What the Maps Tell Us: Initial Findings 

The Population Under Age 5 (Density by Acre) map indicates that although children under age 5 live throughout the region, small areas with higher densities of this population occur in Clark County, north Portland, east Multnomah County, Battleground, Yacolt (Clark County), Vancouver and in several locations in Washington County. Portland’s west side and inner east side neighborhoods, Lake Oswego and West Linn have relatively few areas with high concentrations of young children.
 
Across the region, 23.68% of all residents are youth (ages 0-17). The overlay map entitled Above Regional Average Percent Youth (Ages 0-17) highlights the census tracts where the percent of residents who are under age 18 is above the regional average. The map looks like a donut; the census tracts with percentages of youth that are above the regional average are primarily located in areas outside the urban center of the region. Only a few census tracts within the I-205 loop have higher than average concentrations of youth. In Vancouver, almost all census tracts along the Columbia River have lower than average percentages of youth. From an equity perspective, we can compare this map with the Atlas maps showing the distribution of resources and opportunities that are most relevant to youth, to assess how well the locations of those resources align with the places where youth are concentrated.
 
Like young children, older adults (age 65 and older) live throughout the region. The map Population Aged 65 and Over (Density by Acre) shows that there are higher densities of older adults in King City, southern Tigard, the Pearl District, Goose Hollow, Hillside/Northwest District, downtown Portland and in an area of outer northeast Portland south of I-84 and just inside the city limits. 

Across the region, 10.76% of all residents are age 65 or older. The Above Regional Average Percent Seniors (Ages 65+) map highlights the census tracts where the percent of residents who are seniors is above the regional average. The most striking pattern in the map is that almost all of Clackamas County’s census tracts have higher than average percentages of older adults. In Washington County, many census tracts in the unincorporated areas have higher than average percentages of seniors. In Multnomah County, census tracts with higher than average percentages of older adults occur throughout the county. In Clark County, census tracts with higher than average percentages of older adults occur along the Columbia River and are also scattered throughout the rest of the county. 

From an equity perspective, these maps are useful in planning for amenities, facilities and services that meet the needs of residents at different stages of life. While older adults and young children have many needs that are different, they do share several in common. Very old adults (age 80 and older) and very young children (younger than age 5) are less likely to be able to navigate independently than other age groups. Thus, the physical conditions (e.g. air quality) in their immediate environment are very important to their health and well-being because they spend so much time there. Similarly, safe and accessible walking routes are important to both child caregivers with strollers and older adults with mobility impairments.