Downtown is home to 49,789 people in Memphis. Owners hold 27% of the housing stock. 33.3% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Median household income is $40,930, under the $82,259 national median. The typical home is worth $192,976. There are 2,655 people per square mile. These figures are approximated by combining the 27 census tracts that make up Downtown; the Census Bureau does not tabulate data for neighborhoods directly.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 36.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
28% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Renter-heavy
27% owner-occupied
US average: 65%
Section 01
Population & growth
Total population
49,789
Population density
2,655 / sq mi
US average: 281
Median age
36.7
US average: 38.9
Land area
18.8 sq mi
Section 02
Income & economy
Median household income
$40,930
US average: $82,259
Per capita income
$35,863
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
23.6%
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
33.3%
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.490
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Finance & insurance14.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical14.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Information9.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade6.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services5.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade3.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Public administration2.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food2%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03
Housing
Median home value
$192,976
US average: $376,019
Median gross rent
$1,109
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
26.9%
73.1% rent
Vacancy rate
19.2%
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.01 people
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
27.7%
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
51.6%
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.7
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity
2024
White, non-Hispanic21.8%(10,849)
Black70.4%(35,038)
Hispanic / Latino2.5%(1,252)
Asian2.9%(1,443)
Other2.4%(1,207)
2024
White, non-Hispanic21.8%(10,849)
Black70.4%(35,038)
Hispanic / Latino2.5%(1,252)
Asian2.9%(1,443)
Other2.4%(1,207)
Diversity Score
57
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
