The distribution of real estate value changes: Metropolitan Boston, 1870–1970

This paper presents estimates of land value change and other measures of real estate value change for the Boston area's 78 towns and cities over the past 100 years. A flattening of the real estate value gradient over time is demonstrated. Given the pattern of land ownership in the Boston area, a higher rate of value increases at greater distances from the center is shown to imply a regressive distribution of capital gains with respect to wealth among the homeowner population. Returns to homeowning are compared with returns to alternative business assets indicating some possible factors in the persistence of wealth inequality.