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Demographic Shifts in Palomino Estates: From White Majority to Increasing Hispanic Representation
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Palomino Estates in Gilbert, Arizona, is a neighborhood with a White Majority, with the white population constituting 65% of the community in 2022. The area is evolving into a Transitional Community, with an increase in Hispanic representation over the past decade. The median income of $90,858 in 2022 suggests an upper-middle-class economic status, though this figure has fluctuated over the years.
Over the past decade, Palomino Estates has transformed from a Low Diversity community to one approaching Moderate Diversity. In 2013, the neighborhood exhibited a White Majority at 86%, with Hispanic residents forming the only significant minority at 14%. By 2022, while still maintaining a White Majority, the Hispanic population has more than doubled to 33%, indicating a trend towards a more diverse community composition.
The most significant shift occurred between 2019 and 2021, where the Hispanic population increased from 2% to 30%, suggesting a rapid influx of Hispanic residents during this period. This change has pushed the neighborhood closer to potentially becoming a Majority-Minority community in the near future if current trends continue. Additionally, there has been a small but growing Asian population, rising from 0% in 2013 to 4% in 2021, further contributing to the area's increasing diversity.
The median income in Palomino Estates has experienced fluctuations over the past decade. It peaked in 2015 at $124,304 before declining to $90,194 in 2019. The period of most significant demographic change (2019-2021) coincided with a slight rebound in median income from $90,194 to $98,007. The overall downward trend in median income from its 2015 peak correlates with the increasing diversity of the neighborhood. This could suggest that the new Hispanic residents moving into the area may have lower incomes on average than the existing white population. However, the recent uptick in median income indicates that this demographic shift is not necessarily leading to economic decline.
Population figures have remained relatively stable, hovering around 800-900 residents throughout the decade, with a slight upward trend. This stability in population size, combined with the changing racial composition, suggests that the demographic shifts are likely due to turnover in existing housing rather than new development.
The demographic changes in Palomino Estates mirror broader national trends of increasing diversity in suburban areas. Many suburbs across the United States have experienced similar transitions, with growing Hispanic populations in particular. This trend often reflects changing patterns of immigration, socioeconomic mobility among minority groups, and shifting preferences for suburban living among diverse populations.
The economic fluctuations in Palomino Estates, particularly the decline from the 2015 peak, may reflect broader economic trends such as the recovery from the 2008 financial crisis and subsequent market adjustments. The recent uptick in median income aligns with national trends of economic recovery and growth in the years leading up to and following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Palomino Estates exemplifies a Transitional Community, moving from Low Diversity towards Moderate Diversity, with a particular increase in Hispanic representation. While maintaining its upper-middle-class status, the neighborhood has experienced economic fluctuations that appear to correlate with its changing demographics. These shifts reflect broader national trends of increasing suburban diversity and economic readjustment in the post-2008 era.
