Boston

Key figures

21 of 21 measures have a published figure for Boston. Each figure is the publisher’s own, for the period named beside it.

Why the population is changing

The ONS breaks the year’s population change into its components (Year to mid-2025). These are its published figures for Boston, not our estimates.

• 634 births and 822 deaths: natural change reduced the population by 188.
• Moves within the UK (net) added 256 people.
• International migration (net) reduced the population by 286.
• The ONS’s balancing item (“Other”, mainly armed forces and prisoner adjustments) added 22.
• Altogether the population fell by 196 over the year (the sum of the components above — our addition of the ONS’s published figures).

The ONS has not yet published the Mid-2025 population level itself, so the closing bar is the Mid-2024 level plus the components above — the same addition as the total.

Each component is a series in its own right: births, deaths, moves within the UK and international migration.

Population change, year by year

The same decomposition for every published year in Boston: births and deaths, net moves within the UK, net international migration, and the ONS’s balancing item.

Years to mid-2024 are the ONS’s rebased back series, made consistent with Census 2021 — its figures deliberately differ from the estimates published at the time. Every cell is a published figure; the total is the sum of net moves, natural change and other, which is our addition. A dash is a year the source does not publish for this area, never a zero.

Rates per 1,000 residents

The same population flows, adjusted for Boston’s size, so they can be compared with any other area’s: each year’s flow divided by the population that mid-year, times 1,000.

A Civometry calculation, not a published figure: ONS publishes these flows and the population, but not the rates. Net rates are signed — below zero means more left than arrived. Rates are crude, not age-standardised, so areas with very different age structures still differ for reasons size cannot remove. Each link shows the full recipe and every year.

Pay against housing costs

How pay in Boston moved over its latest published year, beside how the cost of buying and renting moved over theirs. The three series come from different publishers on different timetables, so each row covers its own year, named in the row.

average house price rose faster than pay over these periods.

Levels are the publishers’ own (ONS ASHE median annual pay for full-time employees living in the area; HM Land Registry UK House Price Index; ONS Price Index of Private Rents). The percentage changes are Civometry arithmetic on the two published values in each row. Pay is a survey of employees and says nothing about a particular household; one year is weather, not climate.

Who runs the council

Independent and Conservative coalition (2026) — Other and independent 24, Conservative 4, Liberal Democrat 1, Reform UK 1 of 30 seats.

Since 2016: Conservative (largest party, no overall majority) (2016); Other parties or independents (largest party, no overall majority) (2017); Conservative (2018–2019); Conservative (largest party, no overall majority) (2020–2022); Other parties or independents (2023–2024); Independent (2025); Independent and Conservative coalition (2026)

Not an official statistic. Compiled by Open Council Data UK, an independent project, not by any government department: no official body publishes council political control. Councils are matched to GSS codes by name here; county councils and districts abolished before the current boundaries are not included. This is the one dataset on the site that is not read from an official publication, and every page that shows it says so. Source: Open Council Data UK (CC0).

Between the censuses

How Boston’s religion, ethnic-group and country-of-birth make-up changed between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, category by category. The two censuses compared.

Crime

7,937 recorded offences in the 12 months to June 2026, 110.1 per 1,000 residents. Full crime profile, by category and month.

Deprivation, neighbourhood by neighbourhood

The English Indices of Deprivation (IoD2025) rank every one of Boston’s 39 neighbourhoods against the rest of England, where rank 1 is the most deprived. Each neighbourhood’s page carries its full rank and domain deciles.

Most deprived here: Boston 003E (rank 1,528), Boston 002A (rank 2,314), Boston 003D (rank 2,409). Least deprived: Boston 009C (rank 27,911), Boston 008C (rank 26,463), Boston 008A (rank 21,666).

Published for this area

• Median annual pay, full-time employees, by area of residence2025 · up 1.3% on a year earlier · ONS, published 23 October 2025£29,805 a year
• Median annual pay, female full-time employees, by area of residence2025 · up 6.5% on a year earlier · ONS, published 23 October 2025£28,019 a year
• Median annual pay, male full-time employees, by area of residence2025 · up 4.2% on a year earlier · ONS, published 23 October 2025£32,684 a year
• Asylum seekers supported in each council area2026 Q2 · up 18.7% on a year earlier · Home Office, published 27 August 2026108 people
• Births by local authorityYear to mid-2025 · ONS, published 29 July 2026634 people
• Census 2011 usual residentsCensus 2011 · ONS, published 2 September 202664,637 people
• Census 2021 usual residentsCensus 2021 · ONS, published 2 September 202670,502 people
• People claiming unemployment-related benefitsJuly 2026 · up 15.5% on a year earlier · ONS, published 18 August 20262,010 people
• Claimants as a proportion of residents aged 16 to 64July 2026 · up 0.7 points on a year earlier · ONS, published 18 August 20264.8%
• Outstanding council borrowing2026 Q2 · unchanged 0.0% on a year earlier · MHCLG, published 3 September 2026£1m
• Council investments held2026 Q2 · down 31.8% on a year earlier · MHCLG, published 3 September 2026£35.4m
• Earmarked council reservesYear ending March 2025 · up 31.7% on a year earlier · MHCLG, published 13 August 2026£17.3m
• Unallocated council reservesYear ending March 2025 · unchanged 0.0% on a year earlier · MHCLG, published 13 August 2026£2m
• Council spending on servicesYear ending March 2025 · down 12.8% on a year earlier · MHCLG, published 13 August 2026£14.3m
• Band D council tax by billing authorityYear ending March 2027 · up 3.2% on a year earlier · MHCLG, published 25 March 2026£2,309 a year
• Deaths by local authorityYear to mid-2025 · ONS, published 29 July 2026822 people
• Dwellings on the Council Tax valuation listsYear ending March 2025 · VOA, published 25 September 202531,990 dwellings
• Mean domestic electricity consumption per meter2024 · DESNZ, published 18 December 20253,435 kWh a year
• Employment deprivation rate2025 · MHCLG, published 17 November 202515.3% of working-age residents
• Mean domestic gas consumption per meter2024 · DESNZ, published 5 May 202610,716 kWh a year
• House price annual changeJune 2026 · up 7.0 points on a year earlier · HM Land Registry, published 20 August 20262.9%
• Average house priceJune 2026 · up 2.9% on a year earlier · HM Land Registry, published 20 August 2026£180,778
• Households in temporary accommodation2026 Q1 · MHCLG, published 13 August 20269 households
• Households assessed as owed a homelessness duty2026 Q1 · MHCLG, published 13 August 202681 households
• Deprivation: IMD average score2025 · MHCLG, published 17 November 202528.5 score
• Deprivation: share of small areas in England's most deprived tenth2025 · MHCLG, published 17 November 202512.8% of the district's LSOAs
• Income deprivation rate2025 · MHCLG, published 17 November 202527.9% of residents
• Net internal migration by local authorityYear to mid-2025 · ONS, published 29 July 2026256 people
• International migration into a local authorityYear to mid-2025 · ONS, published 29 July 2026884 people
• Net international migration by local authorityYear to mid-2025 · ONS, published 29 July 2026-286 people
• International migration out of a local authorityYear to mid-2025 · ONS, published 29 July 20261,170 people
• Births minus deaths by local authorityYear to mid-2025 · ONS, published 29 July 2026-188 people
• Other population change by local authorityYear to mid-2025 · ONS, published 29 July 202622 people
• Population by local authorityMid-2024 · down 0.1% on a year earlier · ONS, published 26 September 202571,080 people
• Private rent annual changeJuly 2026 · down 0.1 points on a year earlier · ONS, published 19 August 20261.1%
• Average private rent a monthJuly 2026 · up 1.0% on a year earlier · ONS, published 19 August 2026£803 a month
• Households with children in temporary accommodation2026 Q1 · MHCLG, published 13 August 20267 households
• Median weekly pay, full-time employees, by area of residence2025 · up 6.3% on a year earlier · ONS, published 23 October 2025£609 a week

National figures that apply here

These are not measured for Boston; they are the figure for the nation or the UK, shown because they apply to everyone in it.

• Average Band D council tax (England average)Year ending March 2027 · up 4.9%£2,392 a year
• Unemployment rate (UK)2026 Q2 · up 0.2 points4.9%
• Universal Credit caseload (Great Britain)Year ending March 2025 · up 16.3%5,473,000 households
• Persistent absence (England)2024/25 academic year · down 1.8 points18.1%
• Average annual electricity bill (UK)2025 · down 1.3%£1,069 a year

Then and now

The first and last years published for Boston, and the difference between the two. Both figures are published for this area; the difference is those two numbers subtracted, which you can check by hand.

• 13,6602012→10,7162024

  Mean domestic gas consumption per meter

  In Boston, mean domestic gas consumption per meter fell from 13,660 in 2012 to 10,716 in 2024, a change of 2,944 or 21.6% (DESNZ).

  How this figure was worked out

  10,716 in 2024 − 13,660 in 2012 = −2,944, which is 21.6% of the figure for 2012.

  The two ends are rounded for display. The published figures are 10,716.24 and 13,660.03, and 10,716.24 − 13,660.03 = 2,943.80.

  13 published years spanning 12 years, from DESNZ. Years before the current series come from Mean domestic gas consumption per meter, 2012 onwards, held as a separate series so the two are never mixed inside one figure.

  In Boston, mean domestic gas consumption per meter fell from 13,660 in 2012 to 10,716 in 2024, a change of 2,944 or 21.6% (DESNZ).

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• 4,2682012→3,4352024

  Mean domestic electricity consumption per meter

  In Boston, mean domestic electricity consumption per meter fell from 4,268 in 2012 to 3,435 in 2024, a change of 833 or 19.5% (DESNZ).

  How this figure was worked out

  3,435 in 2024 − 4,268 in 2012 = −833, which is 19.5% of the figure for 2012.

  The two ends are rounded for display. The published figures are 3,435.10 and 4,268.00, and 3,435.10 − 4,268.00 = 832.90.

  13 published years spanning 12 years, from DESNZ. Years before the current series come from Mean domestic electricity consumption per meter, 2012 onwards, held as a separate series so the two are never mixed inside one figure.

  In Boston, mean domestic electricity consumption per meter fell from 4,268 in 2012 to 3,435 in 2024, a change of 833 or 19.5% (DESNZ).

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• £1,842Year ending March 2021→£2,309Year ending March 2027

  Band D council tax by billing authority

  In Boston, band D council tax by billing authority rose from £1,842 in the year ending March 2021 to £2,309 in the year ending March 2027, a change of £467 or 25.3%, in cash terms, not adjusted for inflation (MHCLG).

  How this figure was worked out

  £2,309 in the year ending March 2027 − £1,842 in the year ending March 2021 = £467, which is 25.3% of the figure for the year ending March 2021.

  The two ends are rounded for display. The published figures are 2,308.73 and 1,842.00, and 2,308.73 − 1,842.00 = 466.73.

  7 published years spanning 6 years, from MHCLG. Years before the current series come from Band D council tax by billing authority, 2020-21 to 2024-25, held as a separate series so the two are never mixed inside one figure. Cash terms: these are the amounts as published, not adjusted for inflation.

  In Boston, band D council tax by billing authority rose from £1,842 in the year ending March 2021 to £2,309 in the year ending March 2027, a change of £467 or 25.3%, in cash terms, not adjusted for inflation (MHCLG).

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• £20,1512008→£29,8052025

  Median annual pay, full-time employees, by area of residence

  In Boston, median annual pay, full-time employees, by area of residence rose from £20,151 in 2008 to £29,805 in 2025, a change of £9,654 or 47.9%, in cash terms, not adjusted for inflation (ONS).

  How this figure was worked out

  £29,805 in 2025 − £20,151 in 2008 = £9,654, which is 47.9% of the figure for 2008.

  17 published years spanning 17 years, from ONS. Years before the current series come from Median annual pay, full-time employees, by area of residence, 2002 to 2023, held as a separate series so the two are never mixed inside one figure. Cash terms: these are the amounts as published, not adjusted for inflation.

  In Boston, median annual pay, full-time employees, by area of residence rose from £20,151 in 2008 to £29,805 in 2025, a change of £9,654 or 47.9%, in cash terms, not adjusted for inflation (ONS).

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• £3732008→£6092025

  Median weekly pay, full-time employees, by area of residence

  In Boston, median weekly pay, full-time employees, by area of residence rose from £373 in 2008 to £609 in 2025, a change of £236 or 63.3%, in cash terms, not adjusted for inflation (ONS).

  How this figure was worked out

  £609 in 2025 − £373 in 2008 = £236, which is 63.3% of the figure for 2008.

  The two ends are rounded for display. The published figures are 609.40 and 373.20, and 609.40 − 373.20 = 236.20.

  18 published years spanning 17 years, from ONS. Years before the current series come from Median weekly pay, full-time employees, by area of residence, 2002 to 2023, held as a separate series so the two are never mixed inside one figure. Cash terms: these are the amounts as published, not adjusted for inflation.

  In Boston, median weekly pay, full-time employees, by area of residence rose from £373 in 2008 to £609 in 2025, a change of £236 or 63.3%, in cash terms, not adjusted for inflation (ONS).

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• -748Year to mid-2012→256Year to mid-2025

  Net internal migration by local authority

  In Boston, net internal migration by local authority rose from -748 in Year to mid-2012 to 256 in Year to mid-2025, a change of 1,004 or 134.2% (ONS).

  How this figure was worked out

  256 in Year to mid-2025 − -748 in Year to mid-2012 = 1,004, which is 134.2% of the figure for Year to mid-2012.

  14 published years spanning 13 years, from ONS. Years before the current series come from Internal migration net by local authority, 2012 to 2024, held as a separate series so the two are never mixed inside one figure.

  In Boston, net internal migration by local authority rose from -748 in Year to mid-2012 to 256 in Year to mid-2025, a change of 1,004 or 134.2% (ONS).

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• 1,521Year to mid-2012→884Year to mid-2025

  International migration into a local authority

  In Boston, international migration into a local authority fell from 1,521 in Year to mid-2012 to 884 in Year to mid-2025, a change of 637 or 41.9% (ONS).

  How this figure was worked out

  884 in Year to mid-2025 − 1,521 in Year to mid-2012 = −637, which is 41.9% of the figure for Year to mid-2012.

  14 published years spanning 13 years, from ONS. Years before the current series come from International migration in by local authority, 2012 to 2024, held as a separate series so the two are never mixed inside one figure.

  In Boston, international migration into a local authority fell from 1,521 in Year to mid-2012 to 884 in Year to mid-2025, a change of 637 or 41.9% (ONS).

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• 513Year to mid-2012→1,170Year to mid-2025

  International migration out of a local authority

  In Boston, international migration out of a local authority rose from 513 in Year to mid-2012 to 1,170 in Year to mid-2025, a change of 657 or 128.1% (ONS).

  How this figure was worked out

  1,170 in Year to mid-2025 − 513 in Year to mid-2012 = 657, which is 128.1% of the figure for Year to mid-2012.

  14 published years spanning 13 years, from ONS. Years before the current series come from International migration out by local authority, 2012 to 2024, held as a separate series so the two are never mixed inside one figure.

  In Boston, international migration out of a local authority rose from 513 in Year to mid-2012 to 1,170 in Year to mid-2025, a change of 657 or 128.1% (ONS).

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• 1,008Year to mid-2012→-286Year to mid-2025

  Net international migration by local authority

  In Boston, net international migration by local authority fell from 1,008 in Year to mid-2012 to -286 in Year to mid-2025, a change of 1,294 or 128.4% (ONS).

  How this figure was worked out

  -286 in Year to mid-2025 − 1,008 in Year to mid-2012 = −1,294, which is 128.4% of the figure for Year to mid-2012.

  14 published years spanning 13 years, from ONS. Years before the current series come from International migration net by local authority, 2012 to 2024, held as a separate series so the two are never mixed inside one figure.

  In Boston, net international migration by local authority fell from 1,008 in Year to mid-2012 to -286 in Year to mid-2025, a change of 1,294 or 128.4% (ONS).

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• 891Year to mid-2012→634Year to mid-2025

  Births by local authority

  In Boston, births by local authority fell from 891 in Year to mid-2012 to 634 in Year to mid-2025, a change of 257 or 28.8% (ONS).

  How this figure was worked out

  634 in Year to mid-2025 − 891 in Year to mid-2012 = −257, which is 28.8% of the figure for Year to mid-2012.

  14 published years spanning 13 years, from ONS. Years before the current series come from Births by local authority, 2012 to 2024, held as a separate series so the two are never mixed inside one figure.

  In Boston, births by local authority fell from 891 in Year to mid-2012 to 634 in Year to mid-2025, a change of 257 or 28.8% (ONS).

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• 702Year to mid-2012→822Year to mid-2025

  Deaths by local authority

  In Boston, deaths by local authority rose from 702 in Year to mid-2012 to 822 in Year to mid-2025, a change of 120 or 17.1% (ONS).

  How this figure was worked out

  822 in Year to mid-2025 − 702 in Year to mid-2012 = 120, which is 17.1% of the figure for Year to mid-2012.

  14 published years spanning 13 years, from ONS. Years before the current series come from Deaths by local authority, 2012 to 2024, held as a separate series so the two are never mixed inside one figure.

  In Boston, deaths by local authority rose from 702 in Year to mid-2012 to 822 in Year to mid-2025, a change of 120 or 17.1% (ONS).

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• 189Year to mid-2012→-188Year to mid-2025

  Births minus deaths by local authority

  In Boston, births minus deaths by local authority fell from 189 in Year to mid-2012 to -188 in Year to mid-2025, a change of 377 or 199.5% (ONS).

  How this figure was worked out

  -188 in Year to mid-2025 − 189 in Year to mid-2012 = −377, which is 199.5% of the figure for Year to mid-2012.

  14 published years spanning 13 years, from ONS. Years before the current series come from Natural change by local authority, 2012 to 2024, held as a separate series so the two are never mixed inside one figure.

  In Boston, births minus deaths by local authority fell from 189 in Year to mid-2012 to -188 in Year to mid-2025, a change of 377 or 199.5% (ONS).

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• 200Year to mid-2012→22Year to mid-2025

  Other population change by local authority

  In Boston, other population change by local authority fell from 200 in Year to mid-2012 to 22 in Year to mid-2025, a change of 178 or 89.0% (ONS).

  How this figure was worked out

  22 in Year to mid-2025 − 200 in Year to mid-2012 = −178, which is 89.0% of the figure for Year to mid-2012.

  14 published years spanning 13 years, from ONS. Years before the current series come from Other population change by local authority, 2012 to 2024, held as a separate series so the two are never mixed inside one figure.

  In Boston, other population change by local authority fell from 200 in Year to mid-2012 to 22 in Year to mid-2025, a change of 178 or 89.0% (ONS).

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• £1m2010 Q1→£1m2026 Q2

  Outstanding council borrowing

  In Boston, outstanding council borrowing was the same in 2026 Q2 as in 2010 Q1, in cash terms, not adjusted for inflation (MHCLG).

  How this figure was worked out

  £1m in 2026 Q2 − £1m in 2010 Q1 = £0m, which is 0.0% of the figure for 2010 Q1.

  36 published years spanning 16 years, from MHCLG. Years before the current series come from Outstanding council borrowing, 2010 to 2020, held as a separate series so the two are never mixed inside one figure. Cash terms: these are the amounts as published, not adjusted for inflation.

  In Boston, outstanding council borrowing was the same in 2026 Q2 as in 2010 Q1, in cash terms, not adjusted for inflation (MHCLG).

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Compare Boston with another place

Every figure both areas publish, side by side, from its own publisher with the period named:

• Boston and Birmingham
• Boston and Leeds
• Boston and North Yorkshire
• Boston and Somerset
• Boston and Cornwall
• Boston and Buckinghamshire

Or open any two areas as /compare/places/<area>/<area> — the address carries the whole comparison.

Nearby areas

The closest other local authorities, each with its own report card and a side-by-side comparison:

• East Lindsey · compare
• North Kesteven · compare
• South Holland · compare

Areas like Boston

The local authorities whose published rents, pay, house prices, council tax and claimant count sit closest to Boston’s, wherever they are in the UK. Computed from the figures, not curated.

• Kingston upon Hull, City of · compare
• Stoke-on-Trent · compare
• South Tyneside · compare
• Bolton · compare
• Tameside · compare
• Great Yarmouth · compare

Since you moved here

Pick the year you arrived, and see what every series published for Boston said then and says now, with the periods named. Boston since you moved here, or read the whole run year by year.

Where these figures come from

Every figure above is published by the body named here, for the release named here. Figures marked as a Civometry calculation are arithmetic on those published figures and are not official statistics.

Not yet published here

Income, employment, benefits by area, health, education and religion for Boston are on the way where an open official source exists; where one does not, the data gaps register says why. Local claimant counts are behind a login.