Perceived vs. objective gentrification: Bridging measurements of neighborhood change

Gentrification dynamics have been examined worldwide through diverse methodologies. While some scholars focus on objective sociodemographic changes indicating gentrification, others explore residents' perceptions of neighborhood change. However, little effort has been made to correlate both measures. This paper addresses this gap by investigating whether residents in objectively gentrified neighborhoods accurately perceive gentrification. Using sociodemographic data at the census area level from the Spanish cities of Barcelona, Madrid and Valencia, we classify urban areas' depending on their gentrification status and relate these objective measures of gentrification to perceived measures gathered from self-reported survey responses. Logistic regressions were used to establish the relationship between objective and perceived measures of gentrification. Our results point to people being more perceptive toward gentrification when living in areas with ongoing gentrification processes. This correlation between both types of perceived and objective gentrification metrics points at their complementarity and a certain degree of interchangeability. Furthermore, the analysis of different sociodemographic profiles shows that educational attainment plays a crucial role as a moderator of perceptions of gentrification. This indicates that while perceived and objective measures of gentrification generally align, combining them can uncover nuanced dynamics and inform more responsive urban planning strategies. © 2026 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.