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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
West Town, a neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois, transitioned from a "Majority-Minority" community to a "White Majority" community with "Moderate Diversity" between 2013 and 2022. The white population increased from 49% in 2013 to 55% in 2022. The Hispanic population decreased from 27% to 19%, and the Black population declined from 19% to 16% during this period. The Asian population increased slightly from 3% to 6%, and those identifying as two or more races rose from 1% to 4%.
The demographic changes in West Town coincided with significant economic shifts. The median income increased from $74,749 in 2013 to $102,346 in 2022, representing a 37% increase. This substantial income growth suggests gentrification processes. The population of West Town grew from 24,549 in 2013 to 26,718 in 2022, with the most significant growth occurring between 2020 and 2022.
The trends observed in West Town reflect broader patterns seen in many urban neighborhoods across the United States, particularly in large cities. The process of gentrification, characterized by an influx of higher-income residents and displacement of lower-income communities, is evident in the demographic and economic shifts. The decrease in Hispanic and Black populations, coupled with rising incomes and an increasing white majority, is a pattern observed in many gentrifying neighborhoods nationwide.
The slight increase in Asian population and those identifying as multiracial suggests that West Town is maintaining some level of diversity despite these changes. The rapid income growth in West Town outpaces national trends. While the U.S. median household income grew by about 13% between 2013 and 2021 (adjusted for inflation), West Town's grew by over 37% in a similar timeframe, indicating a much faster rate of economic change.
West Town has undergone a significant transformation over the past decade, transitioning from a "Majority-Minority" community to one with a "White Majority" and "Moderate Diversity." These changes, coupled with substantial income growth, suggest ongoing gentrification processes that are reshaping the neighborhood's character and composition. While bringing economic growth, these trends also raise questions about affordability and the preservation of the area's cultural diversity.