Research Publications

The map, initially created for the Dreams of Freedom exhibit housed in Boston's Skywalk at the Prudential Tower, showcases the top 10 countries of birth among the foreign-born population in each of Boston's neighborhoods using infographics. Created by the BPDA GIS Lab with data provided by the Research Division.

This presentation explores Boston's older adult households, describing their change over time, spatial distribution, demographics, housing, and finances.

This presentation explores the historical decline of households with children and examines how the city is adapting to a steady drop in births since 2008.

The 2025 neighborhood profiles were developed by the Research Division to provide a brief overview Boston and its 23 neighborhoods' demographics, economy, housing, mobility, and past and future trends. Updating the 2019 series, these reports use diverse data sources, including the Division's population estimates and projections, Mastercard spending data, U.S. Census LODES employment data, Citydata mobility data, MBTA ridership data, and Mayor’s Office of Housing data. Explore the citywide profile and 23 neighborhood profiles below: Citywide | Allston | Back Bay | Beacon Hill | Brighton | Charlestown | Chinatown | Dorchester | Downtown | East Boston | Fenway | Hyde Park | Jamaica Plain | Longwood | Mattapan | Mission Hill | North End | Roslindale | Roxbury | South Boston | South Boston Waterfront | South End | West End | West Roxbury

This presentation provides an analysis of non-citizen Haitians in Boston. This analysis is dated from April 2025.

Boston by the Numbers explores the characteristics of Boston's population and economy. This report breaks down the population by age group, sex, and nativity. It also looks at Boston's colleges and universities, housing, and land use, using the City of Boston Planning Department Research Division's 2025 population estimates.

The Census Bureau population estimates continue to undercount Boston’s population. This presentation provides an overview of the Research Division’s 2025 population estimates, along with two mapping tools that display these data for the city, neighborhoods, and census tracts.

Boston at a Glance is a demographic fact sheet for the city of Boston. The 2025 update uses City of Boston Planning Department Research Division estimates for Boston's population on January 1, 2025. The City of Boston Research Division created age-specific population estimates for Boston, its neighborhoods and Census tracts. 2019-2023 American Community Survey (ACS) data were used to break down the Research Division population estimates by demographic characteristics.

This presentation, a collaboration between the City of Boston Planning Department Research Division and the Boston Parks and Recreation Department, investigates the park usage patterns and user and walkshed demographics of 4 of Boston's neighborhood parks: Billings Field in West Roxbury, Christopher Lee Playground in South Boston, Noyes Playground in East Boston, and Roberts Playground in Dorchester. Further, it considers factors potentially influencing park usage.

This presentation conducts an analysis of Boston's public bikeshare system, Bluebikes, examining ridership trends and geographic usage and conducting a comparison to peer cities nationally.