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Demographic Analysis of Zip Code 23703: Transition to Majority-Minority Status
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Zip code 23703 in Portsmouth, Virginia, is classified as a "Majority-Minority" community with "Moderate Diversity" as of 2022. The area has a population of 27,287 and a median household income of $71,999. The racial composition shows no single group exceeding 50%, with Black residents forming the largest group at 45%, followed by White residents at 40%, and a Hispanic population at 7%.
Over the past decade, this zip code has undergone a demographic transition. In 2013, the area was classified as having a "Black Plurality" with 44% Black residents and 45% White residents. By 2020, it had shifted to a "Majority-Minority" status, with the combined minority population exceeding 50%. The community has maintained "Moderate Diversity" throughout the observed period, with two major racial groups having significant representation.
Signs of increasing diversity are evident, particularly with the growth of the Hispanic population from 4% in 2013 to 7% in 2022, and the increase in residents identifying as two or more races from 2% to 5% in the same period. This trend suggests that the zip code is becoming a "Transitional Community," with increasing racial diversity over time.
The median household income in the zip code has shown overall growth, increasing from $66,134 in 2013 to $71,999 in 2022, representing an 8.9% increase over nine years. This growth in income has occurred alongside the demographic shifts. The population has remained relatively stable over the decade, fluctuating between about 25,000 to 28,000 residents.
The demographic shifts observed in this zip code align with broader national trends of increasing diversity in many urban and suburban areas. The growth in Hispanic and multiracial populations is consistent with national demographic changes. The increase in median household income, while modest, outpaces inflation for much of the period, suggesting real economic growth.
The stability in population, combined with increasing diversity and rising incomes, may indicate that this zip code is successfully navigating demographic changes while maintaining economic stability. This could be seen as a positive model for community transition, though further analysis would be needed to understand the full socio-economic impacts of these changes on local life.
