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Demographic Transition in Sterling Acres: From White Majority to Racial Diversity
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Sterling Acres, a neighborhood in Kansas City, Missouri, has undergone a significant demographic transition from 2013 to 2022. The area has shifted from a Low Diversity community with a White Majority to a Moderate Diversity community with a White Plurality. As of 2022, the racial composition of Sterling Acres shows whites at 48%, blacks at 39%, and Hispanics at 10%, with a median income of $50,621.
The demographic shift in Sterling Acres occurred gradually over the past decade. In 2013, the neighborhood was categorized as Low Diversity with a White Majority, with whites comprising 89% of the population. From 2013 to 2017, the area remained a White Majority but began transitioning towards Moderate Diversity as the black population increased from 6% to 19%. Between 2018 and 2020, Sterling Acres shifted to a White Plurality, with the white population decreasing to 67-73% and the black population rising to 22-27%. By 2021-2022, the neighborhood solidified its status as a Moderate Diversity community.
The median income in Sterling Acres has fluctuated significantly over the past decade, showing some correlation with demographic shifts. From 2013 to 2015, as diversity began to increase, median income rose from $38,582 to $56,617. Income levels continued to rise between 2016 and 2019, peaking at $62,062 in 2018 as the community became more diverse. However, from 2020 to 2022, income levels have become more volatile, dropping to $52,824 in 2020 before rising to $58,248 in 2021 and then decreasing again to $50,621 in 2022.
The demographic shifts in Sterling Acres mirror broader national trends of increasing diversity in suburban areas. Many U.S. cities have experienced similar transitions from predominantly white communities to more diverse neighborhoods over the past decade. The rapid pace of change in Sterling Acres, from 89% white in 2013 to 48% in 2022, is particularly notable.
The economic fluctuations in Sterling Acres reflect national patterns of income volatility, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The neighborhood's median income of $50,621 in 2022 is lower than the national median household income of approximately $70,784 (as of 2021), suggesting that while the area has become more diverse, it may be facing economic challenges compared to national averages.
Sterling Acres has transformed from a Low Diversity, White Majority community to a Moderate Diversity neighborhood with a White Plurality over the past decade. This demographic evolution has been accompanied by fluctuating economic conditions, presenting both opportunities and challenges for community development and social cohesion in the years to come.
