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METRO AREA · 2020 ACS

Boston Metro

Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH · 7 counties · 4,941,632 residents · 3,486.097 sq mi
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The short version

Boston is significantly wealthier than the US average, with a median household income of $93,991. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 49% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 33%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $480,342.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 39.4
US median: 38.8
More educated
49% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 50%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
4,941,632
+13%since 2000
from 4,391,344 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,418 / sq mi
+13%since 2000
from 1,260 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
39.4
+9%since 2000
from 36.1 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
4.1M4.3M4.5M4.8M5.0M1990201020202024Boston
20245.0M
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$93,991
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $55,174 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$49,547
+77%since 2000
from $28,016 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
59.0%
+12.3 ptssince 2009
from 46.7% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
9.0%
+0.4 ptssince 2000
from 8.6% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information9.6%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade8.6%
US avg: 10%
Other services8%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration6.2%
US avg: 4.7%
Wholesale trade5.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance3.7%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical3.1%
US avg: 4.7%
Arts, entertainment, food2.5%
US avg: 2%
Transportation & warehousing2%
US avg: 2.5%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.3%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$480,342
+50%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $212,436 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,547
+33%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $773 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
59.7%
−1.5 ptssince 2000
from 61.3% in 2000
40.3% rent
Afford Score
5.1
+33%since 2000
from 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)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic66.6%(3,292,281)
Black6.9%(339,635)
Hispanic / Latino11.8%(580,852)
Asian8.6%(426,194)
Other3.6%(175,797)
Diversity Score63%(3,111,582)
Segregation Score46.6%(2,304,735)
Diversity Score
63
+67%since 2000
from 38 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
47
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
48.9%
+12.1 ptssince 2000
from 36.8% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
92.0%
+5.4 ptssince 2000
from 86.6% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
22.3%
+7.0 ptssince 2000
from 15.3% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
31.5 min
+55%since 2000
from 20.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
64.7%
−4.7 ptssince 2009
from 69.4% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
12.7%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 12.6% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.9%
−2.7 ptssince 2011
from 7.6% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
69.1%
−0.2 ptssince 2011
from 69.3% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
50.9%
−19.3 ptssince 2009
from 70.2% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.6%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
Female
51.4%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 51.4% in 2009
Foreign born
18.9%
+3.1 ptssince 2009
from 15.8% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
2.9%
−92.6 ptssince 2013
from 95.5% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
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+24%
Home value$749,490+56%
Population4,161,883−17%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BOSTON VS
San Francisco
Income$136,713+45%
Home value$1,186,704+147%
Population4,630,041−8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BOSTON VS
Washington
Income$130,074+38%
Home value$613,108+28%
Population6,465,724+28%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BOSTON VS
Riverside
Income$89,505−5%
Home value$532,724+11%
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 4,941,632 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH earns about $93,991 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 $480,342, and the typical rent is about $1,547 a month.

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

About 48.9% 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 9.0% of people in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH live below the federal poverty line.

Has Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH grown since 1990?

Yes, Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH has grown since 1990. The population has added about 807,737 residents, a change of about 20 percent over that period.

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

How we source and harmonize this data →