Population 38,222 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in West
Household size in West
| Period | West | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.24 | 2.63 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.38 | 2.70 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.37 | 2.70 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.09 | 2.64 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.15 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
West is a place of small households, averaging 2.09 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.24, a much bigger shift than nationally. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated 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 West
| Period | West | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.4 | 35.7 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 27.7 | 36.7 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 29.3 | 38.1 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 29.6 | 38.4 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.1 | +2.7 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
West is young: half of its residents are under 29.6, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young adults, many of them living alone or as couples. The median age has climbed from 28.4 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only one other Raleigh neighborhood is younger.
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
| Period | West | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.9% | 10.9% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.9% | 11.5% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.5% | 10.7% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.5% | 9.4% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.6 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in West: 8.5% of households, against 11.6% nationally. That is in line with the rest of the Raleigh area. The single-parent share has risen 1.6 points since 2006–10, 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 West
Renters in West
| Period | West | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 74.8% | 32.1% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 74.3% | 33.7% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 72.9% | 34.3% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 73.1% | 33.4% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | +1.3 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in West rent: 73.1% of occupied homes are rented, far above the national share of 34.8%. Expect more apartments, and more turnover, than in owner-heavy areas. Among homeowners, 29.1% have no mortgage at all, well below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is down 1.7 points from 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
| Period | West | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.8% | 9.4% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.3% | 8.6% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.7% | 7.8% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 13.9% | 7.6% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.1 pts | −1.7 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in West: 13.9% 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. Vacancy has risen 2.1 points since 2006–10, 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 West
| Period | West | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1983 | 1990 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1986 | 1992 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1988 | 1994 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1994 | 1999 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +11 | +9 | +7 | +6 |
West has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1994, versus 1980 nationally. Still, homes here are older than in the Raleigh area overall, where the median home dates to 1999. The median year built has moved up from 1983 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the north, while the east 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
| Period | West | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $815 | $923 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $881 | $1,018 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,079 | $1,207 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,519 | $1,666 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$704 | +$743 | +$528 | +$606 |
A typical rental in West costs $1,519 a month with utilities, close to the national median of $1,571. Rents here are lower than in the Raleigh area as a whole ($1,666). Rent has climbed $704 a month since 2006–10, up 86%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 32.6% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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
Bachelor's degrees in West
| Period | West | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.8% | 41.7% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 48.7% | 43.0% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 53.1% | 47.3% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 58.8% | 51.6% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +13.0 pts | +9.8 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in West: 58.8% 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, mirroring the country.
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
| Period | West | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.2% | 89.9% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.2% | 90.6% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.3% | 92.0% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.7% | 93.3% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.5 pts | +3.4 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
About nine in ten adults in West have finished high school (92.7%), above the national rate of 89.3%. The Raleigh area as a whole looks much the same. The share with a diploma is up 2.5 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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
| Period | West | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.6% | 6.7% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.9% | 7.9% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.8% | 4.2% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.5% | 4.1% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.2 pts | −2.6 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in West is close to the national rate: 5.5% of the labor force, against 5.4%. The rate is higher than in the Raleigh area as a whole (4.1%). Unemployment has fallen 2.2 points since 2006–10, as it has 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).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West | 2.09 | 29.6 | 8.5% | 73.1% | 13.9% | 1994 | $1,519 | 58.8% | 92.7% | 5.5% |
| Wade | 2.17 | 32.5 | 4.4% | 40.0% | 12.3% | 1975 | $1,393 | 74.0% | 93.8% | 4.2% |
| Hillsborough | 1.83 | 28.2 | 5.1% | 79.3% | 11.7% | 1984 | $1,365 | 72.1% | 95.7% | 4.2% |
| Southwest Raleigh | 2.34 | 30.8 | 9.6% | 64.4% | 12.7% | 1994 | $1,416 | 52.2% | 89.9% | 6.1% |
| Glenwood | 2.42 | 41.7 | 3.6% | 34.6% | 7.8% | 1979 | $2,204 | 83.3% | 98.2% | 3.3% |
| Central | 1.61 | 33.3 | 6.6% | 80.3% | 12.9% | 1996 | $1,604 | 56.5% | 90.8% | 7.1% |
| Five Points | 2.39 | 38.9 | 8.2% | 30.6% | 8.1% | 1963 | $1,773 | 85.2% | 98.7% | 3.4% |
| Mordecai | 1.88 | 36.0 | 5.5% | 28.7% | 9.8% | 1977 | $1,791 | 78.6% | 97.8% | 2.6% |
| North Central | 1.80 | 30.4 | 8.8% | 63.8% | 22.9% | 1993 | $1,554 | 63.2% | 89.5% | 6.1% |
| South Central | 2.23 | 37.8 | 15.6% | 58.8% | 8.2% | 1983 | $1,101 | 25.7% | 83.5% | 11.6% |
| Six Forks | 2.28 | 37.2 | 5.6% | 43.0% | 8.9% | 1987 | $1,768 | 69.9% | 93.7% | 0.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Highlands-Perkins, Baton Rouge, LA · South Shore, Chicago, IL · South Gate, Glen Burnie, MD · South Dallas Fair Park, Dallas, TX · Somerton, Philadelphia, PA · Silver Lake, Eastmont, WA · Seaport, Stockton, CA · Scripps Ranch, San Diego, CA · Rosedale, Queens, NY · Murray Hill, Manhattan, NY
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. 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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