Boston's Neighborhoods: A Diverse Mosaic of People and Places
Boston's Population Hub: Unveiling the City's Diversity
Dorchester, Boston's largest neighborhood, stands out with over 126,000 residents, nearly a fifth of the city's population. In contrast, Roxbury, the second most populous, has less than half that number. Bay Village, the smallest, is home to around 1,600 residents.
To ensure accurate comparisons, this analysis uses neighborhood boundaries set by the city, which align with census tracts. The data reveals that Boston, though a majority-minority city, still faces racial segregation in many of its neighborhoods.
Mattapan, for instance, has a population where roughly 92% identify as people of color, with about 70% identifying as Black. East Boston, on the other hand, has the highest share of Latino residents, just over half its population, and also leads in residents identifying as multiracial, at about 43%.
Wealth Disparity: A Tale of Two Bostons
Massachusetts may be the richest state, but Boston's wealth is not evenly distributed. The share of households earning over $200,000 varies significantly across neighborhoods. The Seaport, or South Boston Waterfront, boasts the highest concentration of high-income households, with over 40% earning above this threshold. This neighborhood, with its luxury towers and high-end offices, is one of Boston's fastest-growing areas.
However, the Seaport's wealth is threatened by rising sea levels and increased flood risk. South Boston and Charlestown, once working-class neighborhoods, now rank close behind the Seaport in wealthy residents. Mission Hill and Longwood have the lowest shares of high earners.
A City of Changing Demographics
Boston and Massachusetts have seen a decline in their child populations over the years, contributing to a drop of about 70,000 public school students in the last two decades. The highest concentrations of residents under 18 are in the city's southern part, including Dorchester, Mattapan, and West Roxbury, where children make up just over 20% of the population.
Longwood has the smallest share of children, at around 2.7%, along with other downtown neighborhoods like the North End and Back Bay.
Rental vs. Ownership: A City of Renters
Over six in ten housing units in Boston are renter-occupied, with the highest concentrations in the city's densest and most student-populated areas. Chinatown leads with over 90% renter-occupied units, followed by Allston and Fenway.
In contrast, more residential neighborhoods on the city's outskirts, like Hyde Park and West Roxbury, have renter shares of 40% or less.
Boston's Global Communities
Boston's population has seen fluctuations, especially during the COVID pandemic, but several neighborhoods have experienced significant growth in Asian and Latino residents, reshaping parts of the city. Chinatown and East Boston lead in foreign-born residents, with about 51% and 45%, respectively. In Chinatown, many are of Asian origin, while in East Boston, most are Latino.
This report draws on previous Globe stories. For more insights, reach out to Neena Hagen at neena.hagen@globe.com.
