US2010

Description of the indicators and measures

Data

Data

Data for 1990 are taken from Summary Tape File 4A ("A" and "B" records) and Summary Tape File 1A of the 1990 Census of Population and Housing. Data for 2000 are taken from Summary File 3 of the 2000 Census of Population and Housing, released by the Census Bureau in August-September 2002 and Summary File 1 released in 2001. Data for 2005-2009 are from the American Community Survey released in 2010. Data are aggregated upward to match the geographic boundaries of metropolitan regions as they were defined for the 2010 Census.

The original source for information in 1990 and 2000 is the Census long form questionnaire, which was completed by a 1-in-6 sample of households. The 2005-2009 American Community Survey data are based on somewhat smaller samples. All of these estimates are subject to sampling error. Therefore for areas with small populations, or small numbers of a particular category of residents, users should be aware that the sample values may be considerably different than if a full-count number were available. For this reason, in this analysis we have defined a person's "neighborhood" to include not only the person's own census tract, but also all those that adjoin it. This somewhat larger area typically includes 4-7 census tracts, and sampling error for this larger area should be greatly reduced.

The initial table showing disparities in neighborhood characteristics is based on household-level data. Analyses of where racial/ethnic groups live, according to their household income, are based on household-level data. Analyses according to their nativity are based on individual-level data.

Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA)

The data on our pages are reported for metropolitan regions (metropolitan statistical areas or metropolitan divisions) as they were defined for the 2010 census. In most cases both a central city (or sometimes two or more central cities) and the ring of surrounding suburbs are included. At the top of the page for each metro area, we have listed the counties and the city (or cities) that the Census has designated as the central city (or principal city) for that area.

Comparability of 1990, 2000, and 2005-2009 Incomes

For comparability, the median household and per capita income figures have been adjusted for inflation and therefore the values are represented in 2009 dollar amounts, which is the basis for American Community Survey 2005-2009 income data. To accomplish this, the 2000 income figures were multiplied by 1.2459; 1990 income figures were multiplied by 1.6171 (1.2979 for 1990-2000 and 1.2459 for 2000-2009).

Exposure Indices (MSA)

The exposure indices (P*) refer to the neighborhood characteristics experienced by the average member of a given group. For example, if the neighborhood’s median household income for blacks is $30,000, this is interpreted as the average black lives in a neighborhood where the median household income is $30,000. Similarly, if the neighborhood percent homeowner for whites is 75%, this is interpreted as the average white lives in a neighborhood where 75% of the residents own homes.

Income Class Categories

Our income class categories are defined as "poor" (income below 175% of the poverty line for a family of four, "affluent" (income more than 350% of the poverty line,), and "middle income" (those falling in between). Our choices were constrained by the categories provided in the data. For “poor” we used values of $22,500 in 1990, $30,000 in 2000, and $40,000 in 2005-2009. For “affluent” we sued values of $45,000 in 1990, $60,000 in 2000, and $75,000 in 2005-2009.

Neighborhoods

We use census tracts to represent neighborhoods. These data are then averaged at the metropolitan region (MSA) level, as well as for the central city and suburban portions of each MSA to arrive at the “average” neighborhood experience for each group across a series of social and economic indicators.

Description of Variables

College Educated: The percentage of persons aged 25 and over who have at least a bachelor's degree.

Foreign Born: The percentage of the population that is foreign-born (i.e. people who are not U.S. citizens at birth).

Language Other Than English: The percentage of the population that speaks a language other than English at home. This percentage includes all categories of the "Language Spoken at Home" variable except "Speaks English Only".

Management, Professional and Related Occupations: The percentage of employed civilians aged 16 and over who have an occupation in the general census occupation category of "managerial and professional specialty occupations." The 1990 percentages have been calculated based on the Lewis Mumford Center's revised definition of professional/managerial occupations. The following occupational categories were added to the 1990 definition: Technicians, except health, engineering, and science (codes 226-242); Adjusters and investigators (codes 375-378). Click here for more information.

Median Household Income: This is the median income (adjusted to 2009 dollars) for all households. A household includes all the people who occupy a housing unit as their usual place of residence. The median income divides the income distribution into two equal groups, one having incomes above the median, and the other having incomes below the median. In order to report median income for metropolitan regions with constant 2010 boundaries, we have computed these data from tract-level statistics. Our estimates are based on a Pareto Curve interpolation from grouped data. For 1990, where income has been reported in 25 categories, the estimates are quite precise. For 2000, because only 9 categories of income have been reported, the estimates are subject to some error. Click here for more details on the procedure.

Owner-Occupied Housing Unit: The percentage of owner-occupied housing units. A housing unit is owner occupied if the owner or co-owner lives in the unit even if it is mortgaged or not fully paid for.

Per Capita Income: This is the average income figure (adjusted to 2009 dollars) obtained by dividing aggregate income by the total population of an area.

Poverty: The percentage of persons living below the poverty level. Following the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB's) Directive 14, the Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to detect who is poor. If the total income for a family or unrelated individual falls below the relevant poverty threshold, then the family or unrelated individual is classified as being "below the poverty level." Figures reported here are based on the definition in the corresponding year.

Recent Immigrants: The percentage of the foreign-born population entering the United States within the last ten years.

Unemployed: The percentage of persons in the labor force aged 16 and over classified as unemployed. All civilians 16 years old and over are classified as unemployed if they (1) were neither "at work" nor "with a job but not at work" during the reference week, and (2) were actively looking for work during the last 4 weeks, and (3) were available to accept a job. Also included as unemployed are civilians who did not work at all during the reference week, were waiting to be called back to a job from which they had been laid off, and were available for work except for temporary illness.

U.S. Born: The percentage of the population born in the United States, Puerto Rico, or U.S. Island Areas.

Vacancy Status: The percentage of unoccupied housing units.

Non-Hispanic white neighbors: The percentage of neighborhood residents who are non-Hispanic white.

Same-group neighbors: The percentage of neighborhood residents who are in the same racial/ethnic category as the selected group.