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Demographic and Economic Trends in Grasmere: A Study of Racial Composition and Income Changes
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Grasmere, a neighborhood in Staten Island, New York, exhibits a White Majority demographic profile with a median income of $93,748 as of 2022. The community falls under the Low Diversity category, with 79% of the population identifying as white. Grasmere is known for its historic Alice Austen House, a Victorian Gothic cottage that was home to one of America's earliest female photographers.
Over the past decade, Grasmere has maintained its status as a White Majority community, but with fluctuations. In 2013, the neighborhood started with a 72% white population, transitioning towards Moderate Diversity around 2017 when the white population dropped to 56%. By 2022, it reverted to Low Diversity with a 79% white population. This shift suggests a potential reversal of white flight, where white residents may have returned to or moved into the area in recent years.
The Hispanic population showed an increasing trend from 13% in 2013 to a peak of 18% in 2017, but then declined to 8% by 2022. The Asian population grew from 4% to 11% over the decade, indicating a gradual increase in Asian representation despite the overall trend towards lower diversity.
The median income in Grasmere has shown volatility over the years, potentially correlating with demographic shifts. From 2013 to 2017, as the community became more diverse, the median income declined from $76,931 to $67,202. As the white majority reasserted itself from 2018 onwards, median income rose, peaking at $108,925 in 2021 before settling at $93,748 in 2022.
This economic trajectory suggests that the increasing homogeneity of the neighborhood may be linked to gentrification or an influx of higher-income white residents. The increase in median income could be pricing out some minority groups, explaining the decrease in Hispanic representation and the slowing growth of the Asian population.
The demographic trends in Grasmere run counter to broader national trends towards increasing diversity. While many urban areas across the United States have been experiencing a growth in minority populations and a decline in the white percentage, Grasmere has seen a reinforcement of its white majority over the past five years.
The economic trends in Grasmere outpace national averages. The U.S. median household income in 2021 was around $70,784, lower than Grasmere's $108,925 for the same year. This suggests that Grasmere is becoming an increasingly affluent enclave within Staten Island and the broader New York City area.
Grasmere presents a case of a neighborhood that briefly trended towards greater diversity but has since reverted to a more homogeneous demographic profile. This shift, coupled with income growth, points to potential gentrification processes that may be reshaping the community's socio-economic landscape. It will be important to monitor how these demographic and economic changes affect community cohesion, local culture, and access to housing for diverse populations.
