Census Says: Back Bay Population Plummets As Boston's Rises

While most of the Boston neighborhoods grew, the population of the Back Bay decreased during the past two decades, according to the 2010 data released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

The two census tracts that make up the majority of "Back Bay Proper" showed a net loss in population. The number of people decreased by 4.4 percent between 2000 and 2010, and 8.8 percent since 1990. On the contrary, the rest of Boston grew by almost the same amount: 4.4 percent between 2000 and 2010, and 7.5 percent since 1990.

Population changes, 1990-2010

Why, you ask?

Things were different in the Back Bay during the first decade of this century.

Small apartments that had been created by cutting up single-family mansions were converted into large condominiums, continuing a trend that began in the late 1980’s and 1990’s. As a result, during the past 20 years, the Back Bay has lost 4 percent of its housing stock. (see table, below).

Back Bay housing units

At the same time, young professionals and empty-nesters were moving in. Thanks to a healthy economy (and easy credit), home-buyers could afford to purchase these larger, wildly-expensive homes. The result was less available housing, and fewer residents remaining in the Back Bay. 

So every section of the neighborhood went down?

Each of the main Back Bay census tracts is split in two; of these, three of four tracts lost population between 2000 and 2010 while only one, #107.01, gained. (See image for the .) Tract #107.01 is bordered (roughly) by Exeter Street and Massachusetts Ave; and Marlborough Street and Boylston Street (the north side, only, does not include the Residences at the Mandarin Oriental).

The reason tract #107.01 grew while the others shrank is because this quadrant is known as having less-expensive, smaller-sized housing. During the past 10 years, first-time home-buyers looking in the Back Bay neighborhood moved here. You will also find more college students in this quadrant due to the proximity to Berklee College of Music, Boston Architectural College, Boston Conservatory, and Newbury College. As the colleges' enrollments grew, so did the tract's population.

That seems like a lot of college students

An interesting development is that the Back Bay’s under-18 population increased by 25 percent during the past 10 years and more than 40 percent in the past 20 years. Presumably, these are families who moved to the city with children in tow, or who stayed in the city after the births of one or more children, rather than moving to the suburbs.

Huh. I thought the neighborhood would have grown

These changes are different from what we might assume would have happened. The Back Bay really can’t “grow” by much, at least in the number of housing units, because it's a protected historic district with a vibrant, active neighborhood association. Therefore, I think we’d expect the population to remain somewhat constant. Instead, we’ve seen the neighborhood lose people.

The Back Bay has undergone a major transformation during the past 20 years. What was once a neighborhood made up of a small number of resident owner-occupants living side-by-side with college students and young professional renters has become one mainly populated by condo-owners and their spouses, significant others and their children.