Population 17,131 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in La Plata
Household size in La Plata
| Period | La Plata | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.77 | 2.73 | 2.68 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.70 | 2.82 | 2.73 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.78 | 2.86 | 2.74 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.63 | 2.77 | 2.68 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.14 | +0.04 | +0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in La Plata average 2.63 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). The typical household here is smaller than in the Washington area overall, where it has 2.77 people. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.77, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 La Plata
| Period | La Plata | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.2 | 37.0 | 38.5 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.3 | 37.6 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.1 | 38.5 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.7 | 39.2 | 40.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.6 | +2.2 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
La Plata skews older than the country: its median age is 43.7, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 39.2, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the center, the oldest in the northwest.
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 La Plata
| Period | La Plata | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.4% | 11.3% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.4% | 11.3% | 12.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.9% | 10.4% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.2% | 10.4% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.2 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in La Plata than nationally: 10.2%, against 11.6%. The Washington area as a whole looks much the same. The single-parent share is down 3.2 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 La Plata
Renters in La Plata
| Period | La Plata | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.8% | 34.0% | 31.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 21.0% | 36.6% | 32.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 20.7% | 36.8% | 33.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 13.6% | 36.3% | 32.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.2 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
La Plata is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 13.6% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 24.4% have no mortgage at all, well below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is down 2.2 points from 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 La Plata
| Period | La Plata | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.4% | 8.7% | 9.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 5.9% | 7.3% | 8.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.0% | 6.6% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.9% | 5.9% | 7.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.5 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in La Plata: 6.9% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. The Washington area as a whole looks much the same. Vacancy has fallen 2.5 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 La Plata
| Period | La Plata | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1986 | 1977 | 1974 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1985 | 1978 | 1975 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1989 | 1979 | 1976 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1991 | 1982 | 1978 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +6 | +4 | +6 |
La Plata has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1991, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1986 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
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 La Plata
| Period | La Plata | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,312 | $1,470 | $1,249 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,186 | $1,583 | $1,363 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,746 | $1,907 | $1,576 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,691 | $2,236 | $1,869 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$379 | +$766 | +$620 | +$606 |
The median renter in La Plata pays $1,691 a month for rent and utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Still, rents here are lower than in the Washington area as a whole ($2,236). Rents are up $379 a month from 2006–10, a 29% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 23.1% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
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 La Plata
Bachelor's degrees in La Plata
| Period | La Plata | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.3% | 46.6% | 36.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 31.1% | 48.2% | 37.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 27.8% | 51.0% | 40.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 33.5% | 53.9% | 43.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.1 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in La Plata as nationally: 33.5% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share is lower than in the Washington area as a whole (53.9%). Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 5.1 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 La Plata
| Period | La Plata | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.2% | 89.4% | 88.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.9% | 90.2% | 89.1% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.4% | 90.8% | 90.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.9% | 91.2% | 90.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.7 pts | +1.7 pts | +2.9 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in La Plata: 94.9% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 4.7 points since 2006–10, 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 La Plata
| Period | La Plata | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.0% | 5.9% | 6.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.5% | 6.9% | 8.1% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.2% | 4.7% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.6% | 4.8% | 5.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in La Plata runs below the national rate: 3.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Since 2006–10, unemployment has edged down 1.4 points, in line with the national trend. 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).
La Plata 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Plata | 2.63 | 43.7 | 10.2% | 13.6% | 6.9% | 1991 | $1,691 | 33.5% | 94.9% | 3.6% |
| Port Tobacco Village | 2.88 | 43.2 | 6.8% | 13.5% | 4.3% | 1989 | $1,601 | 33.5% | 95.5% | 5.6% |
| Marshalls Corner | 2.85 | 52.7 | 4.4% | 5.9% | 7.7% | 1981 | $1,694 | 44.2% | 92.4% | 3.4% |
| Port Tobacco Riviera | 2.88 | 51.0 | 6.7% | 1.5% | 12.1% | 1987 | $1,920 | 46.7% | 97.8% | 5.0% |
| Port Tobacco | 2.75 | 49.5 | 7.4% | 6.5% | 5.2% | 1981 | $1,346 | 35.0% | 97.2% | 3.5% |
| Bel Alton | 3.07 | 42.9 | 5.3% | 14.3% | 9.2% | 1983 | $1,365 | 31.7% | 95.6% | 3.4% |
| Pomfret | 2.81 | 51.0 | 5.1% | 5.1% | 4.5% | 1991 | $2,209 | 41.3% | 90.2% | 4.9% |
| White Plains | 2.96 | 36.7 | 10.8% | 23.9% | 3.7% | 2002 | $2,200 | 38.3% | 93.6% | 5.9% |
| Faulkner | 3.17 | 39.2 | 6.9% | 5.8% | 13.1% | 1989 | $1,249 | 29.6% | 95.9% | 1.3% |
| Bryantown | 2.92 | 40.1 | 6.4% | 10.3% | 4.0% | 1987 | $1,941 | 42.5% | 97.8% | 4.3% |
| Ripley | 3.11 | 41.8 | 8.3% | 2.3% | 11.1% | 1994 | $1,590 | 41.9% | 94.5% | 4.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: South Houston, TX · Stallings, NC · Aguas Buenas, PR · Ballston Lake, NY · Alamo, CA · Beachwood, OH · Bay Village, OH · Baraboo, WI · Camby, IN · Barre, VT
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 La Plata. 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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