Population 11,360 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Dock Square
Household size in Dock Square
| Period | Dock Square | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.61 | 2.54 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 1.77 | 2.59 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 1.73 | 2.60 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.65 | 2.55 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.04 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Dock Square is a place of small households, averaging 1.65 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has crept up from 1.61 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. Only one other Boston neighborhood has smaller households.
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 Dock Square
| Period | Dock Square | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.5 | 38.9 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 33.0 | 39.7 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 33.7 | 40.4 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 32.0 | 40.8 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.5 | +1.9 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
Dock Square is young: half of its residents are under 32.0, 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 edged down from 32.5 in 2006–10, even as the national median rose. Few Boston neighborhoods are younger: only two of 20.
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 Dock Square
| Period | Dock Square | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.9% | 10.4% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.2% | 10.2% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 1.9% | 9.6% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.4% | 9.7% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | −0.7 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Dock Square: 3.4% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is down 1.5 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only one other Boston neighborhood has 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 Dock Square
Renters in Dock Square
| Period | Dock Square | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 72.8% | 36.8% | 36.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 69.8% | 38.5% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 74.2% | 38.3% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 80.2% | 38.4% | 37.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | +7.4 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Dock Square rent: 80.2% of occupied homes are rented, far above the national share of 34.8%. Expect more apartments, and more turnover, than in owner-heavy areas. Among homeowners, 32.3% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has risen 7.4 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than 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 Dock Square
| Period | Dock Square | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.7% | 8.1% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.5% | 7.4% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 14.7% | 7.3% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.7% | 6.7% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | +6.0 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 16.7% of the housing in Dock Square, 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 6.0 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 Dock Square
| Period | Dock Square | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1943 | 1958 | 1958 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1956 | 1959 | 1959 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1951 | 1961 | 1961 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1966 | 1964 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | +23 | +6 | +5 | +6 |
Dock Square is a place of older homes: half were built before 1966, 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.
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 Dock Square
| Period | Dock Square | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,525 | $1,171 | $1,085 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,798 | $1,251 | $1,157 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,368 | $1,537 | $1,398 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $3,000 | $2,051 | $1,860 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,474 | +$881 | +$775 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Dock Square costs $3,000 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $1,474 a month since 2006–10, up 97%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 29.0% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Only one other Boston neighborhood has higher rents.
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 Dock Square
Bachelor's degrees in Dock Square
| Period | Dock Square | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 59.8% | 42.2% | 38.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 66.5% | 44.1% | 40.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 74.5% | 48.2% | 43.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 82.9% | 51.9% | 47.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +23.1 pts | +9.7 pts | +8.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
Dock Square is highly educated: just over eight in ten adults 25 and older (82.9%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 23.1 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only one other Boston neighborhood has 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 Dock Square
| Period | Dock Square | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 87.2% | 89.8% | 88.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.4% | 90.6% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.1% | 91.5% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 97.7% | 91.8% | 91.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +10.5 pts | +2.1 pts | +2.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Dock Square: 97.7% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 10.5 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Dock Square has the highest share of high school graduates of any Boston neighborhood.
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 Dock Square
| Period | Dock Square | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.3% | 7.0% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.5% | 8.0% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.3% | 4.6% | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.8% | 4.9% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Dock Square has been low: just 2.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Of Boston's 20 neighborhoods, only two have lower unemployment. 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).
Dock Square 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dock Square | 1.65 | 32.0 | 3.4% | 80.2% | 16.7% | 1966 | $3,000 | 82.9% | 97.7% | 2.8% |
| Downtown Crossing | 1.68 | 37.9 | 3.0% | 67.0% | 18.9% | 1954 | $2,722 | 77.3% | 92.4% | 2.6% |
| Central | 1.74 | 33.9 | 4.0% | 77.8% | 21.8% | 1989 | $2,662 | 66.8% | 88.8% | 7.4% |
| Waterfront | 2.02 | 48.7 | 8.0% | 43.6% | 8.2% | 1961 | $2,403 | 57.1% | 88.6% | 4.9% |
| Gove Street | 2.23 | 33.3 | 9.9% | 78.5% | 6.7% | 1963 | $2,133 | 44.0% | 77.6% | 5.2% |
| East Cambridge | 1.83 | 31.8 | 3.4% | 78.1% | 15.6% | 1984 | $3,165 | 82.0% | 96.5% | 3.3% |
| Back Bay | 1.57 | 37.8 | 3.4% | 67.6% | 19.3% | 1950 | $2,565 | 84.2% | 96.6% | 4.1% |
| Day Square | 2.81 | 35.5 | 18.8% | 73.7% | 9.0% | 1944 | $2,136 | 34.1% | 71.6% | 7.7% |
| East Boston | 2.56 | 37.9 | 11.3% | 67.1% | 8.4% | 1955 | $1,963 | 39.9% | 79.3% | 6.4% |
| South End | 1.89 | 37.8 | 6.3% | 64.7% | 10.3% | 1959 | $2,363 | 68.9% | 90.9% | 6.1% |
| South Boston | 1.84 | 35.7 | 7.8% | 68.8% | 11.3% | 1981 | $2,797 | 71.3% | 95.8% | 5.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Point Place, Toledo, OH · Brooklyn-Curtis Bay, Brooklyn, MD · Brookline, Pittsburgh, PA · Riviera, Santa Barbara, CA · River Mountain, Henderson, NV · Forest Park, Portland, OR · Northwest Nashua, Nashua, NH · Berkeley Hills, Berkeley, CA · Far South, Columbus, OH · Dellview Area, San Antonio, TX
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 Dock Square. 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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