Population 8,418 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Downtown
Household size in Downtown
| Period | Downtown | Washington area | District of Columbia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.49 | 2.73 | 2.19 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 1.51 | 2.82 | 2.29 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 1.59 | 2.86 | 2.38 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.42 | 2.77 | 2.09 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.07 | +0.04 | −0.11 | −0.03 |
Downtown is a place of small households, averaging 1.42 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 1.49, as it has nationally. Only one other Washington 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 | Washington area | District of Columbia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.9 | 37.0 | 36.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 35.6 | 37.6 | 35.6 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 36.2 | 38.5 | 35.4 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 35.8 | 39.2 | 36.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.9 | +2.2 | +0.2 | +2.3 |
Downtown is young: half of its residents are under 35.8, 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 33.9, in line with the national trend.
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 | Washington area | District of Columbia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.1% | 11.3% | 14.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 3.0% | 11.3% | 12.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 2.4% | 10.4% | 12.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.9% | 10.4% | 12.2% | 11.6% |
| Change | −5.2 pts | −0.9 pts | −2.5 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 3.9% of households in Downtown, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has fallen 5.2 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Few Washington neighborhoods have a lower share of single-parent households: only three of 38.
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 | Washington area | District of Columbia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 76.4% | 34.0% | 56.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 76.4% | 36.6% | 58.4% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 75.4% | 36.8% | 58.4% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 70.5% | 36.3% | 58.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | −5.9 pts | +2.3 pts | +2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in Downtown: 70.5% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. About a quarter of owners (24.7%) have paid off their mortgages, well below the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the east; owners are most common in the center. The renter share has fallen 5.9 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
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 | Washington area | District of Columbia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.8% | 8.7% | 13.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.8% | 7.3% | 11.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 16.8% | 6.6% | 10.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 15.4% | 5.9% | 10.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.4 pts | −2.8 pts | −3.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Downtown: 15.4% 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 has fallen 3.4 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 | Washington area | District of Columbia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1989 | 1977 | 1952 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1991 | 1978 | 1954 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1992 | 1979 | 1957 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1992 | 1982 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +6 | +10 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Downtown is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1992, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1989 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the center, the oldest in the northwest. Only one other Washington 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 | Washington area | District of Columbia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,834 | $1,470 | $1,166 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,930 | $1,583 | $1,368 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,295 | $1,907 | $1,677 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,787 | $2,236 | $2,078 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$953 | +$766 | +$912 | +$606 |
The median renter in Downtown pays $2,787 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $953 a month since 2006–10, up 52%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 26.0% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Rents run highest in the south and lowest in the northwest.
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 | Washington area | District of Columbia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 73.0% | 46.6% | 47.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 79.8% | 48.2% | 52.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 78.1% | 51.0% | 58.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 85.0% | 53.9% | 63.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +12.0 pts | +7.3 pts | +16.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Downtown: 85.0% 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. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 12.0 points, as it has 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
| Period | Downtown | Washington area | District of Columbia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.1% | 89.4% | 86.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 93.3% | 90.2% | 88.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.3% | 90.8% | 91.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 97.5% | 91.2% | 92.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.5 pts | +1.7 pts | +6.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Downtown: 97.5% 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 6.5 points, 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
| Period | Downtown | Washington area | District of Columbia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.3% | 5.9% | 10.4% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.0% | 6.9% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.3% | 4.7% | 7.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.5% | 4.8% | 7.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.7 pts | −1.1 pts | −3.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been easier to find in Downtown than nationally: unemployment was 3.5%, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 2.7 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. 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 | 1.42 | 35.8 | 3.9% | 70.5% | 15.4% | 1992 | $2,787 | 85.0% | 97.5% | 3.5% |
| Mt Vernon Square | 1.59 | 32.1 | 6.7% | 78.1% | 9.8% | 2005 | $2,334 | 81.6% | 97.4% | 1.1% |
| Shaw | 1.90 | 33.4 | 13.1% | 71.4% | 10.3% | 1964 | $2,297 | 68.2% | 91.2% | 1.9% |
| Logan Circle | 1.59 | 37.4 | 4.2% | 60.5% | 6.2% | 1966 | $2,566 | 83.2% | 92.1% | 3.0% |
| U Street Corridor | 1.75 | 33.0 | 6.7% | 66.2% | 9.4% | 1981 | $2,716 | 82.7% | 95.8% | 2.1% |
| Dupont Circle | 1.45 | 34.6 | 2.9% | 64.3% | 10.3% | 1954 | $2,379 | 91.5% | 99.2% | 2.1% |
| Ledroit Park | 2.11 | 30.9 | 5.5% | 41.7% | 10.4% | 1939 | $2,702 | 79.4% | 96.3% | 3.5% |
| Foggy Bottom | 1.37 | 33.1 | 4.9% | 70.9% | 17.0% | 1979 | $2,432 | 88.9% | 98.9% | 7.5% |
| Capitol Hill | 1.79 | 33.4 | 6.4% | 69.6% | 12.1% | 1982 | $2,593 | 78.5% | 96.1% | 5.1% |
| South West | 1.56 | 36.6 | 9.1% | 68.8% | 16.4% | 1991 | $2,228 | 74.3% | 96.7% | 6.1% |
| Stanton Park | 1.96 | 36.0 | 3.4% | 49.7% | 9.6% | 1943 | $2,378 | 89.3% | 98.7% | 2.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Bethel Welborn, Kansas City, KS · Downtown Walnut Creek, Walnut Creek, CA · Mustang-Padre Island, Corpus Christi, TX · Holly, Everett, WA · Kenfield, Buffalo, NY · Lakeside, San Antonio, TX · Lindenwood Park, St. Louis, MO · Merriman Valley, Akron, OH · Merritt, Oakland, CA · Midway-Coldstream, Baltimore, MD
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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