Population 82,666 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Northwest
Household size in Northwest
| Period | Northwest | Columbus area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.34 | 2.56 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.45 | 2.59 | 2.51 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.40 | 2.60 | 2.47 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.29 | 2.56 | 2.46 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.05 | +0.00 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
Northwest is a place of small households, averaging 2.29 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 edged down from 2.34, as it has nationally. Households are largest in the northeast and smallest in the southwest.
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 Northwest
| Period | Northwest | Columbus area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.3 | 36.2 | 39.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 35.8 | 37.0 | 40.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 36.5 | 37.6 | 40.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.6 | 37.9 | 40.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.3 | +1.7 | +1.8 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Northwest is 37.6 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 35.3, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the west, the oldest in the east.
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 Northwest
| Period | Northwest | Columbus area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.3% | 12.0% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.0% | 12.1% | 11.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.5% | 12.3% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.9% | 12.7% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +2.6 pts | +0.7 pts | −0.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in Northwest than nationally: 9.9%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share is up 2.6 points from 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
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 Northwest
Renters in Northwest
| Period | Northwest | Columbus area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 46.5% | 35.4% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 48.2% | 37.9% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 47.0% | 38.5% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 52.2% | 38.7% | 32.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +5.7 pts | +3.3 pts | +2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in Northwest: 52.2% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. About a third of owners (34.3%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the southeast; owners are most common in the northeast. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 5.7 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Northwest
| Period | Northwest | Columbus area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.9% | 10.9% | 10.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.7% | 10.0% | 10.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.8% | 8.8% | 10.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.7% | 7.9% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.2 pts | −2.9 pts | −2.2 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Northwest: 5.7% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Vacancy is down 4.2 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Northwest has a lower vacancy rate than at least four in five Columbus 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 Northwest
| Period | Northwest | Columbus area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1980 | 1976 | 1968 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1982 | 1977 | 1969 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1984 | 1979 | 1970 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1986 | 1982 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +6 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Northwest is younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1986, against 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1980 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the west, the oldest in the east.
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 Northwest
| Period | Northwest | Columbus area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $963 | $852 | $765 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,024 | $924 | $814 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,153 | $1,051 | $901 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,543 | $1,378 | $1,142 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$580 | +$526 | +$377 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Northwest costs $1,543 a month with utilities, close to the national median of $1,571. Rents here are higher than in the Columbus area overall ($1,378). Rent has climbed $580 a month since 2006–10, up 60%, roughly in step with the nation. The typical renter here spends 28.5% of household income on rent, just 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 Northwest
Bachelor's degrees in Northwest
| Period | Northwest | Columbus area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 52.7% | 33.3% | 25.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 53.8% | 34.4% | 26.5% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 57.3% | 37.6% | 28.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 56.8% | 40.2% | 31.9% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.1 pts | +6.9 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
Northwest is highly educated: nearly six in ten adults 25 and older (56.8%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 4.1 points, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the northeast and least in the southwest.
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 Northwest
| Period | Northwest | Columbus area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 95.4% | 89.6% | 87.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 95.7% | 90.2% | 88.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 96.0% | 91.6% | 90.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.4% | 92.2% | 91.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.0 pts | +2.6 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Northwest: 96.4% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has edged up 1.0 points, a smaller shift than nationally. Northwest has a higher share of high school graduates than the great majority of Columbus 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 Northwest
| Period | Northwest | Columbus area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.9% | 7.6% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.7% | 7.8% | 9.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.6% | 4.6% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.1% | 4.3% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.8 pts | −3.4 pts | −3.8 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Northwest has been strong: just 3.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 1.8 points, as it has nationally. 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).
Northwest 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest | 2.29 | 37.6 | 9.9% | 52.2% | 5.7% | 1986 | $1,543 | 56.8% | 96.4% | 3.1% |
| Dexter Falls | 2.17 | 35.1 | 12.2% | 53.7% | 2.4% | 1993 | $1,455 | 68.7% | 93.3% | 3.0% |
| Clintonville | 1.98 | 42.8 | 6.2% | 38.0% | 6.1% | 1951 | $1,330 | 65.7% | 98.0% | 3.6% |
| Scioto Trace | 2.27 | 38.5 | 7.0% | 30.6% | 4.3% | 1987 | $1,705 | 70.7% | 96.7% | 2.4% |
| Far North | 2.33 | 32.6 | 10.0% | 63.4% | 7.8% | 2000 | $1,578 | 53.8% | 96.1% | 5.0% |
| Tuttle West | 2.16 | 32.4 | 5.2% | 61.9% | 6.8% | 2007 | $1,798 | 65.5% | 95.8% | 3.0% |
| Olentangy River Road | 2.24 | 27.0 | 13.8% | 87.8% | 10.6% | 1966 | $1,104 | 55.3% | 89.0% | 5.3% |
| North Linden | 2.49 | 36.1 | 18.1% | 41.7% | 9.0% | 1955 | $1,193 | 23.4% | 84.8% | 6.8% |
| University | 2.38 | 22.3 | 30.1% | 89.2% | 35.9% | 1972 | $1,092 | 49.4% | 95.8% | 8.6% |
| Tri-Village | 1.55 | 29.7 | 1.9% | 90.4% | 10.0% | 1982 | $1,448 | 68.1% | 96.7% | 2.9% |
| Northland | 2.55 | 35.3 | 15.3% | 53.4% | 7.6% | 1981 | $1,290 | 34.4% | 87.6% | 5.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, CA · Cambrian Park, San Jose, CA · Central City, Corpus Christi, TX · Central Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ · Cobbs Creek, Philadelphia, PA · Cordova-Appling, Cordova, TN · Queens Village, Queens, NY · Mid Wilshire, Los Angeles, CA · Mott Haven, Bronx, NY · Near North Side, 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 Northwest. 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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