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Demographic Shifts and Racial Diversity in Fair Heights, Albuquerque
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Fair Heights, a neighborhood in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is classified as a Moderate Diversity community with a transitional character. The neighborhood's population in 2022 was 1,389, with a median income of $60,146. Fair Heights is experiencing significant demographic changes, transitioning from a historically White majority to a more diverse composition. The area is known for its mid-century modern architecture.
Over the past decade, Fair Heights has undergone a notable transformation in its racial composition. In 2013, the neighborhood was categorized as having a White Majority, with 63% of the population identifying as white. By 2022, this percentage had decreased to 34%, no longer constituting a majority or plurality. The community has transitioned through several categories: White Majority (2013-2017), White Plurality (2018-2019), and Moderate Diversity trending towards High Diversity (2020-2022).
The demographic shift is primarily driven by an increase in the Hispanic population from 29% in 2013 to 30% in 2022, a rise in those identifying as two or more races from 4% in 2013 to 24% in 2022, and an increase in the Black population from 1% in 2013 to 5% in 2022. These changes classify Fair Heights as a Transitional Community, with clear trends towards increasing diversity over the last five years.
The demographic shifts in Fair Heights correlate with changes in median income. As the community transitioned from a White Majority to increased diversity (2013-2017), median income declined from $56,581 to $37,884. However, as diversity continued to increase (2018-2022), median income rose significantly, reaching $60,146 in 2022. This pattern suggests an initial economic challenge as the community diversified, followed by a period of economic growth and stabilization as the new demographic makeup settled.
Population figures have remained relatively stable over the decade, with slight fluctuations. The lowest point was in 2017 (1,094 residents) coinciding with the lowest median income, while the highest population (1,389 in 2022) aligns with one of the highest median incomes.
The demographic shifts in Fair Heights mirror broader national trends towards increasing diversity, particularly in urban areas. The growth in the Hispanic population and those identifying as multiracial is consistent with national patterns observed in the 2020 Census. The economic recovery and growth in the latter half of the decade, despite increasing diversity, challenges some national narratives that link increasing diversity with economic decline.
The neighborhood's transition offers a microcosm of changing urban demographics in the American Southwest, where historically White-majority areas are evolving into more diverse communities. This shift in Fair Heights, combined with its unique mid-century modern architecture, positions the neighborhood as a case study in how established communities can adapt to and benefit from demographic change.
