Boston Indicators

Housing crisis 1 and 2 - CommonWealth Magazine GREATER BOSTON’S affordable housing crisis is front-page news these days, and a frequent topic of conversation in housing circles. But the reference to a single housing crisis is off-base; we have two. The first crisis is a consequence of the fact that we don’t treat housing as a human right in ...

Outside of Boston, the region’s people of color population grew 254 percent since 1990, compared with 63 percent within Boston. Explore your own town’s shifting demographics at https://www.bostonindicators.org/reports/report-website-pages/changing-faces-of-greater-boston/explore-the-data

Explore the Data

The Northeast is losing more residents than any other region. Fortunately, Massachusetts actually gained in recent years, as increases from international migration outpaced domestic losses.

If not for international migration, Massachusetts would be losing population. The Northeast is losing more residents than any other region. Fortunately, Massachusetts actually gained in recent years, as increases from international migration outpaced domestic losses.

Massachusetts is one of the richest states in the country, so we ought to be able to provide everyone a basic standard of living. And yet Massachusetts has a poverty rate higher than 24 other states.

Poverty in Massachusetts Higher Than 24 Other States Massachusetts is one of the richest states in the country, so we ought to be able to provide everyone a basic standard of living. And yet Massachusetts has a poverty rate higher than 24 other states.

Between 1970 and 2010, the Census response rate fell from 78% to 63%. As a result, the Census Bureau must spend more money to reach every household – from $16/household in 1970, to a projected $107/household for .

Census 2020, Explained Due in part to our large share of renters and students living in college dorms, Boston has the highest share of residents living in hard to count tracts among eight similar U.S. cities.

Massachusetts’ net population growth due to migration was the most of any Northeastern state, and was driven by people moving to the Commonwealth from outside the country. https://bit.ly/2UcT8QS

If not for international migration, Massachusetts would be losing population. The Northeast is losing more residents than any other region. Fortunately, Massachusetts actually gained in recent years, as increases from international migration outpaced domestic losses.

Off-year elections, such as the upcoming 2019 races in Boston, often see low voter turnout. Only 1 in 7 voters cast a ballot in 2015's city council elections--just over a third of the 2013 mayoral race's turnout (and half of 2017's).

A Decade of Boston Elections, in 11 Graphs Only 1 in 7 voters cast a ballot in the 2015 off-year city council elections--less than the turnout in the 2013 mayor’s race.

A growing federal effort to limit immigration to the U.S. has had substantial impact on families, communities and the legal system in Massachusetts.

The Growing Wave of Federal Immigration Restrictions A growing federal effort to limit immigration to the U.S. has had substantial impact on families, communities and the legal system in Massachusetts.

More than 90 percent of our region’s net population growth since 1990 has come from new immigrants. More on Greater Boston’s shifting populations at

Changing Faces of Greater Boston After a decline during the mid-20th century, we’re now several decades into a new global wave of immigration, bringing Boston back to its roots as a city of immigrants.

Massachusetts is one of the richest states in the country, so we ought to be able to provide everyone a basic standard of living. And yet Massachusetts has a poverty rate higher than 24 other states.

Poverty in Massachusetts Higher Than 24 Other States

Have you ever been confused about how the Census measures race and ethnicity? You’re not alone. Check out our explainer of the race/ethnicity question appearing on at https://bit.ly/2XmVZrP.

Race and ethnicity, as measured by the Census There’s a complex history to how the Census asks about race and ethnicity – one that complicates our ability to track important demographic changes.

Not only have commutes gotten longer for most people, some areas of our region have historically been especially poorly served by their transportation options. More on commuting at https://bit.ly/2FLvtSI

Amidst rising commute times for all, a focus on neighborhood equity Not only have commutes gotten longer for most people, some areas of our region have historically been especially poorly served by their transportation options.