In a letter to the U.S. Census Bureau, Mayor Thomas M. Menino is challenging the Census Bureau’s population estimate for the fourth year in a row, claiming that the Bureau has undercounted Boston’s population by more than 21,000 people. The Bureau recently issued the population estimate (for July 1, 2008) for Boston of 609,023. However, the City of Boston believes that the City’s population estimate should be 630,384.

“The implications of the Census numbers are enormous,” Mayor Menino said. “This is the fourth year in a row that I have fought to find the truth in the data because population counts directly affect our levels of federal funding and private investment,” Mayor Menino added, referring to the U.S. Conference of Mayor’s estimate that each person missed in the Census translates into a loss of $1,230 in funding per person.

As a result of last year’s successful challenge of the 2007 estimate, the Census Bureau officially increased its population estimate numbers for Boston from 599,351 to 608,352 – the first time the City’s population had been higher than 600,000 since the 1970’s. Despite being pleased about last year’s successful challenge, the City contended that the estimate should have been raised to 619,250.

Mayor Menino added, “Providing accurate information and analysis is critical to our economic climate. The current challenge, if successful, could represent up to $26 million in funding for the City. We must continue to fight for accurate census estimates as we lead up to the 2010 census.”

The City’s challenge is based on the fact that it believes the Census Bureau has failed to adequately reflect the city’s proportion of Suffolk County, to fully account for all the adaptive reuse housing, and to correct an over count of housing demolitions.

History offers a strong precedent for Mayor Menino’s challenges. During the 1990s, the Census Bureau estimated a population loss for Boston for nearly every individual year, only to determine in the official enumeration of the 2000 Census that the city’s population had in fact increased during the decade.

Following the City’s challenge in 2006, the Census Bureau raised Boston’s 2005 population estimate from 559,034 to 596,638. In 2007, the City challenged the 2006 estimate of 590,763 and the Census Bureau raised the population to 595,698.

Mayor Menino was again supported in his challenge by the Research Division of the Boston Redevelopment Authority, which compiles, monitors, and analyzes a wide range of data relevant to the local and regional economies.

“Again, our research staff has provided critical data to challenge the Census Bureau’s estimate,” said John F. Palmieri, Director of the BRA. “We will continue to track and analyze this data to make sure that Boston’s population continues to be accurately represented.”

*Media Note: A copy of the Mayor's letter to the Census Bureau is available upon request.

Press Contact: Jessica Shumaker, BRA, 617.918.4446.

Release Date: October 1, 2009