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Demographic Trends in Arlington Heights: White Plurality and Racial Diversity
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
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Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Arlington Heights, a neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, exhibits characteristics of a Moderate Diversity community with a White Plurality. As of 2022, the white population comprises 54% of residents, while the Black population represents 39%. The neighborhood's median income of $32,744 in 2022 is lower than the national median. Arlington Heights is located on a hilltop, offering views of downtown Pittsburgh and the Monongahela River.
Over the past decade, Arlington Heights has transitioned from a White Majority community to its current state of Moderate Diversity with a White Plurality. In 2013, the neighborhood had a White Majority at 63%. By 2021, this decreased to 51%, and in 2022, it increased slightly to 54%. The Black population has increased from 31% in 2013 to 39% in 2022. Small but growing representations of Hispanic and multiracial residents have contributed to the neighborhood's increasing diversity.
The community has not reached the threshold for High Diversity, as only two racial groups consistently exceed 10% of the population. The median income in Arlington Heights has shown volatility over the past decade. From $31,602 in 2013, it peaked at $44,346 in 2021, before dropping to $32,744 in 2022. Population figures have decreased slightly from 359 in 2013 to 319 in 2022.
The trends observed in Arlington Heights reflect broader national patterns of increasing diversity in urban areas. Many U.S. cities have seen a decrease in white majorities and an increase in minority populations, particularly in historically white-majority neighborhoods.
The economic volatility in Arlington Heights, particularly the sharp drop in median income from 2021 to 2022, may be partially attributed to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many urban areas across the U.S. experienced similar economic challenges during this period.
The neighborhood's persistent lower-than-average income levels compared to national figures suggest ongoing economic challenges that are common in many urban neighborhoods undergoing demographic transitions. This often reflects broader issues of urban inequality and the need for targeted economic development strategies.
Arlington Heights exemplifies a neighborhood in transition, moving towards greater racial diversity while grappling with economic instability. These changes present both challenges and opportunities for community development and social cohesion in the coming years.
