Population 23,343 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Capitol Heights
Household size in Capitol Heights
| Period | Capitol Heights | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.70 | 2.73 | 2.68 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.64 | 2.82 | 2.73 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.60 | 2.86 | 2.74 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.80 | 2.77 | 2.68 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.10 | +0.04 | +0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Capitol Heights average 2.80 people, a bit above the national 2.65, so families with children are somewhat more common here. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.70, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the north and smallest in the southeast.
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 Capitol Heights
| Period | Capitol Heights | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.7 | 37.0 | 38.5 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.0 | 37.6 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.7 | 38.5 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.9 | 39.2 | 40.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.2 | +2.2 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Capitol Heights are younger than 38.9 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 34.7 in 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Capitol Heights
| Period | Capitol Heights | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.6% | 11.3% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 22.5% | 11.3% | 12.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 19.2% | 10.4% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 17.0% | 10.4% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −6.6 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in Capitol Heights: 17.0% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 6.6 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. Capitol Heights has a higher share of single-parent households than at least four in five Maryland cities.
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 Capitol Heights
Renters in Capitol Heights
| Period | Capitol Heights | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.3% | 34.0% | 31.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 40.8% | 36.6% | 32.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 29.1% | 36.8% | 33.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 33.8% | 36.3% | 32.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.4 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
About a third of households in Capitol Heights rent their homes (33.8%), close to the national share of 34.8%. Nearly a quarter of owners (23.7%) have paid off their mortgages, well below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the northwest and least common in the northeast. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 2.4 points, 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 Capitol Heights
| Period | Capitol Heights | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.2% | 8.7% | 9.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.0% | 7.3% | 8.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.8% | 6.6% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.0% | 5.9% | 7.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.2 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Capitol Heights: 6.0% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. That is in line with the rest of the Washington area. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 2.2 points, 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 Capitol Heights
| Period | Capitol Heights | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1969 | 1977 | 1974 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1970 | 1978 | 1975 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1972 | 1979 | 1976 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1976 | 1982 | 1978 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +6 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in Capitol Heights are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1976, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are older than in the Washington area overall, where the median home dates to 1982. The median year built has moved up from 1969 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the south, while the west 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 Capitol Heights
| Period | Capitol Heights | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,141 | $1,470 | $1,249 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,274 | $1,583 | $1,363 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,305 | $1,907 | $1,576 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,676 | $2,236 | $1,869 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$535 | +$766 | +$620 | +$606 |
The median renter in Capitol Heights pays $1,676 a month for rent and utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are lower than in the Washington area overall ($2,236). Rents are up $535 a month from 2006–10, a 47% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 31.9% of the typical renter's income, 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 Capitol Heights
Bachelor's degrees in Capitol Heights
| Period | Capitol Heights | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.9% | 46.6% | 36.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.4% | 48.2% | 37.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.4% | 51.0% | 40.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 26.4% | 53.9% | 43.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +11.5 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
Just over a quarter of adults 25 and older in Capitol Heights (26.4%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 11.5 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Capitol Heights has a lower share of college graduates than at least four in five Maryland cities.
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 Capitol Heights
| Period | Capitol Heights | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 83.5% | 89.4% | 88.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 84.0% | 90.2% | 89.1% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 87.6% | 90.8% | 90.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 84.3% | 91.2% | 90.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.8 pts | +1.7 pts | +2.9 pts | +4.3 pts |
Nearly one in six adults in Capitol Heights never finished high school, more than nationally: 84.3% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has edged up 0.8 points, a smaller shift than nationally. Capitol Heights has a lower share of high school graduates than at least four in five Maryland cities.
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 Capitol Heights
| Period | Capitol Heights | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.9% | 5.9% | 6.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 15.7% | 6.9% | 8.1% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.5% | 4.7% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.4% | 4.8% | 5.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Capitol Heights runs well above the national rate: 10.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Of the 245 Maryland cities with 5,000+ people, only two have higher unemployment. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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).
Capitol Heights compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capitol Heights | 2.80 | 38.9 | 17.0% | 33.8% | 6.0% | 1976 | $1,676 | 26.4% | 84.3% | 10.4% |
| Seat Pleasant | 2.55 | 42.4 | 15.4% | 47.7% | 5.4% | 1958 | $1,448 | 21.0% | 85.8% | 17.5% |
| Fairmount Heights | 2.41 | 38.0 | 18.5% | 30.1% | 3.7% | 1964 | $1,676 | 23.6% | 84.0% | 10.9% |
| Summerfield | 2.68 | 36.7 | 21.5% | 52.8% | 7.4% | 1986 | $2,265 | 29.6% | 91.0% | 6.9% |
| Coral Hills | 2.63 | 36.5 | 19.8% | 28.2% | 6.1% | 1964 | $1,718 | 21.6% | 85.6% | 9.9% |
| District Heights | 2.37 | 39.7 | 15.5% | 52.9% | 8.3% | 1971 | $1,770 | 26.6% | 91.5% | 6.9% |
| Landover | 2.74 | 38.0 | 15.9% | 49.9% | 5.3% | 1969 | $1,779 | 22.6% | 81.3% | 6.6% |
| Forestville | 2.45 | 41.2 | 16.8% | 34.2% | 11.3% | 1970 | $2,030 | 23.9% | 88.2% | 4.2% |
| Cheverly | 2.64 | 38.7 | 16.2% | 29.9% | 4.9% | 1962 | $2,190 | 49.7% | 91.4% | 5.9% |
| Suitland | 2.07 | 45.1 | 15.1% | 70.4% | 8.6% | 1979 | $1,623 | 25.5% | 92.0% | 7.6% |
| Glenarden | 3.05 | 36.1 | 18.5% | 38.3% | 4.0% | 1983 | $2,177 | 33.6% | 82.7% | 5.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Round Lake, IL · Horizon City, TX · Hudson, NH · Huntington, IN · Imperial, CA · Jesup, GA · Joshua, TX · Ridgefield, WA · River Falls, WI · Rockaway, NJ
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 Capitol Heights. 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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