Population 6,815 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Washington Heights
Household size in Washington Heights
| Period | Washington Heights | Milwaukee area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.52 | 2.51 | 2.45 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.50 | 2.53 | 2.47 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.36 | 2.51 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.29 | 2.45 | 2.40 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.23 | −0.06 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Households in Washington Heights are small: just 2.29 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 dropped from 2.52, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Washington Heights
| Period | Washington Heights | Milwaukee area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.0 | 37.8 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 35.0 | 38.7 | 39.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 35.2 | 39.6 | 40.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.6 | 39.8 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +6.6 | +1.9 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Washington Heights 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 31.0, in line with the national trend. The youngest areas are in the northeast, the oldest in the southeast.
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 Washington Heights
| Period | Washington Heights | Milwaukee area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.9% | 13.0% | 10.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 20.4% | 12.8% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 13.1% | 12.2% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.6% | 12.2% | 9.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | −8.4 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Washington Heights as they are nationally: 12.6%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share has fallen 8.4 points since 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 Washington Heights
Renters in Washington Heights
| Period | Washington Heights | Milwaukee area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.8% | 37.2% | 30.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 43.6% | 39.1% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 41.0% | 39.9% | 33.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 39.8% | 39.6% | 32.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | −5.0 pts | +2.4 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is a bit more common in Washington Heights than nationally: 39.8% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% for the U.S. Nearly three in ten owners (28.3%) have paid off their mortgages, well below the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the southwest; owners are most common in the east. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 5.0 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 Washington Heights
| Period | Washington Heights | Milwaukee area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.0% | 8.4% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.9% | 8.1% | 10.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.8% | 7.8% | 10.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.5% | 7.2% | 9.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −1.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Washington Heights: 6.5% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. The picture is much the same across the Milwaukee area. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 4.5 points, as it has nationally.
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 Washington Heights
| Period | Washington Heights | Milwaukee area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1938 | 1964 | 1970 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1938 | 1965 | 1971 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1938 | 1966 | 1972 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1938 | 1968 | 1974 | 1980 |
| Change | ±0 | +4 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Washington Heights is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1938, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. Only one other Milwaukee neighborhood has 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 Washington Heights
| Period | Washington Heights | Milwaukee area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $904 | $849 | $758 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $913 | $928 | $821 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $970 | $1,022 | $904 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,246 | $1,290 | $1,139 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$342 | +$441 | +$380 | +$606 |
The median renter in Washington Heights pays $1,246 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $342 a month from 2006–10, a 38% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 24.7% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the center; the most affordable are in the southwest.
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 Washington Heights
Bachelor's degrees in Washington Heights
| Period | Washington Heights | Milwaukee area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.1% | 31.0% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 47.8% | 32.9% | 28.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 52.3% | 35.4% | 30.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 54.7% | 39.2% | 33.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +10.7 pts | +8.1 pts | +7.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Washington Heights: 54.7% 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 is up 10.7 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Washington Heights
| Period | Washington Heights | Milwaukee area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 94.4% | 88.5% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 95.4% | 89.5% | 90.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.8% | 91.0% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 97.6% | 92.2% | 93.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.2 pts | +3.7 pts | +3.8 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Washington Heights: 97.6% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 3.2 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only five of Milwaukee's 72 neighborhoods have a higher 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 Washington Heights
| Period | Washington Heights | Milwaukee area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.5% | 7.7% | 6.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.8% | 8.7% | 7.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.6% | 4.5% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.1% | 4.0% | 3.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.4 pts | −3.7 pts | −3.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Washington Heights has been strong: just 2.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 5.4 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. 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).
Washington Heights 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Heights | 2.29 | 37.6 | 12.6% | 39.8% | 6.5% | 1938 | $1,246 | 54.7% | 97.6% | 2.1% |
| Uptown | 2.70 | 29.9 | 28.5% | 52.7% | 11.4% | 1939 | $1,091 | 22.4% | 87.8% | 9.3% |
| Washington Park | 3.04 | 26.5 | 36.0% | 68.5% | 22.0% | 1938 | $1,371 | 6.7% | 73.5% | 5.6% |
| Saint Joseph | 2.69 | 36.5 | 20.3% | 59.6% | 15.5% | 1940 | $1,095 | 19.4% | 90.0% | 7.6% |
| Tosa East Towne | 2.23 | 36.7 | 9.4% | 34.8% | 2.6% | 1940 | $1,093 | 66.1% | 97.7% | 2.5% |
| Sherman Park | 3.04 | 33.1 | 31.1% | 68.8% | 26.2% | 1940 | $1,144 | 13.9% | 81.6% | 17.3% |
| Enderis Park | 2.18 | 36.9 | 9.9% | 35.6% | 8.7% | 1945 | $1,099 | 51.5% | 96.3% | 1.2% |
| Sunset Heights | 2.36 | 37.9 | 15.8% | 52.6% | 12.4% | 1939 | $1,014 | 21.1% | 92.8% | 1.0% |
| Bluemound Heights | 2.08 | 33.7 | 10.4% | 42.0% | 6.4% | 1945 | $1,145 | 45.4% | 96.1% | 4.3% |
| Midtown | 2.77 | 28.4 | 34.2% | 68.1% | 17.2% | 1948 | $932 | 13.6% | 85.0% | 16.3% |
| Merrill Park | 2.24 | 28.2 | 31.2% | 72.3% | 14.1% | 1940 | $843 | 21.1% | 81.6% | 1.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Imperial Point, Fort Lauderdale, FL · Southeast Como, Minneapolis, MN · South Los Altos, Los Altos, CA · South Lorain, Lorain, OH · South Hammond, Hammond, IN · Airport Heights, Anchorage, AK · Lake Balboa, Van Nuys, CA · Lacy, Santa Ana, CA · Italian Bowery, Chicago, IL · Sterling Hills, Aurora, CO
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 Washington Heights. 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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