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Demographic Transition in Superstition Neighborhood: A Study of Racial Composition
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
The Superstition neighborhood in Tempe, Arizona, is a White Majority community with moderate diversity. As of 2022, the population is 354 residents with a median household income of $95,745. The neighborhood is located near the Superstition Mountains.
Over the past decade, Superstition has maintained its White Majority status while experiencing changes in diversity levels. From 2013 to 2016, the neighborhood had Low Diversity, with the white population exceeding 75% of residents. In 2017, a shift towards Moderate Diversity began, with the Hispanic population increasing to 16% by 2018. By 2022, the neighborhood solidified its Moderate Diversity status with a White Majority (73%), Asian (13%), and Hispanic (11%) populations.
The demographic shifts correlate with economic changes. As diversity increased from 2017, median income initially declined from $99,983 in 2017 to $88,249 in 2019. From 2020 to 2022, as the community stabilized in its Moderate Diversity status, median income rebounded to around $95,000. The population has fluctuated, from 882 in 2010 to 347 in 2016-2017, before settling at 354 in 2022. This population decline coincided with the transition to greater diversity.
These trends suggest that while initial diversification corresponded with some economic challenges, the community has since adapted, maintaining a high median income as it became more diverse.
The trends in Superstition reflect broader national patterns of increasing diversity in suburban areas. The neighborhood's high median income ($95,745 in 2022) exceeds the national median household income (approximately $70,784 in 2021), indicating that Superstition remains an affluent area despite demographic changes.
The growth in Asian and Hispanic populations in Superstition aligns with national trends of increasing diversity in previously predominantly white communities. The absence of significant Black or Native American populations distinguishes Superstition from many other diversifying communities across the United States.
Superstition presents a case of gradual, economically resilient diversification. While maintaining its White Majority status, the neighborhood has transitioned from Low to Moderate Diversity over the past decade. This change has occurred without significant long-term negative impact on median incomes, suggesting a relatively smooth integration of new demographic groups into the community's socio-economic fabric.
