Demographics

Commonly referred to as “the Village,” Greenwich Village boasts a large number of people that includes residents, everyday workers, college students, and tourists.  There are more people who work in Greenwich Village rather than people who live there. The data discussed in this section is based on fifteen census tracts, bounded by Third avenue and the Bowery on the east, West Street on the west, Houston street on the south, and 14^th street on the north.  The Village overlaps four zip codes: 10003, 10011, 10012, and 10014.  According to the last U.S. census in 2010, the population of Greenwich village was about 72,025, which represents 0.9% of the total population in New York City.  As seen by the figure below, the population of Greenwich Village has not changed very much since 1990. ¹

According to the Census Bureau’s 2005-2009 American Community Survey, children under 18 only make up 9.2% of population in Greenwich Village, unlike all of NYC, in which children under 18 make up 22.8% of all residents.  Between 2005 and 2009, the average size of a household was 1.7 persons, and only 10.4% of all households included one or more children under 18.  Despite the small number of children in Greenwich Village, the population of children has been growing.  Between 2000 and 2005-2009, the number of children under age 5 grew by 48%, and the number of children between 5 and 17 grew by 32%.  About 69% of the Village’s population are between the ages of 25 and 64. ²

Greenwich Village has all kinds of people in terms of ethnicity and race.  According to the 2005-2009 American Community Survey, 17.1% of all village residents were born outside the United States.  Even though Greenwich Village attracts people from all over the world, the majority of the population is white, which is different from other neighborhoods in New York City that are very diverse and have a large number of immigrants. ³  About 75.78 % of the population are U.S born citizens and 11.49% are not U.S. born citizens.  About 12.73% are not citizens at all. ⁴ . As seen by the pie chart below, non-Hispanic whites make up a majority of the population, followed by non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific islanders, Latinos, and blacks.  The chart also represents people of other races, or two or more races. 

During the late 19th century, a wave of German, Italian, and Irish immigrants flooded the neighborhood looking for jobs in breweries, warehouses, and manufacturing lofts. ⁵ As seen by the chart above, the ethnic groups in Greenwich Village have changed and will continue to change with increasing immigration.

Most people who live in the Village are considered wealthy.  The median household income between 2005 and 2009 was $101,568, which is more than the median household income in Manhattan, and more than double the median of NYC as a whole.  It is also more than double the U.S. median income.  The affluent community in Greenwich Village represents the residents’ high level of education.  The Village has a higher percentage of residents with a bachelor’s degree than all the neighborhoods in NYC combined.  It is considered one of the best educated communities in the U.S., and has a higher percentage of residents with a bachelor’s degree than other places like Cambridge, England and Palo Alto, California. ⁶

The residents’ high levels of education allow them to be employed in industries that require individuals with an advanced education.  As stated by the 2005-2009 American Community Survey, approximately 23.1% of the population is self-employed, which makes sense since Greenwich Village has many small businesses.  Universities and colleges like New York University and the New School are among the Village’s leading employers.  Other institutions include Cooper Union, Hebrew Union College, and the Manhattan branch of Pratt Institute.  Since Greenwich Village is a very affluent community, the demand for services like high-end restaurants, retail, and art and entertainment are very high.  Restaurants and bars employ about 10,900 people, making them the Village’s leading sectors.  These restaurants and bars cater to the daytime population, which is mainly college students, and are an important part of the nightlife in the Village.  The arts and entertainment are another leading sector, with small art galleries and theaters scattered all over the Village.  ⁷