Population 38,201 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Fenway-Kenmore
Household size in Fenway-Kenmore
| Period | Fenway-Kenmore | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.73 | 2.54 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 1.76 | 2.59 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 1.85 | 2.60 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.72 | 2.55 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.01 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Fenway-Kenmore are small: just 1.72 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Households are largest in the south and smallest in the center.
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 Fenway-Kenmore
| Period | Fenway-Kenmore | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.6 | 38.9 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 24.7 | 39.7 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 24.8 | 40.4 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 25.4 | 40.8 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.7 | +1.9 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
Fenway-Kenmore is young: half of its residents are under 25.4, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young adults in their twenties. Since 2006–10, the median age has crept up from 24.6, a smaller shift than nationally. No other Boston neighborhood is 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 Fenway-Kenmore
| Period | Fenway-Kenmore | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.0% | 10.4% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 3.1% | 10.2% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 4.3% | 9.6% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.7% | 9.7% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −6.3 pts | −0.7 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Fenway-Kenmore: 4.7% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has fallen 6.3 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than 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 Fenway-Kenmore
Renters in Fenway-Kenmore
| Period | Fenway-Kenmore | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.0% | 36.8% | 36.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 90.4% | 38.5% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 90.8% | 38.3% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 89.2% | 38.4% | 37.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.9 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Fenway-Kenmore rent: 89.2% of occupied homes are rented, far above the national share of 34.8%. Expect more apartments, and more turnover, than in owner-heavy areas. Nearly six in ten owners (58.2%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. No other Boston neighborhood has a higher share of renters.
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 Fenway-Kenmore
| Period | Fenway-Kenmore | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.8% | 8.1% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.0% | 7.4% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 13.0% | 7.3% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 18.9% | 6.7% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | +7.0 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 18.9% of the housing in Fenway-Kenmore, 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 7.0 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 Fenway-Kenmore
| Period | Fenway-Kenmore | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1951 | 1958 | 1958 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1952 | 1959 | 1959 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1957 | 1961 | 1961 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1959 | 1964 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | +8 | +6 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Fenway-Kenmore is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1959, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1951 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the west, while the north 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 Fenway-Kenmore
| Period | Fenway-Kenmore | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,330 | $1,171 | $1,085 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,486 | $1,251 | $1,157 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,819 | $1,537 | $1,398 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,266 | $2,051 | $1,860 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$936 | +$881 | +$775 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Fenway-Kenmore costs $2,266 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $936 a month since 2006–10, up 70%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 40.0% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. The priciest rents are in the north; the most affordable are in the southeast.
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 Fenway-Kenmore
Bachelor's degrees in Fenway-Kenmore
| Period | Fenway-Kenmore | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 69.5% | 42.2% | 38.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 69.1% | 44.1% | 40.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 67.2% | 48.2% | 43.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 76.9% | 51.9% | 47.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.3 pts | +9.7 pts | +8.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fenway-Kenmore is highly educated: about three-quarters of adults 25 and older (76.9%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 7.3 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the northwest and least in the south.
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 Fenway-Kenmore
| Period | Fenway-Kenmore | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 94.2% | 89.8% | 88.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.2% | 90.6% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.0% | 91.5% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.7% | 91.8% | 91.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | +2.1 pts | +2.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Fenway-Kenmore: 94.7% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Fenway-Kenmore has a higher share of high school graduates than most Boston neighborhoods.
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 Fenway-Kenmore
| Period | Fenway-Kenmore | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.4% | 7.0% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.5% | 8.0% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.6% | 4.6% | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.1% | 4.9% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Fenway-Kenmore runs well above the national rate: 9.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Fenway-Kenmore has higher unemployment than at least four in five Boston neighborhoods. 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).
Fenway-Kenmore 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fenway-Kenmore | 1.72 | 25.4 | 4.7% | 89.2% | 18.9% | 1959 | $2,266 | 76.9% | 94.7% | 9.1% |
| MIT | 2.07 | 22.3 | 4.2% | 100.0% | 10.3% | 1977 | $2,752 | 97.0% | 99.8% | 3.8% |
| 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% |
| Nubian Square | 2.21 | 36.7 | 17.3% | 78.3% | 8.2% | 1968 | $1,427 | 28.8% | 79.1% | 11.2% |
| North Brookline | 2.24 | 32.4 | 5.1% | 60.6% | 5.7% | 1951 | $2,823 | 78.4% | 98.3% | 7.3% |
| Cambridgeport | 2.01 | 32.9 | 8.4% | 64.5% | 7.1% | 1964 | $2,822 | 84.0% | 96.3% | 3.3% |
| Coolidge Corner | 1.94 | 37.0 | 3.0% | 68.5% | 7.6% | 1954 | $2,853 | 87.2% | 97.2% | 3.2% |
| Brookline Village Commercial District | 2.39 | 35.4 | 4.4% | 54.4% | 3.2% | 1945 | $2,858 | 85.6% | 97.4% | 2.9% |
| Brookline Village | 2.09 | 37.2 | 5.7% | 54.3% | 4.0% | 1950 | $2,688 | 82.6% | 98.3% | 2.9% |
| Roxbury | 2.36 | 34.2 | 16.5% | 74.9% | 9.5% | 1959 | $1,507 | 33.3% | 81.5% | 8.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Far Northwest, Fort Worth, TX · Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, CA · Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY · Riverview West, Santa Ana, CA · Gateway-Green Valley Ranch, Denver, CO · Roseland, Chicago, IL · Frankford, Philadelphia, PA · Excelsior, San Francisco, CA · Western Hills Fort Worth, Fort Worth, TX · Westgate Hts, Albuquerque, NM
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 Fenway-Kenmore. 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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