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Demographic Transition in Summer Mesa: A Study of Racial Diversity from 2013 to 2022
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Summer Mesa, a neighborhood in Mesa, Arizona, exhibits a demographic profile categorized as a "Transitional Community" with "Moderate Diversity" as of 2022. The neighborhood has a population of 4,394 and a median income of $67,670. Summer Mesa has experienced rapid population growth over the past decade, contributing to its evolving demographic composition.
Over the past decade, Summer Mesa has undergone significant demographic changes. In 2013, the neighborhood was classified as having "Low Diversity" with a "White Majority" (73% white). By 2022, the community had transitioned to a state of "Moderate Diversity" with no single racial group exceeding 60% of the population. The most notable shifts include a decrease in the white population from 73% in 2013 to 59% in 2022, an increase in the Hispanic population from 16% in 2013 to 26% in 2022, and growth in the Asian population from 2% to 3% and the multiracial population from 1% to 8%. These changes indicate a clear trend towards increasing diversity, fitting the "Transitional Community" category.
The demographic shifts in Summer Mesa correlate with economic trends. The median income shows an overall increase from $66,262 in 2013 to $67,670 in 2022, despite fluctuations with a peak of $74,474 in 2019 before declining. The neighborhood experienced significant population growth, from 3,700 in 2013 to 4,394 in 2022, an increase of about 19%. This growth coincides with the increasing diversity, suggesting that new residents from various backgrounds were attracted to the area.
Summer Mesa's trends align with broader national patterns of increasing diversity in suburban areas. Many U.S. suburbs have seen growth in Hispanic and Asian populations over the past decade, similar to Summer Mesa's experience. The neighborhood's median income of $67,670 in 2022 is above the national median household income, suggesting that despite recent declines, Summer Mesa remains a relatively affluent area. This could indicate that the neighborhood is attracting diverse, middle to upper-middle-class families, possibly professionals or skilled workers from various backgrounds.
The rapid population growth in Summer Mesa (19% over a decade) outpaces the national average population growth rate, which has been around 0.1% to 0.5% annually in recent years. This suggests that Summer Mesa is a particularly attractive location, possibly due to job opportunities, quality of life, or housing availability.
Summer Mesa exemplifies a suburban neighborhood in transition, moving from low diversity to moderate diversity while maintaining a relatively high economic status. These changes reflect broader national trends of increasing suburban diversity and may present both opportunities and challenges for community cohesion and local governance in the coming years.
