Population 12,724 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Central
Household size in Central
| Period | Central | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.45 | 2.47 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.39 | 2.44 | 2.51 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.38 | 2.39 | 2.47 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.38 | 2.38 | 2.46 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.08 | −0.09 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
Central is a place of small households, averaging 2.38 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has edged down from 2.45 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. Households are largest in the center and smallest 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 Central
| Period | Central | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.5 | 40.5 | 39.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 25.1 | 41.5 | 40.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 25.5 | 42.3 | 40.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 31.0 | 42.5 | 40.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +7.5 | +2.0 | +1.8 | +2.3 |
Central is young: half of its residents are under 31.0, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young adults, many of them living alone or as couples. The median age has climbed from 23.5 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Central
| Period | Central | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 46.1% | 11.9% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 43.7% | 11.9% | 11.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 42.2% | 11.2% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 41.6% | 11.6% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −4.5 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over four in ten households in Central (41.6%), well above the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 4.5 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only one other Cleveland neighborhood has a higher share of single-parent households.
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 Central
Renters in Central
| Period | Central | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 87.4% | 31.7% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 88.0% | 33.8% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 87.1% | 34.9% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 86.8% | 33.5% | 32.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | +1.7 pts | +2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in Central: 86.8% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. About six in ten owners (58.8%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged down 0.6 points, even as the national share rose. Few Cleveland neighborhoods have a higher share of renters: only two of 34.
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 Central
| Period | Central | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.2% | 10.8% | 10.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.3% | 10.9% | 10.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.8% | 10.3% | 10.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.2% | 8.4% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −11.0 pts | −2.4 pts | −2.2 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Central as nationally: 9.2%, against 9.6%. Vacancy has fallen 11.0 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of Cleveland's 34 neighborhoods, only two have a lower 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 Central
| Period | Central | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1964 | 1963 | 1968 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1963 | 1964 | 1969 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1969 | 1964 | 1970 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1971 | 1966 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +3 | +4 | +6 |
Central is a place of older homes: half were built before 1971, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Still, homes here are newer than in the Cleveland area overall, where the median home dates to 1966. Only two of Cleveland's 34 neighborhoods have 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 Central
| Period | Central | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $327 | $833 | $765 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $339 | $872 | $814 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $413 | $949 | $901 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $638 | $1,216 | $1,142 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$312 | +$383 | +$377 | +$606 |
The median renter in Central pays $638 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $312 a month since 2006–10, up 95%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 35.9% of household income on rent, 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 south; the highest are in the northwest.
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 Central
Bachelor's degrees in Central
| Period | Central | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.7% | 27.3% | 25.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.8% | 28.6% | 26.5% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 6.8% | 30.8% | 28.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.9% | 34.5% | 31.9% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.2 pts | +7.2 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Central have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 16.9%, against 35.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 7.2 points, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the northwest and least in the southwest.
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 Central
| Period | Central | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 66.7% | 87.9% | 87.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 68.4% | 88.9% | 88.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 73.7% | 90.3% | 90.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 80.3% | 91.8% | 91.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +13.6 pts | +3.9 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in five adults in Central never finished high school, well above the national share: only 80.3% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma is up 13.6 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than 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 Central
| Period | Central | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.8% | 9.3% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 39.0% | 10.1% | 9.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 28.9% | 6.5% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 34.2% | 5.6% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | −3.7 pts | −3.8 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Central runs well above the national rate: 34.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Only one other Cleveland neighborhood has higher unemployment. 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).
Central 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central | 2.38 | 31.0 | 41.6% | 86.8% | 9.2% | 1971 | $638 | 16.9% | 80.3% | 34.2% |
| Goodrich-Kirtland Park | 1.95 | 36.8 | 7.5% | 76.9% | 19.8% | 1940 | $1,230 | 22.6% | 71.9% | 6.5% |
| Fairfax | 2.65 | 31.6 | 34.1% | 67.3% | 23.2% | 1948 | $829 | 14.5% | 83.8% | 27.0% |
| Downtown Cleveland | 1.47 | 30.2 | 9.8% | 95.5% | 17.5% | 1960 | $1,467 | 59.7% | 88.7% | 6.4% |
| Kinsmith | 2.31 | 29.1 | 44.8% | 79.5% | 9.6% | 1984 | $546 | 8.3% | 78.7% | 34.5% |
| North Broadway | 2.17 | 37.3 | 29.8% | 60.2% | 14.0% | 1946 | $607 | 10.3% | 68.3% | 10.8% |
| Hough | 2.12 | 40.6 | 21.7% | 77.5% | 21.6% | 1963 | $785 | 13.9% | 82.6% | 11.9% |
| Tremont | 1.84 | 33.9 | 10.1% | 71.9% | 13.5% | 1954 | $1,326 | 50.6% | 85.6% | 5.0% |
| Saint Claire-Superior | 2.23 | 37.8 | 33.9% | 62.0% | 29.2% | 1938 | $1,019 | 14.3% | 87.8% | 8.0% |
| Woodland Hills | 2.33 | 39.1 | 28.2% | 65.2% | 17.7% | 1947 | $690 | 14.5% | 82.8% | 18.0% |
| Ohio City-West Side | 1.65 | 36.8 | 14.8% | 72.5% | 15.8% | 1962 | $1,219 | 56.1% | 87.3% | 15.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Pershing, Detroit, MI · Emmons Orchard, Lincoln Park, MI · Edison Park, Chicago, IL · Eastwood, Syracuse, NY · Old Town, Torrance, CA · Orchards Area, Orchards, WA · Original Daly City, Daly City, CA · East Village, San Diego, CA · Ormewood Park-East Atlanta, Atlanta, GA · East Oak Hill, Austin, TX
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 Central. 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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