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Demographic and Economic Trends in Syracuse's Wescott Neighborhood: A Study of Racial Composition and Income Growth
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Wescott, a neighborhood in Syracuse, New York, is characterized as a White Majority community with moderate diversity. As of 2022, the neighborhood has a population of 3,074 and a median income of $43,600. Wescott is known for its arts scene, including the Westcott Theater, a popular music venue.
Over the past decade, Wescott has maintained its status as a White Majority community, with some fluctuations indicating a trend towards increased diversity. In 2013, 65% of the population identified as white. This percentage fluctuated, reaching 73% in 2020 before settling at 69% in 2022. The Black population showed significant change, increasing from 14% in 2013 to 20% in 2019, before stabilizing at 17% in 2022. This shift indicates a trend towards Moderate Diversity.
The Asian population fluctuated, peaking at 12% in 2013 and 2017, but decreasing to 6% by 2022. The Hispanic population remained relatively stable between 3-8% throughout the decade. These changes suggest that Wescott is a Transitional Community, slowly moving towards greater diversity, although it has not yet reached the threshold for High Diversity.
The demographic shifts in Wescott correlate with changes in median income. From 2013 to 2022, the median income increased from $24,206 to $43,600. This increase coincides with the period of demographic transition, suggesting that economic improvements may have attracted a more diverse population. The sharpest increase in median income occurred between 2018 and 2019, rising from $34,313 to $43,438.
The population of Wescott has remained relatively stable over the decade, fluctuating between about 2,800 and 3,400 residents. This stability, combined with rising incomes and increasing diversity, suggests a gradual gentrification process that is changing the neighborhood's socioeconomic makeup without dramatically altering its size.
The trends observed in Wescott align with broader national patterns of increasing diversity in urban neighborhoods. Wescott's transition appears to be more gradual than in some rapidly gentrifying neighborhoods in larger cities. The income growth in Wescott outpaces the national average. While the U.S. median household income grew by about 10% from 2013 to 2022 (adjusted for inflation), Wescott's median income increased by nearly 80% in the same period.
Wescott exemplifies a Transitional Community that is gradually becoming more diverse while experiencing significant economic growth. These changes are reshaping the neighborhood's character, potentially bringing both opportunities and challenges for residents.
