Profile of Boston's demographics and economy

1. Overview of Boston’s Demographics and
Economy
Boston Redevelopment Authority Research Division

2. Outline of Presentation
• Selected demographic trends
• Total population
• Housing Units
• Age, race, and ethnicity
• Educational attainment of the population
• Countries of origin for the foreign-born population
• Selected economic trends
• Historic employment and unemployment trends
• Employment by industry
• Educational requirements by industry
2

3. Selected Demographic Trends
3

4. 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
850,000
801,444
800,000
750,000
697,197
700,000
641,071
650,000 617,594
600,000 574,283
589,141
550,000
562,994
500,000
450,000
400,000
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Source: US Census Bureau, BRA Research Division Analysis 4

5. Major Northeastern Cities and Population Change, 2010 Census
• Boston’s population growth since 2000 compares favorably to most other northeastern cities
Population Change 2000-
Total Population
City 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%
Hartford (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%
Baltimore (MD) 651,154 620,961 -30,193 -4.6%
Pittsburgh (PA) 334,563 305,704 -28,859 -8.6%
Buffalo (NY) 292,648 261,310 -31,338 -10.7%
Source: US Census Bureau, BRA Research Division Analysis 5

6. 25 Largest US Cities and Population Change, 2010 Census
• Boston’s population growth rate since 2000 was higher than the rates for New York and San Francisco
• Four of the 25 largest cities experienced population declines between 2000 and 2010
Total Population Population Change 2000-2010
City
2000 2010 N %
Fort Worth (TX) 534,694 741,206 206,512 38.6%
Charlotte (NC) 540,828 731,424 190,596 35.2%
Austin (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%
Seattle (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%
Baltimore (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%
Source: US Census Bureau, BRA Research Division Analysis 6

7. Housing Units and Average Household Size
• Boston’s housing stock as grown consistently over the last 60 years
• Boston’s housing stock grew 8.2% since 2000 – the strongest growth in more than half a century
280,000
270,000
272,481
260,000
250,000
250,863 251,935
240,000
230,000 238,695 241,304
232,401
220,000
222,079
210,000
200,000
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
3.6
3.4
3.2 3.39
3
2.8 2.95
2.6 2.77
2.4
2.47
2.2 2.40 2.37 2.31
2
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010*
Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis 7

8. Household Occupancy and Ownership,
by Planning District
0% 5% 10% 15%
Housing Vacancy Rates Owner-Occupied Housing Units 60%
0% 20% 40% 80%
Allston-Brighton 4% Allston-Brighton 21%
Back Bay-Beacon Hill 12% Back Bay-Beacon Hill 34%
Central 12% Central 27%
Charlestown 7% Charlestown 46%
East Boston 8% East Boston 27%
Fenway-Kenmore 4% Fenway-Kenmore 9%
Hyde Park 6% Hyde Park 58%
Jamaica Plain 5% Jamaica Plain 35%
Mattapan 9% Mattapan 36%
North Dorchester 8% North Dorchester 30%
Roslindale 6% Roslindale 50%
Roxbury 9% Roxbury 23%
South Boston 8% South Boston 40%
South Dorchester 9% South Dorchester 41%
South End 5% South End 33%
West Roxbury 4% West Roxbury 64%
Source: 2010 Census data, BRA Research Division Analysis.
8

9. Educational Attainment of Population,
1980 and 2005-2009
• Boston has one of the most highly-educated populations among major American cities. According to the
2005-2009 American Community Survey, 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.
200,000 50.0%
42.9%
180,000 45.0%
160,000 40.0%
140,000 35.0%
35.0%
120,000 30.0%
31.5% 23.3%
100,000 25.0%
18.0%
80,000 15.8% 20.3% 20.0%
60,000 15.0%
13.1%
40,000 10.0%
20,000 5.0%
- 0.0%
Less than High School High School graduate or GED Some College or Associates Bachelor's, Master's or
equivalent Degree Professional Degree
1980 Population 2005-2009 Population
1980 % of Population 2005-2009 % of Population
Source: 2005-2009 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis
9

10. Demographic Breakdown of Boston’s Population
• 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.
Age Nativity
19% 22%
27%
24%
73%
35%
0-19 years 20-34 years
35-54 years 55 and older Native Foreign-Born
Source: Age – 2010 Census, BRA Research Division Analysis
Nativity – 2005-2009 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis 10

11. 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
1980 1990
1% 3% 0% 5% 1%
6%
11%
22%
24% 59%
68%
2000 2010
3% 2% 2%
8% 1% 9%
0%
0%
14%
50% 18%
47%
22%
24%
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” 11

12. Planning District Diversity Index: 2000-2010
North
Dorchester
2010 2000
Back Bay/ 0.80 South
Beacon Hill Dorchester
0.70
Harbor
South Boston
0.60 Islands
0.50
Mattapan 0.40 Boston
0.30
0.20
Charlestown South End
0.10
0.00
West
Roslindale
Roxbury
Central Hyde Park
Allston/
Jamaica Plain
Brighton
Feneway/
Roxbury
Kenmore
East Boston
Source: US Census 2010
12

13. 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.
40%
Boston
35% Massachusetts
United States
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
2000
1850
1860
1870
1880
1890
1900
1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2006
2009
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis
13

14. Countries of Origin for Boston’s Foreign-Born
Population, 2009
• Most of Boston’s immigrants today come from the Caribbean, Latin American, and Asia
Share of the Foreign-Born Population in Boston
Dominican Republic 9.4%
China 9.0%
Haiti 7.9%
Vietnam 4.6%
El Salvador 4.5%
Brazil 4.4%
Cape Verde 4.2%
Colombia 4.0%
Jamaica 3.7%
Ireland 2.2%
0.0% 1.0% 2.0% 3.0% 4.0% 5.0% 6.0% 7.0% 8.0% 9.0% 10.0%
Source: 2005-2009 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis.
14

15. Top 5 Countries of Origin for Foreign-Born Population,
by Planning District
Allston-Brighton 0.1
0 0.2 Back Bay-Beacon Hill 0.1 0.15 0.2
0 0.05
China 15.3% China 15.3%
Brazil 11.7% Canada 7.3%
Russia 6.9% United Kingdom 6.2%
El Salvador 3.7% France 6.2%
Ukraine 3.6% Colombia 3.7%
Central 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 Charlestown 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4
China 43.0% China 31.5%
Vietnam 6.4% Dominican Republic 23.3%
Italy 6.2% Russia 4.6%
India 3.5% Canada 3.1%
Japan 3.2% Philippines 2.5%
Source: 2005-2009 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis.
15

16. Top 5 Countries of Origin for Foreign-born Population,
by Planning District (cont.)
East Boston0 0.1 0.2 0.3 Fenway-Kenmore 0.1 0.15
0 0.05
El Salvador 26.6% Japan 12.6%
Colombia 20.6% China 8.6%
Brazil 11.0% Brazil 8.0%
Mexico 9.7% Dominican … 7.4%
Italy 5.1% Korea 6.3%
Harbor Islands
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 Hyde Park 0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35
Haiti 32.7%
Brazil 30.6%
Dominican Republic 9.5%
Middle Africa 29.4%
Jamaica 8.9%
Jamaica 29.4% Nigeria 4.7%
Belize 10.6% Guatemala 4.7%
Source: 2005-2009 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis.
16

17. Top 5 Countries of Origin for Foreign-born Population,
by Planning District (cont.)
Jamaica Plain 0 0.05 0.1 0.15 Mattapan 0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35
Dominican Republic 14.0% Haiti 28.8%
China 13.8% Jamaica 12.5%
India 6.3% Cape Verde 10.6%
Ireland 3.3% Dominican Republic 7.7%
United Kingdom 2.8% Trinidad and Tobago 5.3%
North Dorchester 0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 Roslindale 0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2
Cape Verde 23.3% Dominican Republic 17.8%
Vietnam 13.2% Haiti 10.3%
Albania 7.8% Albania 6.4%
Dominican Republic 7.8% Guatemala 6.3%
Haiti 4.9% Ireland 4.0%
Source: 2005-2009 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis.
17

18. Top 5 Countries of Origin for Foreign-born Population,
by Planning District (cont.)
Roxbury 0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3South Boston 0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35
Dominican Republic 23.9% Dominican Republic 32.9%
Haiti 13.9% China 15.8%
Jamaica 8.0% Cape Verde 6.9%
Cape Verde 6.3% Philippines 4.0%
Trinidad and Tobago 4.9% Vietnam 3.9%
South Dorchester 0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 South End 0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35
Vietnam China 29.2%
19.2%
Jamaica Dominican Republic 11.3%
10.9%
Haiti Ethiopia 5.0%
10.7%
Cape Verde Colombia 4.0%
10.3%
Dominican Republic Canada 3.9%
7.6%
Source: 2005-2009 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis.
18

19. Top 5 Countries of Origin for Foreign-born Population,
by Planning District (cont.)
West Roxbury 0 0.05 0.1 0.15
Haiti 12.4%
China 10.1%
Dominican Republic 8.7%
Ireland 7.6%
Greece 6.0%
Source: 2005-2009 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis.
19