Loading Content...
Demographic Evolution of Summit Park: From White Majority to Increasing Racial Diversity
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Summit Park, a neighborhood in Albuquerque, New Mexico, exhibits a White Majority community with moderate diversity. As of 2022, the white population comprises 58%, with a Hispanic presence of 31%. The neighborhood has experienced economic growth, with a median income of $95,610 in 2022, indicating a prosperous suburban area. Summit Park is known for its views of the Sandia Mountains.
Over the past decade, Summit Park has transitioned from Low Diversity to approaching Moderate Diversity. In 2013, the neighborhood was in the White Majority category with 70% white population. By 2022, this percentage decreased to 58%, while the Hispanic population increased from 20% to 31%. This shift indicates a Transitional Community, moving towards greater diversity.
The most significant change occurred between 2016 and 2017, where the white population decreased from 67% to 61%, coinciding with an increase in the Hispanic population from 22% to 26%. This could be attributed to changing housing patterns or economic opportunities attracting a more diverse population.
The demographic shifts in Summit Park have been accompanied by economic growth. The median income increased from $71,281 in 2013 to $95,610 in 2022, a 34% increase. This growth suggests that the neighborhood has become attractive to higher-income residents across various racial groups.
The years of most significant racial diversity increase (2016-2017) saw a slight decrease in median income from $90,222 to $85,271. This was followed by an increase to $100,984 in 2019, indicating that the diversification did not negatively impact the area's economic trajectory in the long term.
The population has remained relatively stable, fluctuating between about 3,100 and 3,900 residents over the decade. This stability, combined with rising incomes, suggests that the neighborhood has maintained its desirability while becoming more inclusive.
The trends observed in Summit Park align with broader national patterns of increasing diversity in suburban areas. Many U.S. suburbs have experienced similar transitions from predominantly white communities to more diverse neighborhoods, often driven by factors such as changing work patterns, housing preferences, and generational shifts.
The economic growth in Summit Park outpaces the national average, with its 2022 median income of $95,610 higher than the U.S. median household income of around $70,000. This suggests that Summit Park remains an affluent area even as it diversifies, potentially indicating successful integration of new residents into the local economy.
The neighborhood's evolution reflects a broader trend in many American cities where previously homogeneous suburbs are becoming more diverse while maintaining or improving their economic status. This pattern challenges older notions of suburban flight and suggests a more complex picture of demographic and economic integration in desirable urban areas.
