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Demographic Analysis of the Highlands Neighborhood in Fort Worth: Persistence of White Majority and Income Fluctuations
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
The Highlands neighborhood in Fort Worth, Texas, is characterized as a "Low Diversity" community with a "White Majority" as of 2022. The white population comprises 82% of the total, with a median income of $100,335. The neighborhood is known for its historic charm, featuring homes built in the early 20th century.
Over the past decade, the Highlands has maintained its status as a predominantly white neighborhood. From 2013 to 2017, the neighborhood showed signs of increasing diversity, with the white population decreasing from 82% to 62%, while Hispanic and Black populations increased. The period from 2017 to 2020 exhibited characteristics of a "Transitional Community" with fluctuations in various racial groups. Post-2020, there was a reversal of this trend, with the white population increasing again to 82% by 2022.
The median income in the Highlands has shown significant fluctuations over the years. There was an increase from $81,442 in 2013 to $126,720 in 2019, coinciding with the period of increasing diversity. The years of highest diversity (2016-2018) saw income volatility, with a notable dip in 2017 to $86,364. As the neighborhood reverted to lower diversity post-2020, the median income stabilized around $100,000-$102,000.
These trends suggest that periods of increasing diversity coincided with overall economic growth in the neighborhood, although with some volatility. The return to lower diversity has been accompanied by a stabilization of income at a level higher than a decade ago, but lower than the peak in 2019.
The demographic trends in the Highlands contrast with broader national trends towards increasing diversity in urban areas. While many U.S. cities have seen growing minority populations and a decline in white majority neighborhoods, the Highlands has maintained its predominantly white character.
The income levels in the Highlands are significantly above the national median household income, which was about $70,784 in 2021, indicating that it remains an affluent area despite the fluctuations over the years.
The population of the neighborhood has remained relatively stable, with slight growth from 321 in 2010 to 383 in 2022. This stability in a small, historic neighborhood suggests a well-established community resistant to major demographic shifts, which is somewhat atypical for growing urban areas in Texas.
In conclusion, while the Highlands neighborhood experienced a brief period of increasing diversity and significant economic growth in the mid-2010s, it has since reverted to its historical status as a predominantly white, affluent enclave. This trend runs counter to broader urban demographic shifts but aligns with patterns seen in some historic, high-income neighborhoods that maintain their distinctive character over time.
