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Demographic Analysis of Fairlington-Shirlington: A White Majority Neighborhood with Increasing Racial Diversity
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Fairlington-Shirlington, a neighborhood in Arlington, Virginia, exhibits a "White Majority" demographic composition with 68% of the population identifying as white in 2022. The area has a high median income of $124,299 in 2022, indicating an affluent community. The neighborhood is known for its historic garden-style apartments and townhouses, many converted to condominiums, reflecting its architectural heritage from World War II.
Over the past decade, Fairlington-Shirlington has maintained its status as a "White Majority" community, but with a gradual trend towards increased diversity. The white population has decreased from 75% in 2013 to 68% in 2022. The Hispanic population has remained relatively stable at 12-15% throughout the decade. The Asian population doubled from 3% in 2016 to 6% in 2021, while the Black population increased from 3% in 2014 to 6% in 2022. The population identifying as two or more races increased from 3% to 5% over the decade.
The median income in Fairlington-Shirlington has shown fluctuations but overall growth over the past decade. From $120,770 in 2013, it rose to a peak of $131,600 in 2021 before slightly declining to $124,299 in 2022. The population has seen a modest increase from 10,387 in 2013 to 10,564 in 2022, indicating a stable and slightly growing community.
The demographic changes in Fairlington-Shirlington mirror broader trends seen in many urban and suburban areas across the United States, where historically white-majority neighborhoods are gradually becoming more diverse. The rate of change in this neighborhood appears to be slower than in many other urban areas, possibly due to its high property values and established community character.
The neighborhood's high median income, significantly above the national average, has likely played a role in maintaining its demographic stability while slowly attracting a more diverse, but equally affluent, population. This trend is common in many high-income suburbs of major metropolitan areas, where economic barriers can slow the pace of demographic change.
Fairlington-Shirlington remains a "White Majority" community, but shows signs of a gradual transition towards greater diversity. This shift, coupled with consistently high median incomes, suggests a neighborhood that is slowly evolving while maintaining its status as an affluent, desirable area within the broader Arlington community.
