 21.1%. The number of students enrolled in 2023 was 151,501 (41.1% men and 58.9% women).

The line chart  shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

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Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2023 there were 151,501 students enrolled in Boston, MA, 41.1% men and 58.9% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 53,159 records, of which 61.1% were women and 38.9% men.

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Completions

Concentrations

Most Common
  1. General Business Administration & Management
    1,354 degrees awarded
  2. Management Science
    965 degrees awarded
  3. Social Work
    885 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common concentation for Masters Degree recipients in Boston, MA was General Business Administration & Management with 1,354 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Masters Degree from schools in Boston, MA according to their major.

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Universities

Gender
Race
Largest Universities by degrees awarded
  1. Boston University
    13,495 degrees awarded
  2. Northeastern University
    9,832 degrees awarded
  3. University of Massachusetts-Boston
    3,589 degrees awarded

In 2023, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Boston University with 13,495 degrees awarded.

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Student Diversity

University

In 2023, 18,859 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Boston, MA, which is 0.67 times less than the 28,136 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2023, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 18,527 degrees mean that there were 3.65 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Asian, with 5,079 degrees awarded.

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Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

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Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($44,208) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2023.

Public, 4-year or above ($7,260) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2023.

Public, 2-year ($2,008) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

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Housing & Living

The median property value in Boston, MA was $731,700 in 2024, which is 2.2 times larger than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $710,400 to $731,700, a 3% increase. The homeownership rate in Boston, MA is 35.7%, which is lower than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Boston, MA have an average commute time of 30.3 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Boston, MA is lower than the national average, with an average of 1 car per household.

Housing

Property

$731,700
Median Property Value 2024
±$9,717
$101,166
Median Property Taxes
±$2,368

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Boston, MA the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Boston, MA compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

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Rent vs Own

35.7%
Homeownership
2024
64.5%
Homeowners with Mortgage
2024

In 2024, 35.7% of the housing units in Boston, MA were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 35.4%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Boston, MA compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

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Equity

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.
$97,344
Median Household Income
± $1,837
283k
Number of Households
± 4,523

In 2024, the median household income of the 283k households in Boston, MA grew to $97,344 from the previous year's value of $94,755.

The following chart displays the households in Boston, MA distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $200k+ range.

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Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Boston, MA is from Massachusetts.
0.478
2023 Wage GINI in Massachusetts
0.48
2022 Wage GINI in Massachusetts

In 2023, the income inequality in Massachusetts was 0.478 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.384% decline from 2022 to 2023, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Massachusetts was higher than than the national average of 0.476. In other words, wages are distributed less evenly in Massachusetts in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Massachusetts across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

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Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2024
  1. Drove Alone (32.9%)
  2. Public Transit (22.6%)
  3. Worked At Home (21.3%)

In 2024, 32.9% of workers in Boston, MA drove alone to work, followed by those who used public transit to get to work (22.6%) and those who worked at home (21.3%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

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Commute Time

30.3 minutes
Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Boston, MA have a longer commute time (30.3 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 2.32% of the workforce in Boston, MA have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Boston, MA compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Car Ownership

1 car
Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Boston, MA distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Boston, MA have 1 car.

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Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

16.6% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Boston, MA (104k out of 624k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 18 - 24, followed by Females 25 - 34 and then Males 18 - 24.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Boston, MA is White, followed by Hispanic and Black.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

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Health

97.1% of the population of Boston, MA has health coverage, with 53.5% on employee plans, 23.2% on Medicaid, 7.38% on Medicare, 12.7% on non-group plans, and 0.364% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Massachusetts see 990 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (990 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 915 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 130 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 47.9% were men and 52.1% were women.

Coverage

Health Care Diversity

In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 17.3% under 18 years, 36% between 18 and 34 years, 33.8% between 35 and 64 years, and 12.8% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 47.9% were men and 52.1% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

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Uninsured People

2.92%
Uninsured
53.5%
Employer Coverage
23.2%
Medicaid
7.38%
Medicare
12.7%
Non-Group
0.364%
Military or VA

Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Boston, MA declined by 4.36% from 3.05% to 2.92%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Boston, MA changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

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