646,622
Boston is a city located in Middlesex County, Norfolk County, and Suffolk County Massachusetts. Boston has a 2024 population of 646,622. Boston is currently declining at a rate of -1.1% annually and its population has decreased by -4.27% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 675,466 in 2020.
The average household income in Boston is $132,509 with a poverty rate of 17.47%. The median age in Boston is 32.9 years: 32.4 years for males, and 33.4 years for females.
Boston is the capital and largest city in Massachusetts in the United States. It's also the largest city in New England and represents the 23rd largest city in the US. Boston was founded in 1630, making it one of the oldest cities in the country, and it was the scene of many important events in the American Revolution. Today, the city is an international center for medicine and higher learning.
This city of 90 square miles is home to one of the most densely populated regions in the United States. The city had a population of 618,000 people in 2010, which has increased to approximately {pop}.
The city of Boston is home to an estimated 667,137 people in 2016, although the Greater Boston area is home to an estimated 4.7 million, making it the 10th largest metropolitan area in the United States. As a commuting region, Greater Boston has an even larger population of 8.1 million, which makes it the 6th largest Combined Statistical Area in the country.
Population Density in Boston
Boston has a density of 13,841 people per square mile (5,344/square kilometer), and Greater Boston is the 4th most densely populated region in the United States, after New York Metro Area, Greater Los Angeles, and South Florida Metro Area. Somerville, a city just north of Boston and included in its metropolitan area, has the highest population density of 18,431.6 people per square mile.
Interestingly, Boston's actual population fluctuates rapidly between day and night, as well as during special events. It's estimated that 1.2 million people are in the city during work hours, and 2 million during special events in the city, as hundreds of thousands of residents in the suburbs commute to the city for education, health care, and work.
Boston Diversity
Whites represented a 94.7% majority of the city's population in 1950, but the percentage of non-Hispanic whites in the region declined for much of the next 50 years. By 2000, non-Hispanic whites accounted for just 49.5% of the population, which made Boston a majority-minority city for the first time in its history. Over the last decade, the city has experienced a great deal of gentrification, and the percentage of non-Hispanic whites was starting to grow. By 2010, this trend reversed once more, partially due to the housing crash, and the minority population rebounded in Boston.
The single largest ethnic group in Boston is Irish, which accounts for 15.8% of the population, followed by Italians with 8.3% of the population. Those of West Indian ancestry account for 6% of Boston's population, and some areas have seen a great deal of immigration from Vietnam recently, while other areas are seeing an increase in the number of Dominican Americans. South Asians account for a substantial amount of Boston's immigration, and the city has the 10th largest Indian population in the United States.
There are also about 25,000 Jews in Boston, or 227,000 in its metropolitan area, while nearby communities like Newton are nearly one-third Jewish.
Boston Population Growth
Boston is experiencing colossal growth lately thanks to an immigration boom, and the Boston area gained close to 55,000 residents in the two years following the 2010 Census, according to 2013 estimates from the Census Bureau. This is also the first time Boston's population has passed 600,000 since the 1970s.
While the state's population growth of 1.5% is just behind the nation's rate of 1.7%, Massachusetts as a whole is still doing better than most of the country, and it's now the fastest growing state in the Northeast.
It seems most of the growth in the state is comprised of immigrants, who have been critical to the state's growth over the past ten years. Without immigration, the state's population would have declined.
In 1990, Boston's population was 20% foreign-born, but this number has grown to 27% and shows signs of increasing. Recent immigrants to the area come mostly from Latin America and Asia, and many are coming for science and technology jobs.
Thanks to this immigration boom, Boston's population is also growing younger, as nearly one-third of its residents are 20-34, which is younger than most other major cities in the country.
Boston is growing at its fastest rate in decades, which is transforming the city with more than 5,000 homes in development. While immigrants and young families are moving to Boston, so too are major companies, which are attracted by talented workers in the region.
To keep up with this rapid growth, Boston is now attempting to rapidly expand housing with plans for 30,000 new housing units by 2020. The city's population growth rate of 3.1% is expected to continue through at least 2020, reaching around 780,000 to 790,000 by the next Census in 2020.
Boston Demographics
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Boston was:
- White: 48.6%
- Black or African American: 22.52%
- Two or more races: 11.97%
- Asian: 9.67%
- Other race: 6.81%
- Native American: 0.34%
- Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.08%
State
Massachusetts
County
Middlesex County
Norfolk County
Suffolk County
Land Area (mi²)
48.3
sq mi
Density (mi²)
13,376.50
/sq mi
Growth Since 2020
-4.27% (
-28,844
)
The current population of Boston, Massachusetts is 646,622 based on our projections of the latest US Census estimates (released May 2024). The last official US Census in 2020 recorded the population at 675,466.
Population by Race
White
Black or African American
Two or more races
Asian
Other race
Native American
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Boston Population by Race
Boston Population Pyramid 2024
Boston Median Age
32.9
Total
32.4
Male
33.4
Female
Boston Adults
There are 561,671 adults, (82,036 of whom are seniors) in Boston.
Boston Age Dependency
38.8
Age Dependency Ratio
17.1
Old Age Dependency Ratio
21.7
Child Dependency Ratio
Boston Sex Ratio
Female | 345,154 | 51.83% |
Male | 320,791 | 48.17% |
Boston Population by Age
Boston Renter vs Owner Occupied by Household Type
Household Type | Count | Average Size | Owner | Renter |
---|---|---|---|---|
All | 276,053 | 2.26 | 34.8 | 65.2 |
Non Family | 147,583 | 1.47 | 25.1 | 74.9 |
Married | 78,195 | 3.13 | 57.4 | 42.6 |
Female | 38,957 | 3.28 | 27.1 | 72.9 |
Male | 11,318 | 2.93 | 32.6 | 67.4 |
3.05
Average Family Size
2.26
Average Household Size
34.8%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Boston Households and Families
Male
Female
Less Than 9th Grade
9th to 12th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Associates Degree
Bachelors Degree
Graduate Degree
Boston Educational Attainment by Sex (over 25)
Boston Educational Attainment by Race
High School Graduation Rate
Bachelors Rate
The highest rate of high school graduation is among white people with a rate of 97.19%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among white people with a rate of 73.77%.
Boston Educational Attainment by Race
All
Male
Female
$62,862
Average Earnings
$68,304
Average Male
$58,201
Average Female
Boston Earnings by Educational Attainment
Boston Language by Age
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
Boston Language
63.99% of Boston residents speak only English, while 36.01% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 16.08% of the population.
Boston Language
Boston Poverty by Race
rate
17.47%
Overall Poverty Rate
16.36%
Male Poverty Rate
18.52%
Female Poverty Rate
Poverty in Boston
The race most likely to be in poverty in Boston is Islander, with 31.34% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Boston is White, with 10.91% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 1.69%. Among those working part-time, it was 22.25%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 39.01%.
Boston Poverty
rate
Download Table Data
Rate | Poverty |
---|---|
Less Than 9th Grade | 32.8% |
High School | 20.89% |
Some College | 15.73% |
Bachelors or Greater | 7.11% |
Boston Poverty Rate by Education
rate
Boston Poverty Rate by Employment Status and Sex
Boston Income by Household Type
Households
Families
MarriedFamilies
NonFamilies
mean
median
Income by Household Type
Boston Marital Status
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Marriage Rates
31.3%
Overall Marriage Rate
34.3%
Male Marriage Rate
28.7%
Female Marriage Rate
Boston Married by Age and Sex
male
female
Boston Marriage
The age group where males are most likely to be married is Over 65, while the female age group most likely to be married is 45-54.
Boston Marital Status by Race
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Boston Marital Status
Second Gulf War
First Gulf War
Vietnam
Korea
World War II
Boston Veterans by War
count
Boston Veterans by Age
count
Boston Veterans by Race
Boston Veterans by Education
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
11%
Veteran Poverty Rate
28.19%
Veteran Disability Rate
Boston Veterans by Education
LaborForceParticipation
69.7%
Labor Force Participation
65.1%
Employment Rate
6.6%
Unemployment Rate
Boston Employment by Age
LaborForceParticipation
Boston Employment by Race
LaborForceParticipation
Boston Employment by Education
Origin of Non-Citizens
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Origin of Naturalized Citizens
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
42.93%
Born in Boston
71.94%
Native Born
28.06%
Foreign Born
13.22%
Non Citizen
14.84%
Naturalized
Place of Birth
71.94% of Boston residents were born in the United States, with 42.93% having been born in Massachusetts. 13.22% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Latin America.
Boston Place of Birth
Note: data after 2022 is projected based on recent change
Year | Population | Growth | Growth Rate |
---|---|---|---|
2029 | 610,567 | -7,211 | -1.17% |
2028 | 617,778 | -7,211 | -1.15% |
2027 | 624,989 | -7,211 | -1.14% |
2026 | 632,200 | -7,211 | -1.13% |
2025 | 639,411 | -7,211 | -1.12% |
2024 | 646,622 | -7,211 | -1.1% |
2023 | 653,833 | 590 | 0.09% |
2022 | 653,243 | -4,040 | -0.61% |
2021 | 657,283 | -18,183 | -2.69% |
2020 | 675,466 | -19,195 | -2.76% |
2019 | 694,661 | 2,613 | 0.38% |
2018 | 692,048 | 3,809 | 0.55% |
2017 | 688,239 | 8,021 | 1.18% |
2016 | 680,218 | 9,236 | 1.38% |
2015 | 670,982 | 7,722 | 1.16% |
2014 | 663,260 | 9,948 | 1.52% |
2013 | 653,312 | 10,132 | 1.58% |
2012 | 643,180 | 12,560 | 1.99% |
2011 | 630,620 | 9,567 | 1.54% |
2010 | 621,053 | 0 | 0% |
2000 | 589,141 | 14,858 | 2.59% |
1990 | 574,283 | 11,289 | 2.01% |
1980 | 562,994 | -78,077 | -12.18% |
1970 | 641,071 | -56,126 | -8.05% |
1960 | 697,197 | -104,247 | -13.01% |
1950 | 801,444 | 30,628 | 3.97% |
1940 | 770,816 | -10,372 | -1.33% |
1930 | 781,188 | 33,128 | 4.43% |
1920 | 748,060 | 77,475 | 11.55% |
1910 | 670,585 | 109,693 | 19.56% |
1900 | 560,892 | 112,415 | 25.07% |
1890 | 448,477 | 85,638 | 23.6% |
1880 | 362,839 | 112,313 | 44.83% |
1870 | 250,526 | 72,686 | 40.87% |
1860 | 177,840 | 40,959 | 29.92% |
1850 | 136,881 | 43,498 | 46.58% |
1840 | 93,383 | 31,991 | 52.11% |
1830 | 61,392 | 18,094 | 41.79% |
1820 | 43,298 | 9,511 | 28.15% |
1810 | 33,787 | 8,850 | 35.49% |
1800 | 24,937 | 6,617 | 36.12% |
1790 | 18,320 | -592,247 | -97% |
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