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Demographic and Racial Diversity Trends in El Cerrito, San Diego (2013-2022)
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
El Cerrito, a neighborhood in San Diego, California, exhibits Moderate Diversity as of 2022. The racial composition is distributed among Hispanic (29%), White (30%), Asian (17%), and Black (16%) residents, with 9% identifying as two or more races. The community has undergone significant demographic shifts over the past decade, alongside fluctuations in median income. El Cerrito, meaning "little hill" in Spanish, is characterized by a mix of mid-century and newer homes, offering panoramic views of the surrounding area.
In 2013, El Cerrito had a White Plurality, with white residents comprising 38% of the population. Over the decade, the neighborhood transitioned towards greater diversity. By 2018, it became a Majority-Minority community, with no single racial group constituting a majority. This shift was primarily driven by a decrease in the white population percentage and increases in Black and Hispanic populations.
The most recent data from 2022 shows El Cerrito as a Moderate Diversity community, with a more balanced distribution among racial groups. The Asian population increased from 11% in 2013 to 17% in 2022, while the Black population fluctuated, peaking at 27% in 2018 before settling at 16% in 2022. The Hispanic population remained relatively stable, around 27-29% throughout the decade. Notably, residents identifying as two or more races increased from 1% in 2013 to 9% in 2022, indicating a Transitional Community aspect in terms of increasing multiracial representation.
The median income in El Cerrito showed an overall upward trend, rising from $51,967 in 2013 to $66,022 in 2022, a 27% increase. This economic growth coincided with the neighborhood's shift towards greater diversity. There was a significant increase in median income between 2019 and 2021, peaking at $71,320 in 2021 before slightly declining in 2022.
The population of El Cerrito fluctuated over the decade, growing from 4,992 in 2013 to a peak of 6,502 in 2018, before decreasing to 5,564 in 2022. This population trend, combined with income growth, suggests potential gentrification or changes in housing affordability that may have influenced the demographic composition.
The demographic changes in El Cerrito reflect broader trends seen in many urban areas across the United States, where increasing diversity and rising income levels often occur simultaneously. The growth in the Asian population and those identifying as multiracial aligns with national trends of increasing Asian-American populations in urban areas and growing acceptance of multiracial identities.
El Cerrito's economic growth outpaces the national median household income growth rate, which increased by about 19% from 2013 to 2022. This suggests that El Cerrito may be experiencing more rapid economic development compared to the national average, potentially attracting a more diverse, higher-income population.
The community's transition towards greater diversity, coupled with rising incomes, may indicate San Diego's overall attractiveness to a wide range of demographics and its strong economic position within California. However, the slight population decrease in recent years could signal challenges in housing affordability or changes in neighborhood desirability that warrant further investigation.
