Population 25,563 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in North Central
Household size in North Central
| Period | North Central | Pasadena | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.57 | 2.56 | 3.14 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.70 | 2.61 | 3.20 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.46 | 2.59 | 3.16 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.18 | 2.42 | 3.01 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.40 | −0.13 | −0.13 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
North Central is a place of big households: 3.18 people per home on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. Numbers like that usually point to plenty of families with kids. Household size has dropped from 3.57 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. No other Pasadena neighborhood has larger 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 North Central
| Period | North Central | Pasadena | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.1 | 38.4 | 35.6 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 33.7 | 38.9 | 36.7 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 36.5 | 40.5 | 38.0 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.2 | 41.9 | 39.5 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +5.0 | +3.5 | +4.0 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
North Central is a little younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 38.2, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has climbed from 33.1 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. Only one other Pasadena neighborhood is younger.
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 North Central
| Period | North Central | Pasadena | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.7% | 9.6% | 14.3% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 23.9% | 10.0% | 14.1% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 18.5% | 8.4% | 12.5% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 18.4% | 9.0% | 12.3% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | −0.6 pts | −2.0 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head nearly one in five households in North Central (18.4%), well above the national share of 11.6%. North Central has the highest share of single-parent households of any Pasadena neighborhood.
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 North Central
Renters in North Central
| Period | North Central | Pasadena | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 62.2% | 54.0% | 48.8% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 65.7% | 55.9% | 50.8% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 65.6% | 57.5% | 51.4% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 60.8% | 56.5% | 51.6% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | +2.6 pts | +2.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in North Central: 60.8% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. More than one in five owners (22.0%) have paid off their mortgages, well below the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the south; owners are most common in the northwest. The renter share has edged down 1.4 points since 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 North Central
| Period | North Central | Pasadena | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.4% | 8.5% | 7.0% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.5% | 8.1% | 6.7% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.7% | 10.3% | 6.6% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.1% | 9.2% | 6.7% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +3.7 pts | +0.7 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in North Central as nationally: 10.1%, against 9.6%. Vacancy is up 3.7 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell. Of Pasadena's ten neighborhoods, only two have a higher vacancy rate.
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 North Central
| Period | North Central | Pasadena | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1947 | 1955 | 1965 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1951 | 1957 | 1966 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1952 | 1958 | 1966 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1953 | 1960 | 1969 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +5 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
North Central is a place of older homes: half were built before 1953, 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 1947 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Only two of Pasadena's ten neighborhoods have older 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 North Central
| Period | North Central | Pasadena | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,018 | $1,342 | $1,328 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,272 | $1,474 | $1,415 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,505 | $1,875 | $1,755 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,939 | $2,366 | $2,279 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$921 | +$1,024 | +$951 | +$931 | +$606 |
The median renter in North Central pays $1,939 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Locally, though, rents here are lower than in Pasadena overall ($2,366). Rents are up $921 a month from 2006–10, a 90% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. No other Pasadena 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 North Central
Bachelor's degrees in North Central
| Period | North Central | Pasadena | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.2% | 46.0% | 29.7% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.3% | 49.0% | 30.7% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.3% | 52.8% | 33.7% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 27.6% | 55.7% | 37.6% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +12.5 pts | +9.7 pts | +7.9 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are less common in North Central than nationally: 27.6% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 12.5 points, in line with the national trend. North Central has the lowest share of college graduates of any Pasadena neighborhood.
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 North Central
| Period | North Central | Pasadena | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 59.5% | 83.7% | 76.7% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 64.9% | 86.4% | 77.7% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 69.9% | 88.3% | 80.0% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 72.8% | 89.8% | 82.1% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +13.3 pts | +6.1 pts | +5.4 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
More than a quarter of adults in North Central never finished high school, well above the national share: only 72.8% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 13.3 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. North Central has the lowest share of high school graduates of any Pasadena neighborhood.
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 North Central
| Period | North Central | Pasadena | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.7% | 7.7% | 8.5% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.5% | 9.1% | 10.6% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.7% | 4.3% | 5.8% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.7% | 5.5% | 6.7% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.0 pts | −2.2 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in North Central: 7.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Only one other Pasadena neighborhood has higher unemployment. Unemployment has fallen 4.0 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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).
North Central 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Central | 3.18 | 38.2 | 18.4% | 60.8% | 10.1% | 1953 | $1,939 | 27.6% | 72.8% | 7.7% |
| Normandie Heights | 2.75 | 44.0 | 10.5% | 48.1% | 6.1% | 1945 | $2,090 | 42.7% | 82.6% | 6.6% |
| North Arroyo | 2.51 | 50.6 | 6.7% | 20.0% | 9.8% | 1955 | $2,789 | 61.5% | 94.4% | 5.5% |
| West Central | 2.09 | 36.9 | 10.9% | 85.2% | 7.7% | 1974 | $2,127 | 47.1% | 85.9% | 5.0% |
| Madison Heights | 1.91 | 41.5 | 5.1% | 63.2% | 8.5% | 1966 | $2,472 | 72.2% | 93.8% | 7.1% |
| South Arroyo | 2.17 | 44.9 | 5.4% | 47.7% | 15.0% | 1971 | $3,020 | 74.5% | 98.4% | 4.0% |
| East Central | 2.54 | 46.1 | 6.0% | 29.5% | 6.9% | 1947 | $2,571 | 60.5% | 94.8% | 3.8% |
| Mid Central | 2.44 | 40.2 | 9.0% | 66.2% | 5.0% | 1956 | $2,256 | 56.9% | 91.7% | 9.0% |
| South East | 2.30 | 44.6 | 5.5% | 50.2% | 10.9% | 1954 | $2,358 | 65.4% | 95.9% | 3.5% |
| Chevy Chase | 2.84 | 50.2 | 4.0% | 12.3% | 7.8% | 1974 | $3,389 | 66.4% | 95.9% | 6.3% |
| North East | 2.54 | 46.5 | 7.6% | 31.7% | 7.7% | 1961 | $2,727 | 61.9% | 95.0% | 3.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Point Breeze-Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA · Lakewood Heights, Atlanta, GA · West Village, Manhattan, NY · West Seattle, Seattle, WA · Weequahic, Newark, NJ · UC Irvine, Irvine, CA · Oakland City, Atlanta, GA · Oxon Hill-Glassmanor, Oxon Hill, MD · Petworth, Washington, DC · Pocket, Sacramento, CA
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 North Central. 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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