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Demographic Composition and Racial Trends in Buffalo's University Neighborhood
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
The University neighborhood in Buffalo, New York, maintains a White Majority demographic composition, with 61% of the population identifying as white in 2022. The neighborhood, which includes the University at Buffalo's South Campus, has a median income of $48,543 as of 2022, showing a decline from previous years. This area has consistently remained a White Majority community over the past decade, with the white population comprising between 54% and 61% of residents.
Subtle shifts in racial composition have occurred. The percentage of Black residents increased from 16% in 2013 to 20% in 2022. The Asian population decreased from 19% in 2014 to 11% in 2022. The Hispanic population fluctuated, increasing from 3% in 2013 to 8% in 2018, then decreasing to 5% in 2022. These changes indicate a trend towards Moderate Diversity, with three racial groups each representing over 10% of the population in recent years.
The median income in the University neighborhood has shown significant fluctuations. The highest median income was recorded in 2014 at $59,124. A notable decline occurred from $58,015 in 2019 to $48,543 in 2022, a decrease of approximately 16%. Despite this income decline, the population increased from 6,943 in 2017 to 8,196 in 2022, suggesting an influx of new residents.
The economic trends correlate with the demographic shifts. As the neighborhood has become slightly more diverse, there has been a concurrent decrease in median income. This could indicate that new residents are from lower-income brackets or that there has been a change in the local job market.
The trends observed in the University neighborhood reflect broader national patterns of increasing diversity in urban areas, particularly those near educational institutions. The decline in median income since 2019 aligns with economic challenges faced nationwide due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath. The population growth in recent years contrasts with many Rust Belt cities that have experienced population declines.
The shift towards greater racial diversity mirrors national trends of increasing multiculturalism in American cities. However, the persistence of a White Majority in this neighborhood suggests that it may be changing more slowly than some other urban areas across the country.
The University neighborhood in Buffalo maintains its White Majority status while showing signs of transitioning towards greater diversity. The economic challenges reflected in the declining median income, coupled with population growth, indicate a neighborhood in flux, likely influenced by its proximity to the university and broader urban demographic trends.
