Racial/Ethnic Composition and Segregation
From this page you can download the data for the total population that were used to prepare these web pages. You can download the full dataset, or you can choose a subset of that file.
The 2005-2009 segregation data are based on pooled samples from the American Community Survey at the tract level. These should be treated as preliminary results. Be aware that even with five years of sample data, the results for some places (especially for smaller places and smaller groups) may be skewed by measurement error. When results from Census 2010 become available in spring 2011 they should replace the data being provided now.
There are something to keep in mind when using this data:
- The files contain a single row of column headers followed by rows of data for each metropolitan area. The column headers are not very descriptive, so click here for a list of variable descriptions.
Download data for metropolitan areas
Option 1 - Download the full file
The full file contains information for all metropolitan areas for 1980,1990,2000, 2010, and 2020, including racial and ethnic population totals, dissimilarity indices, and exposure indices. It contains values for the total metropolitan area, as well as its central city and suburban portions separately
To download the complete data set as SPSS file click here.
Option 2 - Download a subset of the full file
You may now download subsets of the full data file using the form below. You may select the specific year, geographic area, and indices that you want. Racial composition data are included in every file.
Download segregation data for cities
Option 1 - Download the full file
The full file contains information for specific cities for 1980, 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020, including racial and ethnic population totals, dissimilarity indices, and exposure indices.
To download the complete data set as SPSS file click here.
Option 2 - Download a subset of the full file
You may now download subsets of the full data file using the form below. You may select the specific year and indices that you want. Racial composition data are included in every file.
Download segregation data for metros based on the 2010 boundaries
You many also download the full metro file for 1980-2010 that is based on the 2010 metro and city boundaries. These are the data that we were making available to researchers before the 2020 census, and they may still be of use for some purposes. These data are only available as the full file with all variables and all years.
Click here to download these older data.
© Spatial Structures in Social Sciences, Brown University
