A profile of Boston's economy and demographic characteristics utilizing mostly, data the Decennial Censuses and the American Community Survey (ACS).

1. Demographic and Socio-economic Trends
in Boston:
What we’ve learned from the latest Census data
Mark Melnik, Deputy Director for Research
Boston Redevelopment Authority
November 29, 2011

2. Outline of Presentation
• Selected demographic trends
• Growth
• Diversity
• Youth
• Education
• Selected socio-economic trends
• Historic employment and unemployment trends
• Educational attainment of labor force
• Labor force characteristics
2

3. Boston is Growing
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
Total Population
City 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%
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. 20 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 20 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%
Source: US Census Bureau, BRA Research Division Analysis 6

7. Housing Units and Average Household Size
• Boston’s housing stock has grown consistently over the last 40 years
• Boston’s housing stock grew 8.2% since 2000
280,000
270,000
272,481
260,000
250,000
240,000 250,863251,935
230,000 238,695 241,304
232,401
220,000
210,000 222,079
200,000
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
3.5
3.39
3
2.95
2.5 2.77
2.40 2.37 2.31
2 2.26
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis 7

8. Boston is Diverse
8

9. 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” 9

10. 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%
1850
1860
1870
1880
1890
1900
1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2006
2009
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis
10

11. Countries of Origin for Boston’s Foreign-Born
Population, 2010
• Most of Boston’s immigrants today come from the Caribbean, Latin American, and Asia
• This plays a major factor in “majority-minority”
Haiti 10.2%
China 8.9%
Dominican Republic 8.3%
Vietnam 4.2%
El Salvador 4.2%
Jamaica 4.2%
Colombia 3.3%
Ireland 3.3%
Brazil 3.1%
Trinidad & Tobago 2.5%
0.0% 2.0% 4.0% 6.0% 8.0% 10.0% 12.0%
Source: 2010 Census, BRA Research Division Analysis.
11

12. 25 Largest US Cities by Foreign Born Population
• Boston ranks 6th among the 25 largest Foreign % Foreign Population
City
cities in the US in proportion of the Born Rank Born Rank
1 39.1% Los Angeles, CA 2
population that is foreign-born
2 38.6% San Jose, CA 10
3 37.2% New York, NY 1
4 35.5% San Francisco, CA 13
5 28.7% Houston, TX 4
Nativity 6 26.9% Boston, MA 22
7 26.1% San Diego, CA 8
8 25.3% Dallas, TX 9
27% 9 24.6% El Paso, TX 19
10 20.7% Chicago, IL 3
11 20.0% Phoenix, AZ 6
12 18.7% Austin, TX 14
13 17.2% Seattle, WA 23
14 16.9% Fort Worth, TX 16
15 14.4% San Antonio, TX 7
16 14.4% Charlotte, NC 17
17 13.5% Washington, DC 24
73% 18 12.2% Nashville, TN 25
19 11.6% Philadelphia, PA 5
20 11.0% Columbus, OH 15
21 9.4% Jacksonville, FL 11
Native Foreign-Born 22 9.0% Indianapolis, IN 12
23 7.1% Baltimore, MD 21
24 6.2% Memphis, TN 20
25 4.8% Detroit, MI 18
Source: 2010 American Community Survey, US Census Bureau, BRA Research Division Analysis 12

13. Planning District Diversity Index: 2000-2010
• Most of Boston’s planning districts are more diverse today than in 2000
North
Dorches… 2010 2000
Back Bay/ 0.80
Beacon…
South 0.70 Harbor
Boston 0.60 Islands
0.50
Mattapan 0.40 Boston
0.30
Charlesto 0.20
South End
wn 0.10
0.00
West
Roslindale
Roxbury
Central Hyde Park
Allston/ Jamaica
Brighton Plain
Feneway/
Roxbury
Kenmore
East
Boston 13
Source: US Census 2010, BRA Research Division Analysis

14. Linguistic Isolation
 In 2010, 12.4% of households in Boston were without a resident 14 years or older that
spoke English very well; this was an increase from 10.7% of households in 2000
 The rise in linguistically isolated Spanish households reflects the high growth rate of
foreign-born Hispanic households between 2000 and 2010
60.0%
50.0% 48.3%
43.1%
38.5%
40.0%
30.5%
30.0% 27.7% 27.8%
20.6% 19.8%
20.0%
10.0%
0.0%
Spanish households Other Indo- Asian and Pacific Other languages
European languages Island languages
households households
2000 2010
Source: 2000 US Census Summary File 3 and2010 American Community Survey BRA Research Division Analysis
14

15. English Proficiency
 An estimated 8.5% of Bostonians had limited English proficiency in 2009; this increased
about 0.8% from the same statistic in 2000.
 A higher percentage of foreign born residents have Limited English proficiency in 2009
than in 2000 2000
7.7%
2009
8.5%
92.3% 91.5%
English Proficient English Proficient
Limited English Proficiency Limited English Proficiency
Source: 2000 Census Public Use Microdata Sample and 2009 American Community Survey, Public Use Microdata Sample BRA Research Division Analysis 15

16. Boston is Young
16

17. Breakdown of Boston’s Population by Age
• Boston is a young city; currently it has the highest concentration of young adults (20-34) among 15 of the
largest cities in the US
20 to 34-Year- % of Total Location
City
Olds Population Quotient
Boston 216,213 35.0% 1.73 Age
Austin 251,064 31.8% 1.57
Washington DC 188,855 31.4% 1.55 19% 22%
Atlanta 127,101 30.3% 1.49
Seattle 181,501 29.8% 1.47
San Francisco 228,738 28.4% 1.40
Chicago 738,578 27.4% 1.35
Dallas 314,728 26.3% 1.29
24%
Houston 545,071 26.0% 1.28
Baltimore 160,024 25.8% 1.27
35%
Philadelphia 392,776 25.7% 1.27
Los Angeles 953,443 25.1% 1.24 0-19 years 20-34 years
New York 2,035,030 24.9% 1.23 35-54 years 55 and older
San Antonio 304,784 23.0% 1.13
Phoenix 330,885 22.9% 1.13
Source: Age – 2010 Census, BRA Research Division Analysis
17

18. Boston is Educated
18

19. Educational Attainment of Population, 2000 and 2010
• Boston has one of the most highly-educated populations among major American cities.
According to the 2010 American Community Survey, 44.3% of Boston’s adult population has at
least a bachelor’s degree, ranking Boston 4th amongst the 25 largest cities in the nation.
30.0% 120,000
23.8% 24.5%
25.0% 100,000
21.1%
24.0% 19.8%
20.0% 19.4% 80,000
20.2%
14.2% 17.7%
15.0% 60,000
15.3%
10.0% 40,000
5.0% 20,000
0.0% -
Less than high High school Some college or Bachelor's Graduate or
school diploma graduate associate's degree professional
(includes degree degree
equivalency)
2000 2010 % of 2000 Population % of 2010 Population
Source: 2000 Census Summary File 3, 2010 American Community Survey, US Census Bureau, BRA Research Division Analysis
19

20. Educational Attainment of 25 Largest US Cities by Bachelor’s
Degree or Greater (25 years and older)
Bachelor's Graduate or Bachelor's
Rank City
degree professional degree or greater
1 Seattle, Washington 33.1% 22.9% 56.0%
2 San Francisco, California 31.4% 19.5% 50.9%
3 Washington, District of Columbia 23.2% 26.9% 50.1%
4 Boston, Massachusetts 24.5% 19.8% 44.3%
5 Austin, Texas 27.5% 16.1% 43.6%
6 Portland, Oregon 26.3% 15.9% 42.2%
7 Denver, Colorado 25.4% 15.5% 40.9%
8 San Diego, California 24.1% 16.3% 40.4%
9 Charlotte, North Carolina 25.9% 12.8% 38.7%
10 San Jose, California 23.2% 13.4% 36.6%
11 Nashville-Davidson, Tennessee 20.0% 13.6% 33.6%
12 Chicago, Illinois 20.2% 13.2% 33.4%
13 New York, New York 19.9% 13.4% 33.3%
14 Columbus, Ohio 21.3% 10.4% 31.7%
15 Los Angeles, California 20.4% 10.3% 30.7%
16 Dallas, Texas 18.5% 10.4% 28.9%
17 Houston, Texas 17.4% 11.0% 28.4%
18 Louisville-Jefferson, Kentucky 16.4% 11.0% 27.4%
19 Indianapolis, Indiana 17.6% 9.0% 26.6%
20 Fort Worth, Texas 18.5% 7.5% 26.0%
Source: 2010 American Community Survey, US Census Bureau, BRA Research Division Analysis
20

21. Socio-economic Characteristics
21

22. Historic Unemployment Trend:1979-2010
• Boston’s unemployment rate is typically lower than national and state rates
• As of January 2011, Boston’s unemployment rate was 7.8; two points lower than the national
average
12.0
United States
10.0 Massachusetts
Boston
8.0
6.0
4.0
2.0
0.0
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
Source: Bureau Labor of Statistics and MA Division of Employment and Training (DET)
22

23. Household Income
 The distribution of income in Boston is more polarized than in 2000.
 The share of middle income households is getting smaller, while the share of low income and
high income households increased.
Household Income 2000 Household Income 2010 ACS
Location Location
(1999 Inflation-Adjusted (2009 Inflation-Adjusted
Dollars) Estimate Percent Quotient Dollars) Estimate Percent Quotient
Less than $10,000 37,230 15.5% 1.63 Less than $10,000 38,718 15.4% 2.08
$10,000 to $14,999 15,764 6.6% 1.04 $10,000 to $14,999 15,509 6.2% 1.11
$15,000 to $24,999 27,276 11.4% 0.89 $15,000 to $24,999 23,974 9.5% 0.88
$25,000 to $34,999 27,496 11.5% 0.90 $25,000 to $34,999 20,198 8.0% 0.75
$35,000 to $49,999 35,928 15.0% 0.91 $35,000 to $49,999 27,593 11.0% 0.77
$50,000 to $74,999 41,496 17.3% 0.89 $50,000 to $74,999 39,015 15.5% 0.83
$75,000 to $99,999 23,784 9.9% 0.97 $75,000 to $99,999 25,057 10.0% 0.81
$100,000 to $149,999 18,496 7.7% 1.00 $100,000 to $149,999 31,559 12.5% 1.03
$150,000 to $199,999 5,491 2.3% 1.04 $150,000 to $199,999 13,485 5.4% 1.29
$200,000 or more 6,642 2.8% 1.17 $200,000 or more 16,613 6.6% 1.65
Source: 2000 Census Summary File 3, 2010 American Community Survey, US Census Bureau, BRA
Research Division Analysis 23
.

24. Employment
 Boston’s labor force grew by 18.5% from 2000 to 2010
 Recessions in 2001 and 2008 has lead to the unemployed population in
Boston to more than double in size since 2000
400,000
350,000 365,182
300,000 100% 308,107, 318,250
100% 87.1% 285,859
250,000 92.8%
200,000
150,000
100,000 46,932
12.9% 22,248
50,000 7.2%
-
Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed
2010 2000
Source: 2000 Census Summary File 3 and 2010 American Community Survey, US Census Bureau, BRA Research Division Analysis
24

25. Labor Force Characteristics
 A greater percent of non-white residents are unemployed than white residents
 Unemployment appears to be particularly high among African-Americans in the city
70.0%
Employment Status by Race
59.0%
60.0%
50.0%
40.0% 35.7%
32.1%
30.0%
20.2%
20.0% 17.0%
13.9%
10.0% 6.8%7.3%
1.8%2.6% 1.4%2.1%
0.0%
White Hispanic Black Asian Two or more Other race
races
Employed Unemployed
Source: 2010 American Community Survey, Public Use Microdata Sample
BRA Research Division Analysis. 25

26. Labor Force Characteristics
 Young workers make up a larger portion of the unemployed than they make up amongst the
employed.
 The ratio of males to females that are employed is nearly 1:1; however, there are fewer
unemployed females than unemployed males.
50.0% 47.1% 47.1%
54.0%
45.0% 53.4%
40.0% 52.0%
35.5%
35.0% 50.6%
30.3% 50.0%
30.0% 49.4%
25.0%
48.0%
20.0% 46.6%
15.0% 13.9% 13.0% 46.0%
10.0% 8.7%
44.0%
5.0% 4.3%
0.0% 42.0%
Under 20 20-34 35-55 55 and older Employed Unemployed
Employed Unemployed Male Female
Source: 2006-2010 American Community Survey, Public Use Microdata Sample
BRA Research Division Analysis. 26

27. Unemployment Characteristics
Unemployment
Subject Employed Unemployed
Rate
Male 157,163 17,152 9.8%
Female 160,690 14,973 8.5%
Under 20 Years 13,770 4,468 24.5%
20 to 34 Years 149,778 15,123 9.2%
35 to 54 Years 112,861 9,728 7.9%
55 Years+ 41,444 2,806 6.3%
Less than High School 30,498 6,981 18.6%
High School 60,085 9,434 13.6%
Some College 58,767 7,894 11.8%
Associate's Degree 15,069 1,223 7.5%
Bachelor's Degree 91,624 4,806 5.0%
Graduate Degree 61,810 1,787 2.8%
White 175,845 10,046 5.4%
Hispanic 46,747 6,715 12.6%
Black 59,432 11,560 16.3%
Asian 26,231 2,586 9.0%
Two or More Races 4,404 640 12.7%
Other Race 5,194 578 10.0%
Source: 2006-2010 American Community Survey, Public Use Microdata Sample
BRA Research Division Analysis. 27

28. Planning District Characteristics
2006 - 2010 ACS 2000 Census
Unemployment by Planning
Unemployment Poverty
District Poverty Status Unemployment Rate
Rate Status
Boston 7.9% 15.0% 7.2% 19.5%
Allston-Brighton 4.9% 23.1% 5.3% 23.0%
3.5%
Back Bay-Beacon Hill 11.4% 6.0% 10.3%
Central 4.8% 18.9% 8.9% 16.9%
Charlestown 5.5% 16.8% 4.1% 17.5%
East Boston 9.4% 15.0% 7.3% 19.5%
Fenway-Kenmore 11.1% 38.3% 11.4% 37.3%
Hyde Park 10.3% 11.0% 5.5% 10.4%
Jamaica Plain 5.1% 14.3% 5.5% 20.9%
Mattapan 15.0% 22.7% 9.7% 22.3%
North Dorchester 11.8% 26.7% 9.6% 20.8%
Roslindale 8.8% 14.0% 4.9% 13.6%
Roxbury 17.7% 32.3% 11.6% 27.1%
South Boston 5.6% 17.8% 5.0% 17.3%
South Dorchester 14.7% 19.9% 7.9% 17.3%
South End 12.3% 30.5% 6.9% 23.9%
West Roxbury 6.3% 5.6% 3.0% 6.4%
Source: 2006-2010 American Community Survey, 2000 Census, BRA Research Division Analysis. 28

29. The BRA Research Division has put together profiles of Boston’s
Planning Districts, Neighborhoods, City Council Districts, and Wards,
which can all be found here:
http://www.bostonredevelopmentauthority.org/Research/Research.asp
For more information from the US Census Bureau, please visit:
http://www.census.gov
Thank you.