Boston city, Massachusetts Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Boston city is a major urban center located in Massachusetts, within Suffolk County. The total population is 663,972. It ranks as the 1st most populous out of 248 cities and towns in Massachusetts.

Age Demographics

The median age in Boston city is 33.2 years. This is 17% lower than the state median of 40.0 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Boston city is $94,755. This is 6% lower than the state median of $101,341. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 21% higher. The poverty rate stands at 16.9%. This is 69% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.0%. The unemployment rate is 6.0%. This is 17% higher than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $710,400. Housing costs are 35% higher than the state median of $525,800. The home-value-to-income ratio of 7.5x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 35.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 43% lower than the state average of 62.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Boston city is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Black or African American residents account for 20.3%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (20.3% vs 6.5%).

Education

54.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 16% higher than the state rate of 46.6%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 88.9%. Notably, 25.6% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Boston city, Massachusetts is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Massachusetts state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 248 Census-designated places in Massachusetts. For official data, visit data.census.gov.