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Demographic Shifts in Mount Airy East: From Black Majority to Increasing Diversity
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Mount Airy East, a neighborhood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is transitioning from a Black Majority community to one approaching Majority-Minority status. As of 2022, the neighborhood had a population of 20,486 and a median income of $62,074. Mount Airy East has a historical reputation as a racially integrated neighborhood.
Over the past decade, Mount Airy East has undergone demographic changes. In 2013, the Black population comprised 78% of the neighborhood. By 2022, this percentage had decreased to 69%, while other racial groups, particularly White and Hispanic populations, saw increases. The White population increased from 16% in 2013 to 20% in 2022, and the Hispanic population grew from 1% to 5% during the same period. The Asian and Two or More Races categories also experienced slight increases.
The demographic shifts in Mount Airy East correlate with changes in median income. From 2013 to 2022, the median income increased from $58,855 to $62,074, a 5.5% growth. This growth was not linear, with the neighborhood experiencing fluctuations, including a peak median income of $68,092 in 2021 before a decrease in 2022.
The population has remained relatively stable, increasing slightly from 20,963 in 2013 to 20,486 in 2022. This stability, combined with the increasing diversity and rising median income, suggests a gradual gentrification process that is changing the neighborhood's socio-economic landscape.
The trends observed in Mount Airy East reflect broader patterns of demographic change in many urban areas across the United States. The gradual decrease in the Black majority and increase in diversity, particularly with growth in White and Hispanic populations, is consistent with trends seen in other historically Black neighborhoods in major cities.
The modest increase in median income over the decade may not have kept pace with inflation or the broader economic growth experienced in some other urban areas. This could indicate that while the neighborhood is changing, it may be doing so at a slower rate than some comparable urban neighborhoods.
Mount Airy East is undergoing a gradual transformation from a predominantly Black neighborhood to a more diverse community. This transition is accompanied by modest economic growth, suggesting a slow but steady process of demographic and economic change. The neighborhood's evolution reflects broader urban trends while maintaining some of its historical character as an integrated community.
