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Demographic Changes in Saint Mary's Orchard: From White Majority to Increasing Diversity
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Saint Mary's Orchard, a neighborhood in Lafayette, California, is characterized as a White Majority community with a high median income. As of 2022, the area has Low Diversity, with white residents comprising 64% of the population. The neighborhood is located near Saint Mary's College, a private Catholic college.
Over the past decade, Saint Mary's Orchard has transitioned from Low Diversity towards Moderate Diversity. In 2013, white residents constituted 76% of the population, decreasing to 64% by 2022. The Asian population increased from 9% to 16%, and the Hispanic population grew from 7% to 10% during this period. This shift indicates a Transitional Community, moving towards greater diversity.
The demographic changes in Saint Mary's Orchard have occurred alongside economic growth. The median income increased from $166,116 in 2013 to $186,628 in 2022, a 12% rise. The population decreased slightly from 5,850 in 2013 to 5,307 in 2022. This could indicate a trend towards smaller household sizes or a shift in housing preferences.
The trends observed in Saint Mary's Orchard align with patterns seen in many affluent suburbs across the United States, particularly those near prestigious educational institutions. The increasing diversity reflects national trends of increasing suburban diversity.
The neighborhood's median income of $186,628 in 2022 is more than double the national median household income of around $70,000 in the same year. This suggests that while Saint Mary's Orchard is becoming more diverse, it remains an enclave of significant wealth.
The gradual nature of these changes indicates a stable community undergoing slow but steady transformation. The maintenance of high property values alongside increasing diversity suggests that the neighborhood has managed this transition without significant economic disruption.
Saint Mary's Orchard represents an example of a high-income, predominantly white neighborhood slowly transitioning towards greater diversity. This change, occurring without apparent economic instability, could serve as a case study for demographic shifts in affluent suburban areas.
