Population 9,915 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Center
Household size in Center
| Period | Center | Portland area | Oregon | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.32 | 2.57 | 2.50 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.28 | 2.63 | 2.55 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.40 | 2.63 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.24 | 2.51 | 2.50 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.08 | −0.06 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Center is a place of small households, averaging 2.24 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 edged down from 2.32, in line with the national trend. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the northwest.
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 Center
| Period | Center | Portland area | Oregon | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.4 | 37.3 | 39.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.0 | 38.3 | 40.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.7 | 39.3 | 40.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.9 | 41.0 | 41.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.6 | +3.7 | +2.5 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Center is 42.9 years old, older than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 38.4, in line with the national trend. The youngest areas are in the east, the oldest in the west.
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 Center
| Period | Center | Portland area | Oregon | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.3% | 10.5% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.2% | 10.3% | 10.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.1% | 9.4% | 9.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.6% | 9.5% | 10.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.6 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Center: 4.6% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is down 1.6 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Center has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of Portland 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 Center
Renters in Center
| Period | Center | Portland area | Oregon | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.8% | 36.6% | 36.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 37.7% | 39.1% | 38.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 46.3% | 37.6% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 42.5% | 38.3% | 36.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.8 pts | +1.7 pts | +0.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Just over four in ten households in Center rent their homes (42.5%), above the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 24.2% have no mortgage at all, well below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the east and least common in the west. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 2.8 points, mirroring the country.
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 Center
| Period | Center | Portland area | Oregon | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.9% | 7.4% | 8.9% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 2.4% | 6.8% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.0% | 6.1% | 8.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.5% | 7.1% | 7.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.6 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Only 5.5% of homes in Center are vacant, far below the national rate of 9.6%, which usually means strong demand for housing. Vacancy is up 1.6 points from 2006–10, 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 Center
| Period | Center | Portland area | Oregon | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1943 | 1977 | 1976 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1948 | 1978 | 1977 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1949 | 1980 | 1978 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1949 | 1981 | 1981 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +4 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Center is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1949, 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 1943 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northeast, 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 Center
| Period | Center | Portland area | Oregon | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $900 | $961 | $870 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $934 | $1,105 | $982 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,309 | $1,374 | $1,183 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,767 | $1,794 | $1,601 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$867 | +$833 | +$731 | +$606 |
The median renter in Center pays $1,767 a month for rent and utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $867 a month from 2006–10, a 96% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 25.9% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under 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 Center
Bachelor's degrees in Center
| Period | Center | Portland area | Oregon | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 54.7% | 33.3% | 29.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 61.2% | 34.5% | 30.2% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 62.9% | 39.2% | 33.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 69.5% | 42.6% | 36.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +14.8 pts | +9.3 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
Center is highly educated: about seven in ten adults 25 and older (69.5%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 14.8 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the northwest and least in the northeast.
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 Center
| Period | Center | Portland area | Oregon | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 94.5% | 90.0% | 88.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 95.7% | 90.6% | 89.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 96.3% | 91.9% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.2% | 93.2% | 91.5% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.7 pts | +3.2 pts | +3.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Center: 96.2% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 1.7 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Center
| Period | Center | Portland area | Oregon | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.2% | 8.6% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.1% | 9.6% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.9% | 4.7% | 5.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.1% | 4.6% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.1 pts | −4.0 pts | −3.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Center than nationally: unemployment was 4.1%, against 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 3.1 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. 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).
Center 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Center | 2.24 | 42.9 | 4.6% | 42.5% | 5.5% | 1949 | $1,767 | 69.5% | 96.2% | 4.1% |
| Mount Tabor | 2.29 | 43.2 | 8.1% | 32.7% | 6.5% | 1949 | $1,575 | 67.8% | 97.0% | 5.8% |
| Richmond | 2.02 | 40.0 | 4.3% | 49.2% | 6.1% | 1946 | $1,708 | 71.0% | 98.4% | 4.5% |
| Roseway | 2.28 | 45.1 | 9.6% | 33.0% | 5.6% | 1948 | $1,922 | 63.8% | 96.8% | 5.0% |
| Kerns | 1.50 | 34.2 | 5.7% | 82.9% | 9.0% | 1968 | $1,525 | 61.7% | 96.0% | 8.4% |
| Alameda | 2.61 | 41.2 | 5.0% | 20.3% | 6.6% | 1945 | $2,550 | 79.0% | 99.0% | 2.1% |
| Buckman | 1.53 | 34.9 | 2.0% | 85.5% | 6.8% | 1969 | $1,594 | 62.4% | 98.8% | 5.9% |
| Montavilla | 2.23 | 40.5 | 10.9% | 35.7% | 7.3% | 1953 | $1,677 | 54.4% | 91.5% | 7.0% |
| Irvington | 1.94 | 39.5 | 4.9% | 58.8% | 8.3% | 1959 | $2,042 | 70.0% | 98.9% | 6.2% |
| Madison South | 2.33 | 39.7 | 21.2% | 40.8% | 6.5% | 1956 | $1,722 | 47.7% | 93.4% | 6.1% |
| South Tabor | 2.36 | 40.4 | 7.5% | 35.2% | 9.2% | 1957 | $1,791 | 57.3% | 96.5% | 4.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Silver Terrace, San Francisco, CA · Portsmouth, Portland, OR · Downtown Pittsfield, Ann Arbor, MI · Academy Heights, Orange, NJ · Robla, Sacramento, CA · Reservorir, Lexington, KY · Orchard District, Bend, OR · Hollywood Beach-Quadoman, Hollywood, FL · South Side, Wilmington, NC · Highland Garden, Hollywood, FL
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 Center. 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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