Population 3,415 · 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 | Portland | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.38 | 2.12 | 2.37 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 1.44 | 2.18 | 2.36 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 1.33 | 2.18 | 2.35 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.57 | 2.10 | 2.30 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.19 | −0.02 | −0.07 | −0.03 |
Downtown is a place of small households, averaging 1.57 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 climbed from 1.38, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change. No other Portland 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
| Period | Downtown | Portland | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.0 | 38.1 | 42.1 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 34.6 | 37.6 | 43.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 36.8 | 38.0 | 45.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 33.4 | 39.0 | 45.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | −3.6 | +0.9 | +2.9 | +2.3 |
Downtown is young: half of its residents are under 33.4, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young adults, many of them living alone or as couples. Only one other Portland 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 | Portland | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.3% | 10.1% | 10.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 4.7% | 9.9% | 10.1% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 4.7% | 7.9% | 9.4% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.7% | 7.3% | 8.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | −4.7 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Downtown: 1.7% of households, against 11.6% nationally. No other Portland 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
Renters in Downtown
| Period | Downtown | Portland | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.5% | 54.5% | 26.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 91.3% | 56.9% | 28.6% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 90.3% | 55.5% | 27.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 83.5% | 53.7% | 25.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −7.1 pts | −0.8 pts | −1.2 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Downtown rent: 83.5% 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 owners, 46.5% have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Only one other Portland 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
| Period | Downtown | Portland | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.6% | 8.5% | 17.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.0% | 7.1% | 18.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.9% | 8.5% | 19.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.7% | 8.4% | 16.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.9 pts | −0.0 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Downtown: 14.7% 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. Only one other Portland neighborhood has a higher vacancy rate.
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 | Portland | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1938 | 1952 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1938 | 1951 | 1971 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1938 | 1955 | 1973 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1948 | 1955 | 1975 | 1980 |
| Change | +10 | +3 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Downtown is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1948, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates.
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 | Portland | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $755 | $870 | $766 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $824 | $942 | $831 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $920 | $1,104 | $919 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,581 | $1,590 | $1,230 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$826 | +$720 | +$464 | +$606 |
The median renter in Downtown pays $1,581 a month for rent and utilities, close to the national median of $1,571. Rent takes 41.4% of the typical renter's income, 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 | Portland | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.7% | 42.1% | 27.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 38.7% | 44.7% | 28.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 51.9% | 51.8% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 51.6% | 59.6% | 36.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +19.8 pts | +17.5 pts | +9.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Downtown: 51.6% 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. Locally, though, the share is lower than in Portland as a whole (59.6%). Of Portland's 12 neighborhoods, only two have a lower share of college graduates.
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 | Portland | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.0% | 90.6% | 89.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 93.3% | 91.3% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 88.8% | 92.9% | 92.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.7% | 96.5% | 94.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +7.7 pts | +5.9 pts | +4.8 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Downtown: 95.7% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. That is in line with the rest of Portland. Among Portland's 12 neighborhoods, though, only one other has a lower 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 | Portland | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.1% | 5.7% | 6.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 13.8% | 7.5% | 7.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.2% | 2.9% | 4.2% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.0% | 4.0% | 3.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −9.1 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Downtown has been low: just 1.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Only one other Portland neighborhood has lower unemployment. 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 | 1.57 | 33.4 | 1.7% | 83.5% | 14.7% | 1948 | $1,581 | 51.6% | 95.7% | 1.0% |
| Parkside | 1.81 | 30.4 | 2.2% | 83.6% | 8.8% | 1938 | $1,466 | 67.2% | 96.7% | 2.9% |
| West End | 2.03 | 39.3 | 3.5% | 67.3% | 9.3% | 1938 | $1,553 | 63.9% | 98.9% | 2.2% |
| East End | 1.79 | 37.8 | 5.0% | 69.8% | 11.5% | 1945 | $1,726 | 63.5% | 97.0% | 2.9% |
| Oakdale | 2.04 | 34.3 | 6.0% | 60.6% | 5.5% | 1938 | $1,660 | 73.8% | 96.4% | 3.9% |
| Rosemont | 2.56 | 35.2 | 12.7% | 36.7% | 8.2% | 1945 | $1,768 | 68.1% | 95.9% | 12.1% |
| Ocean Avenue | 2.08 | 47.8 | 3.8% | 30.6% | 18.6% | 1954 | $1,839 | 74.9% | 98.9% | 0.8% |
| Stanwood Park | 2.34 | 46.8 | 7.1% | 16.0% | 2.7% | 1963 | $1,769 | 60.5% | 98.5% | 4.0% |
| East Deering | 2.31 | 37.1 | 3.3% | 48.9% | 8.1% | 1951 | $1,622 | 58.5% | 97.8% | 5.0% |
| Deering | 2.16 | 42.0 | 1.7% | 53.5% | 8.4% | 1948 | $1,721 | 65.4% | 97.5% | 2.4% |
| Broadview Park | 2.44 | 40.5 | 3.7% | 19.6% | 4.4% | 1965 | $2,052 | 46.8% | 96.3% | 3.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Presidents Park, Parlin, NJ · Forest Park, Pine Hills, FL · Fondren Gardens, Houston, TX · Fossil Park, St. Petersburg, FL · West Atherton, Atherton, CA · Santiam, Albany, OR · Western Hills, San Mateo, CA · Westside, Syracuse, NY · Westview Park, Woodlawn, MD · White Gables, Summerville, SC
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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