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Demographic Shifts in Auburn Hills: From Black Plurality to White Plurality (2013-2022)
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Auburn Hills, a neighborhood in Durham, North Carolina, has undergone significant demographic changes from 2013 to 2022. Initially a Black Plurality community, it transitioned to a White Plurality area. As of 2022, the white population comprises 55% of the neighborhood, with Black residents at 32% and Hispanic residents at 6%. The median income in 2022 was $67,762, indicating a middle-class suburban area.
The neighborhood experienced notable shifts in its racial composition over the past decade. In 2013, Auburn Hills was a Moderate Diversity community with a Black Plurality (33% Black, 37% White). By 2017, it had become a Black Majority (51% Black). However, from 2020 onwards, there was a reversal, with the White population becoming the plurality (47% in 2020, increasing to 55% in 2022).
The Hispanic population in Auburn Hills fluctuated significantly during this period. It grew from 7% in 2013 to a peak of 29% in 2020, temporarily categorizing the neighborhood as High Diversity. This growth was followed by a sharp decline to 2% in 2021 and 6% in 2022. Concurrently, the Asian population decreased from 15% in 2013 to 2% in 2022, further altering the racial composition.
Economic trends in Auburn Hills showed considerable volatility. The median income fluctuated, reaching its highest point at $80,222 in 2013 and its lowest at $67,762 in 2022. This overall downward trend coincided with the demographic shifts, suggesting possible correlations between changes in racial composition and economic factors.
The population of Auburn Hills grew from 1,679 in 2013 to 2,041 in 2022, a 21.6% increase. This growth, combined with income fluctuations, may have influenced housing affordability and neighborhood dynamics.
The demographic shifts in Auburn Hills reflect broader national trends of increasing diversity in suburban areas. The rapid changes and reversals in racial composition are more pronounced than typical suburban transitions. The decline in median income amid population growth and racial shifts could indicate gentrification pressures or changes in the local job market.
These changes align with patterns observed in many growing Southern cities, where historically Black neighborhoods are experiencing an influx of white residents, often accompanied by economic shifts. The fluctuations in the Hispanic population might be related to changes in local industries or immigration patterns, which have been volatile in many parts of the U.S. over the past decade.
The transition from a Black Plurality to a White Plurality, coupled with income volatility, suggests that Auburn Hills may be undergoing significant socio-economic changes. These shifts could be impacting local businesses, schools, and community dynamics, potentially leading to both challenges and opportunities for integration and community development.
