Population 16,146 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Downtown
Household size in Downtown
| Period | Downtown | Atlanta area | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.71 | 2.74 | 2.70 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 1.73 | 2.83 | 2.77 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 1.85 | 2.81 | 2.75 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.78 | 2.79 | 2.73 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.07 | +0.05 | +0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Downtown are small: just 1.78 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. Since 2006–10, household size has crept up from 1.71, even as the national average fell.
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 Downtown
| Period | Downtown | Atlanta area | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.2 | 35.5 | 36.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 26.0 | 36.5 | 36.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 28.0 | 37.5 | 38.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 29.2 | 38.2 | 38.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.0 | +2.7 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
Downtown is young: half of its residents are under 29.2, 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 27.2 in 2006–10, 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 Downtown
| Period | Downtown | Atlanta area | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.8% | 13.3% | 13.8% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.5% | 13.6% | 13.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.3% | 12.5% | 13.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.9% | 12.7% | 13.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.9 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in twelve households in Downtown (8.9%), below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 1.9 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Downtown
Renters in Downtown
| Period | Downtown | Atlanta area | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 77.3% | 32.1% | 32.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 77.2% | 35.5% | 35.8% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 73.4% | 36.7% | 36.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 76.7% | 33.9% | 34.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | +1.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in Downtown: 76.7% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. Among homeowners, 28.2% have no mortgage at all, well below the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the northwest; owners are most common in the east. The renter share is down 0.6 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
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 Downtown
| Period | Downtown | Atlanta area | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.5% | 11.9% | 13.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 22.7% | 11.4% | 13.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 14.6% | 8.6% | 11.6% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.3% | 8.0% | 10.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −7.2 pts | −3.8 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Downtown: 14.3% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 7.2 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Downtown
| Period | Downtown | Atlanta area | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1987 | 1988 | 1985 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1989 | 1989 | 1987 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1992 | 1990 | 1987 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1992 | 1993 | 1991 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +5 | +6 | +6 |
Downtown has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1992, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1987 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northeast, 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 Downtown
| Period | Downtown | Atlanta area | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $966 | $1,050 | $910 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,048 | $1,116 | $977 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,215 | $1,293 | $1,112 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,802 | $1,799 | $1,520 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$836 | +$749 | +$609 | +$606 |
The median renter in Downtown pays $1,802 a month for rent and utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $836 a month from 2006–10, an 87% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 39.2% 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 east; the highest are in the center.
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 Downtown
Bachelor's degrees in Downtown
| Period | Downtown | Atlanta area | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 53.1% | 34.5% | 28.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 41.9% | 35.2% | 28.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 49.8% | 38.2% | 31.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 61.1% | 42.0% | 35.1% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.0 pts | +7.5 pts | +7.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
Downtown is highly educated: about six in ten adults 25 and older (61.1%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 8.0 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the northeast and least in the south.
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 Downtown
| Period | Downtown | Atlanta area | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.0% | 87.2% | 84.1% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.1% | 88.0% | 85.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.8% | 89.4% | 87.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.0% | 90.9% | 89.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.1 pts | +3.6 pts | +5.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Downtown: 96.0% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 4.1 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Downtown
| Period | Downtown | Atlanta area | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.4% | 9.0% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 18.2% | 10.7% | 10.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 13.6% | 5.2% | 5.8% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.4% | 5.2% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | +2.0 pts | −3.8 pts | −3.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Downtown runs well above the national rate: 10.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Unemployment has risen 2.0 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell. 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).
Downtown 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown | 1.78 | 29.2 | 8.9% | 76.7% | 14.3% | 1992 | $1,802 | 61.1% | 96.0% | 10.4% |
| Vine City | 2.07 | 36.0 | 14.6% | 70.2% | 30.7% | 1991 | $1,449 | 37.9% | 90.2% | 4.8% |
| Five Points | 1.59 | 25.6 | 24.5% | 54.3% | 18.5% | 1993 | $1,488 | 54.2% | 99.2% | 19.0% |
| Midtown Atlanta | 1.56 | 34.3 | 3.0% | 55.4% | 12.2% | 1995 | $2,139 | 84.3% | 98.9% | 3.3% |
| Sweet Auburn | 1.55 | 28.5 | 9.9% | 87.1% | 10.2% | 1999 | $1,632 | 58.8% | 91.0% | 8.9% |
| Home Park | 1.77 | 30.5 | 4.2% | 73.7% | 10.5% | 1999 | $1,957 | 80.1% | 96.6% | 4.4% |
| Old Fourth Ward | 1.63 | 32.6 | 7.5% | 69.6% | 10.1% | 2000 | $1,976 | 75.4% | 98.0% | 4.0% |
| University Center | 1.92 | 27.3 | 17.0% | 75.7% | 20.5% | 1991 | $956 | 53.3% | 91.7% | 16.0% |
| West End | 2.09 | 40.3 | 13.4% | 61.6% | 12.7% | 1971 | $1,094 | 40.6% | 88.0% | 7.2% |
| Mechanicsville | 2.01 | 25.3 | 27.4% | 84.7% | 8.6% | 1988 | $1,079 | 16.5% | 81.2% | 14.0% |
| Poncey-Highland | 1.61 | 36.3 | 2.5% | 60.8% | 4.2% | 1969 | $2,033 | 79.9% | 98.9% | 1.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Englewood, Chicago, IL · Sunrise Golf Village East, Sunrise, FL · Stone Oak, San Antonio, TX · Spuyten Duyvil, Bronx, NY · Southridge Village, Fontana, CA · South West, Washington, DC · South Land Park, Sacramento, CA · Santa Anita, Santa Ana, CA · San Carlos, San Diego, CA · Windy Hill, Jacksonville, 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 Downtown. 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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