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Demographic Shifts and Racial Diversity in Westwood Highlands, San Francisco
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Westwood Highlands, a neighborhood in San Francisco, California, exhibits a Moderate Diversity profile with a White Plurality. As of 2022, the neighborhood had a population of 2,045 and a median income of $178,084, indicating a high-income area. Westwood Highlands is known for its distinctive architectural style, featuring homes built in the 1920s and 1930s that showcase a blend of Mediterranean and Spanish Colonial Revival designs.
Over the past decade, Westwood Highlands has undergone a transition in its racial composition. In 2013, the neighborhood had a White Majority, with 53% of the population identifying as white. By 2022, this had shifted to a White Plurality (41%), indicating a Transitional Community moving towards greater diversity. The Asian population increased from 27% in 2013 to 31% in 2022. The Hispanic population remained relatively stable, around 10-12%. The "Other" category increased from 2% in 2013 to 10% in 2022, contributing to the overall diversification.
The demographic shifts in Westwood Highlands have occurred alongside an increase in median income. From 2013 to 2022, the median income rose from $136,226 to $178,084, an increase of about 31%. This economic growth may have attracted a more diverse population of high-earning professionals from various backgrounds. While the neighborhood has become more racially diverse, it has also become more economically exclusive. This trend suggests that the diversification is primarily occurring within higher income brackets, potentially indicating a pattern of affluent diversity rather than broader socioeconomic integration.
The trends observed in Westwood Highlands mirror patterns seen in many urban areas across the United States, particularly in tech-centric regions like the San Francisco Bay Area. The combination of increasing racial diversity and rising median incomes is often associated with gentrification processes in desirable urban neighborhoods.
Westwood Highlands has maintained a relatively stable population size of around 2,000 residents throughout this period of change. This stability, combined with the high median income, suggests that the neighborhood has likely experienced more of a demographic turnover rather than a dramatic influx of new residents.
In comparison to national trends, Westwood Highlands' median income of $178,084 in 2022 is higher than the U.S. median household income of about $70,784 for the same year. This disparity underscores the neighborhood's position as an affluent enclave within one of the most expensive cities in the country.
Westwood Highlands exemplifies a trend of increasing racial diversity coupled with rising affluence, creating a blend of demographic change and economic exclusivity. This evolution reflects broader urban trends but also highlights the specific dynamics at play in high-value neighborhoods within major metropolitan areas.
