02130 receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
02127
02130
Opportunity
70 · Top 21%
vs69 · Top 22%
Growth
52 · Top 48%
vs52 · Top 48%
Climate
65 · Bottom 37%
vs65 · Bottom 37%
Physical resilience
97 · Top 2%
vs97 · Top 2%
Housing affordability
72 · Bottom 37%
vs61 · Bottom 24%
Schools
26 · Bottom 17%
vs53 · Top 48%
Access
99 · Top 15%
vs99 · Top 15%
Economic stability
69 · Top 32%
vs73 · Top 24%
Measured values
| Metric | 02127 | 02130 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 36,769 | 40,055 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $164,387 | $131,551 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $99,163 | $77,480 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 17,866/sq mi | 11,315/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $863,700 | $822,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,736 | $2,426 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 45.3% | 44.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2% | 4.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.5% | -1.5% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 69.8% | 74.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 11.1% | 10.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 2,086 | 2,086 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.1 | 3.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 21.2% | 21.2% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 82°F | 82°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 23°F | 23°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 43.6" | 43.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 3 mi | 7 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 33.0 min | 33.1 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 32.3 | 35.3 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 6 | 9 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 8.84 | 9.41 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 9.9% | 21.3% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 25.6% | 39.2% | 2019-20 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
02127
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
02130
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Full profiles: 02127 — Boston, MA · 02130 — Boston, MA · How this is calculated: methodology