Population 5,398 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Carson Heights
Household size in Carson Heights
| Period | Carson Heights | Indianapolis area | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.64 | 2.60 | 2.57 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.79 | 2.63 | 2.59 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.29 | 2.63 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.14 | 2.59 | 2.54 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.51 | −0.01 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Carson Heights are large by national standards, averaging 3.14 people against 2.65 for the U.S. That usually means more families with children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.64, even as the national average fell. Only one other Indianapolis neighborhood has larger households.
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 Carson Heights
| Period | Carson Heights | Indianapolis area | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 29.0 | 36.3 | 37.5 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 28.7 | 37.0 | 38.4 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 28.9 | 37.7 | 39.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 29.4 | 38.2 | 39.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.4 | +1.9 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
Carson Heights is young: half of its residents are under 29.4, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young families with children. The median age has crept up from 29.0 in 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Only two of Indianapolis' 29 neighborhoods are 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 Carson Heights
| Period | Carson Heights | Indianapolis area | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.8% | 12.7% | 11.8% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 24.5% | 12.8% | 12.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 20.8% | 12.0% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 22.2% | 11.8% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.7 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head more than one in five households in Carson Heights (22.2%), well above the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 3.7 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. Carson Heights has a higher share of single-parent households than at least four in five Indianapolis 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 Carson Heights
Renters in Carson Heights
| Period | Carson Heights | Indianapolis area | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 62.2% | 31.4% | 28.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 66.0% | 34.2% | 30.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 65.3% | 34.8% | 30.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 57.2% | 33.2% | 29.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −4.9 pts | +1.8 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in Carson Heights: 57.2% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. Among homeowners, 55.3% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the southeast and least common in the north. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 4.9 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 Carson Heights
| Period | Carson Heights | Indianapolis area | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.0% | 11.2% | 11.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.4% | 10.6% | 11.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 23.1% | 9.6% | 10.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 22.6% | 8.0% | 9.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.4 pts | −3.2 pts | −2.0 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 22.6% of the housing in Carson Heights, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. No other Indianapolis neighborhood has a higher vacancy rate.
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 Carson Heights
| Period | Carson Heights | Indianapolis area | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1965 | 1978 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1966 | 1979 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1967 | 1980 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1964 | 1982 | 1977 | 1980 |
| Change | −0 | +5 | +5 | +6 |
Carson Heights is a place of older homes: half were built before 1964, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Newer construction is concentrated in the east, while the northwest 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 Carson Heights
| Period | Carson Heights | Indianapolis area | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $594 | $877 | $763 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $677 | $946 | $819 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $826 | $1,060 | $903 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,100 | $1,368 | $1,146 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$506 | +$492 | +$384 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Carson Heights costs $1,100 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $506 a month from 2006–10, an 85% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 40.8% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
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 Carson Heights
Bachelor's degrees in Carson Heights
| Period | Carson Heights | Indianapolis area | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.0% | 30.9% | 23.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.3% | 31.8% | 24.6% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 9.5% | 35.2% | 27.1% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.7% | 38.6% | 30.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.7 pts | +7.7 pts | +6.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Carson Heights have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 11.7%, against 35.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 4.7 points, mirroring the country. Only one other Indianapolis neighborhood has a lower share of college graduates.
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 Carson Heights
| Period | Carson Heights | Indianapolis area | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 68.8% | 88.1% | 86.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 72.6% | 88.9% | 87.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 70.7% | 89.6% | 88.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 60.2% | 90.8% | 89.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | −8.6 pts | +2.8 pts | +3.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
About four in ten adults in Carson Heights never finished high school, well above the national share: only 60.2% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma is down 8.6 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate rose. Carson Heights has the lowest share of high school graduates of any Indianapolis neighborhood.
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 Carson Heights
| Period | Carson Heights | Indianapolis area | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.0% | 7.9% | 8.4% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 14.4% | 9.0% | 8.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.1% | 4.9% | 4.9% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.9% | 4.1% | 4.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −10.1 pts | −3.7 pts | −4.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Carson Heights has been low: just 1.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 10.1 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. 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).
Carson Heights 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carson Heights | 3.14 | 29.4 | 22.2% | 57.2% | 22.6% | 1964 | $1,100 | 11.7% | 60.2% | 1.9% |
| University Heights and Rosedale Hills | 2.19 | 31.4 | 14.3% | 52.5% | 13.6% | 1962 | $927 | 29.9% | 86.5% | 4.7% |
| Carson Square | 2.48 | 33.5 | 15.5% | 44.2% | 11.1% | 1979 | $1,147 | 25.3% | 81.8% | 7.0% |
| West Edgewood | 2.06 | 33.3 | 19.6% | 66.8% | 6.8% | 1967 | $1,092 | 19.7% | 81.6% | 13.3% |
| Glenroy Village | 2.70 | 36.7 | 23.8% | 33.8% | 4.5% | 1970 | $1,211 | 21.8% | 81.3% | 2.7% |
| Downtown Indianapolis | 1.61 | 28.2 | 1.4% | 83.5% | 16.3% | 1999 | $1,638 | 70.6% | 93.6% | 3.6% |
| Chatham-Arch | 1.45 | 33.3 | 3.0% | 74.5% | 9.8% | 1984 | $1,445 | 64.9% | 88.6% | 5.1% |
| St. Joseph Historic Neighborhood | 1.56 | 30.4 | 2.7% | 83.3% | 11.0% | 1985 | $1,514 | 71.5% | 92.2% | 3.5% |
| Irvington | 2.32 | 39.1 | 11.0% | 28.5% | 8.1% | 1944 | $1,054 | 45.2% | 94.4% | 4.6% |
| Little Flower | 2.29 | 37.0 | 10.6% | 44.4% | 9.4% | 1942 | $1,077 | 29.8% | 82.9% | 8.6% |
| Raymond Park | 2.66 | 34.3 | 29.8% | 38.2% | 11.3% | 1998 | $1,436 | 31.0% | 92.0% | 2.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Audubon Place, Tuscaloosa, AL · Kirkmere, Youngstown, OH · Willowcreek, Sacramento, CA · Meadowbrook, Converse, TX · Century Village West, Boca Raton, FL · Goldenwest, Huntington Beach, CA · Downtown Huntington Beach, Huntington Beach, CA · Timmerman West, Milwaukee, WI · Estrella-Goodyear, Goodyear, AZ · Fairwood Greens, Fairwood, WA
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 Carson 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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