Population 8,568 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Bear Creek
Household size in Bear Creek
| Period | Bear Creek | Lakewood | Denver area | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.95 | 2.31 | 2.58 | 2.57 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.00 | 2.37 | 2.66 | 2.63 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.10 | 2.39 | 2.68 | 2.64 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.11 | 2.32 | 2.57 | 2.54 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.16 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.04 | −0.03 |
Bear Creek is a place of small households, averaging 2.11 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 1.95, even as the national average fell. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the north.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Bear Creek
| Period | Bear Creek | Lakewood | Denver area | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.8 | 40.6 | 36.7 | 36.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 36.4 | 40.4 | 37.3 | 37.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.0 | 40.2 | 38.0 | 38.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 34.3 | 40.2 | 38.5 | 39.1 | 40.1 |
| Change | −3.5 | −0.4 | +1.8 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
With a median age of just 34.3, Bear Creek is far younger than the country as a whole (40.1), a population that tilts toward young adults, many of them living alone or as couples. Since 2006–10, the median age has dropped from 37.8, even as the national median rose. Only one other Lakewood neighborhood is younger.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Bear Creek
| Period | Bear Creek | Lakewood | Denver area | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.0% | 10.1% | 10.8% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 13.4% | 10.7% | 11.0% | 10.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.3% | 9.5% | 9.8% | 9.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.6% | 9.5% | 9.6% | 9.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | −0.6 pts | −1.2 pts | −1.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are just as common in Bear Creek as they are nationally: 11.6%. Single parents are more common here than in Lakewood overall (9.5%). The single-parent share is down 1.4 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Bear Creek
Renters in Bear Creek
| Period | Bear Creek | Lakewood | Denver area | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 54.7% | 36.0% | 33.5% | 32.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 55.5% | 37.5% | 36.4% | 35.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 52.6% | 37.0% | 36.1% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 51.7% | 37.3% | 35.9% | 33.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −3.1 pts | +1.2 pts | +2.4 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in Bear Creek: 51.7% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. Among homeowners, 32.6% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has fallen 3.1 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Bear Creek
| Period | Bear Creek | Lakewood | Denver area | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.1% | 6.2% | 8.5% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 4.6% | 5.2% | 6.6% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.0% | 4.6% | 5.5% | 8.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.8% | 5.5% | 6.0% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.7 pts | −0.7 pts | −2.5 pts | −3.0 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Bear Creek: 6.8% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Lakewood as a whole looks much the same. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged up 0.7 points, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Bear Creek
| Period | Bear Creek | Lakewood | Denver area | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1986 | 1974 | 1980 | 1981 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1985 | 1974 | 1981 | 1982 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1984 | 1975 | 1982 | 1983 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1987 | 1978 | 1987 | 1988 | 1980 |
| Change | +1 | +3 | +8 | +7 | +6 |
Homes in Bear Creek are newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1987, versus 1980 across the U.S. Newer construction is concentrated in the west, while the center has the oldest housing. Only one other Lakewood neighborhood has newer homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Bear Creek
| Period | Bear Creek | Lakewood | Denver area | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $949 | $1,029 | $1,128 | $1,051 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,123 | $1,192 | $1,245 | $1,165 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,529 | $1,510 | $1,606 | $1,450 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,987 | $2,061 | $2,181 | $1,963 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,038 | +$1,032 | +$1,053 | +$912 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Bear Creek costs $1,987 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $1,038 a month from 2006–10, a 109% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 33.3% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the west; the highest are in the north.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Bear Creek
Bachelor's degrees in Bear Creek
| Period | Bear Creek | Lakewood | Denver area | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.5% | 37.2% | 38.1% | 36.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 36.9% | 38.2% | 40.0% | 37.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 41.3% | 42.3% | 43.5% | 40.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 42.0% | 46.3% | 49.1% | 45.9% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.5 pts | +9.2 pts | +11.0 pts | +9.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
Just over four in ten adults 25 and older in Bear Creek (42.0%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, a bit above the national share of 35.6%. Even so, the share is lower than in Lakewood overall (46.3%). The share with a degree has risen 5.5 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Bear Creek
| Period | Bear Creek | Lakewood | Denver area | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 94.1% | 91.1% | 88.8% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.2% | 92.3% | 89.8% | 90.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 96.6% | 93.3% | 91.1% | 91.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.9% | 94.6% | 92.1% | 92.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.8 pts | +3.5 pts | +3.3 pts | +3.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Bear Creek: 95.9% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Lakewood as a whole looks much the same. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 1.8 points, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Bear Creek
| Period | Bear Creek | Lakewood | Denver area | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.7% | 7.5% | 6.8% | 6.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.6% | 8.0% | 7.5% | 7.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 1.8% | 3.2% | 3.7% | 4.4% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.4% | 4.1% | 4.4% | 4.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.4 pts | −3.4 pts | −2.4 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Bear Creek than nationally: unemployment was 4.4%, against 5.4%. Lakewood as a whole looks much the same. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Bear Creek compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear Creek | 2.11 | 34.3 | 11.6% | 51.7% | 6.8% | 1987 | $1,987 | 42.0% | 95.9% | 4.4% |
| Marston | 2.19 | 37.8 | 11.9% | 44.1% | 5.1% | 1990 | $2,196 | 46.6% | 95.0% | 3.8% |
| Kendrick Lake | 2.20 | 46.3 | 6.2% | 33.0% | 4.4% | 1971 | $2,156 | 42.2% | 94.5% | 5.6% |
| Friendly Hills | 2.53 | 39.2 | 13.1% | 20.7% | 3.2% | 1980 | $2,327 | 44.4% | 97.1% | 2.9% |
| Lasley | 2.72 | 37.8 | 12.5% | 31.9% | 2.6% | 1974 | $1,951 | 29.2% | 93.1% | 4.8% |
| Green Mountain | 2.56 | 45.7 | 7.3% | 8.5% | 5.1% | 1981 | $2,373 | 62.7% | 96.8% | 3.0% |
| Southwestern Denver | 2.36 | 37.8 | 12.0% | 42.7% | 7.0% | 1978 | $1,883 | 43.8% | 90.5% | 4.5% |
| Glennon Heights | 2.42 | 44.3 | 11.7% | 19.3% | 4.4% | 1965 | $2,431 | 38.5% | 95.3% | 4.9% |
| Foothill Green | 2.76 | 41.9 | 12.8% | 27.5% | 9.2% | 1992 | $1,954 | 48.9% | 96.1% | 1.3% |
| Harvey Park | 2.48 | 41.0 | 13.4% | 22.4% | 5.8% | 1958 | $1,687 | 27.3% | 78.9% | 5.0% |
| Foothills | 1.99 | 38.2 | 7.0% | 48.7% | 5.0% | 1980 | $1,837 | 49.6% | 98.1% | 2.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Chelsea, Atlantic City, NJ · Charlotte, Rochester, NY · Foothills, Fortuna Foothills, AZ · Mount Washington, Los Angeles, CA · Cedar Hills, Cedar Rapids, IA · North Indian Trail, Spokane, WA · Downtown Columbia, Columbia, SC · South Park, Beaumont, TX · Coronado, El Paso, TX · Coolidge Corner, Brookline, MA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Bear Creek. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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