United States › Massachusetts › Boston CITY · 2000 CENSUS
Boston Massachusetts · 589,141 residents · 48.3 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
Boston is home to 589,141 people in Massachusetts. Owners hold 32% of the housing stock. The typical home is worth $210,100. About 36% of adults have finished a four-year degree. This skews young, with a median age of 31.1. That trails the Massachusetts median by roughly 22%.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Younger
median age 31.1
US median: 35.2
More educated
36% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01
Population & growth from 30.4 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
563K 596K 629K 662K 695K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Boston Age distribution, 2000
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $39,629
+3%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $29,180 in 1990
US average: $42,589
from $15,581 in 1990
US average: $21,522
from 18.7% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
$210,100
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 1990
from $160,100 in 1990
US average: $120,530
$803
−2%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $625 in 1990
US average: $602
from 30.9% in 1990
67.8% rent
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 1990
White, non-Hispanic 63%(361,513)
Hispanic / Latino 10.4%(59,692)
2000
White, non-Hispanic 49.5%(291,561)
Hispanic / Latino 14.4%(85,089)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.
Hispanic origin
+ 10 more hispanic origin groups with data Asian origin
+ 10 more asian origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 51 more ancestry groups with data from 30.0% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
from 75.7% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
from 12.4% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 23.8 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07
Work & employment No data for the years selected.
Section 08
People & community No data for the years selected.
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 53.5%(124,685)
Women 15+
Never married 47.8%(123,218)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09
Health coverage Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).
from 5.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 58.6% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 13.0% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 12.5% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 28.1% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 0.8% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 68.3% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 36.0% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 33.3%(3,943)
Gulf War (1990s) 14%(1,662)
Share of the 11,833 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Explore
Neighborhoods in Boston Drill deeper
Places similar to Boston Head to head
Compare Boston to nearby cities BOSTON VS
Winthrop
Income $116,167 +193%
Home value $649,600 +209%
Population 18,647 −97%
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BOSTON VS
Chelsea
Income $72,179 +82%
Home value $493,500 +135%
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BOSTON VS
Everett
Income $85,218 +115%
Home value $610,000 +190%
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BOSTON VS
Quincy
Income $98,882 +150%
Home value $618,500 +194%
Population 103,173 −85%
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Boston, Massachusetts? Boston, Massachusetts has about 589,141 residents according to the 2000 Census.
What is the median household income in Boston, Massachusetts? The typical household in Boston, Massachusetts earns about $39,629 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Boston, Massachusetts expensive? In Boston, Massachusetts, the median home is worth about $210,100, and the typical rent is about $803 a month.
How educated are people in Boston, Massachusetts? About 35.6% of adults age 25 and over in Boston, Massachusetts hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Boston, Massachusetts? About 19.5% of people in Boston, Massachusetts live below the federal poverty line.
Has Boston, Massachusetts grown since 1990? Yes, Boston, Massachusetts has grown since 1990. The population has added about 14,858 residents, a change of about 3 percent over that period.
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