Population 13,149 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Downtown Cleveland
Household size in Downtown Cleveland
| Period | Downtown Cleveland | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.30 | 2.47 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 1.44 | 2.44 | 2.51 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 1.43 | 2.39 | 2.47 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.47 | 2.38 | 2.46 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.16 | −0.09 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
Downtown Cleveland is a place of small households, averaging 1.47 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has climbed from 1.30 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. No other Cleveland neighborhood has 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 Cleveland
| Period | Downtown Cleveland | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.5 | 40.5 | 39.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 30.1 | 41.5 | 40.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 30.8 | 42.3 | 40.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 30.2 | 42.5 | 40.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | −1.3 | +2.0 | +1.8 | +2.3 |
With a median age of just 30.2, Downtown Cleveland is far younger than the country as a whole (40.1), a population that tilts toward young adults, many of them living alone or as couples. The median age has dropped from 31.5 in 2006–10, even as the national median rose. Of Cleveland's 34 neighborhoods, only two are 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 Cleveland
| Period | Downtown Cleveland | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.7% | 11.9% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 5.7% | 11.9% | 11.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 4.5% | 11.2% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.8% | 11.6% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +8.1 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in Downtown Cleveland than nationally: 9.8%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share has risen 8.1 points since 2006–10, even as the national share fell. Downtown Cleveland has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of Cleveland 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 Cleveland
Renters in Downtown Cleveland
| Period | Downtown Cleveland | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 96.6% | 31.7% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 96.8% | 33.8% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 95.4% | 34.9% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 95.5% | 33.5% | 32.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | +1.7 pts | +2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in Downtown Cleveland: 95.5% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. About six in ten owners (60.2%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged down 1.1 points, even as the national share rose. Downtown Cleveland has the highest share of renters of any Cleveland 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 Cleveland
| Period | Downtown Cleveland | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.4% | 10.8% | 10.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.4% | 10.9% | 10.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 21.0% | 10.3% | 10.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 17.5% | 8.4% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | +3.1 pts | −2.4 pts | −2.2 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Downtown Cleveland: 17.5% 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. Vacancy is up 3.1 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
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 Cleveland
| Period | Downtown Cleveland | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1947 | 1963 | 1968 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1946 | 1964 | 1969 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1950 | 1964 | 1970 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1960 | 1966 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +13 | +3 | +4 | +6 |
Downtown Cleveland is a place of older homes: half were built before 1960, 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 1947 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northeast, while the west 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 Cleveland
| Period | Downtown Cleveland | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $767 | $833 | $765 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $951 | $872 | $814 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,195 | $949 | $901 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,467 | $1,216 | $1,142 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$700 | +$383 | +$377 | +$606 |
The median renter in Downtown Cleveland pays $1,467 a month for rent and utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are higher than in the Cleveland area as a whole ($1,216). Rent has climbed $700 a month since 2006–10, up 91%, faster than rents rose nationally. Only one other Cleveland neighborhood has higher rents.
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 Cleveland
Bachelor's degrees in Downtown Cleveland
| Period | Downtown Cleveland | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 49.9% | 27.3% | 25.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 48.8% | 28.6% | 26.5% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 49.3% | 30.8% | 28.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 59.7% | 34.5% | 31.9% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.9 pts | +7.2 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Downtown Cleveland: 59.7% 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 has risen 9.9 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Downtown Cleveland has the highest share of college graduates of any Cleveland neighborhood.
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 Cleveland
| Period | Downtown Cleveland | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 85.9% | 87.9% | 87.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 84.5% | 88.9% | 88.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 85.0% | 90.3% | 90.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 88.7% | 91.8% | 91.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.8 pts | +3.9 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Downtown Cleveland is close to the national rate: 88.7% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in the Cleveland area overall (91.8%). The share with a diploma is up 2.8 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Cleveland
| Period | Downtown Cleveland | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.0% | 9.3% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 12.3% | 10.1% | 9.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.7% | 6.5% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.4% | 5.6% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −6.6 pts | −3.7 pts | −3.8 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs a little high in Downtown Cleveland: 6.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment has fallen 6.6 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. 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 Cleveland 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 Cleveland | 1.47 | 30.2 | 9.8% | 95.5% | 17.5% | 1960 | $1,467 | 59.7% | 88.7% | 6.4% |
| Ohio City-West Side | 1.65 | 36.8 | 14.8% | 72.5% | 15.8% | 1962 | $1,219 | 56.1% | 87.3% | 15.5% |
| Central | 2.38 | 31.0 | 41.6% | 86.8% | 9.2% | 1971 | $638 | 16.9% | 80.3% | 34.2% |
| Goodrich-Kirtland Park | 1.95 | 36.8 | 7.5% | 76.9% | 19.8% | 1940 | $1,230 | 22.6% | 71.9% | 6.5% |
| Tremont | 1.84 | 33.9 | 10.1% | 71.9% | 13.5% | 1954 | $1,326 | 50.6% | 85.6% | 5.0% |
| Detroit Shoreway | 1.94 | 35.5 | 13.8% | 65.0% | 18.5% | 1948 | $1,054 | 38.9% | 85.4% | 8.3% |
| Clark-Fulton | 2.86 | 32.0 | 30.3% | 60.4% | 17.0% | 1939 | $1,052 | 12.5% | 72.3% | 11.0% |
| Saint Claire-Superior | 2.23 | 37.8 | 33.9% | 62.0% | 29.2% | 1938 | $1,019 | 14.3% | 87.8% | 8.0% |
| North Broadway | 2.17 | 37.3 | 29.8% | 60.2% | 14.0% | 1946 | $607 | 10.3% | 68.3% | 10.8% |
| Hough | 2.12 | 40.6 | 21.7% | 77.5% | 21.6% | 1963 | $785 | 13.9% | 82.6% | 11.9% |
| Fairfax | 2.65 | 31.6 | 34.1% | 67.3% | 23.2% | 1948 | $829 | 14.5% | 83.8% | 27.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Jamestown, Hephzibah, GA · Tall Timbers, New Orleans, LA · Groveton, Alexandria, VA · Highland, Denver, CO · Hollywood Riviera, Redondo Beach, CA · Hyannis, Barnstable Town, MA · Hybla Valley, Alexandria, VA · Sterling Park, Sterling, VA · State Fair-Nolan, Highland Park, MI · Greater Wythe, Hampton, VA
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 Cleveland. 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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