BOSTON CITYWIDE PLAN TRENDS IN AND INEQUALITY BRA Research Division October 2015 Produced by the BRA Research Division:

Alvaro Lima – Director Jonathan Lee– Deputy Director Christina Kim – Research Manager Matthew Resseger – Senior Researcher/Economist Phillip Granberry – Senior Researcher/Demographer Kevin Kang – Research Associate Kevin Wandrei – Research Assistant Xiaoxiao Ma - Intern

The BRA Research Division strives to understand the current environment of the city to produce quality research and targeted information that will inform and benefit the residents and businesses of Boston. The Division conducts research on Boston’s economy, population, and commercial markets for all departments of the BRA, the City of Boston, and related organizations. The information provided in this report is the best available at the time of its publication.

All or partial use of this report must be cited. Our preferred citation is as follows: Boston Redevelopment Authority/Research Division, October 2015

For more information about research produced by the Boston Redevelopment Authority, please contact the Research Division at [email protected]. Research requests can be made through the BRA Research Division’s Research Inquiries website.

Cover Photos from Boston Mayor’s Office (clockwise from upper left): 1. Youth Options Unlimited program - Aug. 10, 2015 (Jeremiah Robinson) 2. Commencement at Edward M. Kennedy School for Careers - June 4, 2015 (Isabel Leon) 3. Homeless Census – Feb. 25, 2015 (Isabel Leon) 4. Festival Betances - July 17, 2015 (Don Harney) 5. Roslindale Day Parade - Oct. 5, 2015 (Don Harney) 6. Topping off Science and Engineering Complex at Northeastern University - May 21, 2015 (Jeremiah Robinson)

2 THE PURPOSE OF THIS DOCUMENT IS TO PROVIDE A FACTUAL BASIS TO UNDERSTAND:

• Historical trends that have shaped poverty and inequality within the city of Boston.

• The extent of poverty and inequality within Boston today.

• Specific populations that are disproportionately affected by poverty and inequality.

3 . What are the Trends? . Demographics of Inequality & Poverty: . Rising personal for women . Race and Ethnicity . Stagnant household income . Poverty . Persistent poverty . Income . Continuing disparities by demographic groups

. Gender . Measures of Inequality and Poverty: . Earnings disparities . Personal Income . Marital Status . Income distribution . Presence of Children . . Work schedule and consistency . Age . Poverty by Age . Household Income . . Median income over time . . Nativity and Language . Poverty and Income . Poverty . Thresholds . Linguistic Isolation . Rates of poverty . Poverty by neighborhood . Education . Income by Education

4 WHAT ARE THE TRENDS? (1) PERSONAL INCOME

• Real personal income has only increased slightly for men over the past 40 years, but has increased dramatically for women.

• The median income of male full-time workers has risen from $47,445 in 1980 to $53,827 in 2013 (2013 dollars).

• The median income of female full-time workers has risen from $35,707 in 1980 to $49,718 in 2013 (2013 dollars).

5 WHAT ARE THE TRENDS? (2) GROWING HOUSEHOLD INCOME INEQUALITY

• In 2013 dollars, median household income in Boston grew rapidly between 1980 and 1990, but has remained stagnant since then at about $54,000 a year.

• Household income inequality has grown – the share of Boston households earning between $50,000 and $125,000 in 2013 dollars has grown between 1980 (26.8%) and 2013 (34.1%); meanwhile, the share of households earning low (less than $50,000) has remained about the same.

• Boston is the third most unequal city in the nation, based on the ratio of the 95th percentile and the 20th percentile of household income, up from the fourth more unequal city in 2012.

6 WHAT ARE THE TRENDS? (3) POVERTY

• Poverty is a continuing problem in Boston: about 20% of the population has been living in poverty for the past four decades.

• The Great Recession caused the poverty rate to rise in Boston to 23.3% in 2010.

• The poverty rate has since fallen slightly, to 21.6% in 2013.

7 WHAT ARE THE TRENDS? (4) DEMOGRAPHICS OF INEQUALITY AND POVERTY

• Different demographic groups continue to be disproportionately affected by inequality and poverty.

• The growth of the knowledge economy has brought increased the opportunities for well-educated workers, but residents with low levels of education are more likely to have low incomes.

• However, the benefits of education are not equal for all Bostonians. While people of color and women gain more income from higher education, they gain less income than white men do from the same levels of education.

• Boston’s children are much more likely to be living in poverty than any other age group.

8 MEASURES OF INEQUALITY AND POVERTY PERSONAL INCOME • The median personal income of Boston residents with earnings is $32,612. The graph shows the personal income of all labor force participants: those who are currently employed plus those who are looking for work (unemployed). Personal Income of Labor Force Participants - 2013 30% 27%

25%

20% 18% 18% 17%

15%

11%

10% 8%

5%

0% <$10,000 $10,000-$24,999 $25,000-$49,999 $50,000-$74,999 $75,000-$99,999 $100,000+

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis

11 • Many full-time, full-year workers struggle to make enough to support themselves and their families: • 10.9% earn less than the for a family of four • 17.4% earn less than the Boston Living Wage • 26.2% earn less than a family-sustaining wage Full-Time, Full-Year Workers Making <$50,000 a Year, 2013 • State Minimum Wage: The of $8 an Percent of FT/FY Workers Making Less Than This Amount hour in 2013 yielded an annual income of $16,640. The minimum wage rose to $9 an hour at the 50% beginning of 2015, and is scheduled to rise by 45% another dollar each of the next two years.

40% • Federal Poverty Threshold: The poverty line for a 35% Family-Sustaining Wage: family of four with two children was $23,624 in $16.63 an hour

30% 2013.

Year Year Workers - 25% Boston Living Wage: $13.76 an hour • Boston Living Wage: The City’s Living Wage

20% Ordinance requires most firms receiving city Time, Time, Full - Federal Poverty Threshold: 15% contracts or loans to pay a Living Wage which was $23,624 a year $13.76 in 2013, and stands at $14.11 as of July of of Full 10%

% % State Minimum Wage: 2015. 5% $8.00 an hour • Family-Sustaining Wage: The BRA calculated that a 0% $0 $5,000 $10,000 $15,000 $20,000 $25,000 $30,000 $35,000 $40,000 $45,000 $50,000 two-parent, two-child family with one child in preschool would need each parent working full time to earn $16.63 an hour, or $34,590 a year, to cover all family expenses in 2013.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis Sample: non-institutionalized civilian Boston resident workers, ages 16 and above, who worked 35 hours or more a week for 50 or more weeks of the year. Income includes salary, wages, and income earned from self-.

12 • Boston residents earning very low incomes are predominantly part-time workers or full-time workers who worked for less than the full year. • 84.3% of part-time workers and 55.7% of full-time, part-year workers, earn less than $25,000. • Among full-time, full-year workers, only 12.7% make less than $25,000.

Income by Work Schedule for Labor Force Participants 120,000

100,000

80,000

60,000

NumberWorkers of 40,000

20,000

- Less than $10,000 $10,000 to $24,999 $25,000 to $49,999 $50,000 to $74,999 $75,000 to $100,000 $100,000 or more

Full Time, Full Year Part Time or Part Year Unemployed

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2009-2013 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis Sample includes Boston resident civilian (non-military) labor force participants, ages 16+ Part-time work is defined as less than 35 hours per week.

13 HOUSEHOLD INCOME • Boston’s real median household income jumped during the 1980’s, but has remained steady in real terms since 1990.

• 2013 median household income is slightly lower than 1990 in real terms.

Median Household Income – 2013 Dollars $60,000 $54,820 $55,413 $54,148 $53,601 $50,000

$40,000 $40,206

$30,000

$20,000

$10,000

$0 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1980, 1990, 2000 Decennial Census, 2006-2010 & 2009-2013 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis

15 • The share of households earning less than $50,000 (in 2013 dollars) fell significantly from 65% to 46% from 1980 to 1990 and has remain stable since then.

• The share of households earn $50,000 to $125,000 (in 2013 dollars) increased from 29% in 1980 to a high of 40% in 1990 before gradually falling to 34% in 2013.

• The share of households earning over $125,000 (in 2013 dollars) increased from only 6% in 1980, to 14% in 1990 to 19% in 2013.

Growth in Share of Low, Middle and High Incomes in Boston, 1980-2013 70% 64.8%

60%

50% 47.4%

40% 28.9% 34.1% 30%

20% 18.5%

10%

6.3% 0% 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

Less than $50K $50K to $125K Over $125K

Notes: Household income data is available from the Census in brackets based on current year dollars. Linear interpolation was used to assign households to income brackets based on 2013 dollars. This slide was revised in June 2017 to correct an error in the original October 2015 publication. 16 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1980, 1990, and 2000 Decennial Census, 2006-2010 & 2009-2013 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis • According to a Brookings Institution report, Boston is the third most unequal city in the nation, based on the ratio of the 95th percentile and the 20th percentile of household income.

• Boston’s rank increased from 2012 to 2013, going from the fourth most unequal to the third.

• The 95th percentile of Boston households earns $239,837, while the 20th percentile earns $15,952. This means that the 95th percentile earns 15 times more income than the 20th percentile.

Source: Alan Berube and Natalie Holmes, “Some cities are still more unequal than others – an update.” The Brookings Institution. March 17, 2015.

17 • The Gini Coefficient measures income inequality on a 0 to 1 scale. Boston’s Gini Coefficient is the second-highest in the region, at .533 in 2013. • The Gini Coefficient is not related to poverty. As the chart below shows, places with high poverty can have high or low Gini Coefficients. A location where everyone lives in poverty, for example, could have as low a Gini Coefficient as a place where everyone is wealthy.

City/Town Gini Index Percent Below Poverty Brookline 0.554 11.5% Boston 0.533 21.4% Cambridge 0.529 14.7% Newton 0.507 5.7% Chelsea 0.462 23.7% Dedham 0.444 4.3% Malden 0.443 16.0% Milton 0.439 4.9% Revere 0.439 15.4% Waltham 0.439 10.1% Quincy 0.425 10.5% Everett 0.423 13.2% Medford 0.419 9.8% Somerville 0.418 14.8% Massachusetts 0.477 11.4% United States 0.474 15.4%

Note: A score of 0 corresponds to “perfect equality,” where each household’s income is identical; a score of 1 represents “perfect inequality,” where a single household earns all income. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2009-2013 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis HIGH AND LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS BY CENSUS TRACT

19 Household Income by Neighborhood

• Neighborhoods such as Charlestown, Median % Less than Downtown, the South End, the West End, Household % $125,000+ Gini Coefficient $50,000 Income and South Boston have both a high United States $53,046 47.3% 14.5% 0.47 proportion of households earning less Massachusetts $66,866 38.7% 22.5% 0.48 Boston $53,601 47.4% 18.5% 0.53 than $50,000 and more than $125,000. South Boston Waterfront $95,078 20.7% 38.5% 0.39 Back Bay $91,468 28.2% 37.5% 0.53 • Other neighborhoods are heavily Charlestown $89,828 34.3% 35.0% 0.50 Beacon Hill $85,098 28.4% 30.3% 0.48 populated by households earning less West End $82,022 32.9% 32.0% 0.50 than $50,000. These include Roxbury, West Roxbury $78,670 35.4% 27.5% 0.44 Fenway, Longwood, Mission Hill, and North End $75,604 32.5% 23.0% 0.50 Jamaica Plain $74,747 34.5% 25.9% 0.47 Allston. South Boston $69,122 38.5% 27.2% 0.48 Roslindale $68,690 37.1% 23.0% 0.41 • South End $65,877 42.6% 30.7% 0.55 The South Boston Waterfront has the Hyde Park $61,493 41.1% 14.7% 0.40 highest median household income, the Downtown $54,579 48.3% 32.8% 0.60 lowest percentage of households earning East Boston $48,541 51.2% 8.9% 0.43 Brighton $47,460 52.0% 12.0% 0.46 less than $50,000 and the highest Dorchester $46,965 52.9% 11.9% 0.47 percentage of households earning Mattapan $43,329 57.5% 6.9% 0.44 $125,000 or more. Allston $36,409 61.1% 9.4% 0.50 Mission Hill $33,481 66.2% 8.8% 0.51 Longwood Medical Area $30,000 65.0% 8.3% 0.53 • Neighborhoods such as Downtown with a Fenway $27,705 64.1% 9.0% 0.59 Roxbury $26,280 70.8% 4.6% 0.53 higher Gini Coefficient have wider disparities in household income.

20 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2009-2013 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis POVERTY • The Census Bureau sets money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who is in poverty. • If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold, then that family and every individual in it is in poverty. • Poverty thresholds do not vary geographically, but they are updated for inflation using Consumer Price Index. • Individuals living in group quarters, such as students in dormitories, are not included in the poverty definition. • Federal Poverty Threshold: The poverty line for a family of four with two children was $23,624 in 2013.

Percentage of Boston Population in Poverty, Census Bureau Definition -- 1980-2013

25% 23.3% 23.2% 22.3% 21.6% 21.6% 20.2% 20.4% 19.5% 19.8% 20% 18.7% 18.7% 16.9%

15%

10%

5%

0% 1980 1990 2000 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

% of Population in Poverty

22 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1980, 1990, 2000 Decennial Census, accessed via NHGIS; 2005-2013 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis Percent of Boston's Boston’s Neighborhoods Poverty Rate Impoverished United States 15.4% - Massachusetts 11.4% - Boston 21.4% - Fenway 42.2% 6.4% Mission Hill 40.1% 4.7% Allston 37.4% 4.5% Roxbury 36.1% 12.9% Longwood 27.0% 0.1% Downtown 26.2% 2.8% Dorchester 23.6% 22.4% South End 22.7% 5.6% Brighton 22.0% 7.4% Mattapan 21.6% 4.1% Charlestown 19.0% 2.6% Jamaica Plain 18.6% 5.4% South Boston 18.5% 4.8% East Boston 16.9% 5.8% West End 14.8% 0.6% Back Bay 13.0% 1.6% North End 12.8% 0.9% Roslindale 11.4% 2.5% Beacon Hill 11.2% 0.8% Hyde Park 9.4% 2.5% West Roxbury 5.8% 1.4% South Boston Waterfront 4.0% 0.1%

23 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2009-2013 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis Occupation Poverty Rate Personal Care and Service 25.1% Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance 20.9% Preparation and Serving 20.8% • Personal Care and Service, Building and Sales 17.1% Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance, and Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 17.0% Food Preparation and Serving have more Transportation and Material Moving 14.8% than 20% of their workers in poverty. Construction and Extraction 14.4% Production 14.0% Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 13.5% • Business and Financial Operations, Office and Administrative Support 13.2% Management, and Computer and Healthcare Support 13.0% Mathematical occupations, on the other Protective Service 11.0% hand, have the fewest employees living in Education, Training, and Library 10.7% poverty. Community and Social Services 7.9% Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 7.1% Life, Physical, and Social Science 6.6% Healthcare Practitioners 6.6% Legal 6.3% Architecture and Engineering 4.0% Computer and Mathematical 3.8% Management 3.4% Business and Financial Operations 2.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2009-2013 5-Year American Community Survey, Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS), BRA Research Division Analysis. 24 • The Census Bureau’s definition of poverty, however, may understate the number of households struggling to meet . • An alternative measure, the Family Sustaining Wage, is based on the wage needed to support a family’s basic needs without any public assistance from food stamps, public housing, , childcare assistance, etc. • For a single parent household with one child, this represents $49,996 per year. For a two-parent household with two children, a Family Sustaining Wage would be a household income of $64,713 in 2013.

$1,800 Monthly Expenses - 2013 $1,599 $1,600

$1,400

$1,200 $1,031 $1,000 $842 $795 $771 $800 $740 $732 $599 $600 $518 $399 $400 $342

$200 $159 $73

$0 housing food childcare healthcare transportation personal and home goods taxes Single Mom, 1 preschooler Two Parents, 1 preschooler, 1 school-aged child

25 Source: Boston Redevelopment Authority, Research Division, “Boston’s Living Wage and the Cost of Raising a Family,” August 2014 • About twice as many families in Boston are living below the Family Sustaining Wage as are living below the official poverty threshold. • 86.1% of 1-parent households are below the Family Sustaining Wage threshold, though this number does not consider public assistance such as food stamps, Medicaid or public housing in its calculation.

Percent of Families with Children Below Income Thresholds, 2000-2012

Below the Poverty Threshold:

1 Parent 2 Parents Total

2000 Census 40.9% 12.1% 25.9%

2005-2009 ACS 42.7% 9.2% 26.4%

2010-2012 ACS 47.2% 8.7% 30.0%

Below the Family Sustaining Wage Threshold:

1 Parent 2 Parents Total

2000 Census 82.6% 36.9% 58.8%

2005-2009 ACS 83.3% 33.1% 58.9%

2010-2012 ACS 86.1% 30.3% 61.1%

26 Source: Boston Redevelopment Authority, Research Division, “Boston’s Living Wage and the Cost of Raising a Family,” August 2014 DEMOGRAPHICS OF INEQUALITY AND POVERTY • Race and ethnicity • Hispanics and Asians have the highest rates of poverty in Boston. • Disparities in educational attainment by race may explain some of the income disparities.

• Gender • The median income for female labor force participants is 84% that male labor force participants.

• Age • 30 percent of families with children are below the poverty threshold. • 61 percent are below the family sustaining wage threshold.

• Nativity and language • Foreign-born residents are more likely to live in poverty. • Linguistically-isolated households have high rates of poverty. • Workers who do not speak English at all are mostly low-income: 64% make less than $25,000/year.

• Education • Almost one third of Boston residents age 25+ without a high school education live in poverty. • Workers with low levels of education are more likely to work part-time or be unemployed.

28 RACE AND ETHNICITY • Hispanics and Asians have the highest rates of poverty in Boston.

Poverty Rates by Race, 2013 40%

35.9% 35% 31.3%

30%

25% 21.5%

20%

15% 13.7%

10%

5%

0% White Alone Black/African American Alone Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander Alone

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 1-year American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis Note: Hispanics can be of any race, but are reported separately in this analysis.

30 • White labor force participants have the highest median income: $49,721. • Black/African-American and Asian labor force participants have about the same median income (~$30,000), but the Asian income distribution is spread out with more high earners and low earners. • Hispanic labor force participants have the lowest median income: $22,546.

Personal Income of Labor Force Participants by Race - 2013

100% 2.7% 2.4% 5.2% 2.9% 7.9% 90% 18.4% 9.8% 7.8% 15.6% 80% 11.5% 15.8% 70% 29.7%

60% 19.8% 33.6% 23.7% 50%

40% 23.3% 31.6% 19.9% 21.6% 30%

20% 12.6%

24.9% 10% 21.3% 23.6% 14.3%

0% White Black/African-American Hispanic Asian

$0-9,999 $10-24,999 $25,000-49,999 $50,000-74,999 $75,000-100,000 more than $100,000

31 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 1-year American Community Survey, Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS), BRA Research Division Analysis • Among the population aged 25+, there are large disparities in educational attainment by race that may explain some of the income disparities. • Hispanics are the least likely to hold a Bachelor’s or higher, and the most likely to have less than a high school diploma.

Educational Attainment by Race, 2013 100%

90% 18.9% 17.1%

80% 48.4% 19.6% 70% 63.0% 28.5% 60%

50% 29.3% 8.9% 40% 32.8% 18.4% 30% 15.2%

20% 34.0% 16.5% 24.2% 10% 19.8% 5.3% 0% White alone Black or African American alone Hispanic Asian alone

Less than high school High school Some college or Associate's degree Bachelor's Degree or higher

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2009-2013 American Community Survey, Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS), BRA Research Division Analysis

32 • However, at every educational level, White labor force participants earn more than other racial and ethnic groups. • The gap is especially large among those with a Bachelor’s degree or higher, with White labor force participants earning a median of $60,000, while Hispanic labor force participants with a Bachelor’s or higher earn just $42,000 at the median.

Median Income by Educational Attainment and Race, Labor Force Participants Age 25+ $70,000

$60,000 $60,000

$51,000 $50,000 $45,000 $42,000

$40,000

$30,000

$21,300 $19,000 $20,000 $17,000

$12,000

$10,000

$0 White Alone Black/African American Alone Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander Alone

BA+ Less than High School

33 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 American Community Survey, Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS), BRA Research Division Analysis GENDER • Women are more likely to be living in poverty than men. 23.2% of women in Boston live in poverty compared to 19.8% of men.

Poverty Status by Gender - 2013

25%

20%

11.0%

15% 9.0%

10%

12.2% 5% 10.8%

0% Male Female < 50% of poverty level 50-100% of poverty level

35 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, BRA Research Division Analysis • Female labor force participants earn less on average than male labor force participants (median of $34,415 vs. $40,771.

Income of Labor Force Participants by Gender - 2013 100% 7.2% 15.0% 90% 8.5%

80% 8.2% 16.7% 70% 17.1%

60%

28.2% 50% 26.2% 40%

30% 18.7% 17.6% 20%

10% 20.7% 15.9%

0% Male Female

$0-9,999 $10,000-24,999 $25,000-49,999 $50,000-74,999 $75,000-99,999 $100,000 or more

36 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, BRA Research Division Analysis • Even among full-time, full-year workers with earnings, women make less on average then men. • Male full-time workers have median earnings of $53,927 while female full-time workers have median earnings of $49,718. • However, this gap has narrowed: in 1980 male full-time workers had median earnings of $47,445 (2013 dollars) and female full-time workers only had median earnings of $35,707. Earnings of Full-Time Workers by Gender, 2013 100%

90% 24.1% 33.6% 80%

70%

60%

Year Year Workers - 50% 63.1%

Time Time Full 40%

- 53.6%

30% % of % Full 20%

10% 12.8% 12.8% 0% Male Female

<$25,000 $25,000 to $74,999 $75,000+

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 1-year American Community Survey, 1980 Decennial Census, BRA Research Division Analysis • White, Asian and Hispanic women make less than men of the same race, while Black/African-American women earn a higher median income than Black/African-American men. • Women of every race earn less at median than White men, the highest earning group. Hispanic women earn a median income that is only 35% of what White men earn.

Women’s Median Income Compared to Men’s Among Labor Force Participants Aged 16+

Women's median earnings as a percent of Women's median men's within the same earnings as a percent of race/ethnicity White men's earnings

White 87% 87%

Black or African American 104% 55%

Asian 70% 46%

Hispanic 73% 35%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2009-2013 American Community Survey, Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS), BRA Research Division Analysis American Association of University Women: http://www.aauw.org/2014/09/18/gender-pay-gap/

38 • Women in Boston earn less than men, even at the same education level, with the gap between men and women largest among those with the most education.

Median Income by Education Level and Gender, Labor Force Participants, Age 25+, 2013 $70,000

$61,000 $60,000

$50,000 $50,000

$40,000 $34,300 $30,000 $30,000 $28,400

$23,000 $20,000 $20,000 $15,000

$10,000

$0 Less than high school High school Some college or Associate's degree Bachelor's degree or higher

Male Female

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2009-2013 American Community Survey, Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS), BRA Research Division Analysis • Men without children at home have a slightly higher median income ($46,588) than women without children ($42,760).

• Men with children at home have a much higher median income ($58,904) than women with children ($41,255).

• Twice as many female than male Boston residents have children at home, due to a large number of single mothers.

Income by Gender and Presence of Own Children, 16 to 64 100% 5.5% 3.4% 8.7% 4.8% 90% 18.6% 6.1% 5.8% 10.4% 12.7% 80% 12.0% 10.0% 70% 22.4% 18.7% 20.1% 15.6% 60%

50% 12.3% 18.0% 13.0% 20.4% 40%

30% 15.2% 44.7% 20% 40.3% 40.9%

10% 20.2%

0% Male without Children Male with Children Female without Children Female with Children

Less than $10,000 $10,000 to $24,999 $25,000 to $49,999 $50,000 to $74,999 $75,000 to $99,999 $100,000+

U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 American Community Survey, IPUMS, BRA Research Division Analysis

40 • 63.8% of men with children living at home have full-time, full-year employment and only 10.6% are not in the labor force. • In contrast, only 43.9% of women with children living at home work full-time, full-year outside the home and 24.2% are not in the labor force.

Work Schedule by Gender and Presence of Own Children, Ages 16 to 64 100.0% 10.6% 90.0% 23.5% 2.8% 27.2% 24.2%

80.0% 3.4% 22.8% 5.4% 70.0% 2.5%

60.0% 27.7% 28.7% 26.5% 50.0%

40.0%

63.7% 30.0%

45.4% 43.9% 20.0% 41.6%

10.0%

0.0% Male without Children Male with Children Female without Children Female with Children

Full Time, Full Year Part Time or Part Year Unemployed Not in Labor Force

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 American Community Survey, IPUMS, BRA Research Division Analysis • Single mothers have high rates of poverty. People living in families with a single female head are much more likely to live in poverty: 33.8% are poor compared to only 7.6% of those living in married-couple families.

Poverty Status by Family Type 40%

35%

30%

25% 16.6%

20%

15%

10% 17.2%

5% 5.0%

2.6% 0% In married-couple family In Female householder, no husband present households

< 50% of poverty level 50-100% of poverty level

42 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, BRA Research Division Analysis • Married people have the lowest rates of poverty – only 8.6% are poor.

Poverty Status by Marital Status - Boston 2013 40%

35.1% 35%

30%

25.1% 25%

23.6% 23.1% + + thatis in Poverty 20%

15%

10% 8.6% % of % Population15 age

5%

0% Married Widowed Divorced Separated Never married

43 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, BRA Research Division Analysis AGE • Poverty rates are highest among children.

• Young adults age 18-24 living in poverty include large numbers of students.

Poverty Rates by Age 45%

40.6% 40%

35% 33.0%

29.5% 30% 29.0% 26.4%

25%

19.5% 20% 17.1% 15.5% 15.9% 14.6% 15%

10%

5%

0% Under 6 6 to 10 11 and 12 13 to 17 18 to 24 25 to 34 35 to 44 45 to 54 55 to 64 65 and above

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2009-2013 American Community Survey, Public-use Microdata Sample, BRA Research Division Analysis 45 • Labor force participants age 18-24 tend to have low income (median: $9,584), likely due to part-time work and entry-level jobs.

Income by Age: Labor Force Participants 100% 3.9% 9.1% 15.5% 15.7% 14.2% 90% 20.7% 17.1% 8.6% 80% 10.2% 10.3% 9.5% 9.8% 70% 22.4% 26.2% 17.6% 17.2% 19.0% 60% 16.6%

50% 32.9% 27.0% 27.8% 29.1% 40% 30.3% 30% 52.2% 20% 16.7% 18.2% 18.1% 17.7% 17.9% 10% 10.2% 11.4% 11.0% 10.4% 0% 4.7% 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+

$0-9,999 $10,000-24,999 $25,000-49,999 $50,000-74,999 $75,000-99,999 $100,000+

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2009-2013 American Community Survey, Public-use Microdata Sample, BRA Research Division Analysis 46 • The 25-44 age group has the highest labor force participation rate at about 86%.

Labor Force Participation by Age 100%

90% 86.8% 86.0% 80.1% 80%

70% 66.7% 62.0% 60%

50%

40%

28.8% 30%

20% 17.7%

10%

0% 13 to 17 18 to 24 25 to 34 35 to 44 45 to 54 55 to 64 65 and above

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2009-2013 American Community Survey, Public-use Microdata Sample, BRA Research Division Analysis 47 Boston's Children in Poverty by Neighborhood Other Neighborhood % of Children in Poverty # of Children in Poverty Neighborhoods Roxbury 50% 5882 8% South Boston 44% 2120 Hyde Park Mission Hill 43% 808 3% Charlestown 42% 1291 Roslindale Fenway 41% 207 3% Dorchester 32% 9311 South End 4% Jamaica Plain 31% 1866 Dorchester Mattapan 31% 1672 31% South End 29% 1258 Charlestown 5% BOSTON 29% 29820 Allston 27% 200 East Boston 25% 2150 Mattapan 6% Brighton 19% 762 Roslindale 17% 956 Jamaica Plain Hyde Park 11% 906 6% South Boston Waterfront 10% 9 Downtown 5% 50 South Boston West Roxbury 5% 330 7% Roxbury Back Bay 4% 42 20% Beacon Hill ** ** East Boston 7% Longwood ** ** North End ** ** West End ** **

48 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2009-2013 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis • By race, Hispanic children are the most likely to be living in poverty, with nearly half – 46.8% -- living below the poverty line.

• Only 11.8% of White children, however, live in poverty.

Child Poverty Rates by Race 50% 46.8%

45%

40%

34.2% 35%

30% 28.2%

25%

20%

15% 11.8%

10%

5%

0% White Alone Black/African American Alone Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander Alone

49 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, BRA Research Division Analysis • School-age children living in Boston are predominately Black/African-American and Hispanic. • There are significant racial differences in Boston Public Schools enrollment: 54% of White children, 69% of Black/African-American children, and 86% of Hispanic and Asian children attend BPS schools. • 78% of BPS students are low income and 46% speak English as a second language. • The four-year graduation rate is 66.7%.

Pre-Kindergarten to High School Students by Race/Ethnicity: Boston 2014-2015 35,000

30,000

25,000 31% 14%

20,000

15,000

86% 10,000 46% 69% 14% 5,000 54% 86% 0 White Black-African American Hispanic Asian

Boston Public School Students Non-BPS Students % BPS % non-BPS

50 Source: Boston Public Schools at a Glance, 2014-2015 NATIVITY AND LANGUAGE • Foreign-born residents are more likely to live in poverty. • Among children, however, the nativity of parents does not have a big impact on the poverty status of Boston children: • 29% of children with only native-born parent(s) are poor • 30.3% of children with at least one foreign-born parent are poor Poverty Status by Nativity - 2013 30%

25%

20%

15%

25.1%

10% 20.2%

5%

0% Native Foreign born

In Poverty

52 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, BRA Research Division Analysis • Median personal income for native born labor force participants is $41,961, while for the foreign-born it is only $21,179.

Personal Income Distribution by Nativity - Boston 2013 100% 6% 13% 90% 5%

12% 80% 10%

70% 19%

60% 32%

50% 25% 40%

30% 26% % of % Labor Force Participants 15% 20%

10% 18% 19%

0% Native Foreign-born

Less than $10,000 $10,000-$24,999 $25,000-$49,999 $50,000-$74,999 $75,000-$99,999 $100,000 and more

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2009-2013 American Community Survey, Public-use Microdata Sample (PUMS), BRA Research Division Analysis 53 • Among labor force participants who speak a language other than English at home, English proficiency impacts personal income. • Workers who do not speak English at all are mostly low-income: 64% make less than $25,000/year. • Some workers who speak English very well also have low incomes, perhaps due to part-time employment while attending school. • However, access to high-paying jobs is limited to those who speak English well or very well. Income by English Proficiency of Labor Force Participants - 2013

100% 3% 2% 5% 8% 9% 90% 8% 6%

35% 80% 15% 28% 70% 42% 60% 25%

50%

36% 40% 49% 20% 22% 30%

% at each level at % eachlevel personal of income 20% 27% 10% 24% 21% 15% 0% Not at all Not well Well Very well English Proficiency of Labor Force Participants who speak a language other than English at home

Less than $10,000 $10,000-$24,999 $25,000-$49,999 $50,000-$74,999 $75,000-$99,999 $100,000 and more

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2009-2013 American Community Survey, Public-use Microdata Sample (PUMS), BRA Research Division Analysis 54 • Linguistically-isolated households in which no one over age 14 can speak English well have high rates of poverty: 45.2%.

Poverty Status of Linguistically Isolated Households - 2013 50%

45%

40%

35%

30%

25% 45.2% 20%

15%

10% 18.6%

5%

0% Not linguistically isolated Linguistically isolated

In Poverty

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2009-2013 American Community Survey, Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS), BRA Research Division Analysis Note: Linguistically-isolated households have no one over age 14 who can speak English well.

55 EDUCATION • Low levels of education are associated with high levels of poverty.

• Almost one third of Boston residents age 25 and older without a high school education live in poverty.

Poverty by Educational Attainment, Age 25+ 35% 32.8%

30%

25% 22.6%

20% 17.6%

15%

10% 8.9% 6.8%

5%

0% Less than High School High School or equivalent Some college or Associates Bachelors Masters or higher

57 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 American Community Survey, Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS), BRA Research Division Analysis. • Higher education is associated with higher incomes.

• 58% of the Boston resident labor force over age 25 without a high school education makes less than $25,000 a year.

• In contrast, 30% of the Boston resident labor force with a Master’s degree or higher makes more than $100,000 a year.

Income by Educational Attainment, Labor Force Participants, age 25+ 100% 0.4%2.6% 2.3% 2.8% 6.0% 6.2% 5.4% 90% 18.4% 29.7% 15.0% 18.4% 80% 33.4% 14.8% 70%

15.4% 60% 35.1% 39.9% 26.5% 50% 21.5% 40% 37.4%

30% 24.3% 26.7% 22.0% 21.2% 20%

10% 20.3% 17.1% 9.1% 8.0% 11.4% 4.5% 4.2% 0% Less than High School High School or equivalent Some college or Associates Bachelors Masters or higher

<$9,999 $10,000-$24,999 $25,000-$49,999 $50,000-$74,999 $75,000-$99,999 >$100,000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 American Community Survey, Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS), BRA Research Division Analysis. LESS THAN HIGH SCHOOL – 8% of the Boston Resident Labor Force

Top 5 Industries of Employment

Income by Usual Work Schedule Industry Count Percent

12,000 Accommodation and Food Services 6,480 21.1%

Health Care and Social Assistance 4,155 13.5% 10,000 Administrative Support and Waste Management 3,655 11.9%

Retail Trade 2,685 8.7% 8,000 Construction 2,283 7.4%

6,000

NumberWorkers of 4,000 • Workers with low levels of education are more likely to work part-time or be unemployed. 55.1% 2,000 of workers with less than a high school degree either worked part - Less than $10,000 $10,000 to $25,000 to $50,000 to $75,000 to $100,000 or more time, worked part year, or were $24,999 $49,999 $74,999 $100,000 unemployed.

Full Time, Full Year Part Time or Part Year Unemployed • They are also more likely to work in low-paying industries such as accommodation and food services.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2009-2013 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis 59 Sample includes Boston resident civilian (non-military) labor force participants, ages 16+ Part-time work is defined as less than 35 hours per week. BACHELOR’S DEGREE AND HIGHER – 40% of the Boston Resident Labor Force

Top 5 Industries of Employment Income by Usual Work Schedule Industry Count Percent 40,000 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 28,669 19.4%

35,000 and Social Assistance 26,754 18.1% Educational Services 21,364 14.5% 30,000 Finance and Insurance 17,935 12.1% 25,000 Public Administration 7,084 4.8% 20,000

15,000 NumberWorkers of 10,000 • Boston resident workers with

5,000 college degrees are more likely to be employed and to work full- - time. 76.8% of workers with a Less than $10,000 to $25,000 to $50,000 to $75,000 to $100,000 or more $10,000 $24,999 $49,999 $74,999 $100,000 Bachelor’s or higher worked full

Full Time, Full Year Part Time or Part Year Unemployed time for a full year. • They are also more likely to work in high-paying industries such as Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2009-2013 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis Sample includes Boston resident civilian (non-military) labor force participants, ages 16+ 60 Part-time work is defined as less than 35 hours per week.