Population 5,674 · 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 | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.48 | 2.53 | 2.52 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 1.47 | 2.54 | 2.52 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 1.51 | 2.53 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.44 | 2.49 | 2.49 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.04 | −0.05 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Downtown are small: just 1.44 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. Household size has edged down from 1.48 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. Downtown has the smallest households of any Providence neighborhood.
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 | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.3 | 39.5 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 33.8 | 40.5 | 40.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 34.0 | 41.4 | 41.4 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 32.3 | 41.7 | 41.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | −3.0 | +2.2 | +2.2 | +2.3 |
Downtown is young: half of its residents are under 32.3, 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 dropped from 35.3 in 2006–10, even as the national median rose.
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 | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.0% | 12.5% | 12.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 4.8% | 12.4% | 12.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.9% | 11.9% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.2% | 12.1% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.8 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.7 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Downtown: 2.2% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is down 3.8 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only one other Providence 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 | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 95.8% | 37.0% | 37.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 93.4% | 39.0% | 39.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 85.7% | 38.6% | 39.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 87.9% | 36.8% | 36.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −7.9 pts | −0.1 pts | −1.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in Downtown: 87.9% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. More than four in ten owners (43.3%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is down 7.9 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose. No other Providence 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 | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.8% | 10.3% | 11.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.0% | 10.5% | 11.4% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 18.1% | 10.7% | 12.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.9% | 7.9% | 9.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −8.8 pts | −2.4 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Downtown is close to the national rate: 10.9% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in the wider Providence area (7.9%). Vacancy is down 8.8 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 | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1959 | 1959 | 1957 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1960 | 1959 | 1958 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1962 | 1960 | 1959 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1972 | 1962 | 1961 | 1980 |
| Change | +13 | +3 | +4 | +6 |
Downtown is a place of older homes: half were built before 1972, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Still, homes here are newer than in the Providence area as a whole, where the median home dates to 1962. Only one other Providence neighborhood has newer homes.
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 | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,281 | $928 | $941 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,170 | $974 | $988 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,577 | $1,103 | $1,123 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,115 | $1,439 | $1,448 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$834 | +$511 | +$507 | +$606 |
The median renter in Downtown pays $2,115 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $834 a month since 2006–10, up 65%, roughly in step with the nation. The typical renter here spends 34.2% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Only one other Providence 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
Bachelor's degrees in Downtown
| Period | Downtown | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 51.7% | 28.5% | 30.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 52.8% | 29.6% | 31.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 65.5% | 32.4% | 34.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 68.3% | 35.2% | 37.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +16.6 pts | +6.7 pts | +7.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Downtown: 68.3% 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 16.6 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 84.7% | 82.1% | 83.2% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 83.4% | 83.9% | 84.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.1% | 87.5% | 88.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.3% | 88.3% | 89.4% | 89.3% |
| Change | +7.6 pts | +6.2 pts | +6.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Downtown is a bit above the national rate: 92.3% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 7.6 points from 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
| Period | Downtown | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.5% | 8.5% | 8.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.2% | 10.0% | 9.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.4% | 5.5% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.3% | 5.8% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −11.2 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Downtown has been strong: just 2.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Of Providence's 28 neighborhoods, only two have lower unemployment. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 11.2 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 | 1.44 | 32.3 | 2.2% | 87.9% | 10.9% | 1972 | $2,115 | 68.3% | 92.3% | 2.3% |
| College Hill | 1.95 | 23.4 | 3.5% | 47.7% | 18.7% | 1939 | $2,272 | 81.9% | 98.1% | 8.6% |
| Federal Hill | 1.92 | 39.3 | 5.0% | 79.5% | 13.4% | 1944 | $1,507 | 46.2% | 87.4% | 8.5% |
| Upper South Providence | 2.90 | 38.0 | 15.8% | 76.8% | 9.0% | 1952 | $1,268 | 16.8% | 75.4% | 16.8% |
| Smith Hill | 2.22 | 37.8 | 6.3% | 74.7% | 13.6% | 1945 | $1,404 | 32.4% | 78.3% | 6.7% |
| Fox Point | 2.10 | 30.4 | 1.9% | 68.2% | 8.1% | 1940 | $1,830 | 73.6% | 95.7% | 3.2% |
| Mount Hope | 1.98 | 36.3 | 6.7% | 67.4% | 8.4% | 1943 | $1,820 | 58.2% | 90.0% | 7.0% |
| Valley | 3.18 | 29.7 | 26.4% | 63.4% | 11.9% | 1939 | $1,478 | 22.2% | 72.5% | 7.4% |
| West End | 2.70 | 33.3 | 16.6% | 72.9% | 11.2% | 1948 | $1,392 | 30.7% | 76.7% | 10.3% |
| Lower South Providence | 2.99 | 35.1 | 22.9% | 67.7% | 8.4% | 1966 | $1,116 | 12.9% | 67.2% | 11.9% |
| Wayland | 2.09 | 39.1 | 4.4% | 47.8% | 3.1% | 1951 | $1,633 | 66.5% | 94.5% | 6.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Turners, Dundalk, MD · Garfield, Huntington Beach, CA · Greater Belhaven, Jackson, MS · Greater Mount Washington, Baltimore, MD · Junior College Neighborhood Assc., Santa Rosa, CA · Kettering-Butzel, Detroit, MI · Larkfield-Wikiup, Santa Rosa, CA · Monte Vista, San Antonio, TX · Shadow Hills, Sunland, CA · Southside, Binghamton, NY
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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