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Demographic Analysis of Morning Side, Pittsfield: White Majority with Increasing Diversity
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Morning Side, a neighborhood in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, exhibits a White Majority demographic composition with a median income of $48,395 as of 2022. The area has Low Diversity, with white residents comprising 72% of the population. Morning Side is the former home of Herman Melville, author of "Moby-Dick," during the mid-19th century.
Over the past decade, Morning Side has transitioned from a community with very Low Diversity to one showing signs of becoming a Transitional Community. In 2013, 77% of the population identified as white. By 2022, the percentage of white residents decreased to 72%, indicating a gradual diversification. Notable changes include an increase in the Hispanic population from 3% in 2013 to 10% in 2022, growth in the Black population from 10% to 9%, and a rise in residents identifying as two or more races, from 1% to 5%.
The demographic changes in Morning Side correlate with fluctuations in median income. Median income increased from $39,898 in 2013 to $53,253 in 2019, a 33.5% rise. There was a decline to $44,496 in 2020, likely due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. By 2022, the median income partially recovered to $48,395. The overall trend shows a modest economic improvement over the decade, which may have attracted a more diverse population seeking affordable housing and economic opportunities.
The demographic shifts in Morning Side reflect broader national trends of increasing diversity in suburban and urban areas. The non-Hispanic white population in the United States decreased from 63.7% in 2010 to 57.8% in 2020, indicating a nationwide trend towards greater diversity. The economic fluctuations in Morning Side, particularly the sharp decline in 2020 and subsequent partial recovery, mirror national patterns related to the COVID-19 pandemic's impact. The neighborhood's median income remains below the national median household income, which was $67,521 in 2020.
The gradual increase in diversity in Morning Side, while significant for the neighborhood, appears to be occurring at a slower pace than national averages. This could be due to various factors such as the neighborhood's smaller size, its location in a less urbanized area, or local economic conditions that may not attract as diverse a population as rapidly growing urban centers.
Morning Side is experiencing a slow but steady transition towards greater diversity, coupled with modest economic growth over the past decade. These changes, while reflective of broader national trends, are occurring at a more gradual pace, shaping the neighborhood into a slowly evolving community that maintains its historical character while becoming more diverse.
