Boston, MA

Census Place

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    US Senator
    Elizabeth Warren
    Democratic Party
    US Senator
    Ed Markey
    Democratic Party
    2024 Median Age
    33.3
    0.301% 1-year increase
    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%.

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

    Population & Diversity

    Boston, MA is home to a population of N/A 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 Boston, MA.
    Most Common Origin
    1. Brazil
      108,593 ± 8,028 people
    2. Dominican Republic
      106,391 ± 7,947 people
    3. China
      103,416 ± 7,837 people

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

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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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    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.

    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.{{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.

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    Education

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

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

    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%. N/A

    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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    Completions

    Concentrations

    In 2024, the most common concentation for N/A recipients in Boston, MA was N/A with N/A degrees awarded.

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

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    Universities

    Gender
    Race
    Largest Universities by degrees awarded
    1. Boston University
      13,233 degrees awarded
    2. Northeastern University
      11,632 degrees awarded
    3. 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.

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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%.

    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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    Transportation

    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