City profile · Virginia · Census ACS 2023

Boston, VA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Boston - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

156
Residents
$56,557
Median income
$110,200
Median home
$1,054
Median rent (state)

Boston - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Boston lands in the 30th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

30th
percentile, household income
13th
percentile, home value
25th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Boston, VA

Boston is a small town in Virginia, home to 156 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Boston households earn a median of $56,557 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 0.0%. Typical homes in Boston are valued around $110,200, and the median resident age is 47.9 years. Educational attainment runs 15.4% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 60.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 54.2°F.

Virginia tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Virginia scores 101.1 (Near Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,054 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Virginia's average monthly utility costs around $235 (state average). Workers in Boston report an average commute of 32.1 minutes, with 100.0% driving alone and 0.0% working from home. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 81.0 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (High).

Population

156 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Virginia

Median Household Income

$56,557 /yr

Poverty 0.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

101.1 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Virginia average

How does Boston compare to other US cities?

Here's how Boston stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 30% higher than other cities
Home value 13% pricier than other cities
Median rent 25% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Boston's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Virginia, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

30thIncome percentile

30th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Boston's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$110,200 Among the most affordable more affordable than 87% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). This entry sits in this band. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Boston $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Boston, VA Boston, VA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Boston, VA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Boston, VA median $56,557/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Boston, VA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Boston, VA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 15.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 0.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 60.3%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
156
Median Income
$56,557
Median Home Value
$110,200
Median Age
47.9
Poverty Rate
0.0%
Labor force participation
60.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
15.4%

Climate

Avg Temperature
54.2°F
Annual Precipitation
N/A
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
32.1 minutes
Drive Alone
100.0%
Carpool
0.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
0.0%

Based on 94 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Virginia - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$115
avg/month
Natural Gas
$70
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$50
avg/month
Total Utilities
$235
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Virginia state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Virginia state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Boston sits in

Cost of Living Index
101.1
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,054/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
81.0 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Virginia

Hallwood
156 people
Branchville
154 people
Millboro
158 people
Stonega
154 people
Middlebrook
159 people
Capron
151 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Boston's 156 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Hobson, AL
156 people
Fisher, AR
156 people
Rover, AR
156 people
Black Hawk, CO
156 people
Florissant, CO
156 people
Pritchett, CO
156 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Boston's $56,557 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Lewiston, ME
$56,558 median income
Cocoa, FL
$56,553 median income
Togiak, AK
$56,563 median income
White Mountain, AK
$56,563 median income
Cisne, IL
$56,563 median income
Garwin, IA
$56,563 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Boston, VA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Boston, VA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 31.4% 68.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.0% White 31.4% Black or African American 68.6% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 0.0% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Boston compares to nearby Virginia cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Boston (this city) 156 $56,557
Hallwood 156 $55,417
Branchville 154 $77,813
Millboro 158 N/A
Census ACS 5-year FIPS VA NOAA Normals OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Boston, VA?

What is the population of Boston, VA? +

The population of Boston, VA stands at 156 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Boston, VA? +

Median annual household income in Boston runs $56,557, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Boston? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Boston; the closest available measure is the Virginia state average, a cost of living index of 101.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Virginia vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Boston, VA? +

Homes in Boston carry a median value of $110,200, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Boston? +

Boston has an average annual temperature of 54.2°F. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.