(1) Boston's population grew 4.8% between 2000 and 2010, reaching over 600,000 for the first time since 1970. Immigration has been a key driver of growth over the past five decades. (2) Between 2000 and 2010, Roxbury, Fenway, Allston and Downtown saw population increases while Dorchester, Mattapan, Jamaica Plain, Longwood and Beacon Hill declined. These four growing neighborhoods accounted for 65.2% of the city's total growth. (3) The foreign-born population has steadily increased since 1970 and now accounts for over 25% of Boston's population, contributing significantly to the city's growth. Natural growth has also increased population, fueled

1. BOSTON’S SHIFTING DEMOGRAPHICS
BRA Research Division
July 2015

2. Produced by the BRA Research Division:
Alvaro Lima – Director
Jonathan Lee– Deputy Director
Christina Kim – Research Manager
Matthew Resseger – Senior Researcher/Economist
Phillip Granberry – Senior Researcher/Demographer
Kevin Kang – Research Associate
Kevin Wandrei – Research Assistant
Interns:
Grace Riascos
Arhan Uguray
Andrew DeMatteo
The BRA Research Division strives to understand the current environment of the city to produce
quality research and targeted information that will inform and benefit the residents and
businesses of Boston. The Division conducts research on Boston’s economy, population, and
commercial markets for all departments of the BRA, the City of Boston, and related
organizations.
The information provided in this report is the best available at the time of its publication.
All or partial use of this report must be cited. Our preferred citation is as follows: Boston
Redevelopment Authority/Research Division, July 2015
For more information about research produced by the Boston Redevelopment Authority, please
contact the Research Division at research@boston.gov
Research requests can be made through the BRA Research Division’s Research Inquiries website.
2

3. THE PURPOSE OF THIS DOCUMENT IS TO PROVIDE A
FACTUAL BASIS TO UNDERSTAND:
 Aggregate statistics showing historical trends that shaped the
present population
 Disaggregated statistics providing a more nuanced understanding
of these trends, and
 How these trends can shape the future
3

4. BOSTON’S SHIFTING DEMOGRAPHICS

5. OUTLINE
 What Are The Trends?
> A Growing City
> A Diverse City
> An Educated City
> A Youthful City
> Changing Households and Families
 A Growing City
> Population Growth Citywide
> Components of Population Growth
> Population Growth by Neighborhood
 A Diverse City
> Changing Racial and Ethnic Composition
> Minority-Majority City
> Changing Nativity and Ancestry Composition
> Changing Neighborhoods – Racial and Ethnic
Diversity
> Language Proficiency
 An Educated City
> Educational Attainment
> Educational Attainment by Nativity
> Educational Attainment by Gender
> Educational Attainment by Race and Ethnicity
 A Youthful City
> Breakdown of Boston’s Population by Age
> Changes in Age Groups
> Change in Median Age
> Age by Nativity and Race/Ethnicity
> Age Distribution by Neighborhoods
 Boston’s Changing Families
> Marital Status
> Household Size
> Family Types
> Children and Seniors
5

6. WHAT ARE THE TRENDS?
6

7. WHAT ARE THE TRENDS?
(1) A GROWING CITY
 Boston’s population grew by 4.8% between 2000 and 2010, marking the first time since 1970 that
Boston’s population exceeded 600,000 people
 The foreign-born population has accounted for much of the city’s population growth for the last five
decades, making immigration a key driver of Boston’s population growth
 Natural growth (births – deaths) has been mainly fueled by a high birth rate among Black/African-
American residents, Latino residents, and foreign-born mothers
 Between 2000 and 2010, Roxbury, Fenway, Allston and Downtown grew in population, and these
four neighborhoods together account for 65.2% of all growth in the city; Dorchester, Mattapan,
Jamaica Plain, Longwood and Beacon Hill all declined in population between 2000 and 2010
7

8. WHAT ARE THE TRENDS?
(2) A DIVERSE CITY
 Since 1970, the population of Boston became more racially and ethnically diverse with the non-
white population making up 53% of the city’s population in 2010
 Foreign-born Hispanic and Asian immigrants were major contributors to the increasing diversity of
Boston’s population
 At the neighborhood level, most neighborhoods increased their diversity index score between 2000
and 2010, with Chinatown, the Leather District, and West Roxbury making the biggest gains
 In 2013, almost 36% of Boston’s residents spoke a language other than English at home – up from
only 13% in 1980
 Despite increasing diversity between 1970 and 2010, the African American, Hispanic, and foreign-
born populations remained concentrated in a few neighborhoods
8

9. WHAT ARE THE TRENDS?
(3) AN EDUCATED CITY
 Boston has one of the most highly-educated populations in the country, ranking 8th among a set of
25 comparable cities
 The proportion of Bostonians with a bachelor’s degree or higher rose every decade from 6.4% in
1950 to 43.9% in 2013; while the percentage of those without a high school education fell from
53.9% to 15.5%
 Educational attainment has been increasing for all segments of Boston’s population, and women’s
educational attainment has nearly matched that of men
 However, significant educational disparities persist among different racial and ethnic groups and
among immigrants:
 60.5% of the White population has a bachelor’s degree in contrast to only 18.6% of the
Black/African American population and 15.8% of the Hispanic population
 While 49.3% of the native population holds a bachelor’s degree, only 30.1% of the foreign-
born population holds a similar degree
9

10. WHAT ARE THE TRENDS?
(4) A YOUTHFUL CITY
 While the nation’s median age has moved progressively higher in the past few decades, Boston’s
median age has grown much more slowly in comparison:
 The population age 0 to 4 fell from 9.5% of the population in 1960 to 5.3% in 1980, and has
remained at that level since
 The share of youth, ages 0 to 19 has been decreasing from a peak of 33% in 1970 to 21% in
2013
 The 20-34 population increased from a low of 21% in 1960 to 34% in 2013, while the 35-64
population increased to a lesser extent from a low of 27% in 1980 to 33% in 2010
 In 2013, seniors (population 65 and over) made up 11% of the Boston population – a very
stable share since 1950, suggesting that the aging population is not a growing concern in
Boston
 However, residents in the youngest cohorts – under 19 – are proportionately more Hispanic
and Black/African-American than the 20 to 34 cohort, suggesting that the college-aged
population in Boston is not representative of young residents who grow up in the city
10

11. WHAT ARE THE TRENDS?
(5) CHANGING HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES
 Boston’s average household size fell significantly from 3.4 in 1950 to 2.4 in 1980 and remained at
that level through 2013
 The share of Boston’s population that is single, never-married, rose from 33.1% in 1950 to 56.6% in
2013, and more people are living alone – 38% of housing units have only one person in 2013, up
from 23.9% of units in 1960
 The proportion of households that are families has been falling, a trend that corresponds with the
falling share of married people and children as a percent of the population
 The share of Boston households with a person 65 years and over decreased from 22.9% in 1980 to
19.6% in 2013
 However, linguistically isolated households – households where no one 14 or older spoke English
at least very well – increased to 12% in 2010, up from 8% of households in 1990
11

12. A GROWING CITY
12

13.  Boston’s population reached its peak in 1950, with just over 800,000 residents
 Like many major U.S. cities, Boston experienced significant decline in the post-World War II era. By 1980, Boston’s
population fell to under 563,000 residents
 Since 1980, Boston’s population grew by 14%, with the 2010 Census marking the first time since 1970 that Boston’s
population exceeded 600,000 people
 Boston’s 2013 American Community Survey 1-year population estimate is 644,710 +/- 3,772
13
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 1900-2010 U.S. Decennial Census, 2013 American Community Survey 1-year estimate, BRA Research Division Analysis
617,594
589,141
574,823
562,994
641,071
697,197
801,444
770,816781,188
748,060
670,585
560,892
644,710
500,000
550,000
600,000
650,000
700,000
750,000
800,000
850,000
1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Boston's Population (1900-2013)
Decennial Census ACS Estimate, 2013
2013

14.  The population growth between 2000 and 2010 (4.8%) marks the first time in the last one hundred years that the
population of Boston grew faster than that of the state (3.1%)
 Boston’s 2000-2010 growth rate of 4.8% was also the highest since 1910-1920 when the population of the city grew by
11.6% due in part to the 1912 annexation of Hyde Park
 The Boston Metro Area, defined as the MAPC region, grew by 3.5% between 2000 and 2010, a rate that was faster
than the Massachusetts average, but slower than the city of Boston
4.8%
2.5%2.1%
-12.2%
-8.1%
-13.0%
4.0%
-1.3%
4.4%
11.6%
19.6%
3.1%
5.5%
4.9%
0.8%
10.5%
9.8%
8.7%
1.6%
10.3%
14.4%
-15%
-10%
-5%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Population Growth for Boston and Massachusetts by Decade (1910 – 2010)
Boston % Change Massachusetts % Change
14
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1910-2010 U.S. Decennial Census, Metropolitan Area Planning Council, MetroBoston DataCommon, Population by Decade for the MetroFuture Region, BRA Research Division Analysis

15.  Boston’s population growth between 2000 and 2010 compares favorably to most Northern cities. Other cities on this list
– including Charlotte, Raleigh and Austin – benefit from their states’ liberal land annexation laws, which allow them to
expand their populations by annexing adjacent land
15
46.3%
35.2%
20.4%
10.3%
10.2%
9.4%
8.2%
8.0%
7.5%
6.9%
5.7%
5.2%
4.8%
3.7%
2.6%
2.1%
0.8%
0.8%
0.6%
0.0%
-4.6%
-6.9%
-8.3%
-8.6%
-25.0%
-30% -20% -10% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
Raleigh, NC
Charlotte, NC
Austin, TX
Portland, OR
Miami, FL
Phoenix, AZ
Denver, CO
Seattle, WA
Houston, TX
San Diego, CA
San Jose, CA
Washington, DC
Boston, MA
San Francisco, CA
Los Angeles, CA
New York, NY
Atlanta, GA
Dallas, TX
Philadelphia, PA
Minneapolis, MN
Baltimore, MD
Chicago, IL
St. Louis, MO
Pittsburgh, PA
Detroit, MI
Population Growth with Comparison Cities* (2000 - 2010)
This report’s consistent set of 25 comparison cities: the principal cities of the nation’s largest metropolitan areas, plus 3 cities whose highly educated metro area populations make them good comparisons for Boston. These
include Raleigh, Austin and San Jose.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 and 2010 U.S. Decennial Census, BRA Research Division Analysis

16.  Boston’s native-born population decreased from 1950 to 2000, but increased by 6.5% to 465,905 from 2000 to 2013
 In contrast, Boston’s foreign-born population has increased steadily since 1970, accounting for much of the city’s
population growth over the last five decades
16
Note: Subtotals may not exactly add to total due to differences in data sources
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1950-2010 U.S. Decennial Census, 2010 & 2013 1-year estimates, American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis
801,444
697,938
641,071
562,994 574,283
589,141
617,594
644,710657,352
587,974
557,068
475,938 459,686
437,305 454,072
465,905
144,092
109,964
83,988 87,056
114,597
151,836
167,311 178,805
0
100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000
500,000
600,000
700,000
800,000
900,000
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Native and Foreign-born Components of Boston's Population (1950-2013)
Total Population Native Born Foreign Born American Community Survey Estimates
2013

17.  In 2010, Boston’s population was 52% female, a higher proportion than the US and Massachusetts (50.8% and 51.6%
respectively)
 Between 2000 and 2010, the female population in Boston grew by 5.3%, while the male population grew slightly slower
at 4.4%
17
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1950-2010 U.S. Decennial Census, 2013 1-Year American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis
388,180
334,707
295,240
265,526
275,972
283,588
295,951
413,264
362,490
345,831
297,468
298,311
305,553
321,643
308,191
336,519
200,000
250,000
300,000
350,000
400,000
450,000
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Gender Component of Boston's Population (1950-2013)
Males Females ACS Estimates
2013

18.  Demographic growth is based on (a) natural growth -- births minus deaths -- and (b) net migration
 Natural growth in 2012 was 4,274 persons. The decline in deaths over the decade contributed to an increase in natural
growth
 Immigration also drives Boston's population growth in part because of the high number of births to immigrants - 40% of
Boston births are to foreign-born mothers
18
Source: Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston Public Health Commission Research and Evaluation Office
8,067
8,003
7,716
7,906 8,015 7,807 8,011
4,486
4,406
4,042
3,857 3,875
3,646
3,737
3,581 3,597 3,674
4,049 4,140 4,161 4,274
0
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
7,000
8,000
9,000
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Boston Resident Births and Death (2000-2012)
Births Deaths Natural Growth

19.  The natural population growth of the White population went from negative in 2000 to positive in 2003 and continued to
grow through 2012
 The natural population growth of the Black/African American population remained positive but decreased due to a lower
number of births
 The natural population growth of the Latino population remained high, at 1,705 in 2012
 Asian natural growth remained steady over the periods 2000-2012
19
Source: Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston Public Health Commission Research and Evaluation Office
541 508
470 448 452 441 540
1,499
1,373
1,158
1,330
1,125
1,200
1,172
1,585 1,618
1,404
1,517
1,507
1,461
1,705
-336
-194
204
297
762
916 768
-1000
-500
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Boston Natural Population Growth by Race and Ethnicity (2000-2012)
Asian Black Hispanic White

20. 20
NEIGHBORHOOD
POPULATION
(2010)
DORCHESTER 114,235
ROXBURY 48,454
BRIGHTON 45,801
EAST BOSTON 40,508
JAMAICA PLAIN 37,468
FENWAY 33,796
SOUTH BOSTON 33,311
HYDE PARK 30,637
WEST ROXBURY 30,446
ALLSTON 29,196
ROSLINDALE 28,680
SOUTH END 24,577
MATTAPAN 22,600
BACK BAY 18,088
CHARLESTOWN 16,439
MISSION HILL 16,305
NORTH END 10,131
DOWNTOWN 9,872
BEACON HILL 9,023
WEST END 5,423
CHINATOWN 4,444
LONGWOOD 3,785
SOUTH BOSTON WATER FRONT 1,889
BAY VILLAGE 1,312
LEATHER DISTRICT 639
HARBOR ISLANDS 535
Allston
4.7%
Back Bay
2.9%
Bay Village
0.2%
Beacon Hill
1.5%
Brighton
7.4%
Charlestown
2.7%
Chinatown
0.7%
Dorchester
18.5%
Downtown
1.6%
East Boston
6.6%Fenway
5.5%
Harbor Islands
0.1%
Hyde Park
5.0%
Jamaica Plain
6.1%
Leather District
0.1%
Longwood
0.6%
Mattapan
3.7%
Mission Hill
2.6%
North End
1.6%
Roslindale
4.6%
Roxbury
7.8%
South Boston
5.4%
South Boston Waterfront
0.3%
South
End
4.0%
West End
0.9%
West
Roxbury
4.9%
Population Share by Neighborhood - 2010
 Dorchester is by far the largest neighborhood, followed by Roxbury and Brighton
 The top eight largest neighborhoods together comprise more than 60% of the city’s total population
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 U.S. Decennial Census, BRA Research Division Analysis

21.  The South Boston Waterfront saw a
residential population boom from 2000 to
2010 – 1,380 people, for a growth rate of
271%
 65.2% of Boston’s population growth
between 2000 and 2010 came from four
neighborhoods: Roxbury, Fenway, Allston
and Downtown
 Dorchester, Mattapan, Jamaica Plain,
Longwood, and Beacon Hill lost the most
population between 2000 and 2010, but all
five gained population between 2010 and
2013
21
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000-2010 U.S. Decennial Census, BRA Research Division Analysis
POPULATION
CHANGE, 2000-2010

22. 22
Neighborhood
Population Density -- 2013
Persons per square mile of
residential land
Percentage Change in
Density, 2000-2013
Longwood 2,337,453 31.8%
West End 299,702 -18.2%
Fenway 268,630 6.6%
Downtown/Chinatown 216,914 3.6%
North End 129,318 -4.6%
South End 122,890 -3.6%
Back Bay 115,443 -2.6%
Beacon Hill 113,743 -0.5%
Mission Hill 92,023 -5.6%
Allston 91,102 -2.0%
South Boston Waterfront 45,977 -40.5%
Charlestown 73,823 0.8%
South Boston 71,964 6.6%
East Boston 67,726 11.2%
Roxbury 49,435 -3.8%
Brighton 35,963 -16.0%
BOSTON 40,772 1.9%
Dorchester 38,532 -2.6%
Jamaica Plain 30,881 0.9%
Mattapan 27,566 -4.4%
Roslindale 23,447 3.4%
Hyde Park 17,610 4.3%
West Roxbury 13,693 7.4%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 U.S. Decennial Census, 2009-2013 American Community Survey; City of Boston Assessor’s Data, BRA Research Division Analysis
 From 2000 to 2013, Boston increased residential parcels in the city by 19,719,950 square feet, or 4.8%. Neighborhoods
like the South Boston Waterfront and Downtown/Chinatown saw greater growth, at 210% and 39.5%, respectively. Only
two neighborhoods -- Longwood (-1.4%) and Hyde Park (-0.2%) – experienced declines in residential parcels

23.  Boston’s white population shrank slightly (-0.4%)
between 2000 and 2010, compared to a small
increase of 1.2% nationwide
 In absolute terms, the white population grew most
in Roxbury, Downtown, the South End, Mission Hill
and Allston
 Hyde Park, Dorchester, Roslindale and West
Roxbury saw the biggest absolute declines in the
white population
23
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000-2010 U.S. Decennial Census, BRA Research Division Analysis
WHITE POPULATION
CHANGE, 2000-2010

24. 24
 Boston’s Black/African-American population declined
slightly (-1.6%) between 2000 and 2010, compared to
an 11% increase nationwide
 In absolute terms, Hyde Park, West Roxbury,
Roslindale, and South Boston saw the largest
increases in the Black/African-American population
 Dorchester, Mattapan, Jamaica Plain, the South End,
and Roxbury saw the largest declines
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000-2010 U.S. Decennial Census, BRA Research Division Analysis
BLACK/AFRICAN-
AMERICAN
POPULATION
CHANGE, 2000-2010

25. 25
 Boston’s Hispanic population increased by
27% from 2000 to 2010, compared to a 43%
increase nationwide
 In absolute terms, East Boston, Roxbury,
Dorchester, Hyde Park, and West Roxbury
saw the largest increases in the
Hispanic/Latino population
 Jamaica Plain, Charlestown and Longwood
lost Hispanic/Latino population
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000-2010 U.S. Decennial Census, BRA Research Division Analysis
HISPANIC
POPULATION
CHANGE, 2000-2010

26. 26
 Boston’s Asian population grew by 25% from
2000 to 2010, compared to 43% nationwide
 In absolute terms, Fenway, Allston, the South
End, West Roxbury and Dorchester saw the
largest increases in the Asian population
 East Boston, Longwood and Roslindale lost Asian
population
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000-2010 U.S. Decennial Census, BRA Research Division Analysis
ASIAN POPULATION
CHANGE, 2000-2010

27. A DIVERSE CITY
27

28.  Boston’s White population decreased from 80% of the population in 1970 to 47% in 2010
 The share of the Hispanic/Latino population increased from 3% in 1970 to 18% of Boston’s population in 2010
 The African American population shifted from 16% of the population in 1970 to 22% of the population in 2010
 Hispanic and Asian immigration contribute heavily to Boston’s growing diversity
28
Note: 2000 was the first year the Census compiled data on individuals who identified themselves as multiracial. Those who indicated “two or more races” are included in “Other” in 2000 and 2010 in this chart.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1970 -2010 U.S. Decennial Census, 2009-2013 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis
79.8%
67.9%
59.0%
49.5% 47.0% 46.6%
15.8%
21.7%
23.8%
23.8%
22.4% 22.9%
2.6%
6.4%
10.8%
14.4%
17.5% 18.0%
1.3%
2.7% 5.2%
7.5% 8.9% 9.0%
1.4% 1.2%
4.7% 4.3% 3.7%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2013
Boston's Diverse Population 1970-2013
White Black / African American Hispanic Asian / Pacific Islander Other

29. 29
 The non-White share of Boston’s population has increased dramatically since 1950 from 5.3% to 53% in 2010
 The minority share of Boston’s population (53%) is higher that that of Massachusetts (22.6%) or the U.S. (35.3%)
Note: Prior to 1970, Hispanics may be included in either the White or non-White category. For 1970-2010, Hispanics are included with non-Whites for this analysis
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1950-2010 U.S. Decennial Census, 2009-2013 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis
5.3%
9.8%
20.2%
32.1%
41.0%
50.5%
53.0%
1.7%
2.4%
4.6%
7.7%
12.2%
18.1%
22.6%
10.5%
11.4%
16.8%
20.4%
24.4%
30.9%
35.3%
53.4%
24.3%
37.5%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Share of Boston's Non-White Population (1950-2013)
Boston Massachusetts United States ACS Estimates
2013

30. 30
 Since 2000, Boston has become a “majority-minority” city. The non-white population is over 50% partly due to the
growth of the foreign-born population from Latin America, the Caribbean, and Asia
 This trend continued in 2010 with the minority population making up 53% of Boston’s population or about 328,231
residents
1.4% 1.7% 1.9% 2.3% 2.2% 2.3% 2.9% 3.3%
5.3%
9.8%
20.2%
32.1%
41.0%
50.5%
53.0%
98.6% 98.3% 98.1% 97.7% 97.8% 97.7% 97.1% 96.7%
94.7%
90.2%
79.8%
67.9%
59.0%
49.5%
47.0%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
1870 1880 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Boston's Minority Population 1870-2010
Total non-White population White population
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1870-2010 U.S. Decennial Census, BRA Research Division Analysis

31.  The Racial Diversity Index calculates the likelihood that two people randomly chosen from a geographic area are from
a different racial or ethnic group
 The Diversity Index shows that Boston and most of its neighborhoods, though not all of its neighborhoods, were more
diverse in 2010 than in 2000
 The Racial Diversity Index for the city as a whole increased from .64 to .66 between 2000 and 2010
31
0.00
0.10
0.20
0.30
0.40
0.50
0.60
0.70
0.80
Dorchester
Harbor Islands
Boston
Mission Hill
Roslindale
Hyde Park
Roxbury
South End
Jamaica Plain
Allston
East Boston
West End
Bay Village
Fenway
Brighton
LMA
Downtown
West Roxbury
Charlestown
South Boston
Mattapan
Leather District
Chinatown
Back Bay
South Boston Waterfront
Beacon Hill
North End
Neighborhood Diversity Index (2000 - 2010)
2010 2000
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 and 2010 U.S. Decennial Census, BRA Research Division Analysis
Based on the methodology “Mapping the USA’s diversity from 1960 to 2060” USA TODAY

32. RACIAL
DIVERSITY
 Racial diversity by census tract
increased dramatically in most of
Boston from 1970 to 2010
 In the maps, yellow represents census
tracts with low racial diversity index
scores, while red represents census
tracts with high racial diversity
32
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1970 - 2010 U.S. Decennial Census, BRA Research Division Analysis

33. BLACK/AFRICAN
AMERICAN POPULATION
 In 1970, the Black/African American
population was largely concentrated in
the neighborhoods of Roxbury and
parts of Dorchester and Mattapan
(tracts colored red in the maps at right)
 In 2010 that concentration was still
evident, although the Black/African
American population had increased
throughout Dorchester, Mattapan, and
Hyde Park
Note: Maps are animated in electronic
version. See alternate static version for
hard copies.
33
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1970 - 2010 U.S. Decennial Census, BRA Research Division Analysis

34. HISPANIC
POPULATION
• The Hispanic population has grown
significantly since 1970 with large
communities with large communities
forming in East Boston and Jamaica
Plain (colored red in maps at right)
Note: Maps are animated in electronic
version. See alternate static version for
hard copies
34
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1970-2010 U.S. Decennial Census, BRA Research Division Analysis

35.  Historically, Boston has had a greater proportion of foreign-born residents than both Massachusetts and the U.S.
 In 2013, Boston was home to 178,805 foreign-born people, 27.7% of Boston’s population – a higher proportion than
that of both Massachusetts (16%) and the U.S. (13%)
 In recent decades, the proportion of foreign-born residents in Boston has grown dramatically, from 12.6% in 1970 to
27.7% in 2013. However, this proportion is lower than the 36.3% peak share in 1910. The recent growth is due largely
to the passage of the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act, which ended quotas based on national origin
 Boston’s foreign-born population increased 18% from 2000 to 2013, from 151,836 to 178,805
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1850-2000 U.S. Decennial Census, 2010 1-year American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis
35
34%
36%
13%
27%
17%
32%
9%
15%
10%
15%
5%
13%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
1850
1860
1870
1880
1890
1900
1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Proportion of Population that is Foreign-Born (1850-2010)
Quotas Policy Boston Massachusetts United States

36. 36
 With 178,805 foreign-born residents in 2013, 27.7% of Boston’s population was foreign-born. This ranks Boston highly
when compared with other large U.S. cities
This report uses a consistent set of 25 US cities for all comparisons. See Slide 15 for more detail.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 1-year American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis
Native
72%
Foreign born
28%
Boston’s Population by Nativity 2013
Foreign-born Rank
% of Foreign -
born City
Total Population
Rank
1 56.6% Miami, FL 22
2 39.3% San Jose,CA 9
3 38.2% Los Angeles, CA 2
4 37.0% New York, NY 1
5 34.9% San Francisco, CA 10
6 28.3% Houston, TX 4
7 27.7% Boston, MA 15
8 26.3% San Diego, CA 7
9 24.4% Dallas, TX 8
10 21.1% Chicago, IL 3
11 19.7% Phoenix, AZ 6
12 18.1% Austin, TX 11
13 17.7% Seattle,WA 16
14 16.1% Minneapolis, MN 23
15 16.1% Charlotte, NC 12
16 15.2% Denver, CO 18
17 14.7% Portland, OR 19
18 14.4% Washington, DC 17
19 12.8% Raleigh, NC 21
20 12.7% Philadelphia, PA 5
21 8.3% Pittsburgh, PA 25
22 7.2% Atlanta, GA 20
23 7.1% Baltimore, MD 14
24 6.9% St. Louis, MO 24
25 5.0% Detroit, MI 13

37. FOREIGN BORN
POPULATION
 The percentage of the population
that is foreign-born has increased
in most census tracts in Boston
since 1970
 In the maps at right, yellow
census tracts have a foreign-born
population of less than 10%
 In the red census tracts, foreign-
born residents make up more
than 60% of the population
37
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1970-2010 U.S. Decennial Census, BRA Research Division Analysis

38.  In 2013, naturalized citizens made up 45.4% of Boston’s foreign-born population, a much lower share than that of 1970
but a growing share of the foreign-born population since 1990
 The number of immigrants in Boston who were not citizens was 91,158 in 2013
38
68.1%
49.8%
34.4% 37.3%
44.3% 45.4%
31.9%
50.2%
65.6% 62.7%
55.7% 54.6%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2013
Boston's Foreign-born Population by Citizenship Status (1970 - 2013)
Naturalized Non-naturalized
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Decennial Census 1950-2000, 2006-2010 and 2009-2013 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis

39.  Today, most of Boston’s immigrants come from Latin America, the Caribbean, and Asia. This is a dramatic change from
1970, when most immigrants came from Europe
39
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1970-2000 U.S. Decennial Census and 2006-2010 and 2009-2013 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis
25.2%
32.3%
45.1% 49.3% 50.3% 50.7%
8.0%
16.0%
21.0%
24.2%
25.3% 25.5%
63.6%
37.9%
24.2% 17.5% 14.3% 13.6%
0.6%
4.8% 3.3%
9.0% 10.1% 10.2%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2013
Region of Origin of Boston's Immigrants
Americas Asia Europe Africa

40.  Boston’s foreign-born population comes from more than 100 countries. The Dominican Republic and China are the
most common countries of origin for Boston’s foreign-born population
 43.5% of Hispanics and 68.1% of Asians in Boston are foreign-born
 The top ten countries of origin represent 57% of the total foreign-born population
40
2.1%
2.5%
3.6%
3.7%
4.0%
5.5%
5.6%
9.2%
10.0%
10.7%
0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 12%
Trinidad and Tobago
Guatemala
Jamaica
Colombia
Cape Verde
Vietnam
El Salvador
Haiti
China
Dominican Republic
Top Ten Countries of Origin of Boston's Foreign-born - 2013
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2009-2013 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis

41.  Self-reported ancestries reflect earlier waves of immigration to Boston from Ireland, Italy, England, and Germany
 Puerto Rican, Dominican, Chinese, Haitian, and Salvadoran ancestries reflect more recent arrivals
41
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2009-2013 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis
2%
2%
3%
3%
3%
4%
5%
5%
6%
12%
0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 12% 14%
Salvadoran
German
American
English
Haitian
Chinese
Dominican
Puerto Rican
Italian
Irish
Percent of Total Population
Top Ten Ancestries for Boston’s Population – 2013

42.  Boston’s immigrant populations cluster
together in particular neighborhoods. Boston’s
largest immigrant groups live in:
 Dominican
 Jamaica Plain, Roxbury
 Chinese
 Allston, Brighton, Downtown/Chinatown
 Haitian
 Hyde Park, Mattapan, Roslindale
 El Salvadorian
 East Boston
 Vietnamese
 Dorchester
42
Source U.S. Census Bureau,: 2006-2010 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis

43.  Of Bostonians age 5 and over who speak a language other than English at home, 44.1% speak Spanish, up from
30.2% in 1980
 The number of Italian speakers has declined since 1980 while French Creole and Vietnamese speakers have increased
43
Source: U.S Census Bureau, 1980-2000 U.S. Decennial Census, 2006-2010 American Community Survey, 2009-2013 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis
30.2%
37.2%
40.7% 42.2% 44.1%
17.7%
8.3% 3.6% 2.2%
1.9%
10.8%
10.3%
9.5% 10.7% 10.3%
4.6%
5.6% 6.7% 6.9% 4.5%
8.7% 14.2% 14.6% 13.5% 14.6%
0.5%
3.1% 4.2% 4.4% 5.3%
27.6%
21.3% 20.6% 20.1% 19.2%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
1980 1990 2000 2010 2013
%ofthose5+whospeakalanguageotherthanEnglishathome
Languages other than English Spoken at Home (1980-2013)
Spanish Italian Chinese Portuguese French / French Creole Vietnamese Other

44.  In 2010, 12% of Boston households were linguistically isolated – no one 14 or older in the household spoke English at
least very well – up from 8% of households in 1990
 Most linguistically isolated households are of Hispanic origin reflecting the growth of this population in the last decade
 64% of Boston households only spoke English at home in 2010, down from 73% of households in 1990
44
73.1%
66.6% 64.3% 64.3%
18.8%
22.7% 24.0% 24.0%
8.1% 10.7% 11.7% 11.7%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
1990 2000 2010 2013
Linguistically Isolated Households in Boston (1990-2013)
English-only Language other than English, not linguistically isolated Linguistically isolated
Number of English-only speakers may not match previous slide due to differences in data sources
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1990-2000 U.S. Decennial Census, 2006-2010 American Community Survey, 2009-2013 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis

45. AN EDUCATED CITY
45

46.  Boston’s population is more educated than the national average, with 43.9% of residents holding a Bachelor’s degree
or higher, compared to just 28.8% nationwide
 Boston is the 8th most educated city among a list of comparable cities. The Greater Boston area ranks even higher, at
4th among major metropolitan areas, in BA share
46
City
Percent with at Least a BA,
City City Rank
Percent with at Least a BA,
Metro Area Metro Area Rank
Seattle, WA 57.4% 1 38.0% 9
Washington, DC 52.4% 3 47.9% 1
San Francisco, CA 52.4% 2 44.5% 3
Raleigh, NC 47.5% 4 42.2% 5
Atlanta, GA 46.8% 5 34.9% 12
Minneapolis, MN 45.7% 6 38.4% 8
Austin, TX 45.6% 7 40.6% 6
Boston, MA 43.9% 8 43.4% 4
Portland, OR 43.8% 9 34.5% 15
Denver, CO 42.9% 10 39.2% 7
San Diego, CA 41.7% 11 34.6% 14
Charlotte, NC 39.8% 12 30.6% 20
San Jose, CA 37.4% 13 45.7% 2
Pittsburgh, PA 35.5% 14 29.9% 21
New York, NY 34.5% 15 36.5% 10
Chicago, IL 34.2% 16 34.6% 13
Los Angeles, CA 31.1% 17 31.4% 18
St. Louis, MO 29.6% 18 30.9% 19
Dallas, TX 29.4% 19 31.7% 17
Houston, TX 29.2% 20 29.4% 22
Baltimore, MD 26.8% 21 36.0% 11
Phoenix, AZ 26.3% 22 28.7% 24
Philadelphia, PA 23.9% 23 33.6% 16
Miami, FL 23.1% 24 28.9% 23
Detroit, MI 12.7% 25 28.1% 25
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2009-2013 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis
Educational Attainment for Comparison Cities

47. 47
 The proportion of Bostonians with a bachelor’s degree or higher rose every decade from 6.4% in 1950 to 42.5% in
2010 (43.9% in 2013 according to ACS data)
 The percentage of Bostonians with a high school diploma or some college has remained relatively stable since 1970 at
around 40-45% of the population
 The percentage without a high school education fell from 53.9% in 1950 to 15.7% in 2010
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1950 – 2010 U.S. Decennial Census, 2013 1-Year American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis
6.4% 7.6% 10.5%
20.3%
30.0%
34.9%
42.5% 43.9%
6.6% 7.7%
8.6%
13.1%
19.1%
19.3%
18.2% 18.7%
28.9%
29.3%
35.2%
35.0%
26.6%
24.1%
23.6% 22.4%
53.9%
55.4%
45.7%
31.6%
24.3% 21.7%
15.7% 15.0%
4.2%
6.2%
7.7%
10.8%
16.2%
20.3%
24.4%
27.9%
29.6%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2013
%ofPopulation25YearsandOver
Educational Attainment of Boston vs U.S. (1950-2013)
Bachelor's degree or higher Some college of Associate's degree High school
Less than high school Not reported U.S. Bachelor's degree or higher

48. 48
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1970 - 2000 U.S. Decennial Census, 1990 Public Use Microdata Sample, 2010 & 2013 1-Year American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis
 The gender gap in educational attainment for Bachelor’s degree or higher diminished from 5.4 percentage points in
1970 to 1.4 percentage points in 2010
 The gender gap in 2013 stood at just 0.4 percentage points. Notably, the proportion of females holding graduate or
professional degrees was higher than males in 2013: 21.3% of females in Boston had a professional or advanced
degree, compared to 19.3% of males
 In the future, women’s educational attainment may surpass that of men since women make up 55.5% of Boston
residents enrolled in college or graduate school
13.3%
24.7%
32.8%
36.6%
43.2%
7.9%
16.6%
26.9%
33.4%
41.8%
45.4%
45.0%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Population 25+ with a Bachelor's Degree or Higher
Male
Female
Male, ACS
Female, ACS
2013

49. 49
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1980-2000 U.S. Census, 2006-2010 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis
 Educational attainment has been
increasing for all racial/ethnic groups in
Boston
 However, significant disparities in
educational attainment between
racial/ethnic groups still exist
 For example, 60.5% of the White
population, but only 15.8% of the Hispanic
population, had a bachelor’s degree or
higher in 2010
 The Asian population of Boston is bimodal:
49% has a bachelor’s degree or higher, but
24.9% has less than a high school
education
23.2%
60.5%
8.7%
18.6%
10.3%
15.8%
21.1%
49.0%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
1980 1990 2000 2010
Population 25+ with Bachelor's Degree or
Higher
White Black/African-American Hispanic Asian
28.0%
6.5%
37.6%
19.7%
55.7%
34.5%
49.0%
24.9%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
1980 1990 2000 2010
Population 25+ with less than High School
Education
White Black/African-American Hispanic Asian

50. 50
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1980-2000 U.S. Decennial Census, 2006-2010 American Community Survey, Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS), BRA Research Division Analysis
 The educational attainment of both the
native- and foreign-born populations
has been increasing over time
 However, the foreign-born population
has significantly lower levels of
educational attainment than the native-
born population
21.8%
32.3%
39.8%
49.3%
11.6%
20.7%
26.5%
30.1%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
1980 1990 2000 2010
Population 25+ with Bachelor's Degree or
Higher
Native Foreign born
27.1%
20.3%
15.6%
9.5%
50.9%
38.2%
34.1%
27.6%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
1980 1990 2000 2010
Population 25+ with less than High School
Education
Native Foreign born

51. A YOUTHFUL CITY
51

52. 52
 The median age in Massachusetts and the U.S. has risen significantly since 1970
 Boston has maintained a more youthful population, and its median age has only risen from 28.1 in 1970 to 30.8 in 2010
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1950-2010 U.S. Decennial Census, 2013 1-Year American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis
32.6
32.9
28.1
28.9
30.4
31.1 30.8
32.8
32.1
29.5
31.2
33.4
36.5
39.1
30.2
29.5
28.1
30.0
32.9
35.3
31.7
39.1
39.4
37.2
37.5
25
27
29
31
33
35
37
39
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Median Age in Boston/MA/US (1950-2013)
Boston Masachusetts U.S. ACS Estimates
2013

53. 53
 The percentage of Boston’s population that is age 0 to 19 has been decreasing to 21.4% in 2013
 The population between 20 and 34 has been increasing to 34.3% in 2013
 The 35-64 population had a 33.8% share in 2013
 The population 65 and over was 10.6% of Boston’s population in 2013
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1950-2010 U.S. Decennial Census, 2013 1-Year American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis
28.9% 32.1% 33.3%
26.9% 23.3% 24.1% 22.0% 21.4%
24.6% 20.6%
24.4% 33.5%
36.3% 33.1% 35.0% 34.3%
36.8% 35.1%
29.5% 27.0% 28.9% 32.4% 33.0% 33.8%
9.7% 12.3% 12.8% 12.7% 11.5% 10.4% 10.1% 10.6%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2013
Age Distribution of Boston's Population (1950-2013)
0-19 20-34 35-64 65 and over

54.  The 0-4 and 5-14 populations declined during the 1970s, but have stabilized since 1980 at approximately 5% and 9% of
the population, respectively
 Since 1950, the population of Boston age 20 to 34 has grown dramatically as a share of the population. In absolute
terms, it increased from 197,007 in 1950 to 216,213 in 2010
 Boston has the highest concentration of young adults (20 to 34) among 25 comparable cities
54
This report uses a consistent set of 25 US cities for all comparisons. See Slide 15 for more detail.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1950-2010 U.S. Decennial Census, 2013 American Community Survey 1-year estimate, BRA Research Division Analysis
2013
8.9% 9.5%
7.8%
5.4%
13.3% 16.0%
11.2%
6.8%
7.4%
9.5%
9.9%
7.4%
24.6%
20.6%
36.3%
33.1%
5.4%
8.5%
7.4%
34.3%
0.0%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
20.0%
25.0%
30.0%
35.0%
40.0%
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Changes in 34 and Under Population (1950-2013)
0 to 4 years 5 to 14 years 15 to 19 years 20 to 34 years ACS Estimates

55. 55
 In 2009, the population aged 20 to 34
increased substantially compared to
earlier years
 Boston’s population pyramid consistently
demonstrates a low dependency ratio,
meaning the working-aged population is
comparatively larger than the population
of children and retirees
 Note: Maps are animated in electronic
version. See alternate static version for
hard copies
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1990-2010 U.S. Decennial Census, 2005-2013 American Community Survey 1-year estimates, BRA Research Division Analysis

56. 56
0-19 POPULATION
 In 2013, there were 136,998 children aged 0-
19 in Boston, making up 21.4% of the
population – compared to 23.7% population
share in the greater Boston region
 The 0-19 population is racially diverse, with
almost equal numbers of White,
Black/African-American, and Hispanic youth
 Almost 90% of Boston youth are native-born,
but close to half live with at least one foreign-
born parent
 Of the approximately 77,200 school age
children in Boston, 74% attend Boston Public
Schools
 86% of BPS students are Black/African-
American, Hispanic, or Asian
 44% of BPS students speak a language other
than English as their first language, and 29%
of BPS students are Limited English Proficient
(LEP) or ELL (English Language Learners)
Native
90%
Foreign
born
10%
Nativity of Boston's 0-19 Population
Note: Youth living with a foreign-born parent is for ages 0-17 due to data availability.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2009-2013 American Community Survey, Boston Public Schools at a Glance 2014-2015, BRA Research Division Analysis
White
30%
Black/African-
American
29%
Hispanic
27%
Asian
8%
Other
6%
Racial/Ethnic Composition of Boston's 0-19 Population

57. 57
20-34 POPULATION
 In 2013, there were 219,717 young
adults aged 20-34 in Boston, making
up 34% of the population – compared
to 22.7% population share in the
greater Boston region
 56% of 20-34 year olds are White, non-
Hispanic and 77% are native born
 According to 2010 Census data,
Boston had the highest percentage of
20-34 year olds of 25 comparable cities
 2/3 of 18-24 year olds in Boston were
enrolled in college or graduate school
in 2013
 80.9% of 20-34 year olds were single,
never-married in 2013
 In 2009-2013 data, 82,834 Boston
residents were undergraduate
students, and 28,631 were graduate
students
White
56%
Black/African-
American
16%
Hispanic
15%
Asian
10%
Other
3%
Racial/Ethnic Composition of Boston's 20-34 Population
Native
77%
Foreign born
23%
Nativity of Boston's 20-34 Population
This report uses a consistent set of 25 US cities for all comparisons. See Slide 15 for more detail.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2009-2013 American Community Survey, Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS), BRA Research Division Analysis

58. 58
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2009-2013 American Community Survey, Public Use Microdata Sample,( PUMS), BRA Research Division Analysis
White
45%
Black/African-
American
26%
Hispanic
17%
Asian
9%
Other
3%
Racial/Ethnic Composition of Boston's 35-64 Population
Native
62%
Foreign born
38%
Nativity of Boston's 35-64 Population
35-64 POPULATION
 In 2013, there were 216,911 adults aged 35-64 in
Boston, making up 34% of the population –
compared to a 40.1% population share in the greater
Boston region
 The 35-64 share of the population has been growing
since a low of 27% in 1980
 Less than half (45%) of this age group is White, non-
Hispanic
 38% of 35-64 year olds are foreign-born

59. 59
 In 2013, there were 67,883 seniors in Boston,
making up 11% of the population – compared to a
13.6% population share in the greater Boston region
 About 80% of the 65+ population is Black/African-
American or White, with smaller Hispanic and Asian
populations
 35.3% of the 65+ population is foreign-born
 In 2013, 26.4% of the 65 and over population spoke
English less than very well
 41.9% of those 65 and over were disabled in 2013
 38.8% live alone, and 5.3% live in group quarters
(such as nursing homes)
 In 2013, 90.7% of the 65+ population reported living
in the same house 1 year ago
 Among the 9.3% who moved to a new home, the
vast majority (8.1%) lived elsewhere in
Massachusetts in the prior year
Native
65%
Foreign born
35%
Nativity of Boston's 65+ Population
White
57%
Black/African-
American
24%
Hispanic
10%
Asian
9%
Racial/Ethnic Composition of Boston's 65+ Population
65+ POPULATION
Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2009-2013 American Community Survey, Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS), BRA Research Division Analysis

60. BOSTON’S CHANGING HOUSEHOLDS
60

61.  Households are made up of one or more persons (unrelated individuals or families) sharing a housing unit
 Boston’s average household size fell significantly from 3.4 in 1950 to 2.4 in 1980 and remained steady through 2010
 Since 1950, Boston’s average household size has been lower than that of the U.S. and the greater Boston region
61
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1950-2000 U.S. Decennial Census, 2006-2010 American Community Survey, 2009-2013 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis
3.4
3.0
2.8
2.4 2.4
2.3 2.3
3.4
3.3
3.1
2.7
2.6
2.6
2.6
2.4
2.7
2
2.2
2.4
2.6
2.8
3
3.2
3.4
3.6
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Average Household Size (1950-2013)
Boston USA ACS Estimates
2013

62. 62
2.86
2.84
2.83
2.82
2.66
2.51
2.43
2.39
2.34
2.29
2.18
2.11
2.06
1.93
1.88
1.77
1.69
1.67
1.63
1.62
1.56
1.55
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3
Dorchester
Mattapan
East Boston
Hyde Park
Roslindale
Roxbury
Mission Hill
Jamaica Plain
West Roxbury
Allston
South Boston
Charlestown
Brighton
South End
South Boston Waterfront
Downtown
North End
Beacon Hill
Back Bay
Fenway
Longwood
West End
Average Household Size by Neighborhood (2013)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2009-2013 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis
 Boston’s neighborhoods vary by average household size. In 2013, Dorchester, Mattapan, East Boston and Hyde Park
had the highest average household sizes, while Back Bay, Fenway, Longwood and the West End had the lowest

63. 63
 The share of Boston’s population that is single, never-married, has been rising from 33.1% in 1950 to 56.4% in 2010 –
considerably higher than the national share
 The percentage of Boston’s population that is married has been falling proportionately, from 55.4% in 1950 to 31.9% in
2010
Note: Age 14+ for 1950-1970; Age 15+ for 1980-2010. Separated is included in married for 1950, 2000, & 2010.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Decennial Census 1950-2000, 2006-2010 American Community Survey, 2009-2013 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis.
33.1% 33.5%
39.5%
47.2%
50.9%
50.5%
56.4%
56.6%
55.4% 51.2%
43.4%
33.9%
31.7%
36.6%
31.9% 31.4%
11.5% 15.3% 17.1% 18.9% 17.4%
12.9% 11.7% 12.0%
23.1%
22.1%
25.4% 26.3% 26.9%
27.1%
31.0%
33.1%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2013
%of14/15+Population
Marital Status of Boston's Population (1950-2013)
Boston Single Boston Married Boston Widowed or Divorced U.S. Single

64. 64
 More people are living alone, and the average household size declined between 1960 and 1980
 Only 32.4% of households have more than 2 people in 2013, down from 49.3% in 1960
Note: The slides on household and family composition begin in the year of first available data.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1960-2010 U.S. Decennial Census; 2009-2013 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis
23.9%
28.9%
36.8% 35.5% 37.1% 37.7% 38.0%
26.8%
28.7%
29.0% 29.5% 29.6% 31.1% 31.4%
17.3%
15.1%
13.9% 14.9% 14.3%
14.9% 14.7%
13.4%
10.9%
9.3% 10.3% 9.8%
9.8% 9.8%
8.9% 6.9%
5.4% 5.4% 5.3%
4.1% 3.8%9.6% 9.5%
5.6% 4.5% 3.9% 2.3% 2.4%
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
70.0%
80.0%
90.0%
100.0%
1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2013
OccupiedHousingUnits
Boston Households by Number of People (1960-2013)
1 person in unit 2 persons 3 persons 4 persons 5 persons 6 or more persons

65. 65
 A family or family household consists of a householder living with one or more other people related to the householder
by birth, marriage, or adoption
 The percentage of Boston households that are families has been consistently lower than the national average
 This trend corresponds with the falling percentage of Boston residents who are married, and the falling share of
children as a percentage of the population
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1970-2010 U.S. Decennial Census, 2009-2013 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis
64.8%
53.3%
50.7%
48.1%
46.0%
77.4%
67.7%
64.0%
61.5%
60.0%
80.3%
73.2%
70.2%
68.1%
66.8%
47.2%
60.8%
66.4%
40%
45%
50%
55%
60%
65%
70%
75%
80%
85%
1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
%ofTotalHouseholds
Family Households (1970-2013)
Boston Greater Boston area United States ACS Estimates
2013

66. 66
 The percentage of family households that were headed by a married couple fell from 1970 to 1990. Since 1990, a little
over half of family households have included a married couple
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1970-2010 U.S. Decennial Census, 2009-2013 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis
72.5%
63.0%
58.6% 57.1% 55.5% 55.7%
4.9%
6.6%
8.3% 8.7% 9.0% 9.1%
22.6%
30.4% 33.1% 34.2% 35.5% 35.2%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2013
Family Households by Family Type (1970-2013)
Married Unmarried Male Householder Unmarried Female Householder

67. 67
 The percentage of Boston households that include at least one person under age 18 has been falling and remains
below national and regional levels
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1970-2010 U.S. Decennial Census, 2009-2013 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis
31.6%
27.0%
24.8% 25.6%
22.9%
41.5%
33.0%
29.1%
30.7% 30.3%
44.1%
37.9%
33.6%
36.0%
33.5%
23.6%
29.8%
32.9%
20.0%
25.0%
30.0%
35.0%
40.0%
45.0%
50.0%
1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Households with Children under 18 (1970-2013)
Boston MAPC Region United States ACS Estimates
2013

68. 68
 Boston has a smaller percentage of households with a person over age 65 than either the Greater Boston region or the
nation
 In 2013, 38.8% of Boston residents 65 and over lived in a single-person household
 52.7% of Boston seniors lived in family households in 2013 and 8.0% of them lived with a son or daughter
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000-2010 U.S. Decennial Census, 2009-2013 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis
18.9% 19.0%
19.6%
24.1% 23.6%
25.2%
23.4%
24.0%
25.5%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
2000 2010 2013
%ofallhouseholds
Households with person over age 65
Boston Greater Boston region United States