Population 5,884 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Whittier Heights
Household size in Whittier Heights
| Period | Whittier Heights | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.22 | 2.52 | 2.56 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.42 | 2.59 | 2.62 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.36 | 2.62 | 2.62 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.28 | 2.60 | 2.61 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.06 | +0.09 | +0.05 | −0.03 |
Whittier Heights is a place of small households, averaging 2.28 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 crept up from 2.22, even as the national average fell. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the southeast.
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 Whittier Heights
| Period | Whittier Heights | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.8 | 37.5 | 38.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.9 | 38.1 | 38.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.3 | 38.5 | 39.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.4 | 38.8 | 39.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | −2.4 | +1.3 | +1.6 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Whittier Heights is 37.4 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. Residents skew youngest in the southeast and oldest in the west.
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 Whittier Heights
| Period | Whittier Heights | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.9% | 10.3% | 10.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.2% | 10.0% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.2% | 9.2% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.0% | 9.1% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| Change | +2.2 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.0% of households in Whittier Heights, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has risen 2.2 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 Whittier Heights
Renters in Whittier Heights
| Period | Whittier Heights | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.0% | 37.7% | 35.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 32.5% | 40.0% | 37.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 27.9% | 39.9% | 37.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 39.2% | 40.0% | 36.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +13.3 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is a bit more common in Whittier Heights than nationally: 39.2% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% for the U.S. Nearly one in five owners (19.1%) have paid off their mortgages, well below the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the southwest; owners are most common in the northwest. The renter share is up 13.3 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 Whittier Heights
| Period | Whittier Heights | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.3% | 7.9% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 3.7% | 7.8% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.1% | 6.8% | 8.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 1.5% | 6.6% | 7.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.7 pts | −1.3 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in Whittier Heights: just 1.5% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. Vacancy is down 4.7 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Whittier Heights has the lowest vacancy rate of any Seattle neighborhood.
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 Whittier Heights
| Period | Whittier Heights | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1939 | 1977 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1941 | 1978 | 1979 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1940 | 1980 | 1980 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1959 | 1983 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +20 | +7 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Whittier Heights is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1959, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1939 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southwest, the oldest in the southeast.
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 Whittier Heights
| Period | Whittier Heights | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,147 | $1,162 | $1,018 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,394 | $1,284 | $1,127 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,788 | $1,644 | $1,390 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,403 | $2,193 | $1,875 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,256 | +$1,031 | +$858 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Whittier Heights costs $2,403 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $1,256 a month since 2006–10, up 110%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 25.5% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under 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 Whittier Heights
Bachelor's degrees in Whittier Heights
| Period | Whittier Heights | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 63.8% | 36.7% | 31.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 65.7% | 38.0% | 32.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 70.7% | 42.3% | 35.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 77.8% | 46.3% | 38.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +14.0 pts | +9.6 pts | +7.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
Whittier Heights is highly educated: about eight in ten adults 25 and older (77.8%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 14.0 points from 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 Whittier Heights
| Period | Whittier Heights | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 97.5% | 91.3% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 98.7% | 91.6% | 90.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 97.3% | 92.5% | 91.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 98.1% | 93.1% | 91.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | +1.8 pts | +2.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Whittier Heights: 98.1% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 0.6 points from 2006–10, a smaller shift than 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 Whittier Heights
| Period | Whittier Heights | Seattle area | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.4% | 6.9% | 7.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.1% | 8.3% | 8.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.0% | 4.5% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.7% | 5.0% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.7 pts | −2.0 pts | −2.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Whittier Heights has been strong: just 1.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Only one other Seattle neighborhood has lower unemployment. Unemployment is down 2.7 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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).
Whittier 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whittier Heights | 2.28 | 37.4 | 6.0% | 39.2% | 1.5% | 1959 | $2,403 | 77.8% | 98.1% | 1.7% |
| Loyal Heights | 2.39 | 41.8 | 6.9% | 31.7% | 2.6% | 1952 | $2,657 | 77.6% | 98.7% | 2.7% |
| Phinney Ridge | 2.28 | 39.1 | 3.4% | 33.7% | 8.1% | 1944 | $2,249 | 79.4% | 99.1% | 2.6% |
| Ballard | 1.94 | 34.9 | 4.2% | 65.7% | 8.0% | 1977 | $2,167 | 78.6% | 98.2% | 4.2% |
| Crown Hill | 2.45 | 39.7 | 4.6% | 28.0% | 11.9% | 1976 | $2,359 | 70.8% | 98.0% | 5.2% |
| Greenwood | 2.07 | 35.9 | 5.4% | 53.4% | 8.2% | 1972 | $2,102 | 64.8% | 97.0% | 3.4% |
| Sunset Hill | 1.98 | 37.8 | 3.4% | 51.9% | 6.6% | 1981 | $2,432 | 77.7% | 98.3% | 5.0% |
| North College Park | 2.12 | 32.9 | 6.4% | 63.4% | 7.4% | 1980 | $2,182 | 64.3% | 97.1% | 2.2% |
| Green Lake | 2.03 | 37.2 | 5.5% | 54.5% | 10.3% | 1969 | $2,426 | 82.1% | 99.0% | 5.0% |
| Fremont | 1.73 | 33.3 | 3.5% | 66.0% | 5.8% | 1978 | $2,103 | 84.1% | 98.4% | 3.2% |
| Wallingford | 2.30 | 35.1 | 4.5% | 52.2% | 6.6% | 1951 | $2,205 | 83.5% | 98.3% | 6.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Belle Valley, Erie, PA · Woodridge Lakes, Mesa, AZ · Woburn Street Historic District, Reading, MA · Windsor Village North, Santa Ana, CA · Wilshire Estates-Savannah Mall, Savannah, GA · Westview, Pacifica, CA · West Gate, Toledo, OH · Webber-Camden, Minneapolis, MN · Waverley Square, Belmont, MA · Wakefield, Tucson, AZ
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 Whittier 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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