Population 13,043 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Chinatown
Household size in Chinatown
| Period | Chinatown | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.25 | 3.14 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.32 | 3.20 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.26 | 3.16 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.88 | 3.01 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.37 | −0.13 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Chinatown is a place of small households, averaging 1.88 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has dropped from 2.25 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. 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 Chinatown
| Period | Chinatown | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.4 | 35.6 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.4 | 36.7 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 38.9 | 38.0 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.2 | 39.5 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.7 | +4.0 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
At 41.2, the median age in Chinatown is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The population here is older than in the Los Angeles area as a whole, where the median age is 39.5. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 39.4, 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 Chinatown
| Period | Chinatown | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.9% | 14.3% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.0% | 14.1% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.1% | 12.5% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.9% | 12.3% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −6.0 pts | −2.0 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Chinatown: 4.9% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 6.0 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. Chinatown has a lower share of single-parent households than at least four in five Los Angeles 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 Chinatown
Renters in Chinatown
| Period | Chinatown | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 96.8% | 48.8% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 96.1% | 50.8% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 96.6% | 51.4% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 98.7% | 51.6% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.9 pts | +2.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Chinatown rent: 98.7% of occupied homes are rented, far above the national share of 34.8%. Expect more apartments, and more turnover, than in owner-heavy areas. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 1.9 points, as it has nationally. Chinatown has the highest share of renters of any Los Angeles neighborhood.
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 Chinatown
| Period | Chinatown | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.9% | 7.0% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.8% | 6.7% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.8% | 6.6% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 3.8% | 6.7% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −6.1 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in Chinatown: just 3.8% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 6.1 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only one other Los Angeles neighborhood has 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 Chinatown
| Period | Chinatown | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1987 | 1965 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1987 | 1966 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1988 | 1966 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1992 | 1969 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Chinatown is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1992, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1987 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Few Los Angeles neighborhoods have newer homes: only three of 51.
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 Chinatown
| Period | Chinatown | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,079 | $1,328 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,250 | $1,415 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,717 | $1,755 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,048 | $2,279 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$969 | +$951 | +$931 | +$606 |
The median renter in Chinatown pays $2,048 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Locally, though, rents here are lower than in the Los Angeles area as a whole ($2,279). Rent has climbed $969 a month since 2006–10, up 90%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 31.4% 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 Chinatown
Bachelor's degrees in Chinatown
| Period | Chinatown | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.0% | 29.7% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.9% | 30.7% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 16.5% | 33.7% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 18.6% | 37.6% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +11.6 pts | +7.9 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Chinatown have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 18.6%, against 35.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 11.6 points, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the north and least in the east.
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 Chinatown
| Period | Chinatown | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 46.8% | 76.7% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 48.6% | 77.7% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 59.7% | 80.0% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 63.7% | 82.1% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +16.9 pts | +5.4 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
More than a third of adults in Chinatown never finished high school, well above the national share: only 63.7% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma is up 16.9 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Chinatown has a lower share of high school graduates than the great majority of Los Angeles neighborhoods.
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 Chinatown
| Period | Chinatown | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.0% | 8.5% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.4% | 10.6% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.7% | 5.8% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.3% | 6.7% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Chinatown runs well above the national rate: 8.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 0.7 points from 2006–10, a smaller 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).
Chinatown 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinatown | 1.88 | 41.2 | 4.9% | 98.7% | 3.8% | 1992 | $2,048 | 18.6% | 63.7% | 8.3% |
| Civic Center Little Tokyo | 1.88 | 37.8 | 7.3% | 91.8% | 10.6% | 2001 | $2,551 | 53.5% | 87.3% | 5.9% |
| Central City East | 2.52 | 34.9 | 14.4% | 89.1% | 9.3% | 1985 | $1,687 | 29.4% | 69.9% | 9.5% |
| Wholesale District-Skid Row | 1.25 | 49.4 | 1.8% | 89.9% | 17.1% | 1958 | $1,247 | 29.6% | 78.7% | 19.5% |
| Downtown Los Angeles | 1.38 | 38.5 | 4.4% | 92.3% | 16.0% | 1939 | $1,738 | 44.1% | 89.1% | 13.0% |
| New Downtown | 1.50 | 40.1 | 4.1% | 89.9% | 14.8% | 1992 | $2,198 | 58.0% | 86.1% | 6.8% |
| Lincoln Heights | 2.71 | 33.8 | 19.2% | 66.7% | 3.2% | 1966 | $1,877 | 35.7% | 66.8% | 7.8% |
| Echo Park | 2.30 | 38.1 | 7.7% | 73.5% | 5.8% | 1954 | $2,110 | 51.2% | 83.4% | 8.1% |
| Montecito Heights | 3.00 | 39.9 | 15.0% | 66.7% | 4.9% | 1953 | $1,560 | 22.5% | 64.7% | 8.5% |
| Fashion District | 1.58 | 34.4 | 2.4% | 91.2% | 10.3% | 1974 | $2,290 | 52.8% | 85.7% | 10.0% |
| South Park | 1.49 | 34.1 | 3.2% | 89.0% | 11.8% | 2010 | $2,811 | 65.7% | 92.1% | 7.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Serrano Village, El Dorado Hills, CA · Vista Creek, Perris, CA · Devon-Walnut Beach, Milford, CT · Sherwood-Tualatin North, Sherwood, OR · Allandale, Austin, TX · Interbay, Seattle, WA · Indian Hills-Stonewall Estates-Monticello, Lexington, KY · Woodlawn Hayattsville, Hyattsville, MD · Five Oaks, Beaverton, OR · Yorkmount, Charlotte, NC
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 Chinatown. 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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