Boston, MA
Demographics And Statistics
Living In Boston, Massachusetts Summary
Life in Boston research summary. HomeSnacks has been using Saturday Night Science to research the quality of life in Boston over the past nine years using Census, FBI, Zillow, and other primary data sources. Based on the most recently available data, we found the following about life in Boston:
The population in Boston is 665,945.
The median home value in Boston is $714,795.
The median income in Boston is $89,212.
The cost of living in Boston is 148 which is 1.5x higher than the national average.
The median rent in Boston is $1,981.
The unemployment rate in Boston is 6.6%.
The poverty rate in Boston is 17.5%.
The average high in Boston is 59.6° and the average low is 41.2°.
Boston SnackAbility
Overall SnackAbility
Boston, MA Crime Report
Crime in Boston summary. We use data from the FBI to determine the crime rates in Boston. Key points include:
There were 15,469 total crimes in Boston in the last reporting year.
The overall crime rate per 100,000 people in Boston is 2,421.1 / 100k people.
The violent crime rate per 100,000 people in Boston is 619.0 / 100k people.
The property crime rate per 100,000 people in Boston is 1,802.1 / 100k people.
Overall, crime in Boston is 4.17% above the national average.
Total Crimes
Above National Average
Crime In Boston Comparison Table
| Statistic | Count Raw |
Boston / 100k People |
Massachusetts / 100k People |
National / 100k People |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crimes Per 100K | 15,469 | 2,421.1 | 1,362.0 | 2,324.2 |
| Violent Crime | 3,955 | 619.0 | 308.8 | 369.8 |
| Murder | 44 | 6.9 | 2.3 | 6.3 |
| Robbery | 770 | 120.5 | 43.7 | 66.1 |
| Aggravated Assault | 2,965 | 464.1 | 235.9 | 268.2 |
| Property Crime | 11,514 | 1,802.1 | 1,053.2 | 1,954.4 |
| Burglary | 1,213 | 189.9 | 149.7 | 269.8 |
| Larceny | 9,116 | 1,426.8 | 804.3 | 1,401.9 |
| Car Theft | 1,185 | 185.5 | 99.2 | 282.7 |
Boston, MA Cost Of Living
Cost of living in Boston summary. We use data on the cost of living to determine how expensive it is to live in Boston. Real estate prices drive most of the variance in cost of living around Massachusetts. Key points include:
The cost of living in Boston is 148 with 100 being average.
The cost of living in Boston is 1.5x higher than the national average.
The median home value in Boston is $714,795.
The median income in Boston is $89,212.
Boston's Overall Cost Of Living
Higher Than The National Average
Cost Of Living In Boston Comparison Table
| Living Expense | Boston | Massachusetts | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 148 | 143 | 100 | |
| Services | 122 | 126 | 100 | |
| Groceries | 115 | 108 | 100 | |
| Health | 119 | 117 | 100 | |
| Housing | 203 | 202 | 100 | |
| Transportation | 129 | 114 | 100 | |
| Utilities | 126 | 123 | 100 | |
Boston, MA Weather
The average high in Boston is 59.6° and the average low is 41.2°.
There are 78.7 days of precipitation each year.
Expect an average of 48.7 inches of precipitation each year with 51.6 inches of snow.
| Stat | Boston |
|---|---|
| Average Annual High | 59.6 |
| Average Annual Low | 41.2 |
| Annual Precipitation Days | 78.7 |
| Average Annual Precipitation | 48.7 |
| Average Annual Snowfall | 51.6 |
Average High
Days of Rain
Boston, MA Photos
15 Reviews & Comments About Boston
/5
HomeSnacks User - 2018-07-13 19:29:16.662571
I lived in the Brighton neighborhood of Boston for over 20 years. It was overall a very good experience. It was convenient to downtown Boston where I worked by using public transportation. My neighbors were friendly and the street I lived on was very safe.
I liked the diverse restaurants in the area, from Italian to Vietnamese and everything in between. Also I liked living near so many colleges and universities. It was fun to be around young idealistic students, thirsty for knowledge. I am very pro education and like the college atmosphere. In addition, being in Boston is great for medical purposes. Excellent health care is available nearby. Other people travel from far away to come to the hospitals in Boston.
HomeSnacks User - 2018-07-13 23:32:39.707225
Crime is average. Schools are above-average. Walking the red-brick Freedom Trail is enjoyable, start at Boston Common, winding through the North End of Boston, visit the USS Constitution, and end at the Bunker Hill Monument.
There are plenty of awesome museums to visit including the Museum of Science, Museum of Fine Arts, Harvard's Museum of Natural History, and the MIT Museum. There are live animals to see at the Stone Zoo and the New England Aquarium. Taking public transportation via the T subway is better than driving, especially during rush hour, but be patient since the subway trains frequently have disabled cars.
HomeSnacks User - 2018-07-14 00:10:58
kind of expensive in the downtown area, and traffic is super bad
near the beach, city is beautiful.
great central park that you can take your family for a walk
HomeSnacks User - 2018-07-15 21:05:31.036751
I loved visiting Boston. There were so many opportunities to partake in events that would fit everyone's likings. There are tourist attractions but also it is a great place to live, work, and raise a family one day.
What stood out the most was the scenery. The Charles River especially was breathtaking.
HomeSnacks User - 2018-08-03 14:53:33.789634
My aunt and I like visiting the city due to a crime envionment and there's many fun places to visit like restaurants, health food restaurant I enjoy trying out, museums, candy, gifts and health foods shops. Nice for a short vacation spot.
The crime rate is very low in this city and many fun places to visit like restaurants, museums and shops. Farmers and flea markets.
HomeSnacks User - 2018-08-05 01:45:24.958038
Great city with great food and great people. Too many cars but the town is great and clean. Many more new places to live.
The good was the amount of great food in the area, especially on the water. The bad is that the traffic to go anywhere was the worst and there needs to be an imporvement
HomeSnacks User - 2018-08-05 01:52:22.658526
Boston is a great metropolitan city. It's historical, easy to get around, has more colleges and universities than anyplace else I can think of. No need for a car if you go to school there because the rapid transit goes everywhere...north, south, east and west- to beaches and other places a visitor would want to see. It has great sports teams- The Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins and Celtics as well as college teams to cheer on. Arts, music galore. Lots of businesses, shopping and culture and again you can get there by subway. If you live in the suburbs you'll still say you are from Boston. There are 4 seasons in Boston and it's especially beautiful in autumn and spring. No need to be afraid of the snow because they do know how to clean the streets. Great hospitals too. A very cosmopolitan city filled with people from all cultures, races and background.
How many places you get to on foot. The mix of the contemporary and historically important.
HomeSnacks User - 2018-08-20 18:17:17.705721
The crime in Boston, for being a large city, is relatively low, especially in higher-income areas. Boston is a great city because it is steeped in history, especially from the Revolutionary War. There are great Universities, a vibrant nightlife and great high-tech businesses. Biomedical is a huge field in the Greater Boston Area.
My favorite place in Boston is Newbury Street. I love the shops and restaurants. Watch out for the Green Line on the T as it is busy, crowded and splits off into different lines.
HomeSnacks User - 2018-08-20 20:56:37.631731
I moved here three years ago. I love New york city so I expected that I would also enjoy Boston. However, it turned out to be a city that I didn't like and it hasn't grown on me since either. The most annoying aspect of the city for me is the traffic. I was born in London, England and i have lived in Paris, France so I thought I knew about heavy traffic but Boston is something else. Rush hour is unbearable. People drive as if they are in a movie car chase. City planners do not think it a priority to put up directional signage or even street signs. There is nowhere to park. People are mean and rude.. Lots of people smoke. Many people are racist toward the English. Many Bostonians think that they are Irish, despite being born in America and never having gone to Ireland. Many of these people are still fighting the Ireland/England war despite it having ended in 1999. The food is also not as good as New York. I thought New yorkers were rude but they seem like angels by comparison to these people. I do not like Boston.
Don't drive. Figure out a public transit solution. Uber won't help - the traffic is mostly stationary.
Don't expect clean air - the city is like an experiment in passive smoking dangers.
Don't bother with restaurants - the food here resembles the "Chum Bucket" restaurant in the show Spongebob Squarepants.
HomeSnacks User - 2018-08-20 21:08:46.866493
Boston is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It is filled with things to do, being full of various colleges and universities, and can provide amusement for an active social life. It is, however, pretty segregated by race, and often leads to money being a limiting factor for amusement/living as a result.
What stands out in Boston is definitely its common. It is easily accessible by train, rarely packed to the point of inaccessibility, and is surrounded by delicious food and notable monuments such as the African-American History Museum, the Freedom Trail, and Fanueil Hall.
HomeSnacks User - 2018-09-06 00:50:17.006093
Boston is an exciting city with an endless supply of fun and interesting activities. I have felt very safe exploring the many historic sites and tourist attractions in the city. I enjoy taking the Charlestown commute ferry to the aquarium area with my children, who love the quick boat ride to get to this part of town.
The North End is full of small restaurants to grab a delicious meal. Walking around the Gardens, visiting the Frog Pond, riding the carousel, and relaxing on the swan boats is always a hit with my children.
HomeSnacks User - 2018-09-10 14:20:03.779355
This is a beautiful city that is right on the ocean. Excellent seafood and shopping. Beautiful views and a clean city.
The food was excellent!! Seafood is fresh and local. The shopping is excellent as well. Many fun museums for the whole family.
HomeSnacks User - 2018-09-10 16:21:03.219077
Boston is a cold place both environmentally and the people. The crime is high, weather awful and people rude, unfriendly and insufferable. I cannot comment on the schools since I have no children in school.
The good is places to go and things to do. The fact it is close to Cape Cod is great.
The bad is the rude, unfriendly and profane people.
HomeSnacks User - 2018-09-19 05:13:35.949132
There's things to do here sure, but getting to them is a f*****g joke. So many people, cars, one way streets. People are real chodes too. Not willing to help. Too stuck up, think they're so great.
Boston Common was alright, but the homeless population there was out of control. So many panhandlers it was depressing.
HomeSnacks User - 2019-03-07 15:06:13.221275
Everything was great!
Everything is definitely great!
Boston Articles
Rankings for Boston in Massachusetts
Locations Around Boston
Map Of Boston, MA
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Boston Demographics And Statistics
Population over time in Boston
The current population in Boston is 665,945. The population has increased 10.5% from 2010.
| Year | Population | % Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 665,945 | -2.0% |
| 2021 | 679,413 | 1.5% |
| 2020 | 669,158 | 1.7% |
| 2019 | 658,279 | 1.2% |
| 2018 | 650,281 | 1.7% |
| 2017 | 639,594 | 1.7% |
| 2016 | 629,182 | 1.5% |
| 2015 | 619,662 | 1.6% |
| 2014 | 609,942 | 1.2% |
| 2013 | 602,609 | - |
Race / Ethnicity in Boston
Boston is:
44.2% White with 294,226 White residents.
21.0% African American with 139,962 African American residents.
0.2% American Indian with 1,197 American Indian residents.
9.6% Asian with 63,633 Asian residents.
0.1% Hawaiian with 387 Hawaiian residents.
0.9% Other with 5,824 Other residents.
4.6% Two Or More with 30,403 Two Or More residents.
19.6% Hispanic with 130,313 Hispanic residents.
| Race | Boston | MA | USA |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 44.2% | 68.9% | 58.9% |
| African American | 21.0% | 6.6% | 12.1% |
| American Indian | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.6% |
| Asian | 9.6% | 6.9% | 5.7% |
| Hawaiian | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.2% |
| Other | 0.9% | 1.0% | 0.4% |
| Two Or More | 4.6% | 3.9% | 3.5% |
| Hispanic | 19.6% | 12.6% | 18.7% |
Gender in Boston
Boston is 51.8% female with 345,153 female residents.
Boston is 48.2% male with 320,791 male residents.
| Gender | Boston | MA | USA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 51.8% | 51.0% | 50.4% |
| Male | 48.2% | 49.0% | 49.6% |
Highest level of educational attainment in Boston for adults over 25
7.0% of adults in Boston completed < 9th grade.
5.0% of adults in Boston completed 9-12th grade.
18.0% of adults in Boston completed high school / ged.
12.0% of adults in Boston completed some college.
5.0% of adults in Boston completed associate's degree.
28.0% of adults in Boston completed bachelor's degree.
16.0% of adults in Boston completed master's degree.
5.0% of adults in Boston completed professional degree.
4.0% of adults in Boston completed doctorate degree.
| Education | Boston | MA | USA |
|---|---|---|---|
| < 9th Grade | 7.0% | 3.0% | 4.0% |
| 9-12th Grade | 5.0% | 5.0% | 6.0% |
| High School / GED | 18.0% | 23.0% | 26.0% |
| Some College | 12.0% | 15.0% | 20.0% |
| Associate's Degree | 5.0% | 8.0% | 9.0% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 28.0% | 25.0% | 21.0% |
| Master's Degree | 16.0% | 15.0% | 10.0% |
| Professional Degree | 5.0% | 3.0% | 2.0% |
| Doctorate Degree | 4.0% | 3.0% | 2.0% |
Household Income For Boston, Massachusetts
8.0% of households in Boston earn Less than $10,000.
5.8% of households in Boston earn $10,000 to $14,999.
6.7% of households in Boston earn $15,000 to $24,999.
5.4% of households in Boston earn $25,000 to $34,999.
7.0% of households in Boston earn $35,000 to $49,999.
11.2% of households in Boston earn $50,000 to $74,999.
10.3% of households in Boston earn $75,000 to $99,999.
15.4% of households in Boston earn $100,000 to $149,999.
10.6% of households in Boston earn $150,000 to $199,999.
19.6% of households in Boston earn $200,000 or more.
| Income | Boston | MA | USA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than $10,000 | 8.0% | 4.4% | 4.9% |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 5.8% | 3.7% | 3.8% |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 6.7% | 5.9% | 7.0% |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 5.4% | 5.6% | 7.4% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 7.0% | 7.8% | 10.7% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 11.2% | 12.7% | 16.1% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 10.3% | 11.3% | 12.8% |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 15.4% | 17.7% | 17.1% |
| $150,000 to $199,999 | 10.6% | 11.6% | 8.8% |
| $200,000 or more | 19.6% | 19.3% | 11.4% |
