Boston Indicators
@bosindicators.bsky.social
The Boston Foundation’s research center, focusing on ideas to make our city more prosperous, equitable and just.
• How effectively is as-of-right zoning reducing permitting risk and delay?
• And what do these early signals imply about the law’s likely long-term contribution to housing production in Massachusetts?
To learn more, register for the event.
• And what do these early signals imply about the law’s likely long-term contribution to housing production in Massachusetts?
To learn more, register for the event.
January 20, 2026 at 5:35 PM
• How effectively is as-of-right zoning reducing permitting risk and delay?
• And what do these early signals imply about the law’s likely long-term contribution to housing production in Massachusetts?
To learn more, register for the event.
• And what do these early signals imply about the law’s likely long-term contribution to housing production in Massachusetts?
To learn more, register for the event.
Among the questions the report considers:
• How many of these projects are likely to move from permitting into construction and eventual occupancy?
• Where is housing being built relative to transit and walkable centers?
• How many of these projects are likely to move from permitting into construction and eventual occupancy?
• Where is housing being built relative to transit and walkable centers?
January 20, 2026 at 5:35 PM
Among the questions the report considers:
• How many of these projects are likely to move from permitting into construction and eventual occupancy?
• Where is housing being built relative to transit and walkable centers?
• How many of these projects are likely to move from permitting into construction and eventual occupancy?
• Where is housing being built relative to transit and walkable centers?
The report looks at the law’s impact by reviewing a state-compiled list of more than 100 developments, totaling close to 7,000 homes, that have entered the permitting pipeline in these new zones or moved beyond it.
January 20, 2026 at 5:35 PM
The report looks at the law’s impact by reviewing a state-compiled list of more than 100 developments, totaling close to 7,000 homes, that have entered the permitting pipeline in these new zones or moved beyond it.
Adopted in 2021, the MBTA Communities zoning law requires cities and towns served by the MBTA to allow multifamily housing as of right in reasonably sized districts, near transit where feasible, and without excluding families with children.
January 20, 2026 at 5:35 PM
Adopted in 2021, the MBTA Communities zoning law requires cities and towns served by the MBTA to allow multifamily housing as of right in reasonably sized districts, near transit where feasible, and without excluding families with children.
Improving a neighborhood’s mix of rental housing and owned homes requires either market intervention or changing the existing programs that promote homeownership.
To learn more, check out the report.
To learn more, check out the report.
January 15, 2026 at 3:02 PM
Improving a neighborhood’s mix of rental housing and owned homes requires either market intervention or changing the existing programs that promote homeownership.
To learn more, check out the report.
To learn more, check out the report.
• homeowners benefit more than renters do from neighborhood improvements because these improvements raise the value of homes, which increases the wealth of owners
January 15, 2026 at 3:02 PM
• homeowners benefit more than renters do from neighborhood improvements because these improvements raise the value of homes, which increases the wealth of owners
Two challenges stand out in these deserts:
• communities face the risk of having less housing stability because rents can increase quickly, while the price of mortgage payments is more stable, and
• communities face the risk of having less housing stability because rents can increase quickly, while the price of mortgage payments is more stable, and
January 15, 2026 at 3:02 PM
Two challenges stand out in these deserts:
• communities face the risk of having less housing stability because rents can increase quickly, while the price of mortgage payments is more stable, and
• communities face the risk of having less housing stability because rents can increase quickly, while the price of mortgage payments is more stable, and
“Of the 1,004 census tracts we examined in Greater Boston,” the report explains, “104 meet our definition of ownership deserts.”
January 15, 2026 at 3:02 PM
“Of the 1,004 census tracts we examined in Greater Boston,” the report explains, “104 meet our definition of ownership deserts.”
Rental deserts are also “far less racially diverse,” the report notes, which also suggests “that limits on rental housing influences who can gain access to these communities.”
To learn more, check out the report.
To learn more, check out the report.
January 13, 2026 at 3:02 PM
Rental deserts are also “far less racially diverse,” the report notes, which also suggests “that limits on rental housing influences who can gain access to these communities.”
To learn more, check out the report.
To learn more, check out the report.
• And in high-rental neighborhoods, 49 percent of households earn under $60,000, and only 26 percent earn more than $125,000.
January 13, 2026 at 3:02 PM
• And in high-rental neighborhoods, 49 percent of households earn under $60,000, and only 26 percent earn more than $125,000.
• There’s more balance in mixed-tenure neighborhoods where 43 percent of households earn more than $125,000, 28 percent are in the middle-income range, and 29 percent are below $60,000...
January 13, 2026 at 3:02 PM
• There’s more balance in mixed-tenure neighborhoods where 43 percent of households earn more than $125,000, 28 percent are in the middle-income range, and 29 percent are below $60,000...
• In the region’s rental deserts, 58 percent of households earn more than $125,000 a year, and only 18 percent fall below $60,000.
January 13, 2026 at 3:02 PM
• In the region’s rental deserts, 58 percent of households earn more than $125,000 a year, and only 18 percent fall below $60,000.
The result of mixing high housing prices and limited rental opportunities is a community that excludes those who can’t afford homeownership.
In Greater Boston, according to U.S. Census data, the financial divisions are sharp:
In Greater Boston, according to U.S. Census data, the financial divisions are sharp:
January 13, 2026 at 3:02 PM
The result of mixing high housing prices and limited rental opportunities is a community that excludes those who can’t afford homeownership.
In Greater Boston, according to U.S. Census data, the financial divisions are sharp:
In Greater Boston, according to U.S. Census data, the financial divisions are sharp:
To learn more, check out the report.
January 8, 2026 at 5:19 PM
To learn more, check out the report.
However, Kennedy says, “We’re not just saying that if we have more rental housing, everything will be solved. If you look at Brookline, it’s not the lack of rental housing that’s excluding people. It’s that the rental prices are very expensive. So, we also have to think about affordability.”
January 8, 2026 at 5:19 PM
However, Kennedy says, “We’re not just saying that if we have more rental housing, everything will be solved. If you look at Brookline, it’s not the lack of rental housing that’s excluding people. It’s that the rental prices are very expensive. So, we also have to think about affordability.”
Summing up present-day circumstances, the report adds, “Weston still lacks a sewer system that would support denser development, and it has just over 4,000 total homes. Somerville, with a similar land area, has more than 38,000.”
January 8, 2026 at 5:19 PM
Summing up present-day circumstances, the report adds, “Weston still lacks a sewer system that would support denser development, and it has just over 4,000 total homes. Somerville, with a similar land area, has more than 38,000.”
History’s role? As Boston Indicator’s Aja Kennedy, the report’s co-author, explains, “As far back as the 1910s and 1920s, officials enacted different policies to maintain large lots for single-family homes and not have other types of rental housing.”
January 8, 2026 at 5:19 PM
History’s role? As Boston Indicator’s Aja Kennedy, the report’s co-author, explains, “As far back as the 1910s and 1920s, officials enacted different policies to maintain large lots for single-family homes and not have other types of rental housing.”
One example is Weston, which has the advantage of having two commuter rail stations and being less than 15 miles from downtown Boston. But according to U.S. Census data from 2019 to 2023, rentals are only 8.9 percent of the housing stock.
January 8, 2026 at 5:19 PM
One example is Weston, which has the advantage of having two commuter rail stations and being less than 15 miles from downtown Boston. But according to U.S. Census data from 2019 to 2023, rentals are only 8.9 percent of the housing stock.
Rental deserts tend to be more common in areas where the housing stock is largely composed of single-family units.
January 8, 2026 at 5:19 PM
Rental deserts tend to be more common in areas where the housing stock is largely composed of single-family units.
While our research shows that homelessness in Greater Boston is high compared to other U.S. metropolitan areas, it is also true that many of these families live in some form of shelter.
To learn more, check out the report card.
To learn more, check out the report card.
December 23, 2025 at 3:02 PM
While our research shows that homelessness in Greater Boston is high compared to other U.S. metropolitan areas, it is also true that many of these families live in some form of shelter.
To learn more, check out the report card.
To learn more, check out the report card.