Population 29,167 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in West Roxbury
Household size in West Roxbury
| Period | West Roxbury | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.33 | 2.54 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.47 | 2.59 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.38 | 2.60 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.32 | 2.55 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.01 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in West Roxbury are small: just 2.32 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. 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 West Roxbury
| Period | West Roxbury | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.9 | 38.9 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.7 | 39.7 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 44.8 | 40.4 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.9 | 40.8 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.0 | +1.9 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
West Roxbury skews older than the country: its median age is 43.9, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has climbed from 41.9 in 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 West Roxbury
| Period | West Roxbury | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.3% | 10.4% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.9% | 10.2% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.5% | 9.6% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.8% | 9.7% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | −0.7 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in twelve households in West Roxbury (8.8%), below the national share of 11.6%. The Boston area as a whole looks much the same. The single-parent share has edged up 0.5 points since 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
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 West Roxbury
Renters in West Roxbury
| Period | West Roxbury | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.7% | 36.8% | 36.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 32.1% | 38.5% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 30.9% | 38.3% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 33.7% | 38.4% | 37.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.1 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
About a third of households in West Roxbury rent their homes (33.7%), close to the national share of 34.8%. Renters make up a smaller share here than in the wider Boston area (38.4%). Among owners, 34.5% have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has edged up 1.1 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 West Roxbury
| Period | West Roxbury | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.6% | 8.1% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.7% | 7.4% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.6% | 7.3% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.6% | 6.7% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.1 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Just as many homes sit empty in West Roxbury as nationally: 9.6%. The rate is higher than in the Boston area overall (6.7%). Vacancy has risen 2.1 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 West Roxbury
| Period | West Roxbury | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1949 | 1958 | 1958 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1950 | 1959 | 1959 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1952 | 1961 | 1961 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1952 | 1964 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +6 | +5 | +6 |
West Roxbury is a place of older homes: half were built before 1952, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Newer construction is concentrated in the south, while the east 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 West Roxbury
| Period | West Roxbury | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,307 | $1,171 | $1,085 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,441 | $1,251 | $1,157 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,665 | $1,537 | $1,398 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,255 | $2,051 | $1,860 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$948 | +$881 | +$775 | +$606 |
A typical rental in West Roxbury costs $2,255 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $948 a month since 2006–10, up 72%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 32.0% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the northeast; the most affordable are in the south.
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 West Roxbury
Bachelor's degrees in West Roxbury
| Period | West Roxbury | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 52.9% | 42.2% | 38.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 54.5% | 44.1% | 40.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 57.7% | 48.2% | 43.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 66.4% | 51.9% | 47.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +13.5 pts | +9.7 pts | +8.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in West Roxbury: 66.4% 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. The share with a degree is up 13.5 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 West Roxbury
| Period | West Roxbury | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 95.0% | 89.8% | 88.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.1% | 90.6% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.4% | 91.5% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.7% | 91.8% | 91.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.8 pts | +2.1 pts | +2.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in West Roxbury: 95.7% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has edged up 0.8 points since 2006–10, 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 West Roxbury
| Period | West Roxbury | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.8% | 7.0% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.8% | 8.0% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.9% | 4.6% | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.9% | 4.9% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.0 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been easier to find in West Roxbury than nationally: unemployment was 3.9%, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 2.0 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. 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).
West Roxbury 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Roxbury | 2.32 | 43.9 | 8.8% | 33.7% | 9.6% | 1952 | $2,255 | 66.4% | 95.7% | 3.9% |
| Roslindale | 2.49 | 40.5 | 10.2% | 41.8% | 5.8% | 1947 | $2,127 | 53.4% | 91.5% | 5.5% |
| Hyde Park | 2.82 | 39.0 | 19.8% | 45.5% | 4.5% | 1955 | $1,967 | 36.7% | 89.2% | 6.6% |
| Dedham | 2.34 | 45.6 | 8.3% | 27.0% | 4.3% | 1960 | $2,117 | 55.7% | 93.7% | 3.5% |
| Chestnut Hill | 2.70 | 38.4 | 6.6% | 26.6% | 7.5% | 1951 | $2,737 | 85.4% | 96.4% | 3.0% |
| Newton Center | 2.70 | 46.1 | 3.1% | 16.0% | 5.1% | 1949 | $2,781 | 86.1% | 98.8% | 3.8% |
| Mattapan | 2.90 | 37.3 | 25.3% | 60.4% | 7.3% | 1952 | $1,645 | 21.8% | 85.7% | 11.5% |
| Jamaica Plain | 2.30 | 34.2 | 8.0% | 61.4% | 5.6% | 1955 | $2,359 | 68.4% | 90.6% | 4.4% |
| Newton Highlands | 2.55 | 43.9 | 3.9% | 29.2% | 5.3% | 1950 | $2,340 | 85.3% | 97.7% | 3.5% |
| Newton Upper Falls | 2.58 | 44.0 | 4.1% | 30.0% | 5.2% | 1947 | $2,278 | 76.6% | 96.2% | 4.3% |
| Needham | 2.74 | 43.5 | 6.5% | 16.9% | 4.3% | 1968 | $2,423 | 81.9% | 97.8% | 4.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Galt, CA · Davison, MI · Derby, KS · Dickinson, TX · Dinuba, CA · East Haven, CT · Magna, UT · Elizabethtown, PA · Englewood, NJ · Fleming Island, FL
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 West Roxbury. 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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