Population 8,089 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Northwest: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Northwest
Household size in Northwest
| Period | Northwest | Kansas City | Kansas City area | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.84 | 2.75 | 2.57 | 2.54 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.95 | 2.78 | 2.60 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.14 | 2.76 | 2.59 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.98 | 2.84 | 2.55 | 2.53 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.13 | +0.09 | −0.02 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Northwest is a place of big households: 2.98 people per home on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. Numbers like that usually point to plenty of families with kids. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.84, even as the national average fell. Few Kansas City neighborhoods have larger households: only two of 14.
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 | Kansas City | Kansas City area | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.5 | 34.5 | 37.5 | 37.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 31.8 | 34.6 | 37.9 | 37.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 31.2 | 34.9 | 38.8 | 38.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 34.8 | 35.2 | 39.2 | 38.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.3 | +0.7 | +1.7 | +1.4 | +2.3 |
Northwest is young: half of its residents are under 34.8, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young families with children. The median age has climbed from 31.5 in 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 | Kansas City | Kansas City area | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.8% | 17.5% | 11.7% | 10.8% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 26.6% | 19.0% | 11.9% | 10.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 23.1% | 15.9% | 11.2% | 10.4% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 16.9% | 17.0% | 10.9% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| Change | −11.9 pts | −0.5 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in Northwest: 16.9% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. The picture is much the same across Kansas City. The single-parent share is down 11.9 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 Northwest
Renters in Northwest
| Period | Northwest | Kansas City | Kansas City area | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.9% | 37.4% | 31.2% | 30.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 45.4% | 41.5% | 33.7% | 32.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 43.9% | 43.7% | 34.9% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 34.6% | 39.1% | 34.2% | 32.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −4.4 pts | +1.7 pts | +3.0 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Northwest is about as common as it is nationally: 34.6% of households rent, against 34.8%. Renters make up a smaller share here than in Kansas City as a whole (39.1%). About six in ten owners (59.2%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 4.4 points, 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 Northwest
| Period | Northwest | Kansas City | Kansas City area | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.2% | 15.3% | 10.0% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 23.6% | 13.6% | 9.7% | 10.4% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 18.6% | 12.1% | 9.0% | 11.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 19.3% | 11.1% | 7.5% | 9.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.8 pts | −4.2 pts | −2.5 pts | −0.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Northwest: 19.3% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. No other Kansas City neighborhood has 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 Northwest
| Period | Northwest | Kansas City | Kansas City area | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1953 | 1961 | 1976 | 1971 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1954 | 1961 | 1977 | 1972 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1953 | 1962 | 1977 | 1973 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1949 | 1962 | 1980 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | −4 | +1 | +4 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Northwest is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1949, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. Only two of Kansas City's 14 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 Northwest
| Period | Northwest | Kansas City | Kansas City area | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $823 | $761 | $897 | $769 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $859 | $862 | $980 | $858 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $910 | $951 | $1,095 | $950 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,148 | $1,252 | $1,395 | $1,159 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$325 | +$491 | +$498 | +$390 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Northwest costs $1,148 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $325 a month since 2006–10, up 39%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 24.0% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the northeast and lowest 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 Northwest
Bachelor's degrees in Northwest
| Period | Northwest | Kansas City | Kansas City area | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.4% | 14.9% | 33.5% | 30.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.8% | 15.3% | 34.1% | 31.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 9.2% | 17.7% | 37.1% | 33.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.7% | 20.9% | 39.7% | 35.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +2.4 pts | +6.0 pts | +6.2 pts | +4.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Northwest have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 10.7%, against 35.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 2.4 points, a smaller shift than nationally. No other Kansas City neighborhood has a lower share of college graduates.
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 | Kansas City | Kansas City area | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 73.8% | 78.1% | 90.5% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 67.9% | 77.3% | 90.9% | 90.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 67.3% | 77.7% | 91.8% | 90.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 66.7% | 80.6% | 92.9% | 91.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | −7.1 pts | +2.5 pts | +2.4 pts | +2.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
About a third of adults in Northwest never finished high school, well above the national share: only 66.7% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has fallen 7.1 points, even as the national rate rose. Only one other Kansas City neighborhood has a lower share of high school graduates.
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 | Kansas City | Kansas City area | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.8% | 13.0% | 6.8% | 6.1% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 19.0% | 13.3% | 7.6% | 6.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.4% | 7.0% | 4.0% | 4.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.4% | 5.8% | 4.0% | 4.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −10.3 pts | −7.2 pts | −2.9 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Northwest: 8.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Only two of Kansas City's 14 neighborhoods have higher unemployment. Unemployment has fallen 10.3 points since 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).
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 | 2.98 | 34.8 | 16.9% | 34.6% | 19.3% | 1949 | $1,148 | 10.7% | 66.7% | 8.4% |
| Kensington | 3.44 | 32.0 | 14.6% | 38.7% | 18.2% | 1950 | $1,087 | 19.6% | 71.8% | 6.4% |
| Northeast | 2.53 | 33.6 | 31.5% | 59.3% | 14.1% | 1949 | $820 | 15.6% | 80.2% | 6.7% |
| Bethel Welborn | 2.69 | 35.0 | 12.0% | 24.7% | 8.2% | 1959 | $1,195 | 18.4% | 79.9% | 4.0% |
| Riverview | 3.17 | 29.0 | 22.1% | 52.7% | 13.1% | 1952 | $1,022 | 14.3% | 63.5% | 3.8% |
| Strawberry Hill | 2.36 | 35.5 | 19.1% | 65.9% | 12.6% | 1946 | $970 | 18.3% | 79.5% | 14.8% |
| Coronado | 2.84 | 32.0 | 18.8% | 51.2% | 12.9% | 1963 | $1,101 | 11.6% | 78.2% | 9.0% |
| Argentine | 2.87 | 37.9 | 16.0% | 44.0% | 7.2% | 1955 | $1,093 | 17.5% | 81.2% | 5.5% |
| Central Business District | 1.48 | 31.0 | 4.8% | 82.4% | 10.6% | 1963 | $1,552 | 63.5% | 97.2% | 3.4% |
| Turner | 2.80 | 35.0 | 19.0% | 21.8% | 4.3% | 1965 | $1,325 | 14.5% | 88.6% | 7.5% |
| Parkdale-Walden | 2.50 | 36.9 | 3.4% | 37.4% | 3.7% | 1997 | $1,453 | 58.0% | 97.7% | 1.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Broadview, Seattle, WA · East Watertown, Watertown Town, MA · Georgian Acres, Austin, TX · Saddle Rock Golf Club, Aurora, CO · MacKenzie, Detroit, MI · Natomas Park, Sacramento, CA · Newton Corner, Newton, MA · North Rose Hill, Kirkland, WA · Pecan Creek, San Tan Valley, AZ · Pembroke Falls, Pembroke Pines, FL
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.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.