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Demographic Changes in Waymart, Pennsylvania: White Population Decline and Emerging Diversity
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Waymart in Pennsylvania exhibits characteristics of low diversity, with a predominantly White population of 87% in 2022. The median income was $49,053 in 2022, indicating a moderate economic status for this community of 1,226 residents.
Over the past decade, Waymart has maintained a low diversity categorization, with the White population remaining above 75%. However, subtle signs of a transitional community are emerging. The White population has decreased from 97% in 2017 to 87% in 2022. The Hispanic population has grown from 2% in 2017 to 7% in 2022. The Black population has increased from 0% to 4% between 2017 and 2022. The Two or More Races category has grown from 1% to 3% in the same period.
These changes indicate a slow but steady trend towards increased diversity, although the community remains in the low diversity category. The median income has fluctuated, increasing from $49,665 in 2017 to $56,713 in 2019, then declining to $49,053 in 2022. This fluctuation coincides with the gradual increase in diversity, suggesting possible economic adjustments as the community composition changes.
The population has shown a slight overall decline from 1,287 in 2017 to 1,226 in 2022, which may indicate some out-migration, possibly influencing or influenced by the changing racial demographics.
The gradual increase in diversity in Waymart aligns with broader national trends of increasing diversity in many American communities, particularly in smaller towns and suburban areas. The economic fluctuations may reflect national economic challenges, such as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which could explain the income peak in 2019 followed by a decline.
Based on the observed trends, Waymart is likely to continue its slow transition towards greater diversity over the coming years. It may remain in the low diversity category in the near term, but there is a possibility of transitioning to a moderate diversity classification within the next decade if current trends persist.
Economically, the community may experience further fluctuations in median income as it adjusts to changing demographics. The slight population decline might stabilize or reverse if the increasing diversity attracts new residents or economic opportunities.
Waymart is showing early signs of evolving from a highly homogeneous community to one with increasing racial diversity, albeit at a gradual pace. This transition may bring both challenges and opportunities for economic development and community cohesion in the coming years.
