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Upper Kensington: Demographic Shifts and Hispanic Majority Growth from 2013 to 2022
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Upper Kensington, a neighborhood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is characterized as a "Racial Majority" community with a significant Hispanic population. As of 2022, 79% of residents identify as Hispanic. The neighborhood has a median income of $23,993 in 2022, which is below the national average. Upper Kensington has a historical industrial background and faces current socio-economic challenges.
Over the past decade, Upper Kensington has maintained its status as a "Racial Majority" community, with the Hispanic population dominating. The Hispanic population has grown from 72% in 2013 to 79% in 2022. The Black population has decreased from 14% to 11%, and the White population has decreased from 7% to 6% between 2013 and 2022. A small Asian population has emerged, rising from 0% in 2013 to 3% in 2022.
The economic landscape of Upper Kensington has shown fluctuations over the past decade. Median income has risen from $16,089 in 2013 to $23,993 in 2022, an increase of about 49%. The neighborhood experienced a peak in median income in 2020 ($26,887) before declining in subsequent years. The population has remained relatively stable, decreasing by about 1.6% from 2013 to 2022.
Upper Kensington's demographic and economic trends can be contextualized within broader urban patterns. The increasing Hispanic majority in Upper Kensington aligns with national trends of growing Hispanic populations in urban areas, particularly in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. Despite the increase in median income, Upper Kensington's economic status remains below Philadelphia's overall median household income ($52,649 in 2021). Unlike some other Philadelphia neighborhoods that have experienced rapid gentrification and demographic shifts, Upper Kensington has maintained its Hispanic majority and relatively low income levels.
Upper Kensington presents a case of a neighborhood with a strengthening Hispanic majority and gradual economic improvement, yet still facing significant socio-economic challenges. The stability of its demographic makeup in the face of broader urban changes suggests strong community ties and cultural resilience, even as the neighborhood grapples with ongoing economic disparities and urban issues.
