2. 801,444
697,197
641,071
562,994
574,283
589,141
617,594
400,000
450,000
500,000
550,000
600,000
650,000
700,000
750,000
800,000
850,000
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Source: US Census Bureau, BRA Research Division Analysis
Historic Trends – Boston’s Population
Boston reached its population peak in 1950.
Boston’s population, like many major cities, declined after 1950.
In recent decades, Boston’s population has grown.
The 2010 Census marks the first time since 1970 that Boston’s population has been over 600,000.
3. Source: US Census Bureau, BRA Research Division Analysis
Major Northeastern Cities and Population Change, 2010 Census
City
Total
Popula8on
Popula8on
Change
2000-‐2010
2000
2010
N
%
Washington
(DC)
572,059
601,723
29,664
5.2%
Worcester
(MA)
172,648
181,045
8,397
4.9%
Boston
(MA)
589,141
617,594
28,453
4.8%
Cambridge
(MA)
101,355
105,162
3,807
3.8%
Elizabeth
(NJ)
120,568
124,969
4,401
3.7%
HarKord
(CT)
121,578
124,775
3,197
2.6%
Providence
(RI)
173,618
178,042
4,424
2.5%
New
York
(NY)
8,008,278
8,175,133
166,855
2.1%
Newark
(NJ)
273,546
277,140
3,594
1.3%
Springfield
(MA)
152,082
153,060
978
0.6%
Philadelphia
(PA)
1,517,550
1,526,006
8,456
0.6%
BalWmore
(MD)
651,154
620,961
-‐30,193
-‐4.6%
PiYsburgh
(PA)
334,563
305,704
-‐28,859
-‐8.6%
Buffalo
(NY)
292,648
261,310
-‐31,338
-‐10.7%
Boston’s population growth since 2000 compares favorably to most other northeastern cities.
4. Source: US Census Bureau, BRA Research Division Analysis
25 Largest US Cities and Population Change, 2010 Census
City
Total
Popula8on
Popula8on
Change
2000-‐2010
2000
2010
N
%
Fort
Worth
(TX)
534,694
741,206
206,512
38.6%
CharloYe
(NC)
540,828
731,424
190,596
35.2%
AusWn
(TX)
656,562
790,390
133,828
20.4%
San
Antonio
(TX)
1,144,646
1,327,407
182,761
16.0%
El
Paso
(TX)
563,662
649,121
85,459
15.2%
Jacksonville
(FL)
735,617
821,784
86,167
11.7%
Columbus
(OH)
711,470
787,033
75,563
10.6%
Nashville
(TN)
545,524
601,222
55,698
10.2%
Phoenix
(AZ)
1,321,045
1,445,632
124,587
9.4%
SeaYle
(WA)
563,374
608,660
45,286
8.0%
Houston
(TX)
1,953,631
2,099,451
145,820
7.5%
San
Diego
(CA)
1,223,400
1,307,402
84,002
6.9%
San
Jose
(CA)
894,943
945,942
50,999
5.7%
Washington
(DC)
572,059
601,723
29,664
5.2%
Indianapolis
(IN)
781,870
820,445
38,575
4.9%
Boston
(MA)
589,141
617,594
28,453
4.8%
San
Francisco
(CA)
776,733
805,235
28,502
3.7%
Los
Angeles
(CA)
3,694,820
3,792,621
97,801
2.6%
New
York
City
(NY)
8,008,278
8,175,133
166,855
2.1%
Dallas
(TX)
1,188,580
1,197,816
9,236
0.8%
Philadelphia
(PA)
1,517,550
1,526,006
8,456
0.6%
Memphis
(TN)
650,100
646,889
-‐3,211
-‐0.5%
BalWmore
(MD)
651,154
620,961
-‐30,193
-‐4.6%
Chicago
(IL)
2,896,016
2,695,598
-‐200,418
-‐6.9%
Detroit
(MI)
951,270
713,777
-‐237,493
-‐25.0%
Boston’s population growth rate since 2000 was higher than the rates for NewYork and San Francisco.
Four of the 25 largest cities experienced population declines between 2000 and 2010.
5. Demographic Breakdown of Boston’s Population
Source:Age – 2010 Census, BRA Research Division Analysis
Nativity – 2005-2009 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis
Boston is a young city. Currently Boston has the 2nd highest concentration of young adults (20-34) amongst the
largest 25 cities in the US.
Boston is a diverse city.Today, Boston ranks 6th among the 25 largest cities in the US in proportion of the
population that is foreign-born.
73%
27%
Na8vity
NaWve
Foreign
-‐
Born
22%
35%
24%
19%
Age
0
-‐
19
years
20
-‐
34
years
35
-‐
54
years
55
and
older
6. Source: 2005-2009 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis
Educational Attainment of Population, 1980 and 2005-2009
Boston has one of the most highly-educated populations among major American cities.
42.9% of Boston’s adult population has at least a bachelor’s degree, ranking Boston 5th amongst the 30
largest cities in the nation.
7. Educational Attainment by Nativity
32.1%
21.9%
12.6%
5.3%
16.8%
11.4%
23.1%
16.8%
18.1%
3.8%
24.0%
14.1%
0.0%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
20.0%
25.0%
30.0%
35.0%
Less
than
HS
High
School
Some
College
Associates
Degree
Bachelors
Degree
Graduate
Degree
Foreign-‐Born
NaWve-‐Born
Source:
2009
American
Community
Survey
Public
Use
Micro-‐data
Sample
(PUMS),
BRA
Research
Division
Analysis
Overall, Boston’s foreign-born population is less-educated than its native residents.
8. Racial and Ethnic Breakdown for Boston’s Population, 1980-2010
Over the last several decades, the racial and ethnic composition of Boston has changed a great deal
In 1980, close to 70% of Boston was white. Today, only half the city is white.
The last two Census reports show Boston as a “majority-minority” city.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, BRA Research Division Analysis.
Note: 2000 was the first year the Census compiled data on individuals who identified themselves as “multiracial”
68%
22%
6%
1%
3%
1980
47%
22%
18%
0%
9%
2% 2%
2010
50%
24%
14%
0%
8% 1% 3%
2000
59%
24%
11%
0% 5% 1%
1990
9. Source:
2010
U.S.
Census,
BRA
Research
Division
Analysis
Population Change - BRA Planning Districts (2000 – 2010)
Boston,
4.8%
Allston-‐Brighton,
7.7%
Back
Bay-‐Beacon
Hill,
2.8%
Central,
22.7%
Charlestown,
8.2%
East
Boston,
5.5%
Fenway-‐Kenmore,
14.9%
Harbor
Islands,
-‐16.4%
Hyde
Park,
1.1%
Jamaica
Plain,
4.5%
MaSapan,
-‐8.0%
North
Dorchester,
-‐1.4%
Roslindale,
-‐6.2%
Roxbury,
5.5%
South
Boston,
12.4%
South
Dorchester,
-‐5.4%
South
End,
22.9%
West
Roxbury,
5.9%
-‐20%
-‐15%
-‐10%
-‐5%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
Popula8on
Change
(2000
-‐
2010)
Planning
Districts
10. Source:
2010
U.S.
Census,
BRA
Research
Division
Analysis
Change in White Population – BRA Planning Districts (2000 – 2010)
Boston;
-‐0.4%
Allston-‐Brighton;
3.6%
Back
Bay-‐Beacon
Hill;
-‐1.5%
Central;
20.2%
Charlestown;
4.3%
East
Boston;
-‐21.1%
Fenway-‐Kenmore;
8.4%
Harbor
Islands;
-‐36.5%
Hyde
Park;
-‐34.1%
Jamaica
Plain;
12.5%
MaSapan;
-‐12.1%
North
Dorchester;
-‐3.8%
Roslindale;
-‐18.2%
Roxbury;
42.7%
South
Boston;
4.8%
South
Dorchester;
-‐17.7%
South
End;
34.4%
West
Roxbury;
-‐7.2%
-‐50%
-‐40%
-‐30%
-‐20%
-‐10%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
Change
in
White
Popula8on
(2000
-‐
2010)
Planning
Districts
11. Source:
2010
U.S.
Census,
BRA
Research
Division
Analysis
Change in Black or African American Population – BRA Planning Districts (2000 – 2010)
Boston;
-‐1.6%
Allston-‐Brighton;
10.3%
Back
Bay-‐Beacon
Hill;
5.1%
Central;
36.2%
Charlestown;
41.7%
East
Boston;
9.0%
Fenway-‐Kenmore;
4.3%
Harbor
Islands;
-‐16.4%
Hyde
Park;
21.1%
Jamaica
Plain;
-‐16.0%
MaSapan;
-‐10.7%
North
Dorchester;
-‐7.2%
Roslindale;
15.2%
Roxbury;
-‐6.1%
South
Boston;
112.1%
South
Dorchester;
-‐6.0%
South
End;
-‐7.5%
West
Roxbury;
72.2%
-‐40%
-‐20%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
120%
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
Change
in
Black
or
African
American
Popula8on
(2000
-‐
2010)
Planning
Districts
12. Source:
2010
U.S.
Census,
BRA
Research
Division
Analysis
Change in Hispanic/Latino Population – BRA Planning Districts (2000 – 2010)
Boston;
26.8%
Allston-‐Brighton;
17.4%
Back
Bay-‐Beacon
Hill;
29.8%
Central;
68.2%
Charlestown;
-‐9.8%
East
Boston;
42.9%
Fenway-‐Kenmore;
28.0%
Harbor
Islands;
11.7%
Hyde
Park;
62.0%
Jamaica
Plain;
-‐2.2%
MaSapan;
20.1%
North
Dorchester;
15.9%
Roslindale;
16.1%
Roxbury;
29.0%
South
Boston;
49.1%
South
Dorchester;
22.1%
South
End;
20.3%
West
Roxbury;
96.6%
-‐20%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
120%
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
Change
in
Hispanic/La8no
Popula8on
(2000
-‐
2010)
Planning
Districts
13. Source:
2010
U.S.
Census,
BRA
Research
Division
Analysis
Change in Asian Population – BRA Planning Districts (2000 – 2010)
Boston;
24.6%
Allston-‐Brighton;
20.7%
Back
Bay-‐Beacon
Hill;
44.9%
Central;
18.5%
Charlestown;
77.2%
East
Boston;
-‐8.6%
Fenway-‐Kenmore;
46.3%
Harbor
Islands;
100.0%
Hyde
Park;
12.6%
Jamaica
Plain;
26.7%
MaSapan;
6.9%
North
Dorchester;
-‐0.4%
Roslindale;
-‐19.6%
Roxbury;
124.7%
South
Boston;
40.6%
South
Dorchester;
11.9%
South
End;
44.6%
West
Roxbury;
81.5%
-‐40%
-‐20%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
120%
140%
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
Change
in
Asian
Popula8on
(2000
-‐
2010)
Planning
Districts
14. Source:
2010
U.S.
Census,
BRA
Research
Division
Analysis
0.00
0.10
0.20
0.30
0.40
0.50
0.60
0.70
0.80
North
Dorchester
South
Dorchester
Harbor
Islands
Boston
South
End
Roslindale
Hyde
Park
Jamaica
Plain
Roxbury
East
Boston
Feneway/
Kenmore
Allston/
Brighton
Central
West
Roxbury
Charlestown
MaSapan
South
Boston
Back
Bay/
Beacon
Hill
Planning District Diversity Index (2000-2010)
2010
2000
16. Proportion of the Population that is Foreign Born (1850-2009)
Historically, Boston has had a greater proportion of foreign-born residents than both the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts and the nation as a whole.
Since the 1970s, the proportion of foreign-born residents in Boston has grown dramatically.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau,American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis
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
2006
2009
Boston
Massachusetts
United States
17. 1860 – 1900 1910 – 1960 1970 – 2006
Regions of Origin Boston (1860 to 2006)
Source: http://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0029/twps0029.html#data, 2000 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis
18. Countries of Origin for Boston’s Foreign-Born Population, 2009
Today most of Boston’s immigrants come from the Caribbean, Latin America, and Asia
Source: 2005-2009 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis.
2.2%
3.7%
4.0%
4.2%
4.4%
4.5%
4.6%
7.9%
9.0%
9.4%
0.0% 1.0% 2.0% 3.0% 4.0% 5.0% 6.0% 7.0% 8.0% 9.0% 10.0%
Ireland
Jamaica
Colombia
CapeVerde
Brazil
El Salvador
Vietnam
Haiti
China
Dominican Republic
Share of the Foreign-Born Population in Boston
20. 3349
2664
2465 2390
1710
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
Ireland Russia United Kingdom Italy Ukraine
7421
4229
2932
2688
659
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
El Salvador Guatemala Honduras Mexico Panama
Top Five European Countries of Origin Top Five Central American Countries of Origin
Source: 2007-2011 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis.
Countries of Origin for Boston’s Foreign-Born Population by Region, 2011
21. 6315
4622
930 819 806
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
Colombia Brazil Peru Venezuela Guyana
6566
2093
1234
994
633
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
Cape Verde Nigeria Morocco Ethiopia Ghana
Top Five South American Countries of Origin Top Five African Countries of Origin
Source: 2007-2011 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis.
Countries of Origin for Boston’s Foreign-Born Population by Region, 2011
22. Top Ten First Reported Ancestries in Boston (2011)
77,778
38,048
19,009 18,683
15,687
10,668 9,743 8,605 7,555 6,439
0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
80,000
90,000
Irish/Celtic Italian Haitian English German Cape Verdean Polish Russian Jamaican French
Source: 2007-2011 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis.
24. Top 5 Countries of Origin for Foreign-Born Population by Planning District (2011)
Source: 2007-2011 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis.
25. Top 5 Countries of Origin for Foreign-Born Population by Planning District (2011)
Source: 2007-2011 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis.
26. Top 5 Countries of Origin for Foreign-Born Population by Planning District (2011)
Source: 2007-2011 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis.
27. Top 5 Countries of Origin for Foreign-Born Population by Planning District (2011)
Source: 2007-2011 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis.
