Boston, MA Local Data & Statistics

State: MA

Total population: 666,442 Household income: $97,344 Rent: $2,147

Overview

Total population

666,442

Rent

$2,147

Year built

1947

Household income

$97,344

Per capita income

$61,698

Poverty rate

16.6%

Unemployment rate

3.9%

Household size

2.2 persons

Rent over 30% of income

48.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Massachusetts

Total population

666,442

Adults over 25

466,805

Total households

283,374

Household size

2.2 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$97,344

Per capita income

$61,698

Poverty rate

16.6%

Unemployment rate

3.9%

Rent over 30% of income

48.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$2,147

Year built

1947

Households that rent

64.3%

Households that own

35.7%

Rooms per home (all homes)

4.2

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

46.3%

Black

20.5%

Asian

10.4%

Two or more races

15.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

19.3%

Not Hispanic or Latino

80.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

78.7%

Commute time to work

30 mins

Work from home

21.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

20.6%

High school graduate or GED

18%

Some college or associate degree

6.5%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

54.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Boston, MA with: Massachusetts United States

Boston, MA

Total population666,442

Rent$2,147

Year built1947

Household income$97,344

Per capita income$61,698

Poverty rate16.6%

Unemployment rate3.9%

Massachusetts State

Total population7,044,056

Rent$1,762

Year built1964

Household income$103,960

Per capita income$57,897

Poverty rate10%

Unemployment rate4%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityBoston, MA	StateMassachusetts	CountryUnited States
Total population	666,442	7,044,056	334,922,499
Rent	$2,147	$1,762	$1,413
Year built	1947	1964	1980
Household income	$97,344	$103,960	$80,734
Per capita income	$61,698	$57,897	$44,673
Poverty rate	16.6%	10%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	3.9%	4%	4%

View the complete comparison of Boston, MA, Massachusetts and United States →

Summary for Boston, MA

Boston is located in Massachusetts.

Rent & Income

In Boston, the typical monthly rent is $2,147 and the typical household income is $97,344. Rent here is higher than both Massachusetts and the U.S., and household income is lower than Massachusetts and higher than the U.S. The estimated poverty rate is 16.6%, which is higher than in both Massachusetts and national.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 64.3% of households, making this a predominantly renter area. About 48.6% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is very high, with about 54.9% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 3.9%, which is similar to both Massachusetts and the national rate.

Boston, MA — Rent vs Household Income

Boston, MA — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Boston, MA compares in Massachusetts (23 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$2,147	17 / 23	from lower rent	$1,137 – $2,787
Household income	$97,344	10 / 23	from higher income	$52,656 – $190,304
Poverty rate	16.6%	16 / 23	from lower poverty	4.5% – 25.8%
Unemployment rate	3.9%	8 / 23	from lower unemployment	3.1% – 6.1%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Massachusetts with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Boston, MA

Rent

Rent prices put Boston in 17th place among 23 large communities in Massachusetts. Across Massachusetts, rents range from $1,137 in New Bedford, MA up to $2,787 in Cambridge, MA.

Household income

For household income, Boston ranks 10th out of 23 large places. Across Massachusetts, incomes range from $52,656 in Springfield, MA to $190,304 in Newton, MA.

Poverty rate

For poverty rates, Boston is ranked 16th among 23 major areas. Across Massachusetts, poverty runs from 4.5% in Newton, MA to 25.8% in Springfield, MA.

Unemployment rate

Unemployment levels put Boston in 8th place among 23 large places. Statewide unemployment spans from 3.1% in Somerville, MA to 6.1% in Springfield, MA.

💰 Rent in Boston, MA (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $2,147 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Boston, MA

Annual Household Income: $97,344

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Boston, MA

Estimated Rate: 16.6%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Boston, MA

In Boston, MA, households that rent: 182,208 (64.3%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	182,208	64.3%
Owner-Occupied	101,166	35.7%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Boston, MA

In Boston, MA, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 88,488 (48.6%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	88,488	48.6%
Other renter households	93,720	51.4%
Total renter households	182,208	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Boston, MA

Less than High School: 95,980 people (20.6%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 84,132 people (18%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 30,520 people (6.5%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 256,173 people (54.9%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 466,805

📊 Unemployment Rate in Boston, MA

Estimated Rate: 3.9%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Washington, DC672,079 El Paso, TX678,147 Las Vegas, NV650,873 Oklahoma City, OK688,693 Portland, OR642,715 Detroit, MI636,644 Memphis, TN629,063 Denver, CO713,734 Seattle, WA741,440 Baltimore, MD577,193

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.