Population 27,388 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Kirkwood
Household size in Kirkwood
| Period | Kirkwood | St. Louis area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.33 | 2.52 | 2.49 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.32 | 2.53 | 2.52 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.39 | 2.49 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.46 | 2.46 | 2.49 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.13 | −0.06 | −0.00 | −0.03 |
The average household in Kirkwood has 2.46 people, under the U.S. average of 2.65. Household size has climbed from 2.33 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the northwest.
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 Kirkwood
| Period | Kirkwood | St. Louis area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.3 | 38.5 | 38.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 44.7 | 39.5 | 39.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.8 | 40.7 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.0 | 40.8 | 40.1 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.3 | +2.3 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
Kirkwood skews older than the country: its median age is 43.0, against 40.1 nationally. The youngest areas are in the southwest, the oldest in the east.
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 Kirkwood
| Period | Kirkwood | St. Louis area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.9% | 11.7% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 5.4% | 11.5% | 11.4% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.7% | 11.0% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.8% | 11.1% | 11.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.1 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Kirkwood: 6.8% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Kirkwood has a lower share of single-parent households than at least four in five Missouri cities.
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 Kirkwood
Renters in Kirkwood
| Period | Kirkwood | St. Louis area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.3% | 28.3% | 30.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 22.3% | 30.1% | 32.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.9% | 31.1% | 33.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 21.2% | 29.6% | 31.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.1 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Kirkwood is largely a place of homeowners: only 21.2% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. About a third of owners (33.3%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the southeast and least common in the northeast.
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 Kirkwood
| Period | Kirkwood | St. Louis area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.8% | 9.6% | 11.6% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.0% | 10.1% | 12.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.1% | 10.1% | 12.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.2% | 8.8% | 10.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | −0.8 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Kirkwood as nationally: 9.2%, against 9.6%. Vacancy has barely moved since 2006–10, while 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 Kirkwood
| Period | Kirkwood | St. Louis area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1958 | 1972 | 1974 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1961 | 1972 | 1975 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1963 | 1973 | 1976 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1964 | 1975 | 1978 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +3 | +4 | +6 |
Kirkwood is a place of older homes: half were built before 1964, 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 1958 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southeast, while the northeast 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 Kirkwood
| Period | Kirkwood | St. Louis area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $985 | $825 | $740 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,123 | $920 | $816 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,203 | $1,010 | $899 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,533 | $1,239 | $1,122 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$547 | +$414 | +$383 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Kirkwood costs $1,533 a month with utilities, close to the national median of $1,571. Rents here are higher than in the St. Louis area as a whole ($1,239). Rent has climbed $547 a month since 2006–10, up 56%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 29.3% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 Kirkwood
Bachelor's degrees in Kirkwood
| Period | Kirkwood | St. Louis area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 58.4% | 30.3% | 26.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 59.9% | 32.1% | 27.3% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 64.5% | 34.9% | 29.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 67.4% | 38.5% | 32.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.0 pts | +8.3 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Kirkwood: 67.4% 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 is up 9.0 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only 12 of the 191 Missouri cities with 5,000+ people have a higher 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 Kirkwood
| Period | Kirkwood | St. Louis area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 95.8% | 88.8% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 96.9% | 90.5% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 96.9% | 92.1% | 90.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 97.5% | 93.6% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.6 pts | +4.8 pts | +5.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Kirkwood: 97.5% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 1.6 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Kirkwood has a higher share of high school graduates than at least four in five Missouri cities.
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 Kirkwood
| Period | Kirkwood | St. Louis area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.5% | 7.7% | 7.4% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 3.6% | 8.8% | 8.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.3% | 4.9% | 4.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.2% | 4.3% | 4.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.3 pts | −3.4 pts | −3.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Kirkwood has been low: just 2.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 2.3 points, mirroring the country. 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).
Kirkwood compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kirkwood | 2.46 | 43.0 | 6.8% | 21.2% | 9.2% | 1964 | $1,533 | 67.4% | 97.5% | 2.2% |
| Glendale | 2.64 | 41.8 | 6.4% | 3.9% | 3.0% | 1951 | $1,391 | 89.4% | 100.0% | 0.4% |
| Des Peres | 2.84 | 45.9 | 4.5% | 4.5% | 4.9% | 1974 | $1,889 | 78.4% | 98.7% | 2.4% |
| Warson Woods | 2.61 | 45.5 | 1.0% | 1.6% | 2.8% | 1961 | $1,421 | 86.9% | 100.0% | 1.9% |
| Huntleigh | 2.51 | 46.8 | 14.4% | 9.8% | 5.5% | 1960 | $2,037 | 73.6% | 97.1% | 6.6% |
| Crestwood | 2.51 | 44.0 | 6.2% | 16.2% | 6.8% | 1961 | $1,314 | 56.4% | 97.5% | 1.9% |
| Crystal Lake Park | 2.89 | 46.5 | 0.6% | 3.0% | 0.9% | 1969 | $3,111 | 82.0% | 99.2% | 3.1% |
| Frontenac | 2.83 | 43.7 | 9.1% | 8.7% | 4.6% | 1964 | $2,224 | 78.8% | 99.0% | 3.8% |
| Rock Hill | 2.16 | 38.0 | 9.7% | 18.8% | 3.6% | 1959 | $1,692 | 62.5% | 96.6% | 3.1% |
| Webster Groves | 2.53 | 41.3 | 6.2% | 23.2% | 6.0% | 1952 | $1,800 | 71.5% | 98.8% | 3.5% |
| Sunset Hills | 2.41 | 52.2 | 7.2% | 18.3% | 5.0% | 1978 | $1,782 | 59.4% | 96.8% | 2.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Westmont, IL · Centereach, NY · Chaska, MN · Chatsworth, GA · Cheshire, CT · Chicago Heights, IL · Claremore, OK · Wailuku, HI · Walker, MI · West Melbourne, FL
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 Kirkwood. 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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