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Demographic Analysis of Zip Code 17027: White Majority with Increasing Diversity
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
The zip code 17027 (Messiah College, Pennsylvania) is characterized as a "Low Diversity" community with a "White Majority" as of 2022. The area has a population of 596 and a median income of $181,637, indicating a relatively affluent small community.
Throughout the period from 2013 to 2022, the community has maintained its status as a "Low Diversity" area with a "White Majority." The white population has remained above 80% for most of the decade, decreasing from 87% in 2013 to 80% in 2022. This gradual decline suggests a slow transition towards increased diversity.
Notable changes in racial composition include an increase in the Black population from 3% to 6%, growth in the Hispanic population from 4% to 7%, an increase in the Asian population from 2% to 4%, and the emergence of a "two or more races" category, growing from 2% to 4%. These changes collectively indicate a trend towards slightly increased diversity, potentially categorizing the area as a "Transitional Community" in its early stages.
The median income in this zip code has increased significantly over the decade, rising from $64,468 in 2013 to $181,637 in 2022, representing a 182% increase. The most significant increase occurred between 2014 and 2015, where the median income nearly doubled from $58,159 to $106,691. This substantial increase in median income coincides with the period of gradual diversification.
Population figures have remained relatively stable, fluctuating between 543 and 605 residents over the decade. This suggests that the economic changes and slight demographic shifts have occurred within a relatively constant population size, possibly indicating turnover rather than significant growth.
The zip code's changes in diversity have been modest compared to national trends. The extreme growth in median income is atypical, far exceeding national averages for income growth over the same period. The stability of the population size in conjunction with rising incomes and slight increases in diversity could indicate a pattern of gentrification or the development of an exclusive enclave.
In conclusion, while zip code 17027 remains a "Low Diversity" area with a strong "White Majority," there are early signs of a transition towards greater diversity. This gradual shift, coupled with extraordinary income growth, suggests a community in the early stages of demographic change, potentially driven by its increasing economic attractiveness. However, the pace of change remains slow, and it would likely take many more years of consistent trends for this area to move into a different diversity category.
