Population 5,896 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Columbia Heghts
Household size in Columbia Heghts
| Period | Columbia Heghts | Arlington | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.89 | 2.18 | 2.73 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.01 | 2.34 | 2.82 | 2.68 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.03 | 2.25 | 2.86 | 2.68 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.87 | 2.22 | 2.77 | 2.62 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.02 | +0.04 | +0.04 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Columbia Heghts is a place of small households, averaging 1.87 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Columbia Heghts has smaller households than most Arlington neighborhoods.
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 Columbia Heghts
| Period | Columbia Heghts | Arlington | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.2 | 35.4 | 37.0 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 32.0 | 35.6 | 37.6 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 33.6 | 36.2 | 38.5 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 35.9 | 37.3 | 39.2 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.7 | +1.8 | +2.2 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Columbia Heghts is young: half of its residents are under 35.9, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young adults, many of them living alone or as couples. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 32.2, as it has 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 Columbia Heghts
| Period | Columbia Heghts | Arlington | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.5% | 6.7% | 11.3% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 3.6% | 6.2% | 11.3% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.3% | 5.9% | 10.4% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.7% | 5.4% | 10.4% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.2 pts | −1.3 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.7% of households in Columbia Heghts, well below the national share of 11.6%. Even so, single parents are more common here than in Arlington as a whole (5.4%).
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 Columbia Heghts
Renters in Columbia Heghts
| Period | Columbia Heghts | Arlington | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 72.7% | 53.1% | 34.0% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 70.0% | 55.2% | 36.6% | 33.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 77.6% | 57.3% | 36.8% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 76.9% | 58.8% | 36.3% | 32.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +4.2 pts | +5.7 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in Columbia Heghts: 76.9% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. Among homeowners, 30.3% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the northeast and least common in the south. The renter share is up 4.2 points from 2006–10, 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 Columbia Heghts
| Period | Columbia Heghts | Arlington | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.8% | 10.8% | 8.7% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.1% | 11.5% | 7.3% | 10.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.4% | 6.8% | 6.6% | 9.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 4.0% | 8.7% | 5.9% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −5.8 pts | −2.2 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Only 4.0% of homes in Columbia Heghts are vacant, far below the national rate of 9.6%, which usually means strong demand for housing. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 5.8 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. Few Arlington neighborhoods have a lower vacancy rate: only two of 29.
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 Columbia Heghts
| Period | Columbia Heghts | Arlington | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1959 | 1967 | 1977 | 1978 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1962 | 1968 | 1978 | 1980 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1960 | 1970 | 1979 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1968 | 1973 | 1982 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +9 | +6 | +6 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Columbia Heghts is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1968, 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 1959 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
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 Columbia Heghts
| Period | Columbia Heghts | Arlington | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,383 | $1,605 | $1,470 | $1,143 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,655 | $1,748 | $1,583 | $1,238 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,717 | $2,202 | $1,907 | $1,436 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,983 | $2,521 | $2,236 | $1,743 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$599 | +$916 | +$766 | +$600 | +$606 |
Rent in Columbia Heghts runs $1,983 a month at the median, utilities included, well above the U.S. median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are lower than in Arlington overall ($2,521). Rent has climbed $599 a month since 2006–10, up 43%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 23.6% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
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 Columbia Heghts
Bachelor's degrees in Columbia Heghts
| Period | Columbia Heghts | Arlington | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 67.0% | 70.2% | 46.6% | 35.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 71.0% | 72.4% | 48.2% | 36.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 71.7% | 75.5% | 51.0% | 39.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 70.1% | 76.5% | 53.9% | 42.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.1 pts | +6.3 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
Columbia Heghts is highly educated: about seven in ten adults 25 and older (70.1%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. Even so, the share is lower than in Arlington as a whole (76.5%). Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 3.1 points, in line with the national trend.
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 Columbia Heghts
| Period | Columbia Heghts | Arlington | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 94.8% | 92.5% | 89.4% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.1% | 93.8% | 90.2% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 96.2% | 94.4% | 90.8% | 89.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.1% | 94.9% | 91.2% | 91.6% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.3 pts | +2.4 pts | +1.7 pts | +4.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Columbia Heghts: 95.1% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The picture is much the same across Arlington. Compared with other Arlington neighborhoods, though, Columbia Heghts has a lower share of high school graduates than most.
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 Columbia Heghts
| Period | Columbia Heghts | Arlington | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.4% | 3.3% | 5.9% | 6.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 0.2% | 3.8% | 6.9% | 7.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.9% | 2.7% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.1% | 3.4% | 4.8% | 4.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | +2.8 pts | +0.0 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs a little high in Columbia Heghts: 6.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Few Arlington neighborhoods have higher unemployment: only two of 29. Unemployment is up 2.8 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
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).
Columbia Heghts 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia Heghts | 1.87 | 35.9 | 6.7% | 76.9% | 4.0% | 1968 | $1,983 | 70.1% | 95.1% | 6.1% |
| Penrose | 1.96 | 36.2 | 5.1% | 70.4% | 8.4% | 1971 | $1,953 | 62.6% | 89.7% | 6.3% |
| Nauck | 2.16 | 34.8 | 8.7% | 49.5% | 14.8% | 1978 | $2,264 | 66.7% | 98.8% | 2.9% |
| Arlington Ridge | 2.12 | 37.6 | 1.2% | 64.1% | 11.5% | 1961 | $2,761 | 87.3% | 99.4% | 2.4% |
| Douglas Park | 2.49 | 33.7 | 5.8% | 71.6% | 3.1% | 1971 | $1,983 | 53.0% | 86.9% | 5.3% |
| Long Branch Creek | 2.15 | 30.6 | 6.9% | 76.1% | 5.8% | 1992 | $2,463 | 65.5% | 93.9% | 3.7% |
| Aurora Highlands | 1.70 | 37.6 | 2.7% | 86.4% | 12.1% | 1989 | $2,610 | 82.8% | 97.5% | 2.8% |
| Lyon Park | 2.32 | 34.2 | 3.8% | 58.9% | 10.7% | 1961 | $2,215 | 80.9% | 97.5% | 1.7% |
| Barcroft | 2.68 | 32.6 | 13.7% | 54.6% | 4.0% | 1967 | $2,087 | 59.9% | 74.2% | 1.4% |
| Crystal City | 1.66 | 37.8 | 1.5% | 86.3% | 14.3% | 1986 | $2,680 | 85.2% | 98.5% | 0.7% |
| Ashton Heights | 2.11 | 35.9 | 8.9% | 71.1% | 12.8% | 1966 | $2,690 | 76.2% | 97.9% | 5.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Northwest Arvada, Arvada, CO · St. Johns, Portland, OR · Springvale, San Antonio, TX · South Valley, Syracuse, NY · Sierra Montana, Surprise, AZ · Seven Bar Ranch, Albuquerque, NM · Pheasant Run, Aurora, CO · Pecan Springs Springdale, Austin, TX · Parkway and Cherry Point, Lubbock, TX · Paloma Lake, Round Rock, 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 Columbia Heghts. 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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