CityOfBoston Official An official website of the City of Boston

Research Publications

Explore the 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
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
Profiles of Boston's Latinos

N/A Neighborhoods

Jun 08 2017 Publication Date

The BPDA Research Division presents profiles of the seven largest Latino groups in Boston. These profiles supplement the report "Powering Greater Boston's Economy: Why the Latino Community is Critical to our Shared Future"prepared by the BPDA Research Division and Boston Indicators in June 2017. Click the thumbnail image for a compilation of all seven profiles, or click on the following links for individual profiles: Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, Salvadorans, Colombians, Mexicans, Guatemalans, and Brazilians.


Topics: Population & Demographics
Powering Greater Boston's Economy: Why the Latino Community is Critical to our Shared Future

N/A Neighborhoods

Jun 07 2017 Publication Date

A Special Report from Boston Indicators and the BPDA in support of the Latino Legacy Fund


Topics: Population & Demographics
Boston's Economy 2017

N/A Neighborhoods

May 05 2017 Publication Date

The BPDA Research Division's annual economy report describes conditions and trends in Boston's economy, focusing on economic growth, employment and wages, and the real estate market. This 2017 report includes a spotlight on Boston's economic environment in comparison to a set of 25 peer cities.


Topics: Economy & Jobs
The Importance of Immigrants to Boston's Continued Prosperity

N/A Neighborhoods

Apr 24 2017 Publication Date

Presentation by Alvaro Lima, BPDA Director of Research, to The Boston Foundation's April 19, 2017 forum "Our Shared Future: Charting a Path for Immigrant Advancement in a New Political Landscape"


Topics: Foreign-born
Boston's Creative Economy: an Update

N/A Neighborhoods

Apr 05 2017 Publication Date

In 2005, the Boston Planning and Development Agency (then known as the BRA), in collaboration with Create Boston, released a report titled “Boston’s Creative Economy” assessing the size, scope, and economic impact of creative industries in the city. This follow-up revisits the report, asking how the size and composition of employment in Boston’s Creative Economy has changed over the last decade. The original report can be accessed here.


Topics: Economy & Jobs
National Institutes of Health (NIH) 2017

N/A Neighborhoods

Feb 23 2017 Publication Date

Fiscal Year 2016 marked the 22nd consecutive year that Boston received the most NIH funding of any U.S. city. Forty-two Boston institutions received 3,592 NIH awards for more than $1.85 billion in funding. This total represents 7.5% of all NIH spending and 72% of all NIH funding in Massachusetts. Eight Boston organizations received over $100 million in NIH funding, reinforcing Boston as a powerhouse in medical research.


Topics: Economy & Jobs
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 at a Glance 2017

N/A Neighborhoods

Jan 19 2017 Publication Date

Boston at a Glance is a series of short reference sheets that present some selected demographic, economic and housing characteristics of Boston. The data used in this report are primarily from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2011-2015 American Community Survey. Updated January 28, 2019 to ensure consistency with prior publications.


Topics: Population & Demographics
Boston 2030 Population Projections

N/A Neighborhoods

Nov 17 2016 Publication Date

This presentation examines historical trends in Boston's population and introduces the Boston Planning and Development Agency's population projections for Boston through 2030.


Topics: Population & Demographics