Population 7,543 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Downtown Indianapolis
Household size in Downtown Indianapolis
| Period | Downtown Indianapolis | Indianapolis area | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.67 | 2.60 | 2.57 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 1.51 | 2.63 | 2.59 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 1.65 | 2.63 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.61 | 2.59 | 2.54 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.06 | −0.01 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Downtown Indianapolis is a place of small households, averaging 1.61 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 1.67, as it has nationally. Only two of Indianapolis' 29 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 Downtown Indianapolis
| Period | Downtown Indianapolis | Indianapolis area | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.4 | 36.3 | 37.5 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 29.2 | 37.0 | 38.4 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 29.5 | 37.7 | 39.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 28.2 | 38.2 | 39.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | −4.1 | +1.9 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
With a median age of just 28.2, Downtown Indianapolis 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. Since 2006–10, the median age has dropped from 32.4, even as the national median rose. Downtown Indianapolis has the youngest population of any Indianapolis neighborhood.
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 Indianapolis
| Period | Downtown Indianapolis | Indianapolis area | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.1% | 12.7% | 11.8% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 2.3% | 12.8% | 12.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 2.0% | 12.0% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.4% | 11.8% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Downtown Indianapolis: 1.4% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has edged down 0.7 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. No other Indianapolis neighborhood has a lower share of single-parent households.
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 Indianapolis
Renters in Downtown Indianapolis
| Period | Downtown Indianapolis | Indianapolis area | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 77.0% | 31.4% | 28.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 77.8% | 34.2% | 30.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 80.1% | 34.8% | 30.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 83.5% | 33.2% | 29.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +6.5 pts | +1.8 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in Downtown Indianapolis: 83.5% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. Among homeowners, 42.1% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. The renter share is up 6.5 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only one other Indianapolis neighborhood has a higher share of renters.
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 Indianapolis
| Period | Downtown Indianapolis | Indianapolis area | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.5% | 11.2% | 11.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.8% | 10.6% | 11.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.6% | 9.6% | 10.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.3% | 8.0% | 9.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +3.7 pts | −3.2 pts | −2.0 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 16.3% of the housing in Downtown Indianapolis, 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 risen 3.7 points, 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 Indianapolis
| Period | Downtown Indianapolis | Indianapolis area | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1976 | 1978 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1978 | 1979 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1990 | 1980 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1999 | 1982 | 1977 | 1980 |
| Change | +23 | +5 | +5 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Downtown Indianapolis is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1999, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1976 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southeast, the oldest in the northwest. Downtown Indianapolis has the newest homes of any Indianapolis neighborhood.
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 Indianapolis
| Period | Downtown Indianapolis | Indianapolis area | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $859 | $877 | $763 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,059 | $946 | $819 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,297 | $1,060 | $903 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,638 | $1,368 | $1,146 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$779 | +$492 | +$384 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Downtown Indianapolis costs $1,638 a month with utilities, close to the national median of $1,571. Rents here are higher than in the Indianapolis area as a whole ($1,368). Rent has climbed $779 a month since 2006–10, up 91%, faster than rents rose nationally. Only one other Indianapolis 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 Indianapolis
Bachelor's degrees in Downtown Indianapolis
| Period | Downtown Indianapolis | Indianapolis area | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.5% | 30.9% | 23.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 47.6% | 31.8% | 24.6% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 61.9% | 35.2% | 27.1% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 70.6% | 38.6% | 30.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +31.1 pts | +7.7 pts | +6.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Downtown Indianapolis: 70.6% 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 31.1 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Indianapolis
| Period | Downtown Indianapolis | Indianapolis area | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 81.7% | 88.1% | 86.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 87.3% | 88.9% | 87.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 88.2% | 89.6% | 88.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.6% | 90.8% | 89.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +11.9 pts | +2.8 pts | +3.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Downtown Indianapolis is above the national rate: 93.6% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 11.9 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Indianapolis
| Period | Downtown Indianapolis | Indianapolis area | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.5% | 7.9% | 8.4% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.4% | 9.0% | 8.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.1% | 4.9% | 4.9% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.6% | 4.1% | 4.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −8.8 pts | −3.7 pts | −4.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Downtown Indianapolis runs below the national rate: 3.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment is down 8.8 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. 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 Indianapolis 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 Indianapolis | 1.61 | 28.2 | 1.4% | 83.5% | 16.3% | 1999 | $1,638 | 70.6% | 93.6% | 3.6% |
| St. Joseph Historic Neighborhood | 1.56 | 30.4 | 2.7% | 83.3% | 11.0% | 1985 | $1,514 | 71.5% | 92.2% | 3.5% |
| Chatham-Arch | 1.45 | 33.3 | 3.0% | 74.5% | 9.8% | 1984 | $1,445 | 64.9% | 88.6% | 5.1% |
| Martindale-Brightwood | 2.34 | 30.3 | 12.4% | 61.3% | 20.0% | 1956 | $1,156 | 26.4% | 80.8% | 5.7% |
| Highland Vicinity | 1.95 | 38.7 | 14.1% | 39.4% | 21.0% | 1939 | $1,132 | 24.3% | 86.3% | 8.3% |
| Mapleton-Fall Creek | 2.57 | 33.1 | 12.2% | 51.3% | 17.9% | 1939 | $1,269 | 46.2% | 91.3% | 5.9% |
| Little Flower | 2.29 | 37.0 | 10.6% | 44.4% | 9.4% | 1942 | $1,077 | 29.8% | 82.9% | 8.6% |
| Carson Heights | 3.14 | 29.4 | 22.2% | 57.2% | 22.6% | 1964 | $1,100 | 11.7% | 60.2% | 1.9% |
| Venerable Flackville | 2.40 | 34.1 | 11.4% | 82.0% | 11.0% | 1970 | $1,080 | 22.2% | 89.8% | 5.2% |
| University Heights and Rosedale Hills | 2.19 | 31.4 | 14.3% | 52.5% | 13.6% | 1962 | $927 | 29.9% | 86.5% | 4.7% |
| Irvington | 2.32 | 39.1 | 11.0% | 28.5% | 8.1% | 1944 | $1,054 | 45.2% | 94.4% | 4.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Mt Vernon, Mount Vernon, VA · East Elmhurst, Queens, NY · East End, Alameda, CA · Five Mile Prairie, Spokane, WA · Greenwood, Newport News, VA · Hamilton Main Street Historic District, Hamilton, OH · Idlewild South, Charlotte, NC · Julington Creek, Jacksonville, FL · Linda Vista-San Francisco, Napa, CA · Memorial Parkway, Katy, 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 Downtown Indianapolis. 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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