Population 16,380 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in South West
Household size in South West
| Period | South West | Washington area | District of Columbia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.63 | 2.73 | 2.19 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 1.74 | 2.82 | 2.29 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 1.75 | 2.86 | 2.38 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.56 | 2.77 | 2.09 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.07 | +0.04 | −0.11 | −0.03 |
Households in South West are small: just 1.56 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 1.63, as it has nationally. Few Washington neighborhoods have smaller households: only three of 38.
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 South West
| Period | South West | Washington area | District of Columbia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.8 | 37.0 | 36.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.2 | 37.6 | 35.6 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 38.3 | 38.5 | 35.4 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 36.6 | 39.2 | 36.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | −3.2 | +2.2 | +0.2 | +2.3 |
The median resident of South West is 36.6 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has dropped from 39.8, even as the national median rose. The youngest areas are in the east, the oldest in the south.
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 South West
| Period | South West | Washington area | District of Columbia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.7% | 11.3% | 14.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.6% | 11.3% | 12.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.4% | 10.4% | 12.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.1% | 10.4% | 12.2% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.6 pts | −0.9 pts | −2.5 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in twelve households in South West (9.1%), below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 1.6 points, in line with the national trend.
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 South West
Renters in South West
| Period | South West | Washington area | District of Columbia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 59.9% | 34.0% | 56.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 58.6% | 36.6% | 58.4% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 63.1% | 36.8% | 58.4% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 68.8% | 36.3% | 58.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | +8.9 pts | +2.3 pts | +2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in South West: 68.8% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. Nearly four in ten owners (38.5%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Renting is most common in the east and least common in the center. The renter share is up 8.9 points from 2006–10, 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 South West
| Period | South West | Washington area | District of Columbia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.7% | 8.7% | 13.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.9% | 7.3% | 11.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.0% | 6.6% | 10.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.4% | 5.9% | 10.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.6 pts | −2.8 pts | −3.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 16.4% of the housing in South West, 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. Since 2006–10, vacancy has risen 2.6 points, even as the national rate fell.
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 South West
| Period | South West | Washington area | District of Columbia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1966 | 1977 | 1952 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1967 | 1978 | 1954 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1971 | 1979 | 1957 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1991 | 1982 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | +25 | +6 | +10 | +6 |
Much of the housing in South West is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1991, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1966 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the center, while the east has the oldest housing. Few Washington neighborhoods have newer homes: only two of 38.
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 South West
| Period | South West | Washington area | District of Columbia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,086 | $1,470 | $1,166 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,390 | $1,583 | $1,368 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,717 | $1,907 | $1,677 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,228 | $2,236 | $2,078 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,143 | +$766 | +$912 | +$606 |
The median renter in South West pays $2,228 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $1,143 a month from 2006–10, a 105% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 29.4% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Rents run highest in the south and lowest in the east.
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 South West
Bachelor's degrees in South West
| Period | South West | Washington area | District of Columbia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 61.3% | 46.6% | 47.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 66.5% | 48.2% | 52.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 70.2% | 51.0% | 58.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 74.3% | 53.9% | 63.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +13.0 pts | +7.3 pts | +16.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in South West: 74.3% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. The share with a degree has risen 13.0 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 South West
| Period | South West | Washington area | District of Columbia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.2% | 89.4% | 86.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.9% | 90.2% | 88.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.9% | 90.8% | 91.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.7% | 91.2% | 92.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.4 pts | +1.7 pts | +6.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in South West: 96.7% 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 risen 4.4 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 South West
| Period | South West | Washington area | District of Columbia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.7% | 5.9% | 10.4% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.2% | 6.9% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.8% | 4.7% | 7.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.1% | 4.8% | 7.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.6 pts | −1.1 pts | −3.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little harder to find in South West than nationally: unemployment was 6.1%, against 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 2.6 points, in line with the national trend. 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).
South West 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South West | 1.56 | 36.6 | 9.1% | 68.8% | 16.4% | 1991 | $2,228 | 74.3% | 96.7% | 6.1% |
| Capitol Hill | 1.79 | 33.4 | 6.4% | 69.6% | 12.1% | 1982 | $2,593 | 78.5% | 96.1% | 5.1% |
| Downtown | 1.42 | 35.8 | 3.9% | 70.5% | 15.4% | 1992 | $2,787 | 85.0% | 97.5% | 3.5% |
| Lincoln Park | 1.99 | 39.0 | 5.8% | 39.9% | 8.1% | 1943 | $2,401 | 90.5% | 98.5% | 2.8% |
| Stanton Park | 1.96 | 36.0 | 3.4% | 49.7% | 9.6% | 1943 | $2,378 | 89.3% | 98.7% | 2.2% |
| Mt Vernon Square | 1.59 | 32.1 | 6.7% | 78.1% | 9.8% | 2005 | $2,334 | 81.6% | 97.4% | 1.1% |
| Hill East | 2.14 | 36.4 | 14.1% | 44.9% | 8.3% | 1963 | $2,608 | 62.8% | 90.9% | 12.8% |
| Fairlawn | 2.17 | 39.1 | 26.0% | 61.6% | 19.3% | 1954 | $1,355 | 40.7% | 82.1% | 6.7% |
| Shaw | 1.90 | 33.4 | 13.1% | 71.4% | 10.3% | 1964 | $2,297 | 68.2% | 91.2% | 1.9% |
| Crystal City | 1.66 | 37.8 | 1.5% | 86.3% | 14.3% | 1986 | $2,680 | 85.2% | 98.5% | 0.7% |
| Logan Circle | 1.59 | 37.4 | 4.2% | 60.5% | 6.2% | 1966 | $2,566 | 83.2% | 92.1% | 3.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Audubon, New Orleans, LA · Grogan's Mill, The Woodlands, TX · Macdonald Ranch, Henderson, NV · Live Oak, Santa Cruz, CA · Lea Hill, Auburn, WA · Langley Park, Hyattsville, MD · Kuliouou-Kalani Iki, East Honolulu, HI · Koreatown, Palisades Park, NJ · Hyde Park-Brookwood-Southern Hills, Shreveport, LA · Heritage, San Antonio, TX
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 South West. 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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