Population 8,939 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Metro Center
Household size in Metro Center
| Period | Metro Center | Springfield area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.86 | 2.56 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 1.96 | 2.57 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 1.84 | 2.56 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.00 | 2.51 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.14 | −0.05 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Metro Center is a place of small households, averaging 2.00 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 climbed from 1.86, even as the national average fell. No other Springfield 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 Metro Center
| Period | Metro Center | Springfield area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.3 | 38.8 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 32.5 | 39.4 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 36.9 | 40.3 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 32.7 | 40.7 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | −2.6 | +1.9 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
With a median age of just 32.7, Metro Center 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 dropped from 35.3 in 2006–10, even as the national median rose. The youngest areas are in the northeast, 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 Metro Center
| Period | Metro Center | Springfield area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.8% | 15.4% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 25.2% | 16.7% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 21.9% | 15.8% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 19.4% | 15.3% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.4 pts | −0.2 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head nearly one in five households in Metro Center (19.4%), well above the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has fallen 3.4 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Compared with other Springfield neighborhoods, though, Metro Center has a lower share of single-parent households than most.
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 Metro Center
Renters in Metro Center
| Period | Metro Center | Springfield area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.7% | 37.0% | 36.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 93.7% | 38.5% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 94.6% | 38.9% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 93.1% | 37.8% | 37.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | +0.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in Metro Center: 93.1% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. Nearly six in ten owners (57.4%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged down 0.6 points, even as the national share rose. Metro Center has the highest share of renters of any Springfield neighborhood.
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 Metro Center
| Period | Metro Center | Springfield area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.8% | 8.4% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.8% | 8.3% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.0% | 8.2% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.9% | 7.7% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | −6.9 pts | −0.8 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Metro Center: 6.9% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. The Springfield area as a whole looks much the same. Vacancy is down 6.9 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 Metro Center
| Period | Metro Center | Springfield area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1943 | 1956 | 1958 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1944 | 1956 | 1959 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1943 | 1957 | 1961 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1946 | 1958 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +2 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Metro Center is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1946, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1943 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northwest, while the center 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 Metro Center
| Period | Metro Center | Springfield area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $566 | $809 | $1,085 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $631 | $871 | $1,157 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $665 | $995 | $1,398 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $917 | $1,261 | $1,860 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$351 | +$452 | +$775 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Metro Center costs $917 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $351 a month since 2006–10, up 62%, roughly in step with the nation. Rent takes 39.2% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Only one other Springfield neighborhood has lower 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 Metro Center
Bachelor's degrees in Metro Center
| Period | Metro Center | Springfield area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.5% | 23.3% | 38.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.9% | 24.8% | 40.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 15.3% | 26.7% | 43.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 18.5% | 29.0% | 47.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.1 pts | +5.8 pts | +8.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Metro Center: 18.5% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 5.1 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the southeast and least in the northeast.
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 Metro Center
| Period | Metro Center | Springfield area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 61.8% | 82.4% | 88.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 60.2% | 83.3% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 72.3% | 85.2% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 73.5% | 86.7% | 91.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +11.7 pts | +4.3 pts | +2.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over a quarter of adults in Metro Center never finished high school, well above the national share: only 73.5% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma is up 11.7 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 Metro Center
| Period | Metro Center | Springfield area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.0% | 10.2% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 20.4% | 11.8% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.2% | 6.2% | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 16.4% | 6.3% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | −9.6 pts | −3.9 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Metro Center runs well above the national rate: 16.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Only one other Springfield neighborhood has higher unemployment. Unemployment is down 9.6 points from 2006–10, 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).
Metro Center 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metro Center | 2.00 | 32.7 | 19.4% | 93.1% | 6.9% | 1946 | $917 | 18.5% | 73.5% | 16.4% |
| South End Springfield | 2.28 | 32.7 | 29.2% | 88.3% | 6.3% | 1953 | $1,026 | 16.0% | 63.3% | 13.5% |
| Maple High-Six Corners | 2.51 | 31.1 | 16.6% | 78.2% | 11.8% | 1950 | $961 | 9.4% | 65.1% | 14.9% |
| McKnight | 3.00 | 35.0 | 27.3% | 56.2% | 10.9% | 1938 | $981 | 13.2% | 72.2% | 12.1% |
| Old Hill | 3.10 | 28.9 | 48.4% | 60.9% | 15.0% | 1944 | $1,543 | 9.3% | 60.3% | 14.0% |
| Memorial Square | 2.87 | 30.1 | 30.2% | 82.4% | 9.5% | 1949 | $1,004 | 12.9% | 60.2% | 21.6% |
| Liberty Heights | 2.83 | 33.5 | 25.1% | 51.6% | 10.8% | 1947 | $1,225 | 18.9% | 79.4% | 11.3% |
| Bay | 2.94 | 27.2 | 32.2% | 64.5% | 15.1% | 1943 | $1,089 | 13.1% | 70.5% | 8.5% |
| Brightwood | 2.46 | 28.3 | 21.6% | 88.4% | 9.0% | 1959 | $624 | 4.8% | 57.1% | 8.4% |
| Upper Hill | 2.83 | 31.6 | 27.8% | 57.7% | 17.6% | 1945 | $1,314 | 25.2% | 82.5% | 8.5% |
| Forest Park | 2.77 | 35.4 | 20.9% | 51.7% | 8.2% | 1945 | $1,337 | 19.7% | 80.2% | 7.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Avondale, Jacksonville, FL · Bagley Downs, Vancouver, WA · Bel Air, Los Angeles, CA · Old Seminol Heights, Tampa, FL · Regent, Madison, WI · Oakland, Pittsburgh, PA · Northeast MacFarlane, Tampa, FL · North Indian Trail, Spokane, WA · Murray Hill, Jacksonville, FL · Moreland, Chicago, IL
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 Metro Center. 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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