Gentrification is a process of changing the character of a neighborhood through the influx of more affluent residents and businesses. It is a common and controversial topic in urban politics and planning. Gentrification typically occurs when people with higher incomes move into an area, spilling over from neighboring cities, towns, or neighborhoods. This process is often accompanied by increased investments in the community and related infrastructure by real estate development businesses, local government, or community activists, resulting in economic development, increased attraction of business, and lower crime rates.

The term "gentrification" was first used by British sociologist Ruth Glass in 1964 to describe the influx of middle-class people displacing lower-class worker residents in urban neighborhoods. In the US, gentrification is defined as "the transformation of neighborhoods from low value to high value. This change has the potential to cause displacement of long-time residents and businesses when long-time or original neighborhood residents move from a gentrified area because of higher rents, mortgages, and property taxes".

Gentrification is a complex issue with both positive and negative effects. While increased investment in an area can be positive, gentrification is often associated with displacement, which means that long-time or original neighborhood residents may be forced to move out due to rising housing costs. The effects of gentrification are complex and contradictory, and its real impact varies.