Boston, MA

Census Place

Add Comparison

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 (13,233 degrees awarded in 2024), Northeastern University (11,632 degrees), and Northeastern University Professional Programs (4,564 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 States Massachusetts Suffolk County, MA Boston-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.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Boston, MA

White (Non-Hispanic)
294k ± 2.15k
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
128k ± 2.65k
Asian (Non-Hispanic)
68.4k ± 1.06k

19.3%

Hispanic Population

128k people

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.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the Place level, so we are showing data for Massachusetts.

Most Common Origin

Brazil
108,593 ± 8,028 people
Dominican Republic
106,391 ± 7,947 people
China
103,416 ± 7,837 people

In 2024, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Massachusetts was Brazil, the natal country of 108,593 Massachusetts residents, followed by Dominican Republic with 106,391 and China with 103,416.

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.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Gulf War (2001-)
3,943 ± 565
Vietnam
3,118 ± 502
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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for Boston, MA. Showing the available data for Massachusetts.

2024 Election Results

Kamala Harris (61.2%)
Democratic Party
Donald J. Trump (36%)
Republican Party
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.

Senator Elections

US Senators from Massachusetts

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Massachusetts.

Elizabeth Warren

Senator from Massachusetts

Assumed office on January 3, 2013

Ed Markey

Senator from Massachusetts

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.{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/26/us/massachusetts-special-senate-election.html |title=Democrat Wins Special Election for Kerry's Senate Seat |work=The New York Times |date=June 25, 2013 |access-date=May 21, 2020 |last1=Seelye |first1=Katharine Q. }}

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.

Education

In 2024, universities in Boston, MA awarded 49,584 degrees. The student population of Boston, MA in 2024 is skewed towards women, with 63,700 male students and 90,923 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Boston, MA are White (17,754 and 51.9%), Asian (5,473 and 16%), Hispanic or Latino (4,468 and 13.1%), and Black or African American (2,878 and 8.41%).

The largest universities in Boston, MA by number of degrees awarded are Boston University (13,233 and 26.7%), Northeastern University (11,632 and 23.5%), and Northeastern University Professional Programs (4,564 and 9.2%).

The most popular majors in Boston, MA are General Business Administration & Management (3,055 and 6.16%), General Computer & Information Sciences (1,841 and 3.71%), and Management Science (1,375 and 2.77%).

The median tuition costs are $46,244 for private four year colleges, and $8,154 and $33,263 respectively, for public four year colleges for in-state students and out-of-state students.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2024 in Boston, MA, the percentage of applicants admitted was 28.1%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 20.3%. The number of students enrolled in 2024 was 154,623 (41.2% men and 58.8% 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.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2024 there were 154,623 students enrolled in Boston, MA, 41.2% men and 58.8% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 53,164 records, of which 60.7% were women and 39.3% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

General Business Administration & Management
1,575 degrees awarded
Management Science
1,366 degrees awarded
Computer Software Engineering
1,086 degrees awarded

In 2024, the most common concentation for Masters Degree recipients in Boston, MA was General Business Administration & Management with 1,575 degrees awarded.

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

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Boston University
13,233 degrees awarded
Northeastern University
11,632 degrees awarded
Northeastern University Professional Programs
4,564 degrees awarded

In 2024, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Boston University with 13,233 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2024, 20,273 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Boston, MA, which is 0.692 times less than the 29,311 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2024, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 17,754 degrees mean that there were 3.24 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Asian, with 5,473 degrees awarded.

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.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($46,244) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2024.

Public, 4-year or above ($7,495) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2024.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Boston, MA is from Massachusetts.

0.477

2024 Wage GINI in Massachusetts

0.478

2023 Wage GINI in Massachusetts

In 2024, the income inequality in Massachusetts was 0.477 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.306% decline from 2023 to 2024, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Massachusetts was higher than than the national average of 0.474. 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.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2024

Drove Alone (32.9%)
Public Transit (22.6%)
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.

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.

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.

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.