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Demographic and Racial Composition of Neely Commons: A Study of a White Majority Neighborhood with Increasing Diversity
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Neely Commons, a neighborhood in Gilbert, Arizona, exhibits a demographic profile characterized as a White Majority community with Moderate Diversity. As of 2022, the white population constitutes 68% of residents, with Hispanic (12%) and multiracial (11%) groups representing significant minorities. The neighborhood has a median income of $108,489, which is above the national average. Neely Commons has experienced notable changes in its demographic composition and economic indicators over the past decade.
From 2013 to 2022, Neely Commons maintained its status as a White Majority community, with the white population consistently exceeding 50%. The percentage fluctuated, reaching 74% in 2015 and 2017 before decreasing to 68% in 2022. The community transitioned from Low Diversity in the early 2010s to Moderate Diversity by 2022, marked by increased representation of Asian, Hispanic, and multiracial populations. The Asian population experienced significant variability, peaking at 16% in 2018 before declining to 5% in 2022. The multiracial population increased from negligible levels in the early 2010s to 11% by 2022.
The economic landscape of Neely Commons has shown significant changes correlating with its demographic shifts. Median income increased from $79,572 in 2013 to $118,195 in 2018, coinciding with the highest Asian population percentage. Post-2018, the median income fluctuated, settling at $108,489 in 2022. This coincided with a decrease in the Asian population and an increase in multiracial and Hispanic populations. The overall population remained relatively stable, ranging from about 1,300 to 1,500 residents throughout the decade.
Neely Commons' evolution reflects broader national trends of increasing diversity in suburban areas, particularly in growing Sun Belt cities. The rise in multiracial identification aligns with national census data showing an increase in this category across the U.S. in the 2020 census. The neighborhood's high and rising median income, even as it diversifies, contrasts with some national patterns where increasing diversity often correlates with income stagnation.
The fluctuation in the Asian population, particularly its peak coinciding with the highest median incomes, may reflect broader trends in tech industry migration or international immigration patterns that affected the Phoenix metropolitan area during this period. The neighborhood's demographic changes are more likely due to existing residents' changing identifications or turnover in homeownership rather than large-scale migration patterns.
Neely Commons presents a case of a suburban neighborhood maintaining its White Majority status while becoming more diverse and affluent. This evolution demonstrates the complex interplay between racial demographics and economic factors in shaping modern American suburbs.
