Boston Indicators

11/19/2019

GREATER BOSTON’S affordable housing crisis is front-page news these days, and a frequent topic of conversation in housing circles. But the reference to a single housing crisis is off-base; we have two. The first crisis is a consequence of the fact that we don’t treat housing as a human right in ...

10/10/2019

Outside of Boston, the region’s people of color population grew 254 percent since 1990, compared with 63 percent within Boston. Explore your own town’s shifting demographics at https://www.bostonindicators.org/reports/report-website-pages/changing-faces-of-greater-boston/explore-the-data

10/04/2019

The Northeast is losing more residents than any other region. Fortunately, Massachusetts actually gained in recent years, as increases from international migration outpaced domestic losses.

The Northeast is losing more residents than any other region. Fortunately, Massachusetts actually gained in recent years, as increases from international migration outpaced domestic losses.

10/01/2019

Massachusetts is one of the richest states in the country, so we ought to be able to provide everyone a basic standard of living. And yet Massachusetts has a poverty rate higher than 24 other states.

Massachusetts is one of the richest states in the country, so we ought to be able to provide everyone a basic standard of living. And yet Massachusetts has a poverty rate higher than 24 other states.

09/30/2019

Between 1970 and 2010, the Census response rate fell from 78% to 63%. As a result, the Census Bureau must spend more money to reach every household – from $16/household in 1970, to a projected $107/household for .

Due in part to our large share of renters and students living in college dorms, Boston has the highest share of residents living in hard to count tracts among eight similar U.S. cities.

09/24/2019

Massachusetts’ net population growth due to migration was the most of any Northeastern state, and was driven by people moving to the Commonwealth from outside the country. https://bit.ly/2UcT8QS

The Northeast is losing more residents than any other region. Fortunately, Massachusetts actually gained in recent years, as increases from international migration outpaced domestic losses.

09/20/2019

Off-year elections, such as the upcoming 2019 races in Boston, often see low voter turnout. Only 1 in 7 voters cast a ballot in 2015's city council elections--just over a third of the 2013 mayoral race's turnout (and half of 2017's).

Only 1 in 7 voters cast a ballot in the 2015 off-year city council elections--less than the turnout in the 2013 mayor’s race.

09/17/2019

A growing federal effort to limit immigration to the U.S. has had substantial impact on families, communities and the legal system in Massachusetts.

A growing federal effort to limit immigration to the U.S. has had substantial impact on families, communities and the legal system in Massachusetts.

09/12/2019

More than 90 percent of our region’s net population growth since 1990 has come from new immigrants. More on Greater Boston’s shifting populations at

After a decline during the mid-20th century, we’re now several decades into a new global wave of immigration, bringing Boston back to its roots as a city of immigrants.

09/12/2019

Massachusetts is one of the richest states in the country, so we ought to be able to provide everyone a basic standard of living. And yet Massachusetts has a poverty rate higher than 24 other states.

09/10/2019

Have you ever been confused about how the Census measures race and ethnicity? You’re not alone. Check out our explainer of the race/ethnicity question appearing on at https://bit.ly/2XmVZrP.

There’s a complex history to how the Census asks about race and ethnicity – one that complicates our ability to track important demographic changes.

09/06/2019

Not only have commutes gotten longer for most people, some areas of our region have historically been especially poorly served by their transportation options. More on commuting at https://bit.ly/2FLvtSI

Not only have commutes gotten longer for most people, some areas of our region have historically been especially poorly served by their transportation options.