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Demographic and Racial Analysis of Fulton Heights: A White Majority Neighborhood with Low Diversity
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Fulton Heights, a neighborhood in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is characterized as a predominantly White Majority community with Low Diversity as of 2022. The neighborhood's median income was $88,425 in 2022, indicating an affluent area significantly above the national median household income. Fulton Heights is known for its historic character, featuring many well-preserved early 20th-century homes.
Over the past decade, Fulton Heights has consistently maintained its status as a White Majority community. However, there have been subtle shifts in its diversity profile. From 2013 to 2016, the neighborhood showed signs of moving towards Moderate Diversity, with Hispanic representation reaching 14-16% and a slight increase in other minority populations. From 2017 to 2020, there was a shift back towards Low Diversity, with the White population increasing to 87% by 2020. In 2021 and 2022, the most recent years show a trend towards increased diversity again, with Hispanic representation rising to 15% in 2022, suggesting a potential transition towards Moderate Diversity.
The demographic shifts correlate with economic changes. From 2013 to 2017, as diversity slightly increased, median income rose steadily from $56,281 to $69,115. During the period of decreased diversity from 2018 to 2021, median income saw a significant jump, reaching $91,047 in 2021. In 2022, with the recent increase in diversity, there was a slight decrease in median income to $88,425. These trends suggest that periods of increased homogeneity coincided with rapid income growth, while periods of increasing diversity saw more modest income growth or slight decreases.
Population trends show a gradual decline from 1,151 in 2019 to 899 in 2022, which could indicate changing housing preferences or demographic shifts.
The trends in Fulton Heights reflect broader national patterns of increasing diversity in suburban areas, albeit at a slower pace. The neighborhood's economic trajectory, with significant income growth over the past decade, outpaces national averages, suggesting it has become an increasingly desirable area within Grand Rapids.
The fluctuations in diversity, particularly the Hispanic population, align with broader trends of Hispanic population growth in Midwestern cities. However, the persistence of a strong White Majority in Fulton Heights contrasts with more rapid diversification seen in many urban neighborhoods across the U.S.
The community's economic resilience, as evidenced by consistently rising incomes even through national economic challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic, indicates a robust local economy and potentially a concentration of high-skilled, high-wage jobs in the area.
While Fulton Heights remains a predominantly White Majority, Low Diversity neighborhood, there are signs of gradual change towards increased diversity. The community's economic strength and historic character likely contribute to its stability and appeal, even as it navigates subtle demographic shifts reflective of broader national trends.
