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A Pathway to the Middle Class: Migration and Demographic Change in Prince George’s County

Alice M. Rivlin and
Alice Rivlin
Alice M. Rivlin Former Brookings Expert
Brooke DeRenzis
BD
Brooke DeRenzis

April 1, 2007

A dynamic county in a rapidly changing region, Prince George’s has experienced significant demographic transformation during the last 15 years. The county has become increasingly black and its foreign-born population has grown. During this period of growth, Prince George’s County has sustained its middle-class status. This paper examines how migration has contributed to the changing demographic landscape of Prince George’s County. With its relatively affordable housing prices and middle-income character, Prince George’s County serves as a pathway to the middle class for large numbers of lower-income, working minorities from Washington, D.C. and Montgomery County.