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Demographic Stability in Duquesne Heights: A Study of Low Racial Diversity and Economic Trends
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Duquesne Heights, a neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is classified as a "Low Diversity" community with a "White Majority" as of 2022. The neighborhood's racial composition has remained stable over the past decade, with white residents consistently comprising over 90% of the population. Economically, Duquesne Heights has maintained a median income above $60,000 since 2013, indicating a relatively stable middle-class community. Duquesne Heights is characterized by its steep terrain and is home to the Duquesne Incline, a historic cable car that offers views of downtown Pittsburgh.
Throughout the analyzed period (2013-2022), Duquesne Heights has consistently fallen under the "Low Diversity" category, with the white population maintaining a significant majority (over 90%) each year. There have been subtle shifts within this category. The Asian population has shown a slight increase, from 2% in 2013 to 3% in 2022. The Hispanic population has emerged in recent years, reaching 2% by 2022. The Black population has remained consistently low, fluctuating between 0-2% over the decade. These minor changes suggest a very slow trend towards slightly increased diversity, but not enough to shift the neighborhood out of the "Low Diversity" category.
The median income in Duquesne Heights has fluctuated over the years but generally remained within the $60,000-$70,000 range. There was a notable dip in median income in 2017 to $60,311, the lowest point in the available data. The highest median income was recorded in 2021 at $72,718. Despite some fluctuations, the overall trend shows a slight increase in median income from 2013 to 2022. The relatively stable and moderately high median income suggests that the neighborhood has maintained its economic status, which may contribute to the demographic stability. The slight increase in income over time could potentially attract more diverse, middle-class residents, which might explain the small increases in Asian and Hispanic populations.
Population figures show minor fluctuations, with a peak of 2,618 residents in 2018 and a low of 2,274 in 2021. The overall trend suggests a slight decrease in population over the decade, which could be due to various factors such as aging residents, changing family sizes, or limited housing availability.
While Duquesne Heights has remained predominantly white, many urban areas across the United States have been experiencing increasing diversity over the past decade. The neighborhood's stability in racial composition contrasts with national trends of growing diversity in metropolitan areas. However, the slight increases in Asian and Hispanic populations, albeit small, align with broader national patterns of growing Asian and Hispanic communities in many U.S. cities.
The neighborhood's median income, consistently above $60,000, places it above the national median household income, which was around $67,521 in 2020. This suggests that Duquesne Heights has maintained a relatively strong economic position compared to national averages.
The subtle demographic shifts and steady economic status of Duquesne Heights indicate a community that is experiencing very gradual change while maintaining its core characteristics. The neighborhood's ability to maintain a stable median income in the face of national economic challenges, such as the 2008 recession aftermath and the COVID-19 pandemic, suggests a resilient local economy. However, the lack of significant diversification may indicate limited housing turnover or other factors that discourage more substantial demographic changes.
