CensusEasy
METRO AREA · 1990 CENSUS

Boston Metro

Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH · 7 counties · 4,133,895 residents · 3,486.097 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
The short version

Boston is significantly wealthier than the US average, with a median household income of $40,213. Population has declined 6% since 2000. 30% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 20%. Median home value is $174,711.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $30,130
Mid-age
median age 33.4
US median: 33.0
More educated
30% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
4,133,895
−6%vs 2000
vs 4,391,344 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,186 / sq mi
−6%vs 2000
vs 1,260 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 221
Median age
33.4
−8%vs 2000
vs 36.1 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
4.1M4.3M4.5M4.8M5.0M1990201020202024Boston
20245.0M
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$40,213
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $55,174 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$18,496
−34%vs 2000
vs $28,016 in 2000
US average: $14,340
Poverty rate
8.3%
−0.2 ptsvs 2000
vs 8.6% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$174,711
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $212,436 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$640
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $773 in 2000
US average: $450
Owner-occupied
59.0%
−2.3 ptsvs 2000
vs 61.3% in 2000
41.0% rent
Afford Score
4.3
+13%vs 2000
vs 3.9 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Boston on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic80.7%(3,545,277)
Black5.6%(247,524)
Hispanic / Latino6.4%(281,605)
Asian4.6%(200,625)
Other0%
Diversity Score37.8%(1,659,763)
1990
White, non-Hispanic89%(3,678,592)
Black5.7%(233,937)
Hispanic / Latino4.4%(182,315)
Asian2.9%(118,294)
Other2.5%(103,072)
Diversity Score33.4%(1,382,718)
Diversity Score
33
−12%vs 2000
vs 38 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
30.2%
−6.6 ptsvs 2000
vs 36.8% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
82.7%
−3.9 ptsvs 2000
vs 86.6% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
Graduate degree
11.9%
−3.4 ptsvs 2000
vs 15.3% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.3 min
+14%vs 2000
vs 20.4 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

In this metro

Principal cities

BostonCENTRAL672,973CambridgeCENTRAL122,588NewtonCENTRAL90,741FraminghamCENTRAL73,021WalthamCENTRAL65,037
What's inside

7 component counties

Middlesex CountyCENTRAL1,669,979Essex CountyCENTRAL826,653Suffolk CountyCENTRAL791,891Norfolk CountyCENTRAL739,749Plymouth CountyCENTRAL546,829Rockingham CountyCENTRAL324,077Strafford County135,043
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Boston

Seattle
Pop 4,161,883
San Francisco
Pop 4,630,041
Washington
Pop 6,465,724
Riverside
Pop 4,769,007
Places similar to Boston
Head to head

Compare Boston side by side

BOSTON VS
Seattle
Income$116,172+189%
Home value$749,490+329%
Population4,161,883−17%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BOSTON VS
San Francisco
Income$136,713+240%
Home value$1,186,704+579%
Population4,630,041−8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BOSTON VS
Washington
Income$130,074+223%
Home value$613,108+251%
Population6,465,724+28%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BOSTON VS
Riverside
Income$89,505+123%
Home value$532,724+205%
Population4,769,007−5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?

Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH has about 4,133,895 residents according to the 1990 Census.

What is the median household income in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?

The typical household in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH earns about $40,213 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH expensive?

In Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, the median home is worth about $174,711, and the typical rent is about $640 a month.

How educated are people in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?

About 30.2% of adults age 25 and over in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?

About 8.3% of people in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH live below the federal poverty line.

Keep going

Explore from here

Metro rankings
Largest US metrosHighest income metrosFastest growing metros
Compare
Compare Boston with another metro

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →