Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said the city is challenging the United States Census Bureau’s 2020 Census count, saying it was undercounted significantly.

According to Boston Planning & Development Agency research, the 2020 Census counted Boston’s population as 675,647, a number Wu says undercounts segments of the city’s college and university student population, foreign-born populations and those in correctional facilities. 

Wu also announced the city is challenging its group quarters count through the Post-Census Group Quarters Review program, which centers on concerns about population counts, objections to the racial and ethnic classification changes and count case coverage issues for the 2020 census. 

According to a press release from the mayor’s office, accurate population counts help not only to determine the needs of residents but also guide Boston’s allocation of resources across the city. 

“Boston deserves an accurate census count across every neighborhood and community,” said Wu. “This count is the foundation to assess the needs of all of our communities, ensuring that Boston receives crucial federal resources, and it should reflect our full numbers.”