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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
Historical Boston in Context: Neighborhood Comparison by Decade

All Neighborhoods Neighborhoods

Mar 07 2023 Publication Date

This Historical Boston in Context document compares how Boston, Boston’s neighborhoods, Massachusetts, and the United States changed demographically between 1950 and 2021. It uses data from the United States Census Bureau’s Decennial Censuses and American Community Surveys.


Topics: Age, Education, Foreign-born, Gender, Households & Families, Language, Race
Young Adults in Boston Across the Generations

All Neighborhoods Neighborhoods

Nov 29 2022 Publication Date

This presentation looks at the young adult demographic in Boston across the generations. How have the demographics of the population changed between 1980, 2000 and 2020?


Topics: Age, Education, Foreign-born, Gender, Households & Families, Language, Race
Young Adults in Boston and Across the Nation

All Neighborhoods Neighborhoods

Nov 29 2022 Publication Date

Young Adults 18-34 make up 39% of Boston’s population, but only 23% of the U.S. Population. This presentation looks at how Boston's young adult population compares to the rest of the country.


Topics: Age, Education, Foreign-born, Gender, Households & Families, Language, Race
Boston in Context 2020

All Neighborhoods Neighborhoods

Feb 07 2020 Publication Date

Boston in Context tabulates various social, demographic, and economic characteristics from the 2014-2018 American Community Survey by Boston Neighborhood. Citywide totals as well as totals for Massachusetts and the United States are provided for comparison.


Topics: Population & Demographics
Boston in Context 2019

All Neighborhoods Neighborhoods

Jan 25 2019 Publication Date

Boston in Context tabulates various social, demographic, and economic characteristics from the 2013-2017 American Community Survey by Boston Neighborhood. Citywide totals as well as totals for Massachusetts and the United States are provided for comparison. Data on slides 22-23 revised June, 2019.


Topics: Age, Education, Foreign-born, Gender, Households & Families, Race
Demographic Trends in Boston 2010-2017

N/A Neighborhoods

Jan 11 2019 Publication Date

Boston has experienced rapid population growth in recent years. This report uses the most recent American Community Survey to examine how the composition of Boston's population has changed from 2010 to 2017. Variables covering age, race, educational attainment, income, housing, and transportation are included.


Topics: Age, Education, Foreign-born, Gender, Households & Families, Language, Race
Approaches to Immigration Policy and their Impacts on Boston

N/A Neighborhoods

Jan 08 2019 Publication Date

Boston’s healthcare, scientific, educational, and finance sectors have driven its recent economic growth. Foreign-born workers have supplied needed labor in these sectors. Using the REMI model, this report examines the economic impact that two proposed changes in U.S. immigration policy would have on Boston’s economy over a 10-year period.


Topics: Foreign-born
Historical Trends in Boston Neighborhoods since 1950

All Neighborhoods Neighborhoods

Dec 13 2017 Publication Date

This report analyzes trends in Boston neighborhoods since 1950 in the areas of population, housing, age distribution, race and ethnicity, nativity, educational attainment and labor force participation using data from the 1950-2010 Decennial Censuses and the 2006-2010 and 2011-2015 5-year American Community Surveys.


Topics: Age, Education, Foreign-born, Race
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
imagine all the people: Vietnamese

N/A Neighborhoods

Apr 13 2016 Publication Date

“imagine all the people” is a series of publications produced by the Boston Redevelopment Authority for the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Advancement. The series provides a comprehensive profile of Boston’s diverse immigrant communities. This report profiles Bostonians who were born in Vietnam.


Topics: Foreign-born