Population 22,012 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Brightwood: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Brightwood
Household size in Brightwood
| Period | Brightwood | Washington area | District of Columbia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.42 | 2.73 | 2.19 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.67 | 2.82 | 2.29 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.95 | 2.86 | 2.38 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.42 | 2.77 | 2.09 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.01 | +0.04 | −0.11 | −0.03 |
The average household in Brightwood has 2.42 people, under the U.S. average of 2.65. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the north. Compared with other Washington neighborhoods, though, Brightwood has larger households than most.
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 Brightwood
| Period | Brightwood | Washington area | District of Columbia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.5 | 37.0 | 36.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.3 | 37.6 | 35.6 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 38.5 | 38.5 | 35.4 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.6 | 39.2 | 36.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.1 | +2.2 | +0.2 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Brightwood are younger than 40.6 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 39.5, as it has nationally. Brightwood is older than the great majority of Washington neighborhoods.
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 Brightwood
| Period | Brightwood | Washington area | District of Columbia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.0% | 11.3% | 14.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.5% | 11.3% | 12.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 14.9% | 10.4% | 12.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 15.0% | 10.4% | 12.2% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | −0.9 pts | −2.5 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in seven households in Brightwood (15.0%), well above the national share of 11.6%. Brightwood has a higher share of single-parent households than at least four in five Washington neighborhoods.
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 Brightwood
Renters in Brightwood
| Period | Brightwood | Washington area | District of Columbia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 62.2% | 34.0% | 56.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 60.0% | 36.6% | 58.4% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 62.6% | 36.8% | 58.4% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 55.0% | 36.3% | 58.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | −7.2 pts | +2.3 pts | +2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Brightwood rent: 55.0% of occupied homes are rented, far above the national share of 34.8%. Expect more apartments, and more turnover, than in owner-heavy areas. Among homeowners, 27.0% have no mortgage at all, well below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is down 7.2 points from 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 Brightwood
| Period | Brightwood | Washington area | District of Columbia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.7% | 8.7% | 13.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.0% | 7.3% | 11.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.5% | 6.6% | 10.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.9% | 5.9% | 10.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.8 pts | −2.8 pts | −3.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Brightwood than nationally: 7.9%, against 9.6% for the U.S. Locally, though, the rate is higher than in the wider Washington area (5.9%). Vacancy is down 2.8 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Brightwood
| Period | Brightwood | Washington area | District of Columbia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1944 | 1977 | 1952 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1943 | 1978 | 1954 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1945 | 1979 | 1957 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1948 | 1982 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +6 | +10 | +6 |
The housing in Brightwood is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1948, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1944 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the east, while the south has the oldest housing.
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 Brightwood
| Period | Brightwood | Washington area | District of Columbia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $953 | $1,470 | $1,166 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,107 | $1,583 | $1,368 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,232 | $1,907 | $1,677 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,588 | $2,236 | $2,078 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$636 | +$766 | +$912 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Brightwood costs $1,588 a month with utilities, close to the national median of $1,571. Rents here are lower than in the Washington area overall ($2,236). Rent has climbed $636 a month since 2006–10, up 67%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 32.6% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 Brightwood
Bachelor's degrees in Brightwood
| Period | Brightwood | Washington area | District of Columbia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.8% | 46.6% | 47.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 32.3% | 48.2% | 52.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 38.4% | 51.0% | 58.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 47.0% | 53.9% | 63.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +21.2 pts | +7.3 pts | +16.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
Brightwood is highly educated: nearly half of adults 25 and older (47.0%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. Still, the share is lower than in the Washington area as a whole (53.9%). The share with a degree has risen 21.2 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 Brightwood
| Period | Brightwood | Washington area | District of Columbia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 73.9% | 89.4% | 86.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 80.2% | 90.2% | 88.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 79.6% | 90.8% | 91.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 86.4% | 91.2% | 92.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +12.6 pts | +1.7 pts | +6.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
Nearly one in seven adults in Brightwood never finished high school, a bit more than nationally: 86.4% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. The share with a diploma is up 12.6 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Only three of Washington's 38 neighborhoods have a lower share of high school graduates.
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 Brightwood
| Period | Brightwood | Washington area | District of Columbia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.9% | 5.9% | 10.4% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.6% | 6.9% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.5% | 4.7% | 7.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.6% | 4.8% | 7.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.3 pts | −1.1 pts | −3.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Brightwood is close to the national rate: 5.6% of the labor force, against 5.4%. The rate is higher than in the Washington area as a whole (4.8%). Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 5.3 points, mirroring the country.
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).
Brightwood 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brightwood | 2.42 | 40.6 | 15.0% | 55.0% | 7.9% | 1948 | $1,588 | 47.0% | 86.4% | 5.6% |
| Fort Totten-Upper Northeast | 2.64 | 37.0 | 12.9% | 34.0% | 9.2% | 1951 | $1,849 | 55.2% | 93.6% | 4.2% |
| Petworth | 2.45 | 38.7 | 10.1% | 34.3% | 8.0% | 1947 | $2,157 | 65.8% | 90.3% | 10.1% |
| Takoma Park | 2.71 | 42.4 | 5.1% | 9.9% | 6.9% | 1945 | $2,152 | 76.3% | 92.7% | 1.7% |
| Barnaby Woods | 2.60 | 50.1 | 2.0% | 11.6% | 6.4% | 1941 | $3,221 | 86.1% | 95.4% | 3.2% |
| Carroll Manor | 2.44 | 43.2 | 8.3% | 53.1% | 4.3% | 1953 | $1,410 | 60.4% | 94.3% | 5.5% |
| Catholic University-Brookland | 2.33 | 35.5 | 13.4% | 52.0% | 10.9% | 1963 | $1,812 | 54.1% | 90.0% | 6.6% |
| Mount Pleasant | 2.38 | 34.4 | 8.8% | 67.1% | 9.4% | 1940 | $2,027 | 71.5% | 90.6% | 7.7% |
| Chevy Chase | 2.05 | 42.7 | 4.7% | 50.7% | 6.9% | 1957 | $2,118 | 89.1% | 98.4% | 4.0% |
| Michigan Park | 2.35 | 40.5 | 10.8% | 14.5% | 3.5% | 1961 | $1,881 | 54.4% | 92.2% | 4.7% |
| Columbia Heights | 2.09 | 31.9 | 14.3% | 66.0% | 8.7% | 1958 | $2,082 | 66.7% | 89.4% | 5.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Arverne, Queens, NY · Western Branch North, Chesapeake, VA · Olympia Heights, Miami, FL · North Central Omaha, Omaha, NE · Outer Richmond, San Francisco, CA · Palos Verdes Peninsula, Torrance, CA · Hunts Point, Bronx, NY · Highland Park, Los Angeles, CA · Sommerset West-Elmonica South, Hillsboro, OR · Haddington-Carroll Park, Philadelphia, PA
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 Brightwood. 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.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.