Population 19,100 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Allston
Household size in Allston
| Period | Allston | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.27 | 2.54 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.40 | 2.59 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.31 | 2.60 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.21 | 2.55 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.07 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Allston is a place of small households, averaging 2.21 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.27, in line with the national trend. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the north.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Allston
| Period | Allston | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.0 | 38.9 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 27.8 | 39.7 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 28.2 | 40.4 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 28.4 | 40.8 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.4 | +1.9 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
Allston is young: half of its residents are under 28.4, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young adults, many of them living alone or as couples. The median age has crept up from 28.0 in 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Only one other Massachusetts city with 5,000+ people is younger.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Allston
| Period | Allston | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.1% | 10.4% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 5.5% | 10.2% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.0% | 9.6% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.2% | 9.7% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.9 pts | −0.7 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.2% of households in Allston, well below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 1.9 points, mirroring the country.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Allston
Renters in Allston
| Period | Allston | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 85.7% | 36.8% | 36.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 86.8% | 38.5% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 84.3% | 38.3% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 87.6% | 38.4% | 37.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.9 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in Allston: 87.6% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. More than four in ten owners (44.0%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 1.9 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Allston has the highest share of renters of any Massachusetts city with 5,000+ people.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Allston
| Period | Allston | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.2% | 8.1% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.8% | 7.4% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.3% | 7.3% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.5% | 6.7% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.3 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Allston is close to the national rate: 10.5% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in the wider Boston area (6.7%). Vacancy is up 2.3 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Allston
| Period | Allston | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1943 | 1958 | 1958 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1941 | 1959 | 1959 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1953 | 1961 | 1961 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1955 | 1964 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | +12 | +6 | +5 | +6 |
Allston is a place of older homes: half were built before 1955, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1943 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the center, while the southeast has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Allston
| Period | Allston | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,368 | $1,171 | $1,085 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,522 | $1,251 | $1,157 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,899 | $1,537 | $1,398 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,483 | $2,051 | $1,860 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,115 | +$881 | +$775 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Allston costs $2,483 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $1,115 a month from 2006–10, an 82% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 35.2% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the southeast; the highest are in the north.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Allston
Bachelor's degrees in Allston
| Period | Allston | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 59.0% | 42.2% | 38.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 59.4% | 44.1% | 40.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 70.5% | 48.2% | 43.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 73.5% | 51.9% | 47.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +14.5 pts | +9.7 pts | +8.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
Allston is highly educated: about three-quarters of adults 25 and older (73.5%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 14.5 points, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the east and least in the west.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Allston
| Period | Allston | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.4% | 89.8% | 88.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.8% | 90.6% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.2% | 91.5% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.3% | 91.8% | 91.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.9 pts | +2.1 pts | +2.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Allston: 95.3% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 5.9 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Allston
| Period | Allston | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.2% | 7.0% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.9% | 8.0% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.9% | 4.6% | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.9% | 4.9% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.7 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.9%, unemployment in Allston is close to the national rate of 5.4%. The rate is higher than in the Boston area as a whole (4.9%). Unemployment has edged up 0.7 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Allston compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allston | 2.21 | 28.4 | 6.2% | 87.6% | 10.5% | 1955 | $2,483 | 73.5% | 95.3% | 5.9% |
| Brookline | 2.20 | 36.1 | 4.6% | 56.8% | 4.7% | 1946 | $2,825 | 85.1% | 97.7% | 4.0% |
| Brighton | 2.00 | 31.4 | 6.1% | 76.3% | 6.9% | 1956 | $2,204 | 72.1% | 88.7% | 3.6% |
| Cambridge | 2.07 | 32.1 | 6.3% | 66.6% | 11.0% | 1959 | $2,761 | 81.4% | 96.4% | 3.3% |
| Watertown | 2.47 | 43.4 | 12.3% | 49.8% | 3.6% | 1938 | $3,082 | 80.7% | 99.7% | 3.2% |
| Chestnut Hill | 2.70 | 38.4 | 6.6% | 26.6% | 7.5% | 1951 | $2,737 | 85.4% | 96.4% | 3.0% |
| Watertown Town | 2.17 | 40.8 | 5.7% | 52.3% | 5.9% | 1952 | $2,543 | 66.5% | 94.5% | 4.8% |
| Jamaica Plain | 2.30 | 34.2 | 8.0% | 61.4% | 5.6% | 1955 | $2,359 | 68.4% | 90.6% | 4.4% |
| Somerville | 2.27 | 32.9 | 3.9% | 65.7% | 6.6% | 1945 | $2,529 | 70.5% | 93.3% | 3.2% |
| Belmont | 2.61 | 44.3 | 7.1% | 34.7% | 5.9% | 1946 | $2,468 | 80.9% | 97.6% | 4.5% |
| Boston area | 2.55 | 40.8 | 9.7% | 38.4% | 6.7% | 1964 | $2,051 | 51.9% | 91.8% | 4.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Mountain House, CA · American Canyon, CA · Rolling Meadows, IL · Fallon, NV · Kennett Square, PA · Jesup, GA · Horizon City, TX · Highland Park, MI · Hayesville, OR · Greenbelt, MD
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Allston. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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