Demographic Analysis of Meeker North: Race and Income Trends in a University Neighborhood
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
DATA SOURCE
Meeker North, a neighborhood in Ames, Iowa, exhibits a low diversity demographic profile with a White majority of 83% in 2022. The median income was $60,645 in 2022, placing it in a middle-income bracket. The neighborhood's proximity to Iowa State University influences its demographic composition and economic characteristics.
Over the past decade, Meeker North has undergone transitions in its racial composition. In 2013, the neighborhood was categorized as low diversity with an 85% White majority. From 2015 to 2019, it shifted towards moderate diversity as the Asian population grew to 20% by 2019. Between 2019 and 2022, the Asian population declined to 9%, while the White population increased to 83%, reverting the neighborhood to its low diversity status.
The median income in Meeker North has fluctuated over the decade. It peaked in 2014 at $69,085, coinciding with the early stages of increased diversity. During the period of increasing diversity (2015-2019), median income generally declined, reaching a low of $54,297 in 2019. As the neighborhood returned to lower diversity in recent years, median income rebounded to $60,645 in 2022.
Population figures show an increase from 2,571 in 2010 to a peak of 3,483 in 2018, followed by a decline to 2,626 in 2022. This recent population decrease aligns with the shift back to lower diversity and may indicate changing dynamics in the neighborhood's appeal or accessibility.
The demographic shifts in Meeker North are noteworthy when considered in the context of a university town. The fluctuations in the Asian population could be related to changes in international student enrollment or faculty composition at Iowa State University. The recent reversal towards lower diversity might reflect broader national trends of decreased international student enrollment due to factors like changing visa policies or global events such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
The economic trends in Meeker North, while fluctuating, generally align with national patterns of income stagnation in middle-class neighborhoods. The correlation between diversity levels and median income in this neighborhood presents a case study that may not be typical of national trends.
Meeker North has experienced a decade of demographic and economic changes, transitioning from low diversity to moderate diversity and back again. These shifts, likely influenced by its proximity to a major university, highlight the interplay between demographic composition, economic factors, and external influences in shaping neighborhood characteristics.
