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Demographic Shifts in Brookstone: A Study of Racial Composition and Economic Trends
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Brookstone, a neighborhood in Columbus, Georgia, exhibits a demographic profile classified as a "White Majority" community, with 74% of the population identifying as white in 2022. The neighborhood is characterized by affluence, with a median income of $106,368 in 2022, which is above the national average. Brookstone is located near the Brookstone School, a private college preparatory institution, potentially influencing the neighborhood's demographics and economic status.
Over the past decade, Brookstone has experienced a demographic transition. In 2013, the neighborhood was classified as having "Low Diversity" with 83% of the population identifying as white. By 2022, while still maintaining a "White Majority," the community moved towards "Moderate Diversity." The percentage of white residents decreased to 74%, while the Black and Hispanic populations increased.
This shift can be categorized as a "Transitional Community" trend, particularly evident from 2019 to 2022. The Black population increased from 6% to 13%, and the Hispanic population from 5% to 11% during this period. This trend indicates a gradual increase in racial diversity within the community.
The demographic shifts have coincided with economic growth in the neighborhood. The median income rose from $98,038 in 2013 to $106,368 in 2022, an increase of about 8.5%. This trend suggests that the increasing diversity has not negatively impacted the neighborhood's economic status.
The population grew from 4,088 in 2013 to 4,969 in 2022, an increase of about 21.5%. This population growth, coupled with increasing diversity and rising median income, indicates that Brookstone is becoming an increasingly attractive neighborhood for a wider range of residents.
The demographic shifts observed in Brookstone align with broader national trends of increasing diversity in suburban areas. However, the neighborhood's high median income distinguishes it from many transitional communities nationwide, where increasing diversity often correlates with more moderate income levels.
The maintenance of high property values and increasing median income alongside growing diversity is notable. It suggests that Brookstone may be experiencing what some urban planners term "equitable gentrification," where a neighborhood becomes more diverse without displacing lower-income residents.
Brookstone's median income ($106,368 in 2022) is higher than the U.S. median household income (about $70,784 in 2021). This places Brookstone in the upper echelons of U.S. neighborhoods in terms of affluence, even as it becomes more diverse.
The demographic changes in Brookstone reflect broader changes happening across the United States, particularly in suburban areas of the South. However, the neighborhood's ability to maintain its economic status while becoming more diverse sets it apart as a unique case study in community evolution.
