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Demographic and Racial Composition Analysis of Compton Heights, St. Louis: A White-Majority Neighborhood
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Compton Heights, a neighborhood in St. Louis, Missouri, exhibits a White Majority demographic composition with a median income of $72,459 as of 2022. The neighborhood's population was 1,267 in 2022, a decrease from 1,579 in 2019. Compton Heights is known for its historic district, featuring late 19th and early 20th-century mansions.
Over the past decade, Compton Heights has maintained a White Majority status, with the white population ranging from 53% to 66% between 2013 and 2022. The neighborhood shows signs of being a Transitional Community, with an increase in the "two or more races" category from 0% in 2013 to 8% in 2022. The neighborhood has exhibited Moderate Diversity throughout most of the decade. The Black population has been a significant minority, ranging from 19% to 29%, showing a declining trend in recent years.
There has been a decrease in the Black population from 29% in 2013 to 16% in 2022 and a slight increase in Hispanic and multiracial populations. The median income in Compton Heights has shown an upward trend, rising from $61,836 in 2013 to $72,459 in 2022, an increase of about 17%. This economic growth correlates with some of the demographic shifts.
As the neighborhood maintained its White Majority status and saw an increase in residents identifying as two or more races, the median income generally increased. The periods of highest median income (2018-2022) coincide with the highest percentages of white residents and lower percentages of Black residents. The population fluctuations, particularly the decrease from 2019 to 2022, coupled with rising incomes, might suggest a gentrification process.
The trend of increasing diversity, particularly in the multiracial category, aligns with national trends seen in the 2020 U.S. Census. The rising median income in Compton Heights outpaces the national median household income growth. The demographic shifts in Compton Heights, particularly the decrease in the Black population, may reflect broader trends of gentrification and demographic change seen in many urban areas across the United States.
Compton Heights presents a picture of a historically white-majority neighborhood experiencing gradual diversification, particularly in terms of multiracial residents, while simultaneously seeing economic growth. These trends suggest an interplay of gentrification, changing racial identities, and economic development that is reshaping the demographic and economic landscape of this historic St. Louis neighborhood.
