United States › Massachusetts › Boston CITY · 2020 ACS
Boston Massachusetts · 675,647 residents · 48.3 sq mi
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The short version
With 675,647 people, Boston is a city in Massachusetts. Owners hold 32% of the housing stock. The typical home is worth $581,200, having more than doubled since 2000. This is an unusually credentialed place: 51% of adults have a four-year degree. This skews young, with a median age of 31.7. 28% of people here were born outside the United States.
At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 31.7
US median: 38.8
More educated
51% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 84%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 31.1 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
563K 596K 629K 662K 695K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Boston Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $76,298
+28%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $39,629 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $23,353 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 35.6% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 19.5% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Public administration 7.1%
Professional, scientific, technical 3.4%
Arts, entertainment, food 2.5%
Transportation & warehousing 1.5%
Education & health services 0.4%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.1%
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$581,200
+84%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $210,100 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$1,685
+40%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $803 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 32.2% in 2000
68.0% rent
from 2.47 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 7.7 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 49.5%(291,561)
Hispanic / Latino 14.4%(85,089)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 44.6%(301,464)
Hispanic / Latino 18.7%(126,113)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Hispanic origin
+ 10 more hispanic origin groups with data Asian origin
+ 7 more asian origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 51 more ancestry groups with data from 35.6% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 78.9% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 15.3% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 19.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 39.9% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 34.8% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 10.2% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 68.6% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 44.3% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 26.7% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 5.3% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 56.4%(155,367)
Women 15+
Never married 55.2%(169,292)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 5.3% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 27.8%(4,211)
Gulf War (1990s) 14.1%(2,128)
Share of the 15,124 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 +52%
Home value $649,600 +12%
Population 18,647 −97%
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BOSTON VS
Chelsea
Income $72,179 −5%
Home value $493,500 −15%
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BOSTON VS
Everett
Income $85,218 +12%
Home value $610,000 +5%
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BOSTON VS
Quincy
Income $98,882 +30%
Home value $618,500 +6%
Population 103,173 −85%
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Boston, Massachusetts? Boston, Massachusetts has about 675,647 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Boston, Massachusetts? The typical household in Boston, Massachusetts earns about $76,298 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 $581,200, and the typical rent is about $1,685 a month.
How educated are people in Boston, Massachusetts? About 51.3% 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 18.0% 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 101,364 residents, a change of about 18 percent over that period.
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