Loading Content...
Demographic Transition in Centralville: From Low to Moderate Diversity
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Centralville, a neighborhood in Lowell, Massachusetts, has transitioned from a Low Diversity community to one of Moderate Diversity between 2013 and 2022. The White population decreased from 71% to 57%, while Hispanic, Asian, and Black populations increased. The Hispanic population grew from 14% to 21%, the Asian population from 3% to 11%, and the Black population from 6% to 8%. These changes indicate a trend towards increasing diversity.
The neighborhood's median income increased from $64,575 to $67,211 between 2013 and 2022, representing a 4% growth. However, this growth was not consistent, with income peaking at $71,227 in 2021 before declining in 2022. The population grew steadily from 23,763 in 2013 to 25,199 in 2022, a 6% increase.
Centralville's demographic changes align with national trends of increasing diversity in urban and suburban areas. The rate of change in Centralville appears to be more rapid than the national average, particularly in terms of Asian population growth. The economic trajectory of Centralville, with its modest income growth, corresponds to national patterns of slow but steady economic recovery following the 2008 financial crisis.
The recent decrease in median income from 2021 to 2022 may reflect broader economic challenges, such as inflation or pandemic-related economic disruptions, which have affected many communities across the United States. Centralville exemplifies a neighborhood in transition, moving from a historically Low Diversity, predominantly white community to one of Moderate Diversity with a growing multicultural character.
This demographic evolution, combined with modest economic growth and steady population increase, suggests a community adapting to broader societal changes while maintaining its historical identity. The changes in Centralville will likely influence local policies, community services, and cultural institutions to better serve its increasingly diverse population in the coming years.
