Population 23,885 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Back Bay
Household size in Back Bay
| Period | Back Bay | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.63 | 2.54 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 1.66 | 2.59 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 1.66 | 2.60 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.57 | 2.55 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.06 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Back Bay is a place of small households, averaging 1.57 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 1.63, mirroring the country. Back Bay has the smallest households of any Boston neighborhood.
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 Back Bay
| Period | Back Bay | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.7 | 38.9 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 35.8 | 39.7 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 34.4 | 40.4 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.8 | 40.8 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.1 | +1.9 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
Back Bay is a little younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 37.8, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has climbed from 33.7 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Residents skew youngest in the west and oldest in the southeast.
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 Back Bay
| Period | Back Bay | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.3% | 10.4% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 3.5% | 10.2% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 2.9% | 9.6% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.4% | 9.7% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −5.0 pts | −0.7 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Back Bay: 3.4% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has fallen 5.0 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of Boston's 20 neighborhoods, only two have a lower share of single-parent households.
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 Back Bay
Renters in Back Bay
| Period | Back Bay | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 65.8% | 36.8% | 36.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 65.0% | 38.5% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 66.7% | 38.3% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 67.6% | 38.4% | 37.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.9 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in Back Bay: 67.6% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. About half of owners (48.8%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the southwest; owners are most common in the center. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 1.9 points, as it has nationally.
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 Back Bay
| Period | Back Bay | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.0% | 8.1% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.4% | 7.4% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 15.0% | 7.3% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 19.3% | 6.7% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | +7.3 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 19.3% of the housing in Back Bay, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Since 2006–10, vacancy has risen 7.3 points, 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 Back Bay
| Period | Back Bay | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1946 | 1958 | 1958 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1948 | 1959 | 1959 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1950 | 1961 | 1961 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1950 | 1964 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +6 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Back Bay is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1950, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1946 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the east, the oldest in the center.
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 Back Bay
| Period | Back Bay | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,551 | $1,171 | $1,085 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,690 | $1,251 | $1,157 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,135 | $1,537 | $1,398 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,565 | $2,051 | $1,860 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,015 | +$881 | +$775 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Back Bay costs $2,565 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $1,015 a month since 2006–10, up 65%, roughly in step with the nation. The typical renter here spends 31.2% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the west; the most affordable are in the southeast.
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 Back Bay
Bachelor's degrees in Back Bay
| Period | Back Bay | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 79.6% | 42.2% | 38.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 82.2% | 44.1% | 40.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 84.1% | 48.2% | 43.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 84.2% | 51.9% | 47.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.7 pts | +9.7 pts | +8.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
Back Bay is highly educated: just over eight in ten adults 25 and older (84.2%) 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 4.7 points, mirroring the country. Back Bay has the highest share of college graduates of any Boston neighborhood.
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 Back Bay
| Period | Back Bay | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 95.6% | 89.8% | 88.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.6% | 90.6% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 96.2% | 91.5% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.6% | 91.8% | 91.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.0 pts | +2.1 pts | +2.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Back Bay: 96.6% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has edged up 1.0 points, a smaller shift than nationally. Few Boston neighborhoods have a higher share of high school graduates: only two of 20.
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 Back Bay
| Period | Back Bay | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.1% | 7.0% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.8% | 8.0% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.9% | 4.6% | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.1% | 4.9% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.0 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Back Bay runs below the national rate: 4.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Back Bay has lower unemployment than at least four in five Boston neighborhoods. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
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).
Back Bay compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Back Bay | 1.57 | 37.8 | 3.4% | 67.6% | 19.3% | 1950 | $2,565 | 84.2% | 96.6% | 4.1% |
| South End | 1.89 | 37.8 | 6.3% | 64.7% | 10.3% | 1959 | $2,363 | 68.9% | 90.9% | 6.1% |
| Central | 1.74 | 33.9 | 4.0% | 77.8% | 21.8% | 1989 | $2,662 | 66.8% | 88.8% | 7.4% |
| Downtown Crossing | 1.68 | 37.9 | 3.0% | 67.0% | 18.9% | 1954 | $2,722 | 77.3% | 92.4% | 2.6% |
| MIT | 2.07 | 22.3 | 4.2% | 100.0% | 10.3% | 1977 | $2,752 | 97.0% | 99.8% | 3.8% |
| Fenway-Kenmore | 1.72 | 25.4 | 4.7% | 89.2% | 18.9% | 1959 | $2,266 | 76.9% | 94.7% | 9.1% |
| East Cambridge | 1.83 | 31.8 | 3.4% | 78.1% | 15.6% | 1984 | $3,165 | 82.0% | 96.5% | 3.3% |
| Area IV | 2.24 | 30.4 | 12.5% | 77.8% | 4.8% | 1962 | $2,366 | 71.0% | 92.0% | 4.2% |
| Dock Square | 1.65 | 32.0 | 3.4% | 80.2% | 16.7% | 1966 | $3,000 | 82.9% | 97.7% | 2.8% |
| Wellington-Harrington | 2.28 | 31.1 | 10.9% | 73.9% | 4.5% | 1942 | $2,652 | 64.4% | 90.8% | 2.2% |
| Cambridgeport | 2.01 | 32.9 | 8.4% | 64.5% | 7.1% | 1964 | $2,822 | 84.0% | 96.3% | 3.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Shadow Creek Ranch, Pearland, TX · Eastchester, Bronx, NY · Highland, St. Paul, MN · Portar Ranch, Northridge, CA · Northwest Austin, Austin, TX · Roxborough, Philadelphia, PA · Oxon Hill-Glassmanor, Oxon Hill, MD · Cooper Mountain-Aloha North, Aloha, OR · Greater Landover, Landover, MD · Greater Upper Marlboro, Brock Hall, 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 Back Bay. 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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