Different age groups have different social service and health needs. For example, education resources, childcare, and lead exposure may be of specific importance to families with children, while supports to age in place may be of specific interest to households with seniors. It is important to track the age distribution in the community to make sure that the available resources are matched to demand and need. Additionally, a decline in certain age groups, such as children, may indicate that housing, services, or amenities are not meeting the needs of the population.
The American Community Survey (ACS) surveys residents on an annual basis; however, five years of aggregated data are necessary provide numbers at a census tract or neighborhood level. Here we are comparing data from the 2009-2013 and 2014-2018 ACS data sets. Between the two time periods, there were small changes in the percent or density of youth and seniors within the CMTL area. Citywide, there was a small but significant increase in the percent of resident in the city that were 65 or over, from 14% to 15%.
When comparing the CMTL to the city overall, it is notable that the proportion of the population that is under 18 is much lower in the CMTL (9% vs. 13%); however, the density of the youth population (number of youth per square mile) is more than five times higher than the city. The percent of the population that is 65 and older is not statistically different between the CMTL and the city, but the density of seniors per square mile is three times as high.
American Community Survey, 2009-2013 & 2014-2018