Population 9,187 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in West Central
Household size in West Central
| Period | West Central | Spokane area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.13 | 2.46 | 2.56 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.50 | 2.49 | 2.62 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.19 | 2.46 | 2.62 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.09 | 2.52 | 2.61 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.03 | +0.05 | +0.05 | −0.03 |
Households in West Central are small: just 2.09 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. Household size has edged down from 2.13 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Few Spokane neighborhoods have smaller households: only two of 25.
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 West Central
| Period | West Central | Spokane area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.3 | 38.1 | 38.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 33.0 | 39.1 | 38.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.3 | 39.8 | 39.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.5 | 40.4 | 39.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +7.2 | +2.2 | +1.6 | +2.3 |
At 41.5, the median age in West Central is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The median age has climbed from 34.3 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Residents skew youngest in the center and oldest in the northwest.
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 West Central
| Period | West Central | Spokane area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.9% | 10.7% | 10.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 20.9% | 10.4% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 14.2% | 10.5% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.3% | 10.2% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.6 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in West Central (10.3%), a little below the national share of 11.6%. That is in line with the rest of the Spokane area. The single-parent share has fallen 1.6 points since 2006–10, 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 West Central
Renters in West Central
| Period | West Central | Spokane area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 55.4% | 33.6% | 35.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 58.3% | 35.4% | 37.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 50.9% | 36.4% | 37.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 46.2% | 34.3% | 36.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | −9.2 pts | +0.6 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is far more common in West Central than nationally: 46.2% of households rent their homes, against 34.8%. More than four in ten owners (44.5%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the southeast; owners are most common in the northwest. The renter share has fallen 9.2 points since 2006–10, 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 West Central
| Period | West Central | Spokane area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.7% | 8.1% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.7% | 9.1% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 16.4% | 8.1% | 8.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.3% | 7.3% | 7.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.4 pts | −0.8 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in West Central than nationally: 7.3%, against 9.6% for the U.S. That is in line with the rest of the Spokane area. Vacancy is down 3.4 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 West Central
| Period | West Central | Spokane area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1940 | 1973 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1948 | 1974 | 1979 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1951 | 1976 | 1980 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1954 | 1979 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +14 | +6 | +6 | +6 |
West Central is a place of older homes: half were built before 1954, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1940 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southeast, while the northeast has the oldest housing.
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 West Central
| Period | West Central | Spokane area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $673 | $795 | $1,018 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $731 | $881 | $1,127 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $912 | $1,006 | $1,390 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,229 | $1,413 | $1,875 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$556 | +$617 | +$858 | +$606 |
Rent in West Central runs $1,229 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $556 a month from 2006–10, an 83% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 33.5% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Rents run highest in the southeast and lowest in the northeast.
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 West Central
Bachelor's degrees in West Central
| Period | West Central | Spokane area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.7% | 27.7% | 31.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.3% | 28.3% | 32.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.8% | 30.1% | 35.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 30.9% | 32.2% | 38.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +16.2 pts | +4.5 pts | +7.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
About three in ten adults 25 and older in West Central (30.9%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, a little below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 16.2 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the northwest 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 West Central
| Period | West Central | Spokane area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 82.7% | 92.0% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 81.4% | 92.6% | 90.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.0% | 93.4% | 91.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.4% | 94.5% | 91.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.7 pts | +2.5 pts | +2.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in West Central is close to the national rate: 89.4% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in the Spokane area overall (94.5%). No other Spokane 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 West Central
| Period | West Central | Spokane area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.4% | 8.3% | 7.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 19.6% | 9.2% | 8.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.4% | 5.8% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.5% | 5.4% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −7.9 pts | −2.9 pts | −2.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in West Central runs well above the national rate: 8.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 7.9 points, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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).
West Central 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Central | 2.09 | 41.5 | 10.3% | 46.2% | 7.3% | 1954 | $1,229 | 30.9% | 89.4% | 8.5% |
| Emerson Garfield | 2.38 | 35.4 | 12.8% | 44.9% | 7.6% | 1940 | $1,253 | 25.7% | 90.4% | 6.0% |
| Riverside | 1.34 | 45.1 | 5.5% | 92.3% | 18.7% | 1964 | $826 | 24.7% | 89.5% | 18.1% |
| Cliffcannon | 2.01 | 37.2 | 8.8% | 64.8% | 6.5% | 1947 | $1,218 | 43.0% | 96.9% | 6.9% |
| Logan | 2.12 | 28.4 | 9.9% | 65.7% | 8.6% | 1955 | $1,130 | 30.9% | 93.5% | 9.6% |
| North Hill | 2.40 | 36.1 | 9.8% | 28.4% | 5.5% | 1946 | $1,363 | 22.7% | 95.2% | 4.0% |
| Northwest Spokane | 2.50 | 40.7 | 12.1% | 16.3% | 7.0% | 1958 | $1,494 | 32.9% | 93.9% | 3.9% |
| Manitocannon Hill | 2.50 | 43.4 | 4.5% | 10.9% | 5.6% | 1938 | $1,209 | 68.7% | 98.7% | 8.1% |
| Rockwood | 2.25 | 50.5 | 5.4% | 16.2% | 4.4% | 1952 | $1,162 | 65.4% | 98.2% | 6.3% |
| East Central | 2.35 | 36.5 | 13.3% | 45.9% | 9.1% | 1962 | $1,380 | 35.6% | 92.5% | 6.5% |
| Chief Garry Park | 2.18 | 34.8 | 8.9% | 41.3% | 7.3% | 1955 | $1,118 | 21.0% | 91.7% | 2.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Roseville, San Diego, CA · Argentine, Kansas City, KS · Merriman Valley, Akron, OH · Mesa Hills, El Paso, TX · Midway-Coldstream, Baltimore, MD · North Bridgeport, Bridgeport, CT · North Center, Chicago, IL · Oak Hill, Jacksonville, FL · Otter Creek Crystal, Little Rock, AR · Rancho del Rey, Chula Vista, CA
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 West Central. 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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