The Northside neighborhood, in close proximity to downtown San Jose, is and always has been, among the city's most diverse. "Northside is as well integrated as a Coca Cola commercial and nearly as harmonious," crowed a 1979 San Jose Magazine article. "It is the most cosmopolitan neighborhood in San Jose," the old San Jose Mercury reported in 1966. The area was once virtually all Italian, but as the Italians spread throughout the Valley, black, Filipino, Mexican, and later Vietnamese families moved in.
Today, almost two-thirds of Northsiders are of Hispanic ancestry. Eighteen percent of the population is Asian-, and 3.5 percent African-American. By comparison, San Jose as a whole has a population which is only 31 percent Hispanic. The percentage of Asian- and African-Americans is slightly higher city-wide than in our neighborhood.
The average Northsider is 33 and a half years old, marginally older than the city-side average of 32.8. The average Northsider is slightly more likely to be male than female, and is more likely to be single than married.
More than half of Northsiders 25 years or older have graduated high school, but only 12 percent have college degrees. This compares disfavorably with San Jose as whole, where more than 25 percent have attained at least a four-year bachelor's degree. And in the entire metropolitan area, which OED characterizes as "one of the most highly educated" in the country, 33 percent have college degrees.
The average household income in the Northside was $46,044 in 1998, only two-thirds the city-wide average of $69,135. The median Northside household income (meaning that half the households earn more and half less) was $40,798, compared with $58,476 for all of San Jose.
In 1998, less than five percent of Northside households had incomes exceeding $100,000, while more than 30 percent have incomes under $25,000. Income was more equitably distributed city-wide, with about 20 percent of all households with incomes under $35,000 and about 20 percent with incomes over $100,000.
Forty percent of the Northside workforce is considered white collar, including technical and administrative support and sales. An almost equal number, 39 percent, are employed in blue collar jobs, such as manufacturing, repair work, transportation or labor. The remaining workforce consists of service employees.
Northside Streets
Northside Homes