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This is the website for the City of Boston’s new Planning Department, which launched on July 1. The staff and many responsibilities of the Boston Planning & Development Agency have moved to the Planning Department of the City of Boston including planning & zoning, urban design, development review, and real estate divisions. Please excuse any misalignment you may see on our site as we transition to the City. Learn more

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's population 2020-2025: Pandemic Disruption and Recovery

All Neighborhoods Neighborhoods

Mar 08 2024 Publication Date

This presentation examines Boston's recent population trends from the 2020 Census to the pandemic disruptions and recovery.


Topics: Population & Demographics
Race and Ethnicity in the 2020 Census: Self-Identification or Classification?

All Neighborhoods Neighborhoods

Nov 09 2023 Publication Date

This report delves into the implications of the 2020 Census's revised approach to collecting and processing race and ethnicity data. This methodological change, entailing the reclassification of respondents based on their origin, resulted in substantial growth in the "two or more races" category. Executed without respondents' consent, the reclassification distorts demographic analysis and undermines the reliability of Census data. The City of Boston has filed an official complaint to the US Census Bureau protesting this race reclassification scheme.


Topics: Race
2020 Census Redistricting Data - Further Insights

N/A Neighborhoods

Aug 20 2021 Publication Date

Presentation compares Boston's 2010-2020 population growth to peer cities nationally and to other large cities and towns in Massachusetts. Detailed analysis of trends in racial/ethnic identification of Boston residents in the Census.


Topics: Population & Demographics
2020 Census Redistricting Data Tables for Boston

All Neighborhoods Neighborhoods

Aug 13 2021 Publication Date

Tables of 2020 Census redistricting data for Boston and Boston neighborhoods.


Topics: Population & Demographics
2020 Census Redistricting Data Analysis for Boston

All Neighborhoods Neighborhoods

Aug 13 2021 Publication Date

Graphs and maps by the Office of Digital Cartography and GIS present the 2020 Census redistricting data for Boston and Boston neighborhoods in historical context.


Topics: Population & Demographics