Population 8,349 · 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 | Baltimore area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.70 | 2.61 | 2.68 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 1.64 | 2.65 | 2.73 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 1.70 | 2.65 | 2.74 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.40 | 2.59 | 2.68 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.30 | −0.02 | +0.01 | −0.03 |
Downtown is a place of small households, averaging 1.40 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 1.70 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of Baltimore's 55 neighborhoods, only two 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 Downtown
| Period | Downtown | Baltimore area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.5 | 38.7 | 38.5 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 26.8 | 39.5 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 28.6 | 40.2 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 30.8 | 40.3 | 40.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.3 | +1.6 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Downtown is young: half of its residents are under 30.8, 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 27.5, mirroring the country. Only one other Baltimore neighborhood is younger.
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 | Baltimore area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.7% | 12.6% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.2% | 12.3% | 12.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.4% | 11.6% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.1% | 11.5% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | −1.1 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Downtown: 6.1% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is up 1.4 points from 2006–10, even as the national share fell. Downtown has a lower share of single-parent households than at least four in five Baltimore 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 Downtown
Renters in Downtown
| Period | Downtown | Baltimore area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.5% | 32.0% | 31.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 94.4% | 33.5% | 32.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 92.1% | 33.5% | 33.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 93.7% | 33.1% | 32.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.2 pts | +1.1 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Downtown rent: 93.7% of occupied homes are rented, far above the national share of 34.8%. Expect more apartments, and more turnover, than in owner-heavy areas. Among homeowners, 80.0% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Downtown has the highest share of renters of any Baltimore 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 Downtown
| Period | Downtown | Baltimore area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.5% | 9.3% | 9.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.6% | 9.3% | 8.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 15.9% | 9.4% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.4% | 7.2% | 7.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −6.1 pts | −2.1 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs a little high in Downtown: 11.4% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Vacancy is down 6.1 points from 2006–10, 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 | Baltimore area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1981 | 1971 | 1974 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1975 | 1972 | 1975 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1969 | 1973 | 1976 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1966 | 1975 | 1978 | 1980 |
| Change | −15 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Downtown is a place of older homes: half were built before 1966, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Newer construction is concentrated in the south, while the east 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 | Baltimore area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,241 | $1,179 | $1,249 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,348 | $1,293 | $1,363 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,407 | $1,477 | $1,576 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,666 | $1,778 | $1,869 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$425 | +$599 | +$620 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Downtown costs $1,666 a month with utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are lower than in the wider Baltimore area ($1,778). Rents are up $425 a month from 2006–10, a 34% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 37.1% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
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 | Baltimore area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 70.3% | 35.6% | 36.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 69.2% | 37.3% | 37.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 71.2% | 40.8% | 40.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 62.8% | 44.1% | 43.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | −7.6 pts | +8.5 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
Downtown is highly educated: just over six in ten adults 25 and older (62.8%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has fallen 7.6 points, even as the national share rose. College graduates are most concentrated in the southwest and least in the northwest.
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 | Baltimore area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.4% | 87.8% | 88.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.7% | 89.5% | 89.1% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.1% | 91.1% | 90.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.4% | 92.1% | 90.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.0 pts | +4.3 pts | +2.9 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Downtown: 96.4% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 5.0 points, mirroring the country. Of Baltimore's 55 neighborhoods, only five have a higher share of high school graduates.
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 | Baltimore area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.6% | 6.6% | 6.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.7% | 8.3% | 8.1% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.0% | 5.2% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.9% | 4.8% | 5.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.6 pts | −1.8 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Downtown has been strong: just 2.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment is down 3.6 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. 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).
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 | 1.40 | 30.8 | 6.1% | 93.7% | 11.4% | 1966 | $1,666 | 62.8% | 96.4% | 2.9% |
| Mount Vernon | 1.24 | 42.1 | 2.7% | 88.8% | 13.1% | 1958 | $1,338 | 58.7% | 93.0% | 6.3% |
| Federal Hill-Montgomery | 1.56 | 46.3 | 6.2% | 64.3% | 11.5% | 1977 | $1,785 | 72.2% | 93.2% | 0.3% |
| Oldtown | 1.78 | 32.0 | 25.6% | 85.2% | 10.7% | 1965 | $914 | 7.0% | 67.1% | 11.5% |
| Mid-Town Belvedere | 1.37 | 35.0 | 0.8% | 83.7% | 11.1% | 1971 | $1,615 | 74.9% | 98.4% | 3.1% |
| Jonestown | 1.83 | 38.2 | 10.9% | 68.3% | 12.1% | 2002 | $1,736 | 45.6% | 86.7% | 8.8% |
| Washington Village | 1.88 | 34.7 | 9.1% | 54.0% | 11.3% | 1938 | $1,403 | 49.0% | 87.9% | 8.3% |
| West Baltimore | 2.21 | 38.1 | 23.9% | 72.8% | 25.6% | 1949 | $1,060 | 15.8% | 79.8% | 16.7% |
| Reservoir Hill-Bolton Hill | 1.68 | 39.9 | 8.3% | 78.4% | 11.8% | 1950 | $1,125 | 40.7% | 88.1% | 6.6% |
| Riverside | 1.91 | 34.3 | 4.2% | 38.9% | 10.3% | 1952 | $2,257 | 80.7% | 98.1% | 1.8% |
| Hopkins-Middle East | 2.27 | 31.9 | 21.0% | 75.1% | 13.2% | 1977 | $1,239 | 37.3% | 86.1% | 9.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Bel Air, Los Angeles, CA · West Newton, Newton, MA · Central Berkeley, Berkeley, CA · Shiloh, York, PA · Lyon Street, Santa Ana, CA · Milwood, Kalamazoo, MI · Northgate, San Rafael, CA · Oceanfront, Miami Beach, FL · Old Town, Alexandria, VA · Ortega Hills, 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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