Population 894 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Boston
Household size in Boston
| Period | Boston | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.57 | 2.73 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.97 | 2.82 | 2.68 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.08 | 2.86 | 2.68 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.57 | 2.77 | 2.62 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.00 | +0.04 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Boston run a little small, averaging 2.57 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children.
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 Boston
| Period | Boston | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.0 | 37.0 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.1 | 37.6 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.9 | 38.5 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 48.6 | 39.2 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +5.6 | +2.2 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 48.6, Boston is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 43.0, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
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 Boston
| Period | Boston | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.5% | 11.3% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.6% | 11.3% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.7% | 10.4% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.4% | 10.4% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −7.1 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Boston: 3.4% of households, against 11.6% nationally.
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 Boston
Renters in Boston
| Period | Boston | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.0% | 34.0% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 15.8% | 36.6% | 33.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.0% | 36.8% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 4.9% | 36.3% | 32.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −13.2 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 4.9% of households in Boston rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 20.9% have no mortgage at all, well below the national share of 39.8%.
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 Boston
| Period | Boston | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.9% | 8.7% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.8% | 7.3% | 10.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 17.3% | 6.6% | 9.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.1% | 5.9% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.8 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Boston is close to the national rate: 11.1% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in the wider Washington area (5.9%).
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 Boston
| Period | Boston | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1987 | 1977 | 1978 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1982 | 1978 | 1980 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1990 | 1979 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1991 | 1982 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +6 | +5 | +6 |
Boston has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1991, versus 1980 nationally.
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 Boston
| Period | Boston | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $958 | $1,470 | $1,143 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,134 | $1,583 | $1,238 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,196 | $1,907 | $1,436 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,641 | $2,236 | $1,743 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$683 | +$766 | +$600 | +$606 |
The median renter in Boston pays $1,641 a month for rent and utilities, close to the national median of $1,571. Rents here are lower than in the Washington area as a whole ($2,236). The typical renter here spends 22.5% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
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 Boston
Bachelor's degrees in Boston
| Period | Boston | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.3% | 46.6% | 35.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.6% | 48.2% | 36.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.3% | 51.0% | 39.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 19.9% | 53.9% | 42.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Boston: 19.9% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%.
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 Boston
| Period | Boston | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 79.8% | 89.4% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 79.4% | 90.2% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 82.6% | 90.8% | 89.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.1% | 91.2% | 91.6% | 89.3% |
| Change | +10.3 pts | +1.7 pts | +4.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Boston is close to the national rate: 90.1% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%.
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 Boston
| Period | Boston | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.3% | 5.9% | 6.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.7% | 6.9% | 7.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.1% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.2% | 4.8% | 4.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Boston has been strong: just 2.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. 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).
Boston 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | 2.57 | 48.6 | 3.4% | 4.9% | 11.1% | 1991 | $1,641 | 19.9% | 90.1% | 2.2% |
| Scrabble | 2.01 | 56.1 | 9.1% | 18.1% | 13.5% | 1986 | $1,448 | 22.3% | 94.4% | 0.0% |
| Reva | 2.48 | 44.6 | 6.8% | 11.6% | 10.4% | 1984 | $1,385 | 19.0% | 87.6% | 4.3% |
| Haywood | 2.42 | 45.3 | 8.8% | 27.5% | 14.1% | 1976 | $997 | 22.8% | 84.5% | 5.3% |
| Castleton | 2.13 | 54.7 | 8.8% | 18.7% | 13.1% | 1986 | $1,370 | 26.1% | 93.7% | 2.9% |
| Etlan | 2.22 | 50.4 | 5.0% | 38.4% | 10.4% | 1972 | $828 | 29.2% | 82.1% | 6.1% |
| Rixeyville | 2.86 | 45.3 | 4.5% | 8.6% | 4.7% | 1990 | $1,392 | 24.8% | 90.2% | 3.1% |
| Rock Mills | 2.06 | 57.6 | 9.3% | 20.4% | 15.7% | 1985 | $1,448 | 30.9% | 95.3% | 5.5% |
| Brightwood | 2.57 | 48.0 | 9.5% | 13.2% | 9.5% | 1982 | $1,169 | 25.0% | 86.5% | 5.4% |
| Culpeper | 2.88 | 37.9 | 15.0% | 30.1% | 4.6% | 1994 | $1,463 | 27.3% | 85.9% | 2.5% |
| Leon | 2.63 | 45.1 | 10.5% | 15.1% | 13.8% | 1983 | $1,272 | 22.7% | 87.7% | 6.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Hampton, PA · Blandinsville, IL · Garwin, IA · Willow, FL · Hebron, ND · Cabot, VT · Whites Gap, AL · Canaan, NY · Vida, OR · Winchester, KS
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 Boston. 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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