Population 11,202 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Lower East Side
Household size in Lower East Side
| Period | Lower East Side | Milwaukee area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.59 | 2.51 | 2.45 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 1.54 | 2.53 | 2.47 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 1.49 | 2.51 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.48 | 2.45 | 2.40 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.10 | −0.06 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Lower East Side is a place of small households, averaging 1.48 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has dropped from 1.59 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only one other Milwaukee 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 Lower East Side
| Period | Lower East Side | Milwaukee area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 29.6 | 37.8 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 29.3 | 38.7 | 39.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 30.0 | 39.6 | 40.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 32.6 | 39.8 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.0 | +1.9 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
With a median age of just 32.6, Lower East Side is far younger than the country as a whole (40.1), a population that tilts toward young adults, many of them living alone or as couples. The median age has climbed from 29.6 in 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Lower East Side
| Period | Lower East Side | Milwaukee area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.9% | 13.0% | 10.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 2.3% | 12.8% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 1.3% | 12.2% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.1% | 12.2% | 9.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | −5.8 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 1.1% of households in Lower East Side, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 5.8 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Few Milwaukee neighborhoods have a lower share of single-parent households: only two of 72.
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 Lower East Side
Renters in Lower East Side
| Period | Lower East Side | Milwaukee area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 78.9% | 37.2% | 30.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 77.5% | 39.1% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 81.7% | 39.9% | 33.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 80.2% | 39.6% | 32.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.2 pts | +2.4 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Lower East Side rent: 80.2% 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 homeowners, 35.5% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Few Milwaukee neighborhoods have a higher share of renters: only five of 72.
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 Lower East Side
| Period | Lower East Side | Milwaukee area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.9% | 8.4% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.9% | 8.1% | 10.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.6% | 7.8% | 10.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.0% | 7.2% | 9.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.9 pts | −1.2 pts | −1.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Lower East Side is close to the national rate: 9.0% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in the Milwaukee area as a whole (7.2%). Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged down 0.9 points, in line with the national trend.
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 Lower East Side
| Period | Lower East Side | Milwaukee area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1945 | 1964 | 1970 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1945 | 1965 | 1971 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1958 | 1966 | 1972 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1969 | 1968 | 1974 | 1980 |
| Change | +23 | +4 | +5 | +6 |
Lower East Side is a place of older homes: half were built before 1969, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Newer construction is concentrated in the northwest, while the northeast has the oldest housing. Among Milwaukee's 72 neighborhoods, though, only four have 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 Lower East Side
| Period | Lower East Side | Milwaukee area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $696 | $849 | $758 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $810 | $928 | $821 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,022 | $1,022 | $904 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,336 | $1,290 | $1,139 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$640 | +$441 | +$380 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Lower East Side costs $1,336 a month with utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $640 a month since 2006–10, up 92%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 27.3% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the south; the highest are 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 Lower East Side
Bachelor's degrees in Lower East Side
| Period | Lower East Side | Milwaukee area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 55.1% | 31.0% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 59.5% | 32.9% | 28.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 64.2% | 35.4% | 30.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 65.9% | 39.2% | 33.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +10.9 pts | +8.1 pts | +7.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Lower East Side: 65.9% 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 10.9 points, mirroring the country. Few Milwaukee neighborhoods have a higher share of college graduates: only four of 72.
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 Lower East Side
| Period | Lower East Side | Milwaukee area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.7% | 88.5% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.2% | 89.5% | 90.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.5% | 91.0% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.0% | 92.2% | 93.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.4 pts | +3.7 pts | +3.8 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Lower East Side: 96.0% 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 2.4 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Lower East Side has a higher share of high school graduates than the great majority of Milwaukee neighborhoods.
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 Lower East Side
| Period | Lower East Side | Milwaukee area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.4% | 7.7% | 6.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.6% | 8.7% | 7.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 1.7% | 4.5% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.6% | 4.0% | 3.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.9 pts | −3.7 pts | −3.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Lower East Side than nationally: unemployment was 4.6%, against 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 1.9 points, mirroring the country. 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).
Lower East Side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lower East Side | 1.48 | 32.6 | 1.1% | 80.2% | 9.0% | 1969 | $1,336 | 65.9% | 96.0% | 4.6% |
| Yankee Hill | 1.45 | 34.8 | 0.7% | 89.7% | 9.6% | 1955 | $1,136 | 64.8% | 95.3% | 4.0% |
| Northpoint | 1.52 | 48.3 | 3.5% | 78.8% | 12.3% | 1963 | $1,602 | 73.9% | 98.9% | 4.2% |
| Juneau Town | 1.53 | 36.5 | 0.6% | 73.8% | 11.6% | 1969 | $1,390 | 66.0% | 97.7% | 4.5% |
| Murray Hill | 1.80 | 33.1 | 4.4% | 81.0% | 7.3% | 1947 | $1,300 | 63.6% | 98.4% | 4.3% |
| Riverwest | 1.75 | 35.1 | 8.5% | 63.5% | 8.6% | 1950 | $1,146 | 54.8% | 94.9% | 4.5% |
| Kilbourn Town | 1.65 | 27.4 | 12.2% | 91.2% | 15.7% | 1982 | $1,590 | 47.3% | 89.9% | 5.7% |
| Harambee | 2.93 | 24.8 | 33.8% | 66.8% | 14.9% | 1945 | $1,040 | 17.1% | 84.1% | 13.1% |
| Upper East Side | 2.56 | 27.7 | 4.4% | 58.9% | 11.9% | 1939 | $1,618 | 66.1% | 97.4% | 4.0% |
| Downer Woods | 2.86 | 24.2 | 4.5% | 43.7% | 14.8% | 1941 | $1,689 | 73.7% | 99.1% | 6.1% |
| North Division | 2.61 | 34.1 | 27.3% | 66.2% | 21.1% | 1940 | $974 | 11.0% | 84.1% | 10.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Glen Park, Gary, IN · Paradise Hills, Henderson, NV · Palolo, Honolulu, HI · Ormewood Park-East Atlanta, Atlanta, GA · Original Daly City, Daly City, CA · Old Town, Torrance, CA · Old North End, Burlington, VT · Midway, St. Paul, MN · Meadow Point, Wesley Chapel, FL · Martin Luther King, Austin, TX
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 Lower East Side. 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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