Population 50,776 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Jamaica Plain
Household size in Jamaica Plain
| Period | Jamaica Plain | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.36 | 2.54 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.46 | 2.59 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.42 | 2.60 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.30 | 2.55 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.06 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Jamaica Plain are small: just 2.30 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. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.36, in line with the national trend.
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 Jamaica Plain
| Period | Jamaica Plain | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.4 | 38.9 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 33.0 | 39.7 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 34.1 | 40.4 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 34.2 | 40.8 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.8 | +1.9 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
Jamaica Plain is young: half of its residents are under 34.2, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young adults, many of them living alone or as couples. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 32.4, in line with the national trend. Only seven 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 Jamaica Plain
| Period | Jamaica Plain | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.3% | 10.4% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.9% | 10.2% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.9% | 9.6% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.0% | 9.7% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −5.3 pts | −0.7 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 8.0% of households in Jamaica Plain, well below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 5.3 points, 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 Jamaica Plain
Renters in Jamaica Plain
| Period | Jamaica Plain | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 60.6% | 36.8% | 36.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 60.1% | 38.5% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 61.1% | 38.3% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 61.4% | 38.4% | 37.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.8 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in Jamaica Plain: 61.4% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. Among homeowners, 35.0% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has edged up 0.8 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Of the 275 Massachusetts cities with 5,000+ people, only nine have 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 Jamaica Plain
| Period | Jamaica Plain | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.8% | 8.1% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 5.7% | 7.4% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.2% | 7.3% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.6% | 6.7% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.2 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in Jamaica Plain: just 5.6% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. The Boston area as a whole looks much the same. Vacancy has fallen 2.2 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Jamaica Plain
| Period | Jamaica Plain | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1946 | 1958 | 1958 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1947 | 1959 | 1959 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1950 | 1961 | 1961 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1955 | 1964 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | +9 | +6 | +5 | +6 |
Jamaica Plain is a place of older homes: half were built before 1955, 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 1946 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northeast, while the center 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 Jamaica Plain
| Period | Jamaica Plain | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,224 | $1,171 | $1,085 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,399 | $1,251 | $1,157 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,707 | $1,537 | $1,398 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,359 | $2,051 | $1,860 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,135 | +$881 | +$775 | +$606 |
Rent in Jamaica Plain runs $2,359 a month at the median, utilities included, well above the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $1,135 a month since 2006–10, up 93%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 29.5% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the northeast; the highest are in the west.
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 Jamaica Plain
Bachelor's degrees in Jamaica Plain
| Period | Jamaica Plain | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 53.8% | 42.2% | 38.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 57.5% | 44.1% | 40.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 61.8% | 48.2% | 43.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 68.4% | 51.9% | 47.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +14.5 pts | +9.7 pts | +8.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Jamaica Plain: 68.4% 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. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 14.5 points, 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 Jamaica Plain
| Period | Jamaica Plain | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 87.4% | 89.8% | 88.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.6% | 90.6% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.4% | 91.5% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.6% | 91.8% | 91.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.1 pts | +2.1 pts | +2.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Jamaica Plain is close to the national rate: 90.6% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 3.1 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Jamaica Plain has a lower share of high school graduates than the great majority of Massachusetts cities.
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 Jamaica Plain
| Period | Jamaica Plain | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.0% | 7.0% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.6% | 8.0% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.6% | 4.6% | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.4% | 4.9% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.6 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Jamaica Plain than nationally: unemployment was 4.4%, against 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 2.6 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. 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).
Jamaica Plain 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jamaica Plain | 2.30 | 34.2 | 8.0% | 61.4% | 5.6% | 1955 | $2,359 | 68.4% | 90.6% | 4.4% |
| Brookline | 2.20 | 36.1 | 4.6% | 56.8% | 4.7% | 1946 | $2,825 | 85.1% | 97.7% | 4.0% |
| Boston area | 2.55 | 40.8 | 9.7% | 38.4% | 6.7% | 1964 | $2,051 | 51.9% | 91.8% | 4.9% |
| Roslindale | 2.49 | 40.5 | 10.2% | 41.8% | 5.8% | 1947 | $2,127 | 53.4% | 91.5% | 5.5% |
| Allston | 2.21 | 28.4 | 6.2% | 87.6% | 10.5% | 1955 | $2,483 | 73.5% | 95.3% | 5.9% |
| Mattapan | 2.90 | 37.3 | 25.3% | 60.4% | 7.3% | 1952 | $1,645 | 21.8% | 85.7% | 11.5% |
| Chestnut Hill | 2.70 | 38.4 | 6.6% | 26.6% | 7.5% | 1951 | $2,737 | 85.4% | 96.4% | 3.0% |
| Brighton | 2.00 | 31.4 | 6.1% | 76.3% | 6.9% | 1956 | $2,204 | 72.1% | 88.7% | 3.6% |
| West Roxbury | 2.32 | 43.9 | 8.8% | 33.7% | 9.6% | 1952 | $2,255 | 66.4% | 95.7% | 3.9% |
| Cambridge | 2.07 | 32.1 | 6.3% | 66.6% | 11.0% | 1959 | $2,761 | 81.4% | 96.4% | 3.3% |
| Hyde Park | 2.82 | 39.0 | 19.8% | 45.5% | 4.5% | 1955 | $1,967 | 36.7% | 89.2% | 6.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Rockwall, TX · Lakewood, OH · Lawrence, IN · Lombard, IL · Middleburg, FL · Morristown, TN · Opa-Locka, FL · Palm Desert, CA · Parkway, CA · Poway, 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 Jamaica Plain. 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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