Up to this point my research has addressed the overall impact of the new stadium to the area, but what about the people who live there?  I turned to statistical data to find tangible indicators of the impact on the community itself.  The website neighborhoodinfodc.org was particularly helpful in narrowing my search criteria.  I focused my search on home values, crime statistics, income, and diversity.

Statistical Data

One of the most shocking statistical changes is the drop in violent crime in Ward 6 over the last ten years.  Ward 6 consistently outpaced the DC average for violent crimes through 2008, the year the stadium opened.  2009 was the first year the stadium was open for the complete calendar year and also the first year Ward 6 had violent crime numbers below the DC average.  The drop in 2010 is even more dramatic.  Given the time frame and previous statistical history, it is fair to attribute the precipitous drop to the presence of the stadium and to the revitalization projects happening around it.

Median Household Income

Southeast was mentioned as a stadium location very early in DC Council discussions, the only real question seemed to be where in Southeast.  It is quite probable that Ward 6 median home buyer income increased after the announcement that Washington DC would be home to a baseball team once more.  ​ The increase in home buyer income corresponds with the increase in property values, indicating that people were buying into the city's proposed revitalization efforts and were eager to be a part of it. 

Within Ward 6 itself, zip code 20024 shows the least growth.  Half of the zip code falls within the boundaries of Ward 6 and the other half in Ward 2.  The majority of this zip code is actually in Southwest DC and therefore not a part of the city's initial revitalization push.  Buzzard Point and the Marina are included in the current phase of the city's revitalization plan.  Unfortunately, projects planned for Southwest stalled during the recession.  Recent newspaper articles indicate that some projects are back on track in the area. The city is focusing its current revitalization efforts in Southwest due to its proximity to Nationals Park, in the hopes of expanding the revitalization taking place around the ballpark. 

This graph shows a steady increase in home values from 2002 to 2006, which is before the construction of the stadium.  The entire area suffered a gradual decline in 2006 and then values plummeted in DC and the surrounding Metro area.  There were numerous articles in my timeline research regarding business difficulties around the time of the stadium opening and there is no doubt that the economic downturn impacted the revitalization efforts.  Based on the numbers in both DC and the DC Metro area, the Nationals Park area weathered the downturn much better than its neighbors, showing only a comparatively minor dip and then a gradual climb in home property values.  Once the stadium opened in 2008, property values held steady and then began to creep back upward.  Overall, property values are markedly better in 2012 compared to the years before the stadium was built and the city began its revitalization efforts in the area.​