Population 24,083 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in City Center East
Household size in City Center East
| Period | City Center East | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.56 | 2.64 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 1.63 | 2.68 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 1.69 | 2.65 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.50 | 2.57 | 2.46 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.06 | −0.07 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
Households in City Center East are small: just 1.50 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has edged down from 1.56 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only three of Philadelphia's 64 neighborhoods have smaller 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 City Center East
| Period | City Center East | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.0 | 38.5 | 40.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 34.4 | 39.3 | 41.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 37.6 | 40.3 | 41.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.9 | 40.4 | 42.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.9 | +1.9 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
At 38.9, the median age in City Center East is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The population here is younger than in the Philadelphia area as a whole, where the median age is 40.4. The median age has climbed from 36.0 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 City Center East
| Period | City Center East | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.9% | 12.2% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 1.8% | 11.8% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 2.9% | 11.7% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.4% | 12.1% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | −0.1 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 7.4% of households in City Center East, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 0.5 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. City Center East has a lower share of single-parent households than at least four in five Philadelphia 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 City Center East
Renters in City Center East
| Period | City Center East | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 61.9% | 30.2% | 29.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 66.9% | 32.1% | 30.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 63.4% | 32.7% | 31.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 67.6% | 33.2% | 30.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +5.7 pts | +3.0 pts | +1.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in City Center East rent: 67.6% of occupied homes are rented, far above the national share of 34.8%. Expect more apartments, and more turnover, than in owner-heavy areas. Just over half of owners (52.4%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 5.7 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 City Center East
| Period | City Center East | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.9% | 9.1% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.1% | 9.2% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 13.3% | 9.0% | 10.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.7% | 6.9% | 9.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.2 pts | −2.2 pts | −1.2 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs a little high in City Center East: 11.7% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 3.2 points, mirroring the country.
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 City Center East
| Period | City Center East | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1949 | 1964 | 1963 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1946 | 1965 | 1964 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1949 | 1965 | 1965 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1961 | 1968 | 1967 | 1980 |
| Change | +12 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
City Center East is a place of older homes: half were built before 1961, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1949 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northwest, while the south 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 City Center East
| Period | City Center East | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,203 | $1,049 | $829 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,342 | $1,147 | $923 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,583 | $1,281 | $1,039 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,935 | $1,631 | $1,323 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$732 | +$582 | +$494 | +$606 |
Rent in City Center East runs $1,935 a month at the median, utilities included, well above the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $732 a month from 2006–10, a 61% jump, roughly in step with the nation. The typical renter here spends 29.0% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the southwest; the highest are in the northeast.
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 City Center East
Bachelor's degrees in City Center East
| Period | City Center East | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 71.6% | 32.7% | 27.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 74.8% | 34.4% | 28.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 78.9% | 37.9% | 31.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 80.7% | 42.3% | 35.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.2 pts | +9.6 pts | +8.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in City Center East: 80.7% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. The share with a degree is up 9.2 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Few Philadelphia neighborhoods have a higher share of college graduates: only four of 64.
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 City Center East
| Period | City Center East | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.4% | 87.5% | 87.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 95.9% | 88.9% | 88.8% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 96.8% | 90.5% | 90.3% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.8% | 91.9% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.4 pts | +4.4 pts | +4.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in City Center East: 95.8% 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 3.4 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. City Center East has a higher share of high school graduates than at least four in five Philadelphia 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 City Center East
| Period | City Center East | Philadelphia area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.7% | 8.4% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.3% | 10.2% | 8.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.9% | 6.3% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.3% | 6.1% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in City Center East has been strong: just 3.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Few Philadelphia neighborhoods have lower unemployment: only three of 64. 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).
City Center East 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City Center East | 1.50 | 38.9 | 7.4% | 67.6% | 11.7% | 1961 | $1,935 | 80.7% | 95.8% | 3.3% |
| Chinatown | 1.49 | 38.6 | 6.3% | 73.7% | 10.7% | 1980 | $1,952 | 64.9% | 88.8% | 8.8% |
| Bella Vista | 1.94 | 34.3 | 8.1% | 56.2% | 8.2% | 1960 | $1,745 | 78.3% | 96.9% | 5.5% |
| City Center West | 1.48 | 38.0 | 2.1% | 67.3% | 11.6% | 1960 | $2,048 | 85.0% | 97.2% | 1.9% |
| Rittenhouse Square | 1.50 | 41.5 | 1.7% | 68.4% | 15.7% | 1955 | $2,063 | 85.0% | 98.6% | 3.3% |
| Wharton-Hawthorne-Bella Vista | 2.12 | 36.7 | 8.7% | 44.4% | 7.2% | 1942 | $1,757 | 59.8% | 89.9% | 5.2% |
| Schuylkill Southwest | 2.02 | 32.1 | 5.4% | 50.2% | 13.6% | 1966 | $2,164 | 77.3% | 96.3% | 4.7% |
| Spring Garden | 1.64 | 36.0 | 3.3% | 76.9% | 12.2% | 1974 | $2,083 | 81.3% | 98.1% | 3.4% |
| Pennsport-Whitman-Queen | 2.22 | 37.9 | 12.3% | 35.4% | 8.5% | 1944 | $1,666 | 53.2% | 88.6% | 6.5% |
| Point Breeze-Philadelphia | 2.24 | 36.1 | 14.2% | 39.4% | 12.9% | 1941 | $1,685 | 49.6% | 89.2% | 6.7% |
| Poplar-Ludlow-Yorktowne | 2.08 | 27.9 | 13.6% | 76.7% | 9.3% | 1976 | $1,152 | 35.0% | 87.7% | 12.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Powellhurst-Gilbert, Portland, OR · Meadowview, Sacramento, CA · Greater Landover, Landover, MD · Great Bridge, Chesapeake, VA · Garfield Ridge, Chicago, IL · Parkside, San Francisco, CA · Fishtown, Philadelphia, PA · East Boston, Boston, MA · Constable Hook, Bayonne, NJ · Coney Island, Brooklyn, NY
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 City Center East. 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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