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Demographic Shifts in Starin Central: A Study of White Majority and Racial Diversity
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Starin Central, a neighborhood in Buffalo, New York, is characterized as a White Majority community with moderate diversity as of 2022. The white population constitutes 67% of residents, with a Black minority of 27%. The neighborhood's median income is $73,261 in 2022, placing it in a middle-income bracket. Starin Central's proximity to the University at Buffalo's South Campus is noted as a potential influence on its demographic composition and economic dynamics.
Over the past decade, Starin Central has experienced significant demographic changes. In 2013, the community had a White Plurality (59% white), nearly reaching Majority-Minority status with a substantial Black population (26%). By 2018, it had shifted to a White Majority (83% white) with Low Diversity. Recent years have seen a trend towards increased diversity.
The period from 2018 to 2022 represents a Transitional Community phase. The white population decreased from 83% to 67%, while the Black population increased from 11% to 27%. This trend indicates a return to a more diverse community composition, while still maintaining a White Majority status.
Median income in Starin Central has fluctuated over the years, showing an overall upward trend from 2013 ($76,424) to 2016 ($87,461), followed by some volatility. The highest median income ($87,461 in 2016) coincided with the period of lowest diversity (80% white). As the community became more diverse in recent years, the median income has shown some decline, reaching $73,261 in 2022.
The population has remained relatively stable, fluctuating between approximately 5,800 and 7,000 residents over the decade. This stability suggests that demographic changes are more likely due to shifts within the existing population or selective in-migration and out-migration rather than large-scale population changes.
The demographic shifts in Starin Central reflect broader national trends of increasing diversity in urban areas. The neighborhood's proximity to a university campus may accelerate these changes, as academic environments often attract a more diverse population.
The economic fluctuations, particularly the recent decline in median income as diversity increased, could indicate changing student populations or shifts in the local job market. This trend might also reflect broader economic challenges faced by mid-sized cities in the Rust Belt region, of which Buffalo is a part.
Starin Central presents a case of a neighborhood in transition, shifting from a less diverse to a more diverse community over the past decade. These changes, likely influenced by its proximity to a university campus, have been accompanied by economic fluctuations that may present both challenges and opportunities for community development in the coming years.
