Population 15,269 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Normal Heights
Household size in Normal Heights
| Period | Normal Heights | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.90 | 2.87 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.13 | 2.98 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.12 | 2.99 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.95 | 2.86 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.05 | −0.02 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Normal Heights is a place of small households, averaging 1.95 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has crept up from 1.90 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the northeast.
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 Normal Heights
| Period | Normal Heights | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.2 | 36.1 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 36.0 | 36.7 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 35.9 | 37.8 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.6 | 39.0 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.4 | +2.8 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Normal Heights is 37.6 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has crept up from 37.2, a smaller shift than nationally. 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 Normal Heights
| Period | Normal Heights | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.8% | 11.8% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.2% | 11.7% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.0% | 10.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.3% | 10.4% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.5 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Normal Heights: 7.3% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is down 2.5 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 Normal Heights
Renters in Normal Heights
| Period | Normal Heights | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 70.2% | 44.1% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 70.4% | 46.6% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 71.2% | 46.7% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 69.6% | 45.4% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Normal Heights rent: 69.6% 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, 21.4% have no mortgage at all, well below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is down 0.6 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 Normal Heights
| Period | Normal Heights | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.7% | 8.7% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.7% | 7.9% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.0% | 7.5% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 4.6% | 7.1% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.0 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in Normal Heights: just 4.6% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 4.0 points, in line with the national trend. Normal Heights has a lower vacancy rate than at least four in five San Diego neighborhoods.
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 Normal Heights
| Period | Normal Heights | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1960 | 1977 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1959 | 1978 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1966 | 1979 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1966 | 1981 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Normal Heights is a place of older homes: half were built before 1966, 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 1960 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the center, the oldest in the northeast.
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 Normal Heights
| Period | Normal Heights | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $980 | $1,408 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,144 | $1,481 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,459 | $1,868 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,000 | $2,468 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,021 | +$1,061 | +$931 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Normal Heights costs $2,000 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Still, rents here are lower than in the San Diego area overall ($2,468). Rents are up $1,021 a month from 2006–10, a 104% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 31.2% of household income on rent, just over 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 Normal Heights
Bachelor's degrees in Normal Heights
| Period | Normal Heights | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.8% | 33.5% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 38.5% | 34.7% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 46.8% | 38.2% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 52.5% | 42.8% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +19.7 pts | +9.3 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
Normal Heights is highly educated: just over half of adults 25 and older (52.5%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 19.7 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the northwest and least in the east.
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 Normal Heights
| Period | Normal Heights | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.4% | 84.9% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 88.2% | 85.5% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.6% | 87.3% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.6% | 89.0% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.2 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Normal Heights is above the national rate: 93.6% of adults have a diploma, against 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 3.2 points, in line with the national trend.
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 Normal Heights
| Period | Normal Heights | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.2% | 7.9% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.7% | 9.9% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.4% | 6.1% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.7% | 6.1% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.6 pts | −1.8 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Normal Heights runs below the national rate: 3.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment has fallen 3.6 points since 2006–10, 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).
Normal Heights 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Normal Heights | 1.95 | 37.6 | 7.3% | 69.6% | 4.6% | 1966 | $2,000 | 52.5% | 93.6% | 3.7% |
| Kensington | 2.25 | 49.3 | 9.8% | 35.6% | 5.1% | 1948 | $2,768 | 71.7% | 98.6% | 8.3% |
| East San Diego | 2.50 | 34.9 | 12.7% | 78.0% | 8.0% | 1966 | $1,846 | 28.9% | 78.3% | 5.5% |
| North Park San Diego | 1.92 | 36.1 | 6.1% | 69.4% | 7.3% | 1965 | $2,128 | 58.7% | 95.3% | 5.7% |
| City Heights West | 3.01 | 34.1 | 18.3% | 72.3% | 6.0% | 1970 | $1,782 | 26.8% | 72.5% | 9.8% |
| University Heights | 1.76 | 38.5 | 5.0% | 77.1% | 8.3% | 1974 | $2,044 | 60.2% | 95.8% | 4.2% |
| Talmadge | 2.14 | 39.3 | 11.0% | 63.8% | 4.8% | 1965 | $2,244 | 48.6% | 86.7% | 5.2% |
| Mission Valley East | 1.86 | 36.9 | 2.0% | 75.7% | 8.7% | 1993 | $2,700 | 40.3% | 96.7% | 7.7% |
| City Heights East | 3.37 | 32.6 | 20.4% | 80.1% | 6.6% | 1973 | $1,792 | 17.7% | 63.3% | 6.5% |
| Grantville | 2.08 | 34.2 | 6.5% | 69.6% | 10.5% | 1990 | $2,514 | 48.5% | 94.6% | 7.4% |
| Serra Mesa | 2.46 | 35.0 | 10.1% | 62.1% | 6.9% | 1989 | $3,078 | 55.9% | 95.2% | 5.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Glenbrook, Stamford, CT · Springwells, Detroit, MI · Spring Garden, Philadelphia, PA · Spanos Park, Stockton, CA · Southeast, Eugene, OR · Logan Circle, Washington, DC · Lakewood Ranch, Bradenton, FL · Kahaluu, Kaneohe, HI · Hillsdale, San Mateo, CA · Hill, New Haven, CT
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 Normal Heights. 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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