Boston

blue

Axios Boston Partners

Axios Boston

Standard

Boston Alerts

Alert

Axios Boston Thought Bubble

Thought Bubble

Boston Members

Membership

Whats Next

Axios What's Next

One-third of DoorDash deliveries are made on two wheels in Boston, the company says in a new report.

Why it matters: Food-delivering motorcycles and scooters seem to be everywhere these days, but Boston's two-wheeled DoorDash delivery rate is actually lower compared to other major cities.

Driving the news: The share of deliveries made on two-wheeled devices across the U.S. and Canada markets has tripled on the DoorDash platform since 2022, per the report.

Yes, but: DoorDash's data is based on a four-week period covering August-September 2024, and bikes' share of overall deliveries may drop in wintertime in some cities.

By the numbers: 32% of Boston DoorDash deliveries are done on bikes, e-bikes, scooters and other two-wheeled rides. 

That share is 76% in San Francisco, 58% in New York and 57% in Washington, D.C.

In Boston, two-wheeled "Dashers" traveled nearly 334,679 miles in the span of a month. 

The other side: Houston (3.9%), Atlanta (7.9%) and Dallas (9.5%) had the lowest two-wheel DoorDash delivery shares among the top 50 North American cities.

The big picture: Bikes, e-bikes, etc. are usually more eco-friendly and less dangerous than cars and trucks, but Boston officials have raised concerns about two-wheeled delivery drivers flouting local traffic laws and causing accidents.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu introduced an ordinance last month to make food delivery platforms, like DoorDash and GrubHub, get a permit from the city transportation department to do business in the city.

The ordinance also would require companies to offer liability insurance and share data on their food deliveries within Boston.

Rideshare company representatives told city councilors during a hearing last month that the ordinance was too stringent and that making companies get umbrella liability insurance for their workers exceeds the state's requirements.

One-third of Boston's DoorDash deliveries by two-wheelers

Boston's two-wheeled delivery rate is actually lower compared to other major cities.

Illustration of a silhouetted food delivery person riding a bike surrounded by organic shapes and a grid

One-third of DoorDash deliveries are made on two wheels in Boston, the company says in a new report.Why it matters: Food-delivering motorcycles and scooters seem to be everywhere these days, but Boston&#x27;s two-wheeled DoorDash delivery rate is actually lower compared to other major cities.

News

Food and Drink

Latest news on Wall Street, Corporate America and financial regulation.

Business

In Mass., 56 out of every 100,000 residents are diagnosed with lung cancer. Data: American Lung Association; Map: Alex Fitzpatrick/Axios

Massachusetts has some of the best diagnosis and treatment rates for lung cancer, but those early responses don't always reach Black and Asian residents.

Why it matters: The state is home to arguably the best health care hubs in the nation, but still grapples with racial health disparities that could cost some patients their lives.

State of play: Roughly 56 out of every 100,000 people in Massachusetts were diagnosed with lung cancer between 2018 and 2022, landing the state in the middle of the pack for diagnosis rates, according to the 2025 State of Lung Cancer report.

By the numbers: Massachusetts stood out as having the lowest share of residents who didn't get treatment (13.2%) and the highest share of residents who could undergo surgery as their primary treatment option (31.9%).

That suggests the state was able to diagnose residents early enough that they were viable candidates to tackle their cancer through surgery, researchers say.

Yes, but: Asian and Pacific Islander residents were the least likely group to be diagnosed early in Massachusetts.

The report doesn't delve into the reasons for later diagnoses, which could range from lack of health care access to other factors leading to delays.

While the state's share of patients who underwent surgery was nearly one-third, the percentage dropped to 26.5% among Black residents.

What they're saying: Lung Association president and CEO Harold Wimmer lamented recent cuts to the U.S.'s public health infrastructure at a time when the nation has made progress against lung cancer.

"(The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) is critical in helping to prevent lung cancer by funding programs to prevent tobacco use and help people quit, and the research done at (the National Institutes of Health) has led to 73 new treatments for lung cancer in the last decade alone," Wimmer said.

"The cuts to programs and research are devastating. Lives hang in the balance — we must keep up the momentum."

Massachusetts leads in lung cancer treatment, but faces racial disparities

Massachusetts grapples with racial disparities when it comes to diagnosing patients and treatment.

A cartogram of the U.S. showing each state's annual lung cancer diagnoses per 100,000 people from 2018-2022. Kentucky leads at 84.05, while Utah trails at 25.25. The national figure is 52.77.

Massachusetts has some of the best diagnosis and treatment rates for lung cancer, but those early responses don&#x27;t always reach Black and Asian residents.Why it matters: The state is home to arguably the best health care hubs in the nation, but still grapples with racial health disparities that could cost some patients their lives.

Health

Data: Tax Foundation; Map: Alex Fitzpatrick/Axios

Your annual tax bill depends at least partly on where you live, with state income taxes varying from nonexistent all the way up to nearly 14% for some especially high earners.

Why it matters: Some states with low or no individual income tax, like Texas and Florida, are attracting lots of new residents — but could find themselves in trouble in a world with less federal aid.

And states on the higher end of the scale — like Massachusetts — face outmigration from the super rich, competition from lower-tax states and a growing affordability crisis.

By the numbers: Massachusetts has a standard flat 5% income tax – putting us on the lower end. But there's an additional hit to some Bay State one-percenters: the 4% surtax charged for income earned over $1 million.

California (13.3%), Hawai'i (11%) and New York (10.9%) have the highest top marginal income tax rates for individuals.

Arizona and North Dakota (both 2.5%) have the lowest among states with an income tax.

How it works: That's according to data from the Tax Foundation, a nonpartisan think tank.

Local taxes, as well as some state-specific taxes in a handful of states and a capital gains surtax on high earners in Minnesota, are not included.

Between the lines: The rates shown in the map above are the highest paid by the residents earning the most money.

Many states have graduated income taxes, with higher amounts of income taxed at gradually higher rates.

New York's tax rates, for instance, range from 4% to 10.9%.

The fine print: Other states besides Massachusetts with a flat tax include Arizona, Idaho and Illinois.

Washington has no general income tax, but it does tax capital gains above a certain threshold.

Who pays the highest taxes — it's not Massachusetts

Tax rates on the highest earners, mapped.

Your annual <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="tax bill" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2022/11/10/tax-income-massachusetts-richest" data-vars-content-id="2ea10500-b854-4630-97c4-a27be0710123" data-vars-headline="Who pays the highest taxes — it&#x27;s not Massachusetts" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2022/11/10/tax-income-massachusetts-richest" target="_self">tax bill</a> depends at least partly on where you live, with state income taxes varying from nonexistent all the way up to nearly 14% for some especially high earners.Why it matters: Some states with low or no individual income tax, like Texas and Florida, are <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="attracting lots of new residents" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/01/05/fastest-growing-us-counties-population" data-vars-content-id="2ea10500-b854-4630-97c4-a27be0710123" data-vars-headline="Who pays the highest taxes — it&#x27;s not Massachusetts" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/01/05/fastest-growing-us-counties-population" target="_self">attracting lots of new residents</a> — but <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="could find themselves in trouble" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/03/13/fema-state-funding-trump-executive-order" data-vars-content-id="2ea10500-b854-4630-97c4-a27be0710123" data-vars-headline="Who pays the highest taxes — it&#x27;s not Massachusetts" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/03/13/fema-state-funding-trump-executive-order" target="_self">could find themselves in trouble</a> in a world with less federal aid.

Data: Texas A&M Transportation Institute; Note: Includes metro areas with at least 500,000 residents in 2024, and passengers who typically travel during peak periods; Map: Kavya Beheraj/Axios

The good news: In Greater Boston, the time we spend in traffic has gone down by nearly 7% since before the pandemic.

The bad news: Congestion is getting worse year after year, and we're almost back to the heights of the 2010s, a new report finds.

Why it matters: The findings put some hard data behind a common feeling among many drivers: Traffic has been getting worse — or at least is different — since the COVID-19 pandemic, even if the stats say otherwise.

The average U.S. car commuter is spending a record 63 hours annually stuck in traffic amid changes in when and why we drive, per the Texas A&M Transportation Institute's 2025 Urban Mobility Report.

That's the most since 1982, when the dataset begins.

Driving the news: Congestion is once again growing in many cities after a pandemic-era dip, while driver behavior has also changed.

Traditional rush hours are returning. Yet there's also been a "noticeable rise in midday congestion," the report finds, possibly tied to remote and hybrid work changing people's schedules and travel behaviors.

Thursday has overtaken Friday with the highest share of weekly delay — perhaps "because some of the Friday travel is not associated with commuting, whereas Thursday has more of a typical commute pattern."

Delivery trucks are adding to traffic woes as well.

Data: Texas A&M Transportation Institute; Chart: Axios Visuals

Zoom in: Several cities in the Northeast have seen traffic improvements compared to 2019.

Bostonians now spend six fewer hours a year stuck in traffic.

Worcester saw a four-hour annual decline, or a 9.5% decrease.

But Providence and New York City saw increases in congestion.

Between the lines: Expect the 2025 Boston numbers to be up a bit over 2024 and nearing that 2019 peak.

The big picture: It's getting harder to predict when it'll be busy out on the roads, leading to "added traveler frustration," as the report puts it.

What's next: The report lays out several potential solutions based on local needs, including roadway expansions, better public transportation, new traffic-management technologies and more.

Cities are experimenting with changes big and small to improve traffic flow, with something as simple as a 10-second streetlight timing tweak making a difference at one Boston intersection, Axios' Steph Solis reports.

The bottom line: It's not just you — traffic is weird now.

Boston traffic congestion keeps getting worse

We're still under 2019 peaks, but congestion is on the up.

A map of the United States that features color-coded dots to show where traffic times have increase or decreased in recent years

The good news: In Greater Boston, the time we spend in traffic has gone down by nearly 7% since before the pandemic.<ul><li>The bad news: Congestion is getting worse year after year, and we&#x27;re almost back to the heights of the 2010s, a new report finds.</li></ul>Why it matters: The findings put some hard data behind a common feeling among many drivers: Traffic has been getting worse — or at least is different — since the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="COVID-19 pandemic" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/28/cdc-covid-vaccine-rules-recommendations-high-risk-fda" data-vars-content-id="30a50856-d922-487a-b109-a3f6f7c0b03c" data-vars-headline="Boston traffic congestion keeps getting worse" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/28/cdc-covid-vaccine-rules-recommendations-high-risk-fda" target="_self">COVID-19 pandemic</a>, even if the stats say otherwise.

Travel

About 300 artificial intelligence jobs were posted in Boston this past January, per one estimate.

Why it matters: Amid lots of consternation about AI taking people's jobs, at least some people are finding new roles working with the emerging technology. 

How it works: These estimates come from UMD-LinkUp AI Maps, a collaboration between the University of Maryland, job listings platform LinkUp and Outrigger Group, a consultancy and executive firm.

The researchers involved are using AI to analyze job postings for roles requiring AI skills.

Here's how many AI jobs get posted in Boston

About 300 AI jobs were posted in the city this past January.

A bar chart showing job postings that require AI skills, by metro area, as of January 2025. New York leads with nearly 2k postings, followed by Seattle with 1.5k and San Jose, Calif. with 1.2k. Boston is 15th, with 304 postings.

About 300 <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="artificial intelligence" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/technology/automation-and-ai" data-vars-content-id="a6a6740d-63e6-46d0-b794-d454cc683552" data-vars-headline="Here&#x27;s how many AI jobs get posted in Boston" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/technology/automation-and-ai" target="_self">artificial intelligence</a> jobs were posted in Boston this past January, per one estimate.Why it matters: Amid lots of consternation about AI taking people&#x27;s jobs, at least some people are <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="finding new roles" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/03/05/ai-job-growth-public-trust" data-vars-content-id="a6a6740d-63e6-46d0-b794-d454cc683552" data-vars-headline="Here&#x27;s how many AI jobs get posted in Boston" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/03/05/ai-job-growth-public-trust" target="_self">finding new roles</a> working with the emerging technology.

Jobs Brief

Axios San Diego

San Diego's population decline driven by immigration slowdown

San Diego

AA choropleth map of U.S. counties showing estimated population change from July 2024 to 2025. The U.S. overall grew by +0.5%. Kaufman County, Texas, grew the most of any county with a population over 100,000: +5.7%. Pinellas County, Florida shrank the most of any county with a population over 100,000: -1.2%. 

Alex Fitzpatrick

Featured stories

San Diego's population decline driven by immigration slowdown

El Paso County growth slows as migration drops

Artemis II successfully launches for historic Moon mission

Illinois pushes back on latest Trump voting order

NASA's Artemis II Moon mission is set to make space history