Loading Content...
Ridgemont Neighborhood: A Study of Racial Demographics and Diversity Trends
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Ridgemont, a neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, exhibits a Low Diversity demographic profile with a White Majority of 92% as of 2022. The neighborhood's median income of $59,252 in 2022 is slightly above the national median income, indicating a relatively stable middle-class community. Ridgemont is situated on a hilltop, providing panoramic views of downtown Pittsburgh and surrounding valleys.
Over the past decade, Ridgemont has maintained a White Majority status, with fluctuations in diversity levels. In 2013, the neighborhood showed Moderate Diversity, with 82% White population, 6% Black, and 7% Two or More Races. From 2014 to 2020, the area maintained a Low Diversity profile, with the White population consistently above 75%.
A brief period (2017-2018) saw the neighborhood approach Moderate Diversity again, with the Black population reaching 12% and Hispanic population at 5%. This trend reversed from 2019 onwards, resulting in the current Low Diversity status with 92% White population in 2022.
The median income in Ridgemont has grown from $56,168 in 2013 to $59,252 in 2022, an increase of about 5.5%. This growth has not been steady. The neighborhood experienced peak median income in 2019 at $64,115, followed by a drop in 2020 to $59,340, likely due to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The period of increased diversity (2017-2018) coincided with a plateau in median income growth. As the neighborhood reverted to lower diversity from 2019 onwards, median income initially increased before settling to levels similar to those seen in the mid-2010s.
Population figures have fluctuated over the decade, peaking at 761 in 2015 and declining to 617 by 2022. This population decrease, coupled with the increase in the White majority percentage, suggests a possible out-migration of minority groups from the neighborhood.
The trend in Ridgemont towards decreasing diversity contrasts with many national trends, where increasing diversity has been more common in urban areas. The neighborhood's economic resilience, maintaining a median income above national averages despite population decline, is notable.
The increase in the White majority percentage from 2021 to 2022 (85% to 92%) is significant and may warrant further investigation into local policies, housing market changes, or other factors that could have prompted such a demographic shift in a single year.
In conclusion, Ridgemont has maintained its status as a middle-class, predominantly White neighborhood over the past decade, experiencing fluctuations in diversity and economic indicators. The recent trend towards decreased diversity and population, coupled with relatively stable median incomes, indicates a neighborhood potentially grappling with demographic changes that diverge from broader urban trends towards increased diversity.
