Demographic Shifts in Rancho San Rafael: Increasing White Majority and Rising Incomes
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
DATA SOURCE
Rancho San Rafael, a neighborhood in Glendale, California, exhibits a "White Majority" demographic composition with 66% of the population identifying as white in 2022. The area has a high median income of $175,783 in 2022, which is significantly above national averages. This affluent neighborhood has experienced notable demographic shifts over the past decade.
Over the past decade, Rancho San Rafael has maintained its status as a "White Majority" community, but with fluctuations in its racial composition. In 2013, the neighborhood was more diverse, nearly qualifying as a "Moderate Diversity" area with a significant Asian population (41%) and white population (46%). The trend has shifted towards a more pronounced white majority from 2016 to 2022.
The Asian population has decreased from 41% in 2013 to 26% in 2022, while the white population increased from 46% to 66% in the same period. The median income in Rancho San Rafael has shown substantial growth, increasing from $135,717 in 2013 to $175,783 in 2022, a 29.5% increase. This economic uplift correlates with the shift towards a more pronounced white majority.
The population has fluctuated over the years, peaking at 1,204 in 2016 and dropping to 898 in 2022. This population decrease, coupled with rising incomes, might indicate a trend of larger, more affluent households replacing smaller or less affluent ones.
The demographic shifts in Rancho San Rafael contrast with broader trends in many urban areas across the United States, which have generally moved towards greater diversity. The neighborhood's trend of increasing white majority and rising incomes may reflect a pattern of gentrification or selective migration, where affluent white households are drawn to the area's amenities and quality of life.
The substantial increase in median income outpaces national trends, as the U.S. median household income grew by only about 10% between 2013 and 2021 (adjusted for inflation). This suggests that Rancho San Rafael is becoming increasingly exclusive, potentially pricing out some demographic groups and contributing to the observed racial composition changes.
Rancho San Rafael presents a case of a high-income neighborhood that has become less diverse over time, contradicting national trends towards increased diversity. This evolution raises questions about housing affordability, community inclusion, and the long-term socioeconomic impacts of such demographic shifts in affluent urban enclaves.
