Jackson Heights is a very diverse neighborhood in Queens, New York of about 300 acres. Made up mostly of immigrants, it attracted New Yorkers who sought for residence outside of crowded, overpopulated Manhattan. Jackson Heights is considered one of the most diverse communities in New York City, and even in the nation. It consists of over seventy nationalities, each making its mark in Jackson Heights. Formerly farmland, it is now particularly famous for its garden apartment buildings and co-ops. Also, it is popular for its affordable living costs.
The current population of Jackson Heights is estimated at 66,235 people, which is a decrease from its population of 71,308 people in 2000. Out of about 66,235 people, around 35,983 are men and 35,325 are women; the male to female ratio is almost perfectly even. The median age of the people is about thirty-five years, indicating a younger population. Jackson Heights is home to many places of worship, but is predominantly Catholic. There is also a Jewish center, a Methodist church, and an Episcopal church.
Over 50% of the people in Jackson Heights are married, only 37.5% of them with children. The average household size is around 3 people, with a median household income of $41,385. It is an ideal income for the housing costs in the neighborhood, which are surprisingly low compared to nearby Manhattan. Although the median income is low, residents of Jackson Heights still enjoy nice homes and neighborhoods, with many surrounding restaurants and shops.
The most common cultural group found in Jackson Heights is Hispanic with a population of 40,211 people, followed by Caucasian with 35,617 people, then Asian with 12,220 people. There other small groups found in Jackson Heights, including African Americans and Hawaiian. However, in the first wave of immigration, the majority of the residents in Jackson Heights were Italian immigrants. In the present day, the percentage of Italian Americans is greatly reduced, and has been replaced by immigrants from Columbia. Although the Indian population is one of the smallest, with 452 people, they have their own cultural section known as Little India. The change in population is noticeable from the north to south of Jackson Heights, especially in the ethnic restaurants along the way.
Along with being diverse, Jackson Height’s unemployment rate of 5.1% is relatively low, 
compared to the current national rate of 8.8%. Most of the residents have service occupations, followed by sales and office occupations. Many of them commute the few minutes to neighboring Manhattan for work. A majority of the population, 71.6%, is Democratic. Like any other New York City area, Jackson Heights has a general crime rate- one that escalated in the period between the 1980s and 1990s. However, it has majorly increased and is now down by almost 79% in a little over a decade.
Jackson Heights is a pleasant area to live in, especially with its low living costs and nice scenery. With its many cultural backgrounds and different ethnic neighborhoods, Jackson Heights is definitely an interesting and enjoyable place to be.
