Population 31,954 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in South End
Household size in South End
| Period | South End | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.91 | 2.54 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.02 | 2.59 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 1.93 | 2.60 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.89 | 2.55 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.02 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
South End is a place of small households, averaging 1.89 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the east.
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 South End
| Period | South End | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.2 | 38.9 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 36.6 | 39.7 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 37.3 | 40.4 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.8 | 40.8 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.6 | +1.9 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
South End is a little younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 37.8, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has climbed from 36.2 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. Residents skew youngest in the southwest and oldest in the center.
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 South End
| Period | South End | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.4% | 10.4% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.3% | 10.2% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.5% | 9.6% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.3% | 9.7% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −4.1 pts | −0.7 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.3% of households in South End, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 4.1 points from 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 South End
Renters in South End
| Period | South End | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 64.9% | 36.8% | 36.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 61.9% | 38.5% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 62.3% | 38.3% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 64.7% | 38.4% | 37.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in South End: 64.7% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. Among homeowners, 23.6% have no mortgage at all, well below the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the southwest; owners are most common in the north.
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 South End
| Period | South End | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.4% | 8.1% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 5.9% | 7.4% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.5% | 7.3% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.3% | 6.7% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.8 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in South End as nationally: 10.3%, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in the wider Boston area (6.7%). Vacancy has risen 2.8 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 South End
| Period | South End | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1952 | 1958 | 1958 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1950 | 1959 | 1959 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1957 | 1961 | 1961 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1959 | 1964 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +6 | +5 | +6 |
South End is a place of older homes: half were built before 1959, 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 1952 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the east, the oldest in the west.
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 South End
| Period | South End | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,108 | $1,171 | $1,085 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,316 | $1,251 | $1,157 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,713 | $1,537 | $1,398 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,363 | $2,051 | $1,860 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,255 | +$881 | +$775 | +$606 |
A typical rental in South End costs $2,363 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $1,255 a month since 2006–10, up 113%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 31.7% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the center; the highest are in the north.
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 South End
Bachelor's degrees in South End
| Period | South End | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 49.1% | 42.2% | 38.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 58.9% | 44.1% | 40.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 60.7% | 48.2% | 43.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 68.9% | 51.9% | 47.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +19.8 pts | +9.7 pts | +8.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in South End: 68.9% 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. The share with a degree is up 19.8 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 South End
| Period | South End | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 81.4% | 89.8% | 88.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 85.5% | 90.6% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 86.0% | 91.5% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.9% | 91.8% | 91.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +9.5 pts | +2.1 pts | +2.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in South End is a bit above the national rate: 90.9% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The Boston area as a whole looks much the same. The share with a diploma has risen 9.5 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 South End
| Period | South End | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.3% | 7.0% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.7% | 8.0% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.5% | 4.6% | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.1% | 4.9% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | −6.2 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in South End is close to the national rate: 6.1% of the labor force, against 5.4%. The rate is higher than in the wider Boston area (4.9%). Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 6.2 points, in line with the national trend.
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).
South End 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South End | 1.89 | 37.8 | 6.3% | 64.7% | 10.3% | 1959 | $2,363 | 68.9% | 90.9% | 6.1% |
| Back Bay | 1.57 | 37.8 | 3.4% | 67.6% | 19.3% | 1950 | $2,565 | 84.2% | 96.6% | 4.1% |
| Nubian Square | 2.21 | 36.7 | 17.3% | 78.3% | 8.2% | 1968 | $1,427 | 28.8% | 79.1% | 11.2% |
| Central | 1.74 | 33.9 | 4.0% | 77.8% | 21.8% | 1989 | $2,662 | 66.8% | 88.8% | 7.4% |
| Fenway-Kenmore | 1.72 | 25.4 | 4.7% | 89.2% | 18.9% | 1959 | $2,266 | 76.9% | 94.7% | 9.1% |
| Downtown Crossing | 1.68 | 37.9 | 3.0% | 67.0% | 18.9% | 1954 | $2,722 | 77.3% | 92.4% | 2.6% |
| South Boston | 1.84 | 35.7 | 7.8% | 68.8% | 11.3% | 1981 | $2,797 | 71.3% | 95.8% | 5.5% |
| MIT | 2.07 | 22.3 | 4.2% | 100.0% | 10.3% | 1977 | $2,752 | 97.0% | 99.8% | 3.8% |
| Roxbury | 2.36 | 34.2 | 16.5% | 74.9% | 9.5% | 1959 | $1,507 | 33.3% | 81.5% | 8.2% |
| Dorchester Heights | 2.05 | 32.5 | 5.4% | 49.4% | 8.6% | 1960 | $3,107 | 76.2% | 97.4% | 2.5% |
| Dock Square | 1.65 | 32.0 | 3.4% | 80.2% | 16.7% | 1966 | $3,000 | 82.9% | 97.7% | 2.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Bellevue, Nashville, TN · Bull Mountain, Tigard, OR · Crenshaw, Los Angeles, CA · The Lakes, Las Vegas, NV · Southeast, Raleigh, NC · Pacific Beach, San Diego, CA · Pennsport-Whitman-Queen, Philadelphia, PA · Pottage Park, Chicago, IL · Rancho Charleston, Las Vegas, NV · Reynolds Corners, Toledo, OH
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 South End. 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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