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Demographic and Racial Composition Analysis of Lake Park Neighborhood in Durham, North Carolina
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Lake Park, a neighborhood in Durham, North Carolina, exhibits a White Majority demographic profile with a median income of $166,680 as of 2022. The community has experienced significant population growth and income increases over the past decade. Lake Park is characterized by well-planned residential areas centered around a man-made lake, offering a suburban setting within Durham.
Lake Park has maintained a White Majority status throughout the observed period, with the white population consistently exceeding 50%. The neighborhood has shown signs of increasing diversity. While it started with a clear White Majority of 63% in 2015, it briefly approached the threshold of Moderate Diversity in 2018 when the white population decreased to 56%. There has been a notable increase in the Asian population, rising from 7% in 2013 to 13% in 2021, before settling at 9% in 2022.
The Black population has experienced a gradual decline, from 27% in 2013 to 19% in 2022, indicating a potential Transitional Community status. The Hispanic population has remained relatively stable but small, ranging between 2-4% throughout the decade. The economic trajectory of Lake Park has been consistently upward, with median income rising from $120,591 in 2013 to $166,680 in 2022, a 38% increase over nine years.
The increase in median income coincides with the growing Asian population, which may suggest an influx of high-earning professionals in tech or healthcare industries. The decline in the Black population percentage, coupled with rising incomes, could indicate gentrification processes pricing out some long-term residents. The stability of the white majority, along with rising incomes, suggests that Lake Park has become increasingly attractive to affluent white families. The population growth from 421 in 2013 to 713 in 2022 indicates significant development and likely new housing construction, attracting more residents to this area.
Lake Park's demographic and economic trends align with broader patterns seen in many growing, affluent suburbs across the United States. The increasing diversity, particularly the growth in Asian population, mirrors trends in other tech-oriented cities where Asian professionals are becoming a larger part of the workforce. The gradual decrease in Black population percentage is consistent with gentrification patterns seen in many urban and suburban areas across the country. The rapid income growth outpaces national averages, suggesting Lake Park is part of a "super-zip" phenomenon where affluent neighborhoods become increasingly exclusive.
The maintenance of a white majority, despite increasing diversity, is common in many high-income suburbs that are gradually becoming more inclusive while still remaining primarily white. Lake Park represents a microcosm of broader national trends in affluent suburbs: increasing diversity (particularly among Asian residents), rising incomes, and subtle demographic shifts that suggest both economic prosperity and potential gentrification. As the neighborhood continues to evolve, balancing growth with inclusivity will likely be a key challenge for local policymakers and community leaders.
