CENSUS: City’s Rich Got Richer, Poor Got Poorer

INQUIRER: In Philadelphia, neighborhoods contiguous to Center City, encompassing 20 percent of the city’s population, showed dramatic income growth since 2000, but for eight of 10 city dwellers farther from the hub, incomes fell or were at best flat. Southwest Center City, including the south-of-South-Street area nicknamed “So-So,” posted the largest income growth – up 61 percent for the five-year snapshot. Income was soundly up as well in Northern Liberties, Bella Vista, and Queen Village/Pennsport, while University City and Fairmount/Spring Garden also benefited. But household income in Tioga/Nicetown in North Philadelphia showed the greatest decline – down 35 percent. Fairhill, in the rundown center of North Philadelphia, had the lowest average household income, $17,754. With 63 percent of its residents living in poverty, it is the city’s poorest neighborhood.  For the city as a whole, median household income fell overall. Adjusted to 2009 dollars, it was $39,579 in 2000. In the 2005-09 survey, it was $36,669, for a decrease of about 7 percent. MORE