Population 6,817 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Downtown Crossing: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Downtown Crossing
Household size in Downtown Crossing
| Period | Downtown Crossing | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.76 | 2.54 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 1.68 | 2.59 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 1.75 | 2.60 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.68 | 2.55 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.08 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Downtown Crossing is a place of small households, averaging 1.68 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 1.76, as it has nationally. Of Boston's 20 neighborhoods, only two have 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 Downtown Crossing
| Period | Downtown Crossing | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.9 | 38.9 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 34.5 | 39.7 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 34.5 | 40.4 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.9 | 40.8 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.0 | +1.9 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
Downtown Crossing is a little younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 37.9, against 40.1 nationally. The youngest areas are in the north, the oldest in the west. Compared with other Boston neighborhoods, though, Downtown Crossing is older than most.
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 Downtown Crossing
| Period | Downtown Crossing | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.8% | 10.4% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 2.8% | 10.2% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 1.8% | 9.6% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.0% | 9.7% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −4.8 pts | −0.7 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Downtown Crossing: 3.0% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has fallen 4.8 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. No 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 Downtown Crossing
Renters in Downtown Crossing
| Period | Downtown Crossing | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 67.2% | 36.8% | 36.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 71.5% | 38.5% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 71.8% | 38.3% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 67.0% | 38.4% | 37.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Downtown Crossing rent: 67.0% 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, 40.2% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Rentals cluster in the center; owners are most common in the west.
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 Downtown Crossing
| Period | Downtown Crossing | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.5% | 8.1% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.0% | 7.4% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 13.2% | 7.3% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 18.9% | 6.7% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | +6.3 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 18.9% of the housing in Downtown Crossing, 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 6.3 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 Downtown Crossing
| Period | Downtown Crossing | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1938 | 1958 | 1958 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1945 | 1959 | 1959 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1946 | 1961 | 1961 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1954 | 1964 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | +16 | +6 | +5 | +6 |
Downtown Crossing is a place of older homes: half were built before 1954, 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 1938 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southeast, while the west has the oldest housing.
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 Downtown Crossing
| Period | Downtown Crossing | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,315 | $1,171 | $1,085 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,646 | $1,251 | $1,157 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,140 | $1,537 | $1,398 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,722 | $2,051 | $1,860 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,408 | +$881 | +$775 | +$606 |
The median renter in Downtown Crossing pays $2,722 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $1,408 a month from 2006–10, a 107% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 30.8% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the southeast; the most affordable are 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 Downtown Crossing
Bachelor's degrees in Downtown Crossing
| Period | Downtown Crossing | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 73.9% | 42.2% | 38.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 75.3% | 44.1% | 40.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 81.1% | 48.2% | 43.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 77.3% | 51.9% | 47.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.4 pts | +9.7 pts | +8.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
Downtown Crossing is highly educated: just over three-quarters of adults 25 and older (77.3%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 3.4 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Only two of Boston's 20 neighborhoods 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 Downtown Crossing
| Period | Downtown Crossing | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.3% | 89.8% | 88.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 96.7% | 90.6% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.1% | 91.5% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.4% | 91.8% | 91.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.1 pts | +2.1 pts | +2.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Downtown Crossing is a bit above the national rate: 92.4% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The Boston area as a whole looks much the same. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has edged up 1.1 points, a smaller shift than nationally.
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 Downtown Crossing
| Period | Downtown Crossing | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.9% | 7.0% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.3% | 8.0% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.6% | 4.6% | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.6% | 4.9% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Downtown Crossing has been strong: just 2.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Only one other Boston neighborhood has 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).
Downtown Crossing 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 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% |
| East Cambridge | 1.83 | 31.8 | 3.4% | 78.1% | 15.6% | 1984 | $3,165 | 82.0% | 96.5% | 3.3% |
| South End | 1.89 | 37.8 | 6.3% | 64.7% | 10.3% | 1959 | $2,363 | 68.9% | 90.9% | 6.1% |
| 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% |
| South Boston | 1.84 | 35.7 | 7.8% | 68.8% | 11.3% | 1981 | $2,797 | 71.3% | 95.8% | 5.5% |
| Wellington-Harrington | 2.28 | 31.1 | 10.9% | 73.9% | 4.5% | 1942 | $2,652 | 64.4% | 90.8% | 2.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Normandy Estates, Jacksonville, FL · Saint Claude, New Orleans, LA · Richfield, Clifton, NJ · Princeton Heights, St. Louis, MO · Parkway-Wheelers Farm Road, Milford, CT · Palmer, Newport News, VA · North Towne, Toledo, OH · North Marketview Heights, Rochester, NY · North Brookline, Brookline, MA · San Andreas, Highland, CA
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 Downtown Crossing. 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.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.