Boston Indicators

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.

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.

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.

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.