Data & Statistics

Population Size & Growth

Population growth in Revere is consistent with regional and statewide trends. The Greater Boston Area remains a hub for growth.

Revere has a total population of 53,864 people.

The largest proportion of Revere residents (17.5%) are between the ages of 25 and 34. Nearly 46% of residents are between the ages of 25 and 54. 

Ethnic Breakdown

Consistent with its long history as a gateway community, Revere has a remarkably diverse population, even compared to peers in the region.

Early Insights:

• Revere has a larger relative Latino population than region as a whole. This influences our community's culture and strengths as well as needs
• There are several neighborhoods with larger Latino communities

Foreign-Born Population

Nearly 20,000 Revere residents are foreign-born, bringing diverse global perspectives from around the world, and most predominantly from Latin America, Northern Africa and Eastern Europe. 

Median Income

The analysis of Revere's median income gives insights into the population, growth, and capacity for growth. 

Early Insights:

• The median household income in Revere is slightly lower than that of other Metro North communities.
• Growth in median household income over time matches pace with the region
• Revere residents tend to build their income over time, with incomes peaking at ages typically associated with the ending of one's career

Poverty

Since 2010, the percentage of Revere families below poverty level has dropped sharply. Causes could include various household, neighborhood, and/or population changes in Revere.

Disability

Revere is home to many residents who may benefit greatly from accessibility improvements and accommodations in the city.

Early Insights:

• More than 1 in 10 residents live with a disability.
• The most common disability is "ambulatory difficulty" - which indicates "Having serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs"

7,130 people, or 13.32% of all Revere residents, are living with some sort of disability.

Diverse Skill Sets for a Regional Economy 

To plan for the future, it helps to understand where Revere residents work, and what professional skill sets they bring to the local and regional workforce. 

Early Insights:

• Revere’s diversity means that residents engage in high-skilled labor in Massachusetts’s technology and financial services sectors, union labor throughout the city and Metro region, and low-skilled labor in Boston and surrounding areas’ service sectors.
• Like many communities, Revere has a larger proportion of workers in education, health care, and food/entertainment. Comparisons to the region indicate Revere has a larger share of skilled blue collar workers, including workers in construction and transportation.
• Nearly 10 percent of Revere households rely on self employment income.

Strong Employment

Unemployment in Revere has continued to decline since 2009 and is very consistent with regional trends.   

Early Insights:

• Revere has a relatively low unemployment rate (below the U.S. goal of 5% or less)
• Unemployment rate is right on par with the state and slightly higher than the region.

Aspirations to Higher Education

Though unemployment rates are low, Revere residents also have relatively lower rates of educational attainment compared to the region. There may be interest among residents for 'upskilling' credentials or improving access to existing educational opportunities in an increasingly competitive job market.

Early Insights:

• A potential concern for the community is that Revere residents have lower educational attainment than the region as a whole. Nearly one in 5 residents have not graduated high school. This lower educational attainment may do much to explain the lower incomes Revere residents earn than the region on average, as noted in the "Jobs and Employment" page
• College educated people are fairly tightly clustered in a few specific neighborhoods (primarily Point of Pines and North Revere)

Highest Density Along the Beach

Coastal neighborhoods in Revere, which include some of its oldest and newest residential development, tend to have the highest household density. Public housing and private multi-unit properties may account for other clusters.

Early Insights

• There are three distinct areas of higher household density: 1) East corner of West Revere; 2) In Park Ave & the Hills; 3) A larger cluster in Shirley Ave and Beachmont

Increased Housing Production

Revere's overall supply of housing units is growing over time, though the nature of development planning and permitting can account for significant spikes or dips over short periods of time.

Early Insights

• New housing construction saw a spike between 2014 and 2017, but has declined dramatically in the last year

Vacancy Rate Lower than the State's

Housing units in Revere are in high demand, which can be due to a range of factors such as the city's relative affordability, quality of life, access to jobs and transit, and the city's proximity to Boston. Demand is likely to remain high.

Early Insights:

• Revere's overall housing vacancy rate is slightly higher than the region as a whole, but much lower than the State's rate.
• Upper Revere and Oak Island Neighborhoods have the tightest housing markets, with vacancy rates of less than 1%
• Housing vacancy is highest along one stretch of Revere Beach neighborhood.

A Greater Measure of Housing Affordability

On a citywide basis, Revere provides a comparable or greater measure of housing affordability than its regional peers. For lower income residents, housing costs remain a substantial burden.

Early Insights:

• Revere's housing is overall more affordable than the Greater Boston region as whole, and in line with the Metro North region.
• Most median income families can afford a typical Revere housing unit. Although typical housing prices are still very high for low income residents, they are more affordable than the typical unit region-wide.

On average, housing costs reach to 28.65% of the median income, with low income individuals on average spending 115.65% of their income on housing.

Families with At Risk Housing Remains a Concern

Many of Revere's homeowners and renters contribute a substantial part of their income to housing costs. Spending in excess on housing reduces household resources available for other needs or discretionary spending, which can also impact residents' lifestyle choices and participation in the local economy.

Early Insights:

• Many Revere households are paying excessive housing costs. This can result in household instability and contribute to transitory housing situations.
• Renter Households are at greater risk of being cost burdened.

High Crowding in West Revere

This data set from the U.S. Census is designed to show the number of people per bedroom in units of housing. This can be an expression of family size, of young people staying at home after graduation. It can also potentially symbolize stress on the housing and family units.

Early Insights:

• The most dense crowding is prevalent in western Revere with Broadway acting as a sort of "dividing line" between areas of greater vs lower crowded housing situations.

There are a total of 1,032 crowded housing situations in Revere.

The median home value in Revere is $332,100 as of 2016.

The Boston area has been cited as having some of the highest commute times in the country. Despite easy access to public transportation and close proximity to  Boston, the average commute time for Revere residents is actually slightly the regional average of 29 minutes. 

Data Insights

• When people complain about more difficult traffic, the data bears them out. Commute times increased more than 2 full minutes between 2010 and 2015. 
• Commute times from Point of Pines is well above the average.

Combating Obesity

As we consider the needs for more recreational opportunities and healthy food alternatives for families, understanding the health hazards created by obesity provides important context for these planning strategies.

Insights

• More males and females are overweight as they grow older.
• There has been a notable increase in overweight 10th graders over time.

A Walkable City

Data and research show a positive association between the walkability of a city and a number of key factors that improve the quality of life for residents, including reduction in crime, improved creativity, and high social engagement. 

Early Insights

• In addition to healthy diets, daily exercise is vital for preventing obesity and chronic disease. Walking for daily needs or commutes is a good way to meet daily recommended exercise requirements.
• Overall, Revere is pretty walkable. Some neighborhoods are truly a "walker's paradise" with good road connectivity, close-by destinations, and good transit service

Monitoring Substance Use in Revere

While substance abuse is measured on an individual basis, it has considerable effects on the community at large. Revere is heavily impacted by opioid abuse and relatively more so than surrounding communities, though the epidemic extends far beyond Revere.

Data insights

• Revere is on the high end of the scale for opioid and other substance use, even as use of alcohol appears lower. 
• Opioid fatalities are an ongoing reminder of the challenges ahead.