Population 19,732 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Chestnut Hill
Household size in Chestnut Hill
| Period | Chestnut Hill | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.57 | 2.54 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.62 | 2.59 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.71 | 2.60 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.70 | 2.55 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.13 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Chestnut Hill average 2.70 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). The typical household here is bigger than in the Boston area overall, where it has 2.55 people. Household size has climbed from 2.57 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell.
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 Chestnut Hill
| Period | Chestnut Hill | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.2 | 38.9 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 35.1 | 39.7 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 37.6 | 40.4 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.4 | 40.8 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.2 | +1.9 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
Chestnut Hill is a little younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 38.4, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 36.2, in line with the national trend. Only 25 of the 275 Massachusetts cities with 5,000+ people are 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 Chestnut Hill
| Period | Chestnut Hill | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.8% | 10.4% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.2% | 10.2% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.5% | 9.6% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.6% | 9.7% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.8 pts | −0.7 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.6% of households in Chestnut Hill, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is up 0.8 points from 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
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 Chestnut Hill
Renters in Chestnut Hill
| Period | Chestnut Hill | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.2% | 36.8% | 36.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 26.7% | 38.5% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 29.7% | 38.3% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 26.6% | 38.4% | 37.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Chestnut Hill own their homes; 26.6% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 48.2% have no mortgage at all, above 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 Chestnut Hill
| Period | Chestnut Hill | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.3% | 8.1% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.3% | 7.4% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.3% | 7.3% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.5% | 6.7% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.2 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Chestnut Hill: 7.5% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. That is in line with the rest of the Boston area. Compared with other Massachusetts cities, though, Chestnut Hill has a higher vacancy rate than most.
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 Chestnut Hill
| Period | Chestnut Hill | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1950 | 1958 | 1958 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1950 | 1959 | 1959 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1951 | 1961 | 1961 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1951 | 1964 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | +1 | +6 | +5 | +6 |
Chestnut Hill is a place of older homes: half were built before 1951, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Newer construction is concentrated in the southwest, while the northwest has the oldest housing. Only 23 of the 275 Massachusetts cities with 5,000+ people have older 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 Chestnut Hill
| Period | Chestnut Hill | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,766 | $1,171 | $1,085 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,865 | $1,251 | $1,157 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,268 | $1,537 | $1,398 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,737 | $2,051 | $1,860 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$971 | +$881 | +$775 | +$606 |
The median renter in Chestnut Hill pays $2,737 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $971 a month since 2006–10, up 55%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 28.2% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the south and lowest in the northwest.
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 Chestnut Hill
Bachelor's degrees in Chestnut Hill
| Period | Chestnut Hill | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 82.9% | 42.2% | 38.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 82.6% | 44.1% | 40.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 83.8% | 48.2% | 43.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 85.4% | 51.9% | 47.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +2.5 pts | +9.7 pts | +8.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
Chestnut Hill is highly educated: nearly nine in ten adults 25 and older (85.4%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 2.5 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Only five of the 275 Massachusetts cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of college graduates.
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 Chestnut Hill
| Period | Chestnut Hill | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 97.6% | 89.8% | 88.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 97.9% | 90.6% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 98.8% | 91.5% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.4% | 91.8% | 91.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | +2.1 pts | +2.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Chestnut Hill: 96.4% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has edged down 1.2 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate rose.
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 Chestnut Hill
| Period | Chestnut Hill | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.3% | 7.0% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.9% | 8.0% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.1% | 4.6% | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.0% | 4.9% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.4 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Chestnut Hill has been strong: just 3.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Chestnut Hill has lower unemployment than at least four in five Massachusetts cities. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's 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).
Chestnut Hill 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chestnut Hill | 2.70 | 38.4 | 6.6% | 26.6% | 7.5% | 1951 | $2,737 | 85.4% | 96.4% | 3.0% |
| Newton Center | 2.70 | 46.1 | 3.1% | 16.0% | 5.1% | 1949 | $2,781 | 86.1% | 98.8% | 3.8% |
| Brighton | 2.00 | 31.4 | 6.1% | 76.3% | 6.9% | 1956 | $2,204 | 72.1% | 88.7% | 3.6% |
| Newton Highlands | 2.55 | 43.9 | 3.9% | 29.2% | 5.3% | 1950 | $2,340 | 85.3% | 97.7% | 3.5% |
| Brookline | 2.20 | 36.1 | 4.6% | 56.8% | 4.7% | 1946 | $2,825 | 85.1% | 97.7% | 4.0% |
| Allston | 2.21 | 28.4 | 6.2% | 87.6% | 10.5% | 1955 | $2,483 | 73.5% | 95.3% | 5.9% |
| Newton Upper Falls | 2.58 | 44.0 | 4.1% | 30.0% | 5.2% | 1947 | $2,278 | 76.6% | 96.2% | 4.3% |
| West Roxbury | 2.32 | 43.9 | 8.8% | 33.7% | 9.6% | 1952 | $2,255 | 66.4% | 95.7% | 3.9% |
| Jamaica Plain | 2.30 | 34.2 | 8.0% | 61.4% | 5.6% | 1955 | $2,359 | 68.4% | 90.6% | 4.4% |
| Newton | 2.55 | 40.8 | 7.8% | 38.3% | 6.7% | 1944 | $2,362 | 76.6% | 96.5% | 3.9% |
| Newtonville | 2.64 | 43.3 | 4.9% | 43.2% | 6.7% | 1943 | $2,603 | 80.4% | 98.3% | 3.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Chatham, NJ · Berea, OH · Bethpage, NY · Bon Air, VA · Bonita, CA · Webster, MA · Wayne, MI · Brewster, NY · Brookfield, CT · Bryant, AR
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 Chestnut Hill. 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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