Boston Indicators
@bosindicators.bsky.social
The Boston Foundation’s research center, focusing on ideas to make our city more prosperous, equitable and just.
"At its best, Greater Boston is a welcoming region that draws strength from longtime residents and newcomers alike.
November 12, 2025 at 3:33 PM
"At its best, Greater Boston is a welcoming region that draws strength from longtime residents and newcomers alike.
November 12, 2025 at 3:20 PM
"There are lots of intractable challenges within government. Building more housing isn't one of them... It should not be as hard as it is.
buff.ly/NF8hGbY
buff.ly/NF8hGbY
November 12, 2025 at 2:53 PM
"There are lots of intractable challenges within government. Building more housing isn't one of them... It should not be as hard as it is.
buff.ly/NF8hGbY
buff.ly/NF8hGbY
The Special Topic section of the Greater Boston Housing Report Card 2025 looks at how the state's MBTA Communities law is doing at encouraging more housing density near commuter real stations.
There is a huge amount of variation.
buff.ly/NF8hGbY
There is a huge amount of variation.
buff.ly/NF8hGbY
November 12, 2025 at 2:36 PM
The Special Topic section of the Greater Boston Housing Report Card 2025 looks at how the state's MBTA Communities law is doing at encouraging more housing density near commuter real stations.
There is a huge amount of variation.
buff.ly/NF8hGbY
There is a huge amount of variation.
buff.ly/NF8hGbY
Families' annual salaries would have to grow quickly to keep up with the cost of Greater Boston homes.
To learn more, check out the Greater Boston Housing Report Card 2025.
buff.ly/NF8hGbY
To learn more, check out the Greater Boston Housing Report Card 2025.
buff.ly/NF8hGbY
November 12, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Families' annual salaries would have to grow quickly to keep up with the cost of Greater Boston homes.
To learn more, check out the Greater Boston Housing Report Card 2025.
buff.ly/NF8hGbY
To learn more, check out the Greater Boston Housing Report Card 2025.
buff.ly/NF8hGbY
"Here's some historic data... going all the way back to the 1960s looking at building permits statewide, and the broad trend here is we've settled into a pattern of building permits that's far lower than what we were at historically."
buff.ly/NF8hGbY
buff.ly/NF8hGbY
November 12, 2025 at 2:22 PM
"Here's some historic data... going all the way back to the 1960s looking at building permits statewide, and the broad trend here is we've settled into a pattern of building permits that's far lower than what we were at historically."
buff.ly/NF8hGbY
buff.ly/NF8hGbY
We're releasing the Greater Boston Housing Report card today.
"As we look ahead, the question is no longer whether we need more housing—our data make that abundantly clear—but whether we can summon the civic will to act.
buff.ly/NF8hGbY
"As we look ahead, the question is no longer whether we need more housing—our data make that abundantly clear—but whether we can summon the civic will to act.
buff.ly/NF8hGbY
November 12, 2025 at 1:59 PM
We're releasing the Greater Boston Housing Report card today.
"As we look ahead, the question is no longer whether we need more housing—our data make that abundantly clear—but whether we can summon the civic will to act.
buff.ly/NF8hGbY
"As we look ahead, the question is no longer whether we need more housing—our data make that abundantly clear—but whether we can summon the civic will to act.
buff.ly/NF8hGbY
Please join us on Thursday, November 20, 2025, at 9:00 a.m., for the release of our report, "A Massachusetts Model for Medicaid Work Requirements," buff.ly/yiXHLSL, which is part of our Meeting the Moment series, a response to President Trump’s aggressive agenda for changing American life.
November 10, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Please join us on Thursday, November 20, 2025, at 9:00 a.m., for the release of our report, "A Massachusetts Model for Medicaid Work Requirements," buff.ly/yiXHLSL, which is part of our Meeting the Moment series, a response to President Trump’s aggressive agenda for changing American life.
Please join us on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at 9:00 a.m., in person or online, for the release of the 2025 Greater Boston Housing Report Card. buff.ly/Q8hGZHv
We’re excited to have Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll join us. She will share a research presentation and her remarks.
We’re excited to have Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll join us. She will share a research presentation and her remarks.
November 3, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Please join us on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at 9:00 a.m., in person or online, for the release of the 2025 Greater Boston Housing Report Card. buff.ly/Q8hGZHv
We’re excited to have Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll join us. She will share a research presentation and her remarks.
We’re excited to have Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll join us. She will share a research presentation and her remarks.
Amy Dain once spent several years tracking down the number of housing permits issued in Greater Boston.
October 31, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Amy Dain once spent several years tracking down the number of housing permits issued in Greater Boston.
Counting the number of housing construction permits gives us a glimpse of how much housing could be built in the future.
October 30, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Counting the number of housing construction permits gives us a glimpse of how much housing could be built in the future.
To understand how many housing units might be built in the future, our new brief—“How many homes are we actually building?” buff.ly/8YLEGFn%E2%8... looks at recent trends in building permits.
October 28, 2025 at 2:02 PM
To understand how many housing units might be built in the future, our new brief—“How many homes are we actually building?” buff.ly/8YLEGFn%E2%8... looks at recent trends in building permits.
Please join us on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at 9:00 a.m., in person or online, for the release of the 2025 Greater Boston Housing Report Card. buff.ly/Q8hGZHv
We’re excited to have Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll join us. She will share a research presentation and her remarks.
We’re excited to have Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll join us. She will share a research presentation and her remarks.
October 24, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Please join us on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at 9:00 a.m., in person or online, for the release of the 2025 Greater Boston Housing Report Card. buff.ly/Q8hGZHv
We’re excited to have Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll join us. She will share a research presentation and her remarks.
We’re excited to have Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll join us. She will share a research presentation and her remarks.
Greater Boston and Massachusetts both need more housing production to meet the demand for affordable places to live.
October 23, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Greater Boston and Massachusetts both need more housing production to meet the demand for affordable places to live.
How much housing is being built in Greater Boston and across Massachusetts?
Not nearly enough, according to our estimates. There’s a concerning decline in the number of housing permits, which are one indicator of how many housing units will be built in the future.
Not nearly enough, according to our estimates. There’s a concerning decline in the number of housing permits, which are one indicator of how many housing units will be built in the future.
October 21, 2025 at 2:36 PM
How much housing is being built in Greater Boston and across Massachusetts?
Not nearly enough, according to our estimates. There’s a concerning decline in the number of housing permits, which are one indicator of how many housing units will be built in the future.
Not nearly enough, according to our estimates. There’s a concerning decline in the number of housing permits, which are one indicator of how many housing units will be built in the future.
Despite its name, the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) makes ugly cuts to Medicaid and SNAP benefits, which threatens to increase the racial wealth gap.
October 16, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Despite its name, the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) makes ugly cuts to Medicaid and SNAP benefits, which threatens to increase the racial wealth gap.
One way that the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) undercuts wealth building among low-income families is by making what had been a temporary estate tax exemption of $15 million—up from $7 million—permanent.
October 14, 2025 at 2:03 PM
One way that the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) undercuts wealth building among low-income families is by making what had been a temporary estate tax exemption of $15 million—up from $7 million—permanent.
While many wealthy families will become wealthier because of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB), the new federal law could make the racial wealth gap even worse, as we explain in our new report, “Fading Beauty: How the One Big Beautiful Bill Could Widen Wealth Inequality.” buff.ly/qjS65ET
October 9, 2025 at 3:03 PM
While many wealthy families will become wealthier because of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB), the new federal law could make the racial wealth gap even worse, as we explain in our new report, “Fading Beauty: How the One Big Beautiful Bill Could Widen Wealth Inequality.” buff.ly/qjS65ET
“Do apartment buildings really need two stairwells?”
That’s the question The Boston Globe editorial page asks in the second installment of its series on reviewing housing regulations. buff.ly/Qzd9fvq
That’s the question The Boston Globe editorial page asks in the second installment of its series on reviewing housing regulations. buff.ly/Qzd9fvq
October 7, 2025 at 3:21 PM
“Do apartment buildings really need two stairwells?”
That’s the question The Boston Globe editorial page asks in the second installment of its series on reviewing housing regulations. buff.ly/Qzd9fvq
That’s the question The Boston Globe editorial page asks in the second installment of its series on reviewing housing regulations. buff.ly/Qzd9fvq
To keep up with local policy news, sign up for one—or both—of our newsletters! buff.ly/EeMKdJA
October 2, 2025 at 2:03 PM
To keep up with local policy news, sign up for one—or both—of our newsletters! buff.ly/EeMKdJA
Compared to its municipal peers, Greater Boston has made progress on integration, as we explain in our report “Residential Segregation in Greater Boston: Shifting Patterns by Race and Income.” buff.ly/272tdjq
September 30, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Compared to its municipal peers, Greater Boston has made progress on integration, as we explain in our report “Residential Segregation in Greater Boston: Shifting Patterns by Race and Income.” buff.ly/272tdjq
Our policy brief on SNAP benefits—”Meeting the Moment: SNAP Cuts and the Local Fallout”—made the news. buff.ly/3eocTFc
September 25, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Our policy brief on SNAP benefits—”Meeting the Moment: SNAP Cuts and the Local Fallout”—made the news. buff.ly/3eocTFc
The editorial page of “The Boston Globe” has launched a series looking at how Massachusetts can “Roll back regulations to lower housing costs.” buff.ly/VzEIa4S
September 24, 2025 at 2:02 PM
The editorial page of “The Boston Globe” has launched a series looking at how Massachusetts can “Roll back regulations to lower housing costs.” buff.ly/VzEIa4S
The city of Newton, Mass., took the concept of providing families with a "guaranteed income" (GI), and developed Newton Thrive, a program that's based on the appealing model of "Mobility Mentoring."
September 18, 2025 at 2:01 PM
The city of Newton, Mass., took the concept of providing families with a "guaranteed income" (GI), and developed Newton Thrive, a program that's based on the appealing model of "Mobility Mentoring."
As we explain in our report, “Meeting the Moment: SNAP Cuts and the Local Fallout,” buff.ly/fe2bDXA the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB), signed into law by President Trump, makes concerning changes to SNAP, the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Meeting the Moment: SNAP Cuts and the Local Fallout
SNAP changes may cause families to lose some or all of their benefits while costing the state more.
buff.ly
September 16, 2025 at 2:02 PM
As we explain in our report, “Meeting the Moment: SNAP Cuts and the Local Fallout,” buff.ly/fe2bDXA the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB), signed into law by President Trump, makes concerning changes to SNAP, the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.