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Demographic Analysis of West Salem: A Low Diversity Neighborhood with Predominantly White Population
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
West Salem, a neighborhood in Salem, Oregon, represents a community with Low Diversity, characterized by a white majority of 76% as of 2022. The median income in West Salem was $81,584 in 2022, indicating a relatively affluent area within the broader Salem metropolitan region. West Salem is situated west of the Willamette River, offering residents scenic views and a more suburban atmosphere compared to other parts of Salem.
Over the past decade, West Salem has maintained its status as a Low Diversity community. The white population has remained the dominant racial group, consistently comprising over 75% of the neighborhood's residents. The Hispanic population showed a gradual increase from 12% in 2013 to 16% in 2016, before slightly declining to 13% by 2022. The Asian population has remained relatively stable, hovering around 2-3% throughout the decade, with a slight increase to 4% by 2022. There has been a noticeable increase in the "Two or More Races" category, from 2% in 2013 to 5% in 2022, suggesting a gradual trend towards increased diversity, albeit still within the Low Diversity classification.
The median income in West Salem has shown an overall upward trend, with some fluctuations. From 2013 to 2022, the median income increased from $72,196 to $81,584, representing a growth of about 13% over the decade. A significant spike occurred in 2021, with the median income reaching $89,408, before slightly decreasing in 2022. The population has steadily increased from 27,095 in 2013 to 31,951 in 2022, a growth of about 18%.
The economic growth appears to correlate with the neighborhood's maintained status as a predominantly white, low-diversity area. The increasing median income might be attracting more affluent residents, potentially contributing to the area's demographic stability.
While West Salem has maintained its low diversity status, many urban areas across the United States have been experiencing increasing diversity. The slight increases in Hispanic, Asian, and multi-racial populations in West Salem, though small, align with broader national trends of growing diversity in suburban areas.
The economic growth in West Salem outpaces the national average. While the U.S. median household income grew by about 6.7% from 2013 to 2022 (adjusted for inflation), West Salem's growth of 13% in the same period indicates a more robust local economy. The population growth of 18% over the decade is significant, suggesting that West Salem is an attractive destination for new residents. This growth rate is higher than the overall U.S. population growth of about 7% during a similar period, indicating that West Salem may be benefiting from regional economic strengths or quality-of-life factors that are drawing new residents.
West Salem has maintained its status as a Low Diversity community with a strong white majority, but subtle shifts towards increased diversity are evident. The area's economic growth and population increase suggest it remains an attractive neighborhood, potentially balancing between maintaining its traditional demographic makeup and gradually adapting to broader trends of increasing diversity.
