Loading Content...
Demographic and Racial Trends in Wood Park, Tempe: A Study of Neighborhood Transition
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Wood Park, a neighborhood in Tempe, Arizona, currently exhibits a Moderate Diversity profile with a White Plurality. As of 2022, the neighborhood has a population of 2,703 and a median income of $58,862. Wood Park's proximity to Arizona State University likely influences its demographic makeup and economic characteristics.
Over the past decade, Wood Park has undergone significant demographic changes. In 2013, the neighborhood exhibited a White Plurality (40%) with a strong Hispanic presence (37%). By 2017, it had transitioned to a Majority-Minority community, with the Hispanic population reaching 40% and the White population decreasing to 23%. By 2022, the neighborhood returned to a Moderate Diversity profile with a White Plurality (40%), albeit with a more balanced representation of other racial groups.
The most notable changes include an increase in the Black population from 3% in 2013 to 13% in 2022, growth in the Asian population from 3% in 2013 to 6% in 2022, and fluctuations in the Hispanic population, peaking at 40% in 2017 before settling at 35% in 2022. These shifts suggest that Wood Park has become a Transitional Community, with increasing representation from various racial groups over time.
The demographic changes in Wood Park correlate with significant economic shifts. Median income has risen from $44,049 in 2013 to $58,862 in 2022, a 33.6% increase. The population has decreased from 3,732 in 2013 to 2,703 in 2022, a 27.6% decline. The increase in median income despite the population decrease suggests a potential gentrification process or a shift in the neighborhood's socioeconomic makeup.
The demographic shifts in Wood Park reflect broader national trends of increasing diversity in urban areas. The economic growth in Wood Park outpaces the national average. While the U.S. median household income grew by about 19% from 2013 to 2022, Wood Park's median income increased by 33.6% during the same period. The population decrease in Wood Park contrasts with the general trend of urban population growth in many U.S. cities.
Wood Park exemplifies a Transitional Community undergoing significant demographic and economic changes. These shifts reflect both local influences, such as the presence of Arizona State University, and broader national trends towards increased diversity and urban economic growth. The neighborhood's evolution presents both opportunities and challenges for community cohesion and economic development in the coming years.
