Community Profiles
Roxbury — Dudley Square & Warren Street
Roxbury’s overall population dropped 6.5% from 1990 to 2000, but Latino and Asian populations grew during that period. Roxbury’s median household income was more than $15,000 less than the Boston average in 1999 ($26,515 compared to $39,629.) Twenty-nine percent of the population and 35% of children live below the poverty level, significantly higher percentages than those of Boston overall.
Key Health Issues
- Roxbury has the highest level of emergency room visits and hospitalization in Boston.
- Roxbury residents were more often involved in non-fatal gunshot wounds and stabbings than in any other Boston neighborhoods.
Site Partners
Dorchester — Upham’s Corner, Fields Corner, Codman Square
Dorchester is ethnically diverse with substantial populations of many ethnic groups. Dorchester's population is young and diverse, 41% of it's citizens are under the age of 24. The Grove Hall section within Dorchester boundaries is particularly young, with 37% younger than 17. In 2000, 41% of Dorchester residents were living below the federal poverty level, with the rates of children living below the poverty level reaching 55%.
Key Health Issues
- STD incidence rates in Dorchester were 78% higher than the Boston average in 2000.
- Roughly 60% of Dorchester residents are obese.
- In Upham’s Corner, one in four mothers does not get adequate prenatal care.
Site Partners
- Bowdoin Street Community Health Center
- Harvard Street Community Health Center
- Upham’s Corner Community Health Center
Jamaica Plain — Forest Hills
The neighborhood is known for its diverse population, especially large Latino, gay and lesbian communities. Over a quarter of Jamaica Plain residents speak Spanish at home. Age distribution in Jamaica Plain aligns with Boston norms, with the largest deviation being that Jamaica Plain has 4% more 25-44 year old people than Boston as a whole. This neighborhood's also has a higher percentage of children living in poverty.
Key Health Issues
- Heart disease mortality is 226 per 100,000 , and diabetes mortality is 26 per 100,000.
- Breast cancer mortality rate is almost the highest of all Boston neighborhoods.
- 10% of Jamaica Plain residents were uninsured in 1999-2001, compared with 8% in Hyde Park and 6% in Allston/Brighton.
Site Partner
Hyde Park — Hyde Park Ave. & River St.
Hyde Park, Boston’s southernmost neighborhood, is a unique mix of urban culture and suburban open green spaces. Hyde Park’s demographics saw a dramatic shift during the 1990s, moving from nearly 70% white in 1990 to 44% white, 39% black, and 13% Hispanic/Latino in 2000. A quarter of Hyde Park residents speak either Spanish or French Creole at home.
Key Health Issues
- 29% of Hyde Park adults have high blood pressure.
- Hyde Park has the highest rate of infant mortality in Boston, with 12.8 deaths per 1,000 live births.
- 59% of Hyde Park residents are obese.
Site Partner
Mattapan — Mattapan Square
Mattapan is the center of the Haitian community in Massachusetts with an estimated 15% of its residents born in Haiti. It also has a very young population, with nearly a third of its residents under the age of 17. Mattapan Square where the Van site is located serves as the commercial and community center of the neighborhood.
Key Health Issues
- Nearly two out of three Mattapan residents are obese (63%).
- The Boston Public Health Commission has identified STDs, cumulative HIV incidence, and infant and cancer mortality as Mattapan’s principal health challenges.
Site Partner
- Project Umbrella at Boston Medical Center
