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I made a map showing population density by ZCTA (ZIP Code Tabulation Area) for the DC MSA using 2014 (5-Year) ACS Estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The map I made, which is attached to this post, has a population density scale made up of 4 sections:
0 - 4,999, 5,000-9,999, 10,000-19,999, and 20,000+
A few things to keep in my about ZIP (Zone Improvement Plan) Codes and ZCTAs:
ZCTAs from the Census Bureau approximate the shapes of actual ZIP Codes using boundaries from census blocks (the shapes end up being really, really close though)
ACS uses these approximated zip code boundaries (ZCTAs) to then provide data regarding population, income, housing units, etc.
The 5 most dense ZCTAs in the DC MSA are:
1. 20009 ZCTA (DC) - 38,561 ppsm with a population of 50,709 and a land area of 1.32 square miles
2. 20010 ZCTA (DC) - 31,059 ppsm with a population of 33,670 and a land area of 1.08 square miles
3. 20005 ZCTA (DC) - 29,327 ppsm with a population of 12,497 and a land area of 0.43 square miles
4. 20037 ZCTA (DC) - 23,521 ppsm with a population of 15,156 and a land area of 0.64 square miles
5. 20057 ZCTA (DC) - 22,722 ppsm with a population of 3,809 and a land area of 0.17 square miles
I've done 2014 (5-Year) Population Density Maps by ZCTA for other cities as well.
Last edited by revitalizer; 02-22-2016 at 06:02 PM..
Interesting. I've never understood why Bailey's Crossroads has such high density. It's like it was some kind of social experiment to put a bunch of high rise apartment and condo buildings in the middle of no where with barely any kind of public transit and see what happens.
20009 ZCTA (DC) - Of its 28,537 housing units, 85% are in multi-unit buildings, 13% are in 1-unit row homes, and 2% are in 1-unit detached homes.
20010 ZCTA (DC) - Of its 14,058 housing units, 67% are in multi-unit buildings, 31% are in 1-unit row homes, and 2% are in 1-unit detached homes.
20005 ZCTA (DC) - Of its 9,156 housing units, 97% are in multi-unit buildings, 2% are in 1-unit row homes, and 1% are in 1-unit detached homes.
20037 ZCTA (DC) - Of its 8,643 housing units, 94% are in multi-unit buildings and 6% are in 1-unit row homes. There are 0 housing units in 1-unit detached homes in this ZCTA.
Note: In my original post, there are some ZIP codes in DC that have just one building (you can't see them on the map at that zoom level) and with limited population, so those were excluded from the ranking as it didn't make sense to highlight a ZCTA like 20052 (on the GWU campus) with 341 residents in it and a density of 125,062 ppsm. I used a minimum population threshold of 2,500 residents for my ranking.
Last edited by revitalizer; 02-23-2016 at 06:41 AM..
Interesting. I've never understood why Bailey's Crossroads has such high density. It's like it was some kind of social experiment to put a bunch of high rise apartment and condo buildings in the middle of no where with barely any kind of public transit and see what happens.
Here's some more detailed info on the Bailey's Crossroads ZCTA:
22041 ZCTA (VA) - 10,044 ppsm with a population of 28,088 and a land area of 2.8 square miles. Of its 11,272 housing units, 74% are in multi-unit buildings, 7% are in 1-unit town homes, and 19% are in 1-unit detached homes
I made a map showing population density by ZCTA (ZIP Code Tabulation Area) for the DC MSA using 2014 (5-Year) ACS Estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The map I made, which is attached to this post, has a population density scale made up of 4 sections:
0 - 4,999, 5,000-9,999, 10,000-19,999, and 20,000+
A few things to keep in my about ZIP (Zone Improvement Plan) Codes and ZCTAs:
ZCTAs from the Census Bureau approximate the shapes of actual ZIP Codes using boundaries from census blocks (the shapes end up being really, really close though)
ACS uses these approximated zip code boundaries (ZCTAs) to then provide data regarding population, income, housing units, etc.
The 5 most dense ZCTAs in the DC MSA are:
1. 20009 ZCTA (DC) - 38,561 ppsm with a population of 50,709 and a land area of 1.32 square miles
2. 20010 ZCTA (DC) - 31,059 ppsm with a population of 33,670 and a land area of 1.08 square miles
3. 20005 ZCTA (DC) - 29,327 ppsm with a population of 12,497 and a land area of 0.43 square miles
4. 20037 ZCTA (DC) - 23,521 ppsm with a population of 15,156 and a land area of 0.64 square miles
5. 20057 ZCTA (DC) - 22,722 ppsm with a population of 3,809 and a land area of 0.17 square miles
I've done 2014 (5-Year) Population Density Maps by ZCTA for other cities as well.
With the increased density taking hold in D.C., how do you think it's effected the retail boom taking place in the city? Have you heard any news about the early sales targets for City Center DC and whether they are being met? There is so much retail on the horizon across D.C. that its really changing the dynamic of the city. Exciting times!
Here's some more detailed info on the Bailey's Crossroads ZCTA:
22041 ZCTA (VA) - 10,044 ppsm with a population of 28,088 and a land area of 2.8 square miles. Of its 11,272 housing units, 74% are in multi-unit buildings, 7% are in 1-unit town homes, and 19% are in 1-unit detached homes
I've never looked at these housing statistics before. I could look at this all day long. Thanks for sharing.
There are 4 people in my neighborhood with a mortgage between $500 and $700.
With the increased density taking hold in D.C., how do you think it's effected the retail boom taking place in the city? Have you heard any news about the early sales targets for City Center DC and whether they are being met? There is so much retail on the horizon across D.C. that its really changing the dynamic of the city. Exciting times!
Increased density bodes well for central DC. For instance, retail on 14th Street in Logan Circle is continuing to diversify and gain depth with non-restaurant/bar establishments opening up like Marine Layer, Filson, Shinola, etc.
With more density coming to H Street/Atlas District in all the larger residential buildings that will be delivering this year and the coming years, I'd look for that area to diversify its retail composition.
Retail in Shaw is promising, too. I like all the boutique fashion retailers that have popped up near the Shaw metro stop. I commend JBG for having the foresight to bring those retailers in (Frank & Oak, etc.)
I haven't been tuned in to sales targets at City Center and whether they're being met or not. I do think the plazas there are getting popular. The warmer months will show a lively City Center this spring/summer/fall. I see a lot of people doing selfies in the central plaza, and I definitely see a lot of tourists going through that area, and that will only increase when the remaining two pieces of development at City Center are finished.
The pieces (retail, high-density development, increased population, office tenants, especially in the tech sector, that are expanding and leasing more office space in the core of the city as they grow) are coming into place that will make DC a more complete city.
If I could have one big wish, it would be more office-to-residential conversion downtown. When the FBI building gets redeveloped, I hope residential will be a part of the mix. The redevelopment potential there is enormous and will fill a big gap in the core.
Interesting, although using zip codes can mask some of the density in pockets of the suburbs like Silver Spring, Bethesda, Reston and Tysons, where the same zip codes that include the multi-family housing may often include scores of single-family neighborhoods. Maybe some of those areas will get their own zip codes eventually.
Interesting, although using zip codes can mask some of the density in pockets of the suburbs like Silver Spring, Bethesda, Reston and Tysons, where the same zip codes that include the multi-family housing may often include scores of single-family neighborhoods. Maybe some of those areas will get their own zip codes eventually.
But thanks for sharing.
You're welcome. I'll do a post on neighborhood-level population density soon using census tracts and census block groups! When I get the time!
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