Research Publications

Explore the BPDA Research Division publications below by keyword, neighborhood, or topic. If you have questions about these documents, or are looking for specific information, please review the Frequently Requested Information page. This page features publications covering the most requested economic and demographic data for Boston.

A-to-Z
Historical Boston in Context: Neighborhood Comparisons by Decade, 1950 to 2015

All Neighborhoods Neighborhoods

Dec 13 2017 Publication Date

This report includes tables from the 1950 to 2010 Decennial Censuses and the 2011-2015 American Community Survey. These tables provide data by Boston neighborhood on population, age distribution, nativity, race and ethnicity, education, labor force participation, housing units, and tenure.


Topics: Population & Demographics
Historical Profiles of Boston’s Neighborhoods 1950 to 2010

All Neighborhoods Neighborhoods

Dec 13 2017 Publication Date

This report includes summary tables of U.S. Census data from 1950 to 2010 for each of Boston's neighborhoods. The data cover population, housing by tenure, age distribution, educational attainment, nativity, race and ethnicity, and labor force participation.


Topics: Population & Demographics
Neighborhood Profiles

All Neighborhoods Neighborhoods

Aug 31 2017 Publication Date

This document includes profiles of each of Boston's neighborhoods, including demographic, employment, housing, and development information. Click the thumbnail image for a compilation of all profiles, or click on the following links for individual neighborhood profiles: Allston, Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Brighton, Charlestown, 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


Topics: Population & Demographics
Boston by the Numbers 2017

All Neighborhoods Neighborhoods

Aug 31 2017 Publication Date

This report by the Boston Planning and Development Agency Research Division is a short reference guide to the city of Boston. It breaks down the population by age group, gender, and nativity. It also looks at Boston's colleges and universities, housing, and land use.


Topics: Population & Demographics
Boston in Context 2017

All Neighborhoods Neighborhoods

Jan 25 2017 Publication Date

This publication compares Boston and its neighborhoods to the U.S. and Massachusetts on several demographic, economic and housing characteristics. This report uses 2011-2015 American Community Survey data from the U.S. Census.


Topics: Population & Demographics
Boston in Context 2016

All Neighborhoods Neighborhoods

Mar 25 2016 Publication Date

This publication compares Boston and its neighborhoods to the U.S. and Massachusetts on several demographic, economic and housing characteristics. This report uses 2010-2014 American Community Survey data.


Topics: Population & Demographics
Boston by the Numbers 2015

All Neighborhoods Neighborhoods

Dec 14 2015 Publication Date

Boston by the Numbers is a packet of short reports on Gender, Foreign Born, Colleges & Universities, Land Use & Housing, Children & Families, Young Adults, and the Elderly. Data are taken primarily from the 2014 American Community Survey.


Topics: Population & Demographics
Boston in Context: Neighborhoods - 2015

All Neighborhoods Neighborhoods

Aug 04 2015 Publication Date

This publication compares Boston and its neighborhoods to the U.S. and Massachusetts on several demographic, economic and housing characteristics. This report uses a combination of 2010 Census data and 2009-2013 American Community Survey data.


Topics: Age, Education, Foreign-born, Households & Families, Income & Poverty, Industry Profiles, Labor Market, Language, Race
Characteristics of Boston and Its Neighborhoods

All Neighborhoods Neighborhoods

Oct 23 2014 Publication Date

On October 14, 2014, Alvaro Lima, Director of Research at the BRA, presented information on the characteristics of Boston and its neighborhoods to a group from Boston Education Funders. The presentation discusses recent demographic changes in Boston and highlights the 0-24 population.


Topics: Age, Education, Foreign-born, Race
Unemployment in Boston - 2014 (revised)

All Neighborhoods Neighborhoods

Mar 03 2014 Publication Date

This report is a profile on Boston's unemployed population. It includes 2008-2012 and 2012 American Community Survey data by neighborhood, race, age, sex, nativity, and more. This report was revised to use the boundaries for the West End and Downtown that went into effect in 2014. See the original report using the previous boundaries


Topics: Age, Education, Foreign-born, Gender, Households & Families, Income & Poverty, Industry Profiles, Language, Race