TABLE 2—
Characteristics of 14 Census Tract Areas in 1930s Boston (Boston Neighborhood Study33,34) and Corresponding 1990s Stroke and Coronary Heart Disease Rates (Health of Boston 200135)
| Back Bay | Brighton | Charlestown | Dorchester North | Dorchester South | East Boston | Hyde Park | Jamaica Plain | North End | Roxbury | South Boston | South End | West End | West Roxbury | |
| Boston Neighborhood Study | ||||||||||||||
| Nativity, % | ||||||||||||||
| All Foreign-born | 26.00 | 35.8 | 44.9 | 52.9 | 55.5 | 68.7 | 47.10 | 43.00 | 87.40 | 48.00 | 55.6 | 50.80 | 62.5 | 40.3 |
| US-born to foreign parents | 24.00 | 31.00 | 34.00 | 30.00 | 26.00 | 22.00 | 30.00 | 34.00 | 10.00 | 24.00 | 30.00 | 16.00 | 22.00 | 35.00 |
| US-born to US-born parents | 48.00 | 32.00 | 20.00 | 17.00 | 18.00 | 9.00 | 23.00 | 23.00 | 3.00 | 14.00 | 14.00 | 17.00 | 13.00 | 24.00 |
| Irish-born | 13.20 | 23.80 | 49.30 | 21.10 | 13.70 | 5.20 | 13.20 | 28.20 | 0.00 | 22.70 | 35.20 | 14.00 | 0.00 | 18.90 |
| Italian-born | 0.00 | 0.00 | 8.40 | 9.20 | 0.00 | 63.70 | 22.80 | 0.00 | 94.80 | 0.00 | 10.50 | 15.80 | 26.70 | 11.30 |
| Canadian-born | 37.00 | 26.40 | 18.80 | 16.90 | 12.30 | 14.00 | 19.00 | 20.40 | 0.70 | 17.60 | 10.10 | 17.70 | 0.00 | 19.60 |
| Citizenship status, % | ||||||||||||||
| Naturalized citizen | 49.20 | 61.80 | 63.00 | 61.50 | 60.90 | 41.00 | 54.30 | 66.90 | 30.90 | 60.00 | 49.00 | 45.20 | 39.80 | 65.20 |
| With first papers | 13.20 | 9.60 | 11.20 | 9.90 | 9.20 | 11.00 | 10.30 | 10.10 | 10.00 | 10.00 | 12.80 | 12.40 | 13.20 | 9.00 |
| Aliens | 37.60 | 28.50 | 25.80 | 28.60 | 39.90 | 48.00 | 35.40 | 23.00 | 59.10 | 30.00 | 38.20 | 42.40 | 47.00 | 25.80 |
| Unemployed, % | 3.70 | 4.40 | 8.30 | 7.00 | 6.40 | 9.90 | 7.50 | 5.20 | 17.70 | 8.00 | 9.40 | 14.10 | 6.95 | 5.40 |
| Criminal delinquency, % | ||||||||||||||
| 7–16 y | 19.40 | 13.50 | 31.00 | 14.00 | 9.30 | 34.10 | 11.70 | 12.80 | 30.80 | 18.40 | 25.90 | 27.40 | 38.40 | 18.80 |
| 17–20 y | 70.10 | 66.20 | 118.40 | 77.00 | 75.40 | 87.10 | 73.10 | 68.80 | 102.00 | 94.00 | 130.00 | 113.90 | 129.80 | 61.40 |
| Public assistance, % | ||||||||||||||
| Unemployment | 1.50 | 2.50 | 12.10 | 6.30 | 3.80 | 17.20 | 14.30 | 5.80 | 20.40 | 10.30 | 13.30 | 23.40 | 2.30 | 4.70 |
| Dependant aid | 1.80 | 2.00 | 6.30 | 3.10 | 1.80 | 6.00 | 8.80 | 2.10 | 11.20 | 6.60 | 5.60 | 16.70 | 8.70 | 1.20 |
| Mothers’ aid | 0.03 | 0.28 | 1.20 | 0.70 | 0.50 | 1.00 | 0.60 | 0.50 | 1.70 | 0.70 | 1.00 | 0.30 | 1.00 | 0.30 |
| Old-age assistance | 1.30 | 1.10 | 2.90 | 1.60 | 1.50 | 1.30 | 1.50 | 1.50 | 0.90 | 2.40 | 1.80 | 5.80 | 1.70 | 0.90 |
| Housing type, % | ||||||||||||||
| Own home | 10.10 | 21.30 | 26.30 | 28.00 | 35.00 | 28.80 | 46.90 | 34.20 | 7.10 | 17.80 | 26.90 | 16.10 | 12.30 | 52.70 |
| Rent | 89.90 | 78.70 | 73.70 | 72.00 | 65.00 | 71.20 | 53.10 | 65.80 | 92.90 | 82.20 | 73.10 | 83.90 | 87.70 | 47.30 |
| In lodgingsa | 9.20 | 0.30 | 0.30 | 0.30 | 0.30 | 0.30 | 0.30 | 0.30 | 5.90 | 0.30 | 0.30 | 18.30 | 7.40 | 0.30 |
| Median monthly income, $ | 54.60 | 52.90 | 21.70 | 39.80 | 42.30 | 25.50 | 35.90 | 40.90 | 24.10 | 33.30 | 24.20 | 27.60 | 29.00 | 46.00 |
| Mortality | ||||||||||||||
| Infant mortality rateb | 64.50 | 50.50 | 85.70 | 59.60 | 49.00 | 66.80 | 47.50 | 48.20 | 62.70 | 64.40 | 74.40 | 73.10 | 48.80 | 46.20 |
| Tuberculosis incidencec | 125.00 | 104.60 | 172.00 | 112.60 | 87.60 | 133.80 | 90.60 | 101.80 | 160.10 | 171.50 | 168.60 | 359.40 | 149.00 | 113.80 |
| Tuberculosis mortalityc | 34.50 | 35.90 | 76.90 | 43.40 | 31.60 | 45.60 | 33.00 | 47.70 | 55.50 | 73.30 | 85.40 | 154.60 | 52.20 | 48.50 |
| Health of Boston | ||||||||||||||
| Stroked | 12.80 | 25.10 | 28.90 | 29.00 | 20.20 | 16.00 | 19.90 | 14.10 | 16.30 | 28.10 | 23.30 | 19.10 | . . . | 22.10 |
| Coronary heart diseased | 79.80 | 112.50 | 151.20 | 136.90 | 109.70 | 125.80 | 108.90 | 92.30 | 76.30 | 149.10 | 172.80 | 133.80 | . . . | 108.00 |
Note. The terminology used is that of the historical reports.
a“In lodging” refers to renting a room within the landlord’s home, whereas “renting” indicates separate accommodations.
bAverage infant mortality rates 1930–1933 per 1000 live births.
cAverage tuberculosis incidence and mortality rates 1930–34 per 100 000 population. dAge-standardized stroke and coronary heart disease rates per 100 000 1994–1998.