The Typical Neighborhood: Continued Minority Segregation from Whites

Based on national metropolitan averages, the graph below illustrates typical neighborhood diversity as experienced by the different groups. Stark contrasts are readily apparent between the typical experiences of whites versus that of each minority group. The typical white lives in a neighborhood that is 80.2 % white, 6.7% black, 7.9% Hispanic, and 3.9% Asian.

The experience of minorities is very different. For example, the typical black lives in a neighborhood that is 51.4 % black, 33.0 % white, 11.4% Hispanic, and 3.3% Asian. The typical Hispanic lives in a neighborhood that is 45.5% Hispanic, 36.5% white, 10.8% black and 5.9% Asian. The typical Asian lives in a neighborhood that is 17.9% Asian, 54.0% white, 9.2% black, and 17.4% Hispanic.

The basic message here is that whites live in neighborhoods with low minority representation while minorities live in neighborhoods with high minority representation, and limited white representation. Blacks, Hispanics, and Asian live in more integrated neighborhoods than whites.