Population 19,700 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Central
Household size in Central
| Period | Central | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.78 | 2.54 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 1.81 | 2.59 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 1.81 | 2.60 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.74 | 2.55 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.05 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Central is a place of small households, averaging 1.74 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 1.78, mirroring the country. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the south.
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 Central
| Period | Central | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.3 | 38.9 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 34.3 | 39.7 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 33.6 | 40.4 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 33.9 | 40.8 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.4 | +1.9 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
With a median age of just 33.9, Central is far younger than the country as a whole (40.1), a population that tilts toward young adults, many of them living alone or as couples. The median age has edged down from 34.3 in 2006–10, even as the national median rose.
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 Central
| Period | Central | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.7% | 10.4% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 3.4% | 10.2% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 2.5% | 9.6% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.0% | 9.7% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | −0.7 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Central: 4.0% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has edged down 0.7 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Central has a lower share of single-parent households than at least four in five Boston neighborhoods.
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 Central
Renters in Central
| Period | Central | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 75.6% | 36.8% | 36.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 73.3% | 38.5% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 76.5% | 38.3% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 77.8% | 38.4% | 37.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.2 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in Central: 77.8% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. Among homeowners, 50.8% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has risen 2.2 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Central
| Period | Central | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.7% | 8.1% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.3% | 7.4% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 17.8% | 7.3% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.8% | 6.7% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | +10.1 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Central: 21.8% of homes are empty, 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. Vacancy has risen 10.1 points since 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 Central
| Period | Central | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1965 | 1958 | 1958 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1970 | 1959 | 1959 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1984 | 1961 | 1961 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1989 | 1964 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | +24 | +6 | +5 | +6 |
Central has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1989, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1965 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the south, the oldest in the northwest. No other Boston neighborhood has newer homes.
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 Central
| Period | Central | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,349 | $1,171 | $1,085 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,493 | $1,251 | $1,157 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,042 | $1,537 | $1,398 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,662 | $2,051 | $1,860 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,312 | +$881 | +$775 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Central costs $2,662 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $1,312 a month since 2006–10, up 97%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 32.2% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the northwest and lowest in the southwest.
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 Central
Bachelor's degrees in Central
| Period | Central | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 55.5% | 42.2% | 38.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 61.5% | 44.1% | 40.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 64.8% | 48.2% | 43.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 66.8% | 51.9% | 47.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +11.4 pts | +9.7 pts | +8.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Central: 66.8% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. The share with a degree has risen 11.4 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Central
| Period | Central | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 78.1% | 89.8% | 88.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 82.2% | 90.6% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 83.6% | 91.5% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 88.8% | 91.8% | 91.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +10.7 pts | +2.1 pts | +2.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Central is close to the national rate: 88.8% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in the wider Boston area (91.8%). The share with a diploma is up 10.7 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 Central
| Period | Central | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.3% | 7.0% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.5% | 8.0% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.2% | 4.6% | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.4% | 4.9% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Central runs well above the national rate: 7.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 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).
Central 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| Dock Square | 1.65 | 32.0 | 3.4% | 80.2% | 16.7% | 1966 | $3,000 | 82.9% | 97.7% | 2.8% |
| 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% |
| East Cambridge | 1.83 | 31.8 | 3.4% | 78.1% | 15.6% | 1984 | $3,165 | 82.0% | 96.5% | 3.3% |
| South Boston | 1.84 | 35.7 | 7.8% | 68.8% | 11.3% | 1981 | $2,797 | 71.3% | 95.8% | 5.5% |
| Waterfront | 2.02 | 48.7 | 8.0% | 43.6% | 8.2% | 1961 | $2,403 | 57.1% | 88.6% | 4.9% |
| MIT | 2.07 | 22.3 | 4.2% | 100.0% | 10.3% | 1977 | $2,752 | 97.0% | 99.8% | 3.8% |
| Gove Street | 2.23 | 33.3 | 9.9% | 78.5% | 6.7% | 1963 | $2,133 | 44.0% | 77.6% | 5.2% |
| Dorchester Heights | 2.05 | 32.5 | 5.4% | 49.4% | 8.6% | 1960 | $3,107 | 76.2% | 97.4% | 2.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Western Branch North, Chesapeake, VA · Wicker Park, Chicago, IL · Flour Bluff, Corpus Christi, TX · Weston Ranch, Stockton, CA · Bay Terraces, San Diego, CA · Beach Haven, Jacksonville, FL · Belair, Augusta, GA · Theater District, Manhattan, NY · South, Raleigh, NC · Chevy Chase, Washington, DC
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 Central. 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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