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Demographic and Economic Shifts in Zip Code 50319: From High Diversity to White Majority (2013-2022)
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Zip code 50319 in Des Moines, Iowa, exhibited low diversity with a white majority as of 2022. The population was 71% white, with other racial groups having smaller representations. The median income for this area in 2022 was $54,893, which fluctuated over the past decade.
From 2013 to 2016, the area demonstrated high diversity characteristics. No single racial group exceeded 40% of the population, and at least three groups (White, Black, and Asian) had significant representation (over 10% each). From 2017 to 2020, the community shifted towards moderate diversity, with two or three racial groups having significant representation, but none achieving majority status.
In 2021, the area briefly returned to a high diversity state, with a more balanced distribution among White, Black, Hispanic, and Asian populations. By 2022, there was a shift to low diversity with a white majority, as the white population increased to 71% while other groups decreased. These shifts suggest that zip code 50319 can be categorized as a transitional community, experiencing substantial changes in its racial makeup over the defined period.
The median income in this zip code showed considerable volatility over the past decade, correlating with the demographic shifts. During the high diversity period (2013-2016), median income rose from $63,374 to a peak of $90,677 in 2014, before settling around $80,000-$81,000 in 2015-2016. As the area transitioned to moderate diversity (2017-2020), median income generally declined, dropping to around $60,000 and then further to $54,893 by 2020.
The brief return to high diversity in 2021 coincided with a significant drop in median income to $44,818, the lowest in the observed period. The shift to low diversity with a white majority in 2022 saw median income recover to $54,893, matching the 2020 level. These economic trends suggest that periods of higher diversity in this zip code were associated with higher median incomes, while the transition to lower diversity coincided with lower, though somewhat stabilized, income levels.
The demographic shifts in this zip code appear more dramatic than what might be expected in a typical urban area over a decade. The rapid transitions between diversity categories and the significant swing towards a white majority in 2022 are particularly noteworthy. The economic volatility, especially the peak median income of over $90,000 in 2014 followed by substantial declines, may indicate unique local factors affecting this zip code, such as changes in local industries, housing market shifts, or data anomalies.
Zip code 50319 in Des Moines, Iowa, presents a case study of a highly transitional community, experiencing significant demographic and economic changes over a relatively short period. These shifts highlight the dynamic nature of urban demographics and the potential interplay between racial composition and economic indicators in small geographic areas.
