titlepicDescription of the indicators and measures

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. For both years, data are taken from the "split tract" summary level. This allows for the identification of tracts unique to the level of state, county, and place. Data are aggregated upward to match the geographic boundaries of metropolitan regions, cities, and suburbs in 2000.

The original source for information in both years is the Census long form questionnaire, which was completed by a 1-in-6 sample of households. The 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. We have reduced some of the error in tract-level sample numbers by adjusting the total number of persons/household by race/ethnicity to equal the full-count number as reported in SF1 and SF2.

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. The Census Bureau uses a standard set of definitions of the area included in each "metropolitan statistical area" (MSA) or "primary metropolitan statistical area" (PMSA). 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 cities) for that area. After viewing data for the entire metropolitan area, you may select to see information for only the central city or suburban portion. If there is more than one central city, please remember that what we report is for all these cities combined.

Comparability of 1990 and 2000 Incomes     


For comparability, the 1990 median household and per capita income figures have been adjusted for inflation and therefore the values are represented in 2000 dollar amounts. To accomplish this, the 1990 income figures were multiplied by 1.297861 as recommended by the Census Bureau.

Exposure Indices     


The exposure indices (P*) refer to the neighborhood characteristics experienced by the average member of a given group. For example, if the 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 percent homeowner for whites is 75%, this is interpreted as the average white lives in a neighborhood where 75% of the residents own homes.

Calculation of Rankings     


Our rankings for the overall group neighborhood prosperity were calculated by standardizing the values for each economic indicator (creating a Z-score). For those indicators where a higher value means a less healthy region (poverty, unemployment, housing vacancy), we took the inverse of the score by multiplying by -1. Then all the indicators were summed and a ranking was assigned - with a higher score leading to a higher (better) rank. To calculate the index for neighborhood disparities, we first created ratios of the neighborhood to neighborhood disparities (e.g. black to white neighborhoods) for each variable, standardized these values, corrected their direction, and summed the values.

Income Class Categories     


Our income class categories are defined as "poor" (income below 175% of the poverty line for a family of four, $22,500 in 1990 and $30,000 in 2000), "affluent" (income more than 350% of the poverty line, $45,000 in 1990 and $60,000 in 2000), and "middle income" (those falling in between).

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.

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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 Mumford Center's revised definition of professional/managerial occupations. Click here for more information.

Median Household Income: This is the median income 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. The Census Bureau reports Median household income for metro areas and individual cities. For suburbs, for cities where there is more than one central city in the metropolis, and for metro areas that cross state lines, we provide estimates of the median income. These 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 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."

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.

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