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Demographic Transition in Woodland Estates: From White Plurality to Asian Majority
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Woodland Estates in Kendall Park, New Jersey, is currently categorized as an Asian Majority neighborhood with a high median income. As of 2022, the community exhibits Low Diversity, with Asians comprising 71% of the population. The neighborhood's median income reached $186,261 in 2022, placing it above the national average. This affluent, predominantly Asian enclave represents a demographic pocket within New Jersey, reflecting trends of Asian immigration and economic success in certain suburban areas.
Over the past decade, Woodland Estates has undergone a demographic transformation. In 2013, the neighborhood was characterized as having Moderate Diversity, with a White Plurality (53%) and an Asian population (38%). By 2016, it had transitioned to a Majority-Minority community. Between 2017 and 2022, the Asian population grew from 44% to 71%, establishing an Asian Majority and reverting the area to Low Diversity. This transition appears to have been driven by an influx of Asian residents. Concurrently, the White population decreased from 53% in 2013 to 26% in 2022.
The demographic shifts correlate with economic changes in the neighborhood. The median income rose from $149,193 in 2013 to $186,261 in 2022, an increase of about 25%. This economic growth aligns with the increasing Asian population. The population of Woodland Estates has remained relatively stable, fluctuating between 319 and 379 residents over the decade. This stability in population size, combined with rising incomes and changing demographics, suggests a process of gradual replacement rather than rapid expansion or development.
The trends observed in Woodland Estates mirror patterns seen in some affluent suburbs across the United States, particularly in areas with strong tech or biotech sectors. These changes often reflect the increasing economic power and educational attainment of Asian Americans, particularly those of East and South Asian descent.
The median income in Woodland Estates ($186,261 in 2022) is higher than the New Jersey state median income (approximately $89,296 in 2021), highlighting the affluence of this community. This economic status, combined with its demographic composition, suggests that Woodland Estates may be part of a trend of highly educated, high-income Asian professionals reshaping certain suburban landscapes in the United States.
Woodland Estates has transformed from a moderately diverse, White plurality neighborhood to a low diversity, Asian majority community over the past decade. This shift has been accompanied by increases in median income, reflecting trends of Asian American economic success and geographic concentration in certain affluent suburban areas. These changes likely have implications for local culture, schools, and community dynamics, potentially reshaping the character of Kendall Park and similar communities across New Jersey and the United States.
