Population 23,279 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in The Plaza
Household size in The Plaza
| Period | The Plaza | Long Beach | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.78 | 2.97 | 3.14 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.82 | 3.00 | 3.20 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.83 | 2.91 | 3.16 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.83 | 2.78 | 3.01 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.05 | −0.20 | −0.13 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in The Plaza average 2.83 people, above the national 2.65, so families with children are more common here. Since 2006–10, household size has crept up from 2.78, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the northwest and smallest in the east.
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 The Plaza
| Period | The Plaza | Long Beach | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.7 | 33.5 | 35.6 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.1 | 34.9 | 36.7 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.5 | 36.3 | 38.0 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.4 | 38.3 | 39.5 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.7 | +4.9 | +4.0 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
The median resident of The Plaza is 43.4 years old, older than the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 41.7 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. Residents skew youngest in the northeast and oldest in the center.
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 The Plaza
| Period | The Plaza | Long Beach | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.9% | 17.9% | 14.3% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.6% | 17.2% | 14.1% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.3% | 14.8% | 12.5% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.3% | 14.4% | 12.3% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | −3.5 pts | −2.0 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in The Plaza: 8.3% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged up 1.4 points, 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 The Plaza
Renters in The Plaza
| Period | The Plaza | Long Beach | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.5% | 57.6% | 48.8% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.9% | 59.7% | 50.8% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 12.7% | 60.0% | 51.4% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 12.6% | 58.7% | 51.6% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.0 pts | +1.1 pts | +2.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 12.6% of households in The Plaza rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. About a quarter of owners (24.8%) have paid off their mortgages, well below the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the west; owners are most common in the north. Only two of Long Beach's 22 neighborhoods have a lower share of renters.
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 The Plaza
| Period | The Plaza | Long Beach | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.5% | 8.5% | 7.0% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 4.2% | 7.1% | 6.7% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.1% | 5.7% | 6.6% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 4.2% | 6.4% | 6.7% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | −2.0 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in The Plaza: just 4.2% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. The Plaza has a lower vacancy rate than at least four in five Long Beach 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 The Plaza
| Period | The Plaza | Long Beach | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1956 | 1956 | 1965 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1955 | 1957 | 1966 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1955 | 1959 | 1966 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1956 | 1960 | 1969 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | −1 | +3 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in The Plaza is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1956, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates.
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 The Plaza
| Period | The Plaza | Long Beach | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,749 | $1,142 | $1,328 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,875 | $1,242 | $1,415 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,446 | $1,490 | $1,755 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $3,147 | $2,041 | $2,279 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,398 | +$898 | +$951 | +$931 | +$606 |
Rent in The Plaza runs $3,147 a month at the median, utilities included, well above the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $1,398 a month from 2006–10, an 80% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 30.3% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. No other Long Beach neighborhood has higher 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 The Plaza
Bachelor's degrees in The Plaza
| Period | The Plaza | Long Beach | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.8% | 26.6% | 29.7% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 40.3% | 27.4% | 30.7% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 46.3% | 29.7% | 33.7% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 48.8% | 34.5% | 37.6% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.0 pts | +8.0 pts | +7.9 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
The Plaza is highly educated: about half of adults 25 and older (48.8%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 9.0 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the center and least in the northeast.
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 The Plaza
| Period | The Plaza | Long Beach | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.8% | 77.2% | 76.7% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.9% | 78.1% | 77.7% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.7% | 79.4% | 80.0% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.3% | 81.8% | 82.1% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.5 pts | +4.6 pts | +5.4 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in The Plaza: 96.3% 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 2.5 points, as it has nationally. The Plaza has a higher share of high school graduates than the great majority of Long Beach 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 The Plaza
| Period | The Plaza | Long Beach | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.1% | 10.4% | 8.5% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.9% | 12.5% | 10.6% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.1% | 6.2% | 5.8% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.4% | 6.7% | 6.7% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | −3.7 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in The Plaza runs below the national rate: 3.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Only one other Long Beach neighborhood has lower unemployment. Unemployment is down 1.7 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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).
The Plaza 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Plaza | 2.83 | 43.4 | 8.3% | 12.6% | 4.2% | 1956 | $3,147 | 48.8% | 96.3% | 3.4% |
| City College Area | 2.69 | 45.2 | 5.5% | 11.0% | 4.9% | 1951 | $2,969 | 45.3% | 93.6% | 4.2% |
| Los Altos | 2.86 | 42.7 | 6.3% | 29.8% | 5.1% | 1954 | $2,687 | 54.4% | 97.0% | 8.7% |
| El Dorado Park | 2.87 | 46.4 | 8.3% | 12.2% | 2.8% | 1968 | $2,582 | 57.0% | 94.6% | 5.9% |
| State College Area | 2.43 | 42.8 | 4.2% | 22.4% | 2.7% | 1966 | $3,111 | 59.4% | 96.6% | 6.6% |
| Park Estates | 2.07 | 45.9 | 11.6% | 42.8% | 5.5% | 1960 | $1,837 | 69.4% | 97.1% | 3.5% |
| Lakewood Village | 2.77 | 42.7 | 6.6% | 36.5% | 7.3% | 1953 | $1,985 | 40.1% | 93.5% | 5.9% |
| Circle Area | 2.52 | 33.8 | 12.9% | 71.8% | 5.6% | 1967 | $2,060 | 35.9% | 79.3% | 5.6% |
| Naples-Marina Area | 2.08 | 56.7 | 5.6% | 26.8% | 10.9% | 1962 | $2,858 | 66.6% | 98.2% | 3.8% |
| East Side | 2.30 | 36.3 | 12.0% | 77.5% | 5.9% | 1961 | $1,943 | 39.6% | 83.4% | 4.8% |
| Belmont Shore | 1.75 | 45.3 | 8.2% | 70.7% | 7.0% | 1951 | $2,221 | 61.7% | 95.8% | 4.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Western Branch North, Chesapeake, VA · Nob Hill, San Francisco, CA · Mountain View, El Monte, CA · Arverne, Queens, NY · Lower West Side, Chicago, IL · Tierrasanta, San Diego, CA · Villages of Palm Beach Lakes, West Palm Beach, FL · Washington Heights, Chicago, IL · West Baltimore, Baltimore, MD · Green Valley South, Henderson, NV
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 The Plaza. 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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