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Demographic Evolution of Harbor/Lower Thames: Transition from Low to Increasing Diversity
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
The Harbor/Lower Thames neighborhood in Newport, Rhode Island, has experienced demographic changes from 2013 to 2022. As of 2022, the area is categorized as having "Low Diversity" with a white majority of 79%. The neighborhood's demographic composition has shifted over the past decade.
From 2013 to 2019, Harbor/Lower Thames maintained "Low Diversity" status with a white population consistently above 90%. In 2020, a transition began towards a more diverse community. The white population decreased to 85% and Hispanic representation increased to 10%. By 2022, the neighborhood showed signs of moving towards "Moderate Diversity" with the white population further decreasing to 79% and Hispanic representation increasing to 11%.
The demographic shifts correlate with economic changes. Median income increased from $72,310 in 2013 to $82,112 in 2022, with a peak of $94,066 in 2021. The rising income coincides with increasing diversity, suggesting economic opportunities may be attracting a more diverse population. Population figures remained relatively stable, ranging from 749 to 907 residents, indicating demographic changes are likely due to population turnover rather than significant growth.
These trends align with broader national patterns of increasing diversity in urban areas, especially in historic waterfront districts that often attract diverse populations due to economic revitalization efforts and tourism.
The Harbor/Lower Thames neighborhood's transition from a highly homogeneous community to one showing signs of increasing diversity, coupled with rising median incomes, suggests a pattern of gentrification common in many historic urban waterfronts across the United States. This process often brings both economic benefits and challenges related to housing affordability and community preservation.
The gradual nature of these changes, occurring over a decade, indicates a slower pace of demographic shift compared to some rapidly changing urban areas, which might allow for more gradual community adaptation. However, the consistent upward trend in diversity and income suggests that this transition is likely to continue, potentially reshaping the neighborhood's character and socio-economic dynamics in the coming years.
