Updated Oct. 29, 2026. We refresh this page each year when the BPDA (now the Planning Department) publishes new estimates.
Boston is a city of neighborhoods. This guide covers all 23 that the city’s planning agency uses for Census data, with population, the share of residents under 18, the main transit lines and links to our local coverage. Numbers come from the BPDA’s analysis of the 2020 Census, the most recent full count.
Quick explainer: Neighborhood lines vary. The BPDA uses Census tract groupings, so its “Fenway” or “Downtown” may not match a real estate listing or a city council district.
What the data shows
Dorchester, at 122,191, is home to about 18% of the city, more than the next two neighborhoods, Roxbury and Brighton, combined. The South Boston Waterfront (the Seaport) grew fastest, up 195% from 1,889 residents in 2010 to 5,579 in 2020. Allston’s count fell 5.9%, but the BPDA says that’s likely because college dorm residents weren’t counted during the pandemic. The neighborhoods with the most children are Mattapan (22.3% under 18), Dorchester and Roxbury. Longwood and the Fenway, where many students live, have the fewest.
The city’s planning department has estimated a small rise since then. Its Jan. 1, 2025 estimates put Dorchester at 123,056 and East Boston at 46,892.
All 23 neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | 2020 population | Share of Boston | Under 18 | Main transit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dorchester | 122,191 | 18.1% | 22.0% | Red Line (Ashmont branch), Fairmount Line |
| Roxbury | 54,533 | 8.1% | 20.9% | Orange Line, Silver Line |
| Brighton | 52,047 | 7.7% | 8.4% | Green Line B, Commuter Rail (Boston Landing) |
| East Boston | 43,066 | 6.4% | 19.1% | Blue Line |
| Jamaica Plain | 40,015 | 5.9% | 14.9% | Orange Line, Green Line E |
| South Boston | 37,917 | 5.6% | 11.3% | Red Line (Broadway, Andrew), buses |
| Fenway | 37,493 | 5.5% | 2.8% | Green Line |
| Hyde Park | 34,172 | 5.1% | 19.9% | Fairmount Line, Commuter Rail |
| West Roxbury | 31,561 | 4.7% | 19.3% | Commuter Rail (Needham Line) |
| South End | 30,904 | 4.6% | 11.6% | Orange Line, Silver Line |
| Roslindale | 29,586 | 4.4% | 19.4% | Commuter Rail (Needham Line), Orange Line nearby |
| Allston | 24,904 | 3.7% | 7.1% | Green Line B, Commuter Rail (Boston Landing) |
| Mattapan | 23,840 | 3.5% | 22.3% | Mattapan Trolley, Fairmount Line |
| Charlestown | 19,120 | 2.8% | 18.1% | Orange Line |
| Back Bay | 18,190 | 2.7% | 6.3% | Green Line, Orange Line |
| Mission Hill | 17,518 | 2.6% | 11.0% | Green Line E, Orange Line |
| Downtown | 13,768 | 2.0% | 5.8% | All subway lines |
| North End | 10,805 | 1.6% | 5.3% | Green and Orange lines (Haymarket) |
| Beacon Hill | 9,336 | 1.4% | 7.9% | Red Line (Charles/MGH), Green Line (Park Street) |
| West End | 7,705 | 1.1% | 7.9% | Green and Orange lines (North Station) |
| Chinatown | 6,211 | 0.9% | 11.8% | Orange Line, Silver Line |
| South Boston Waterfront | 5,579 | 0.8% | 5.3% | Silver Line |
| Longwood | 5,186 | 0.8% | 0.8% | Green Line D and E |
Why do the totals differ: 675,647 or 681,937?
The Census missed about 6,000 dorm residents and 419 prisoners because of the pandemic. Boston challenged the count, and the revised figure, 681,937, includes them. The neighborhood numbers above use the original count.
Getting around
Every neighborhood is on the MBTA, but service varies a lot. Hyde Park, West Roxbury and Roslindale rely more on Commuter Rail and buses. Our MBTA guide explains fares, and the MBTA closures page lists this month’s shutdowns.
Living here: guides by topic
- Snow emergency streets by neighborhood
- Trash, recycling and leaf pickup
- Property tax rates
- Boston Public Schools calendar
- Restaurants by neighborhood
- Local towns and cities near Boston
Frequently asked questions
How many neighborhoods does Boston have?
The city’s planning agency uses 23 neighborhoods for Census data. Other city maps group them differently, and many residents name smaller areas, such as Fort Point or Eagle Hill.
What is the largest neighborhood in Boston?
Dorchester, with 122,191 residents in the 2020 Census, about 18% of the city.
What is the fastest-growing Boston neighborhood?
The South Boston Waterfront (Seaport), which grew 195% between 2010 and 2020.
What is Boston’s population?
675,647 in the 2020 Census, or 681,937 after the city’s revision for uncounted dorm and prison residents.
Which Boston neighborhoods have the most children?
Mattapan, Dorchester and Roxbury, where more than a fifth of residents are under 18.
Sources
- BPDA Research Division: 2020 Census redistricting data (revised April 2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau: 2020 Census redistricting data
Additional sources
Featured image: Photo: ajay_suresh, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0.