Segregation occurs in several dimensions. Here we look at neighborhood divisions by income, by nativity (born in the U.S. vs. immigrant), and by
race and ethnicity.

We also look at how these combine. Many people believe that racial/ethnic segregation is really a reflection of segregation by income and nativity. For example, since blacks have lower incomes than whites, that could explain why they live in different neighborhoods. Or since Asians include such a high proportion of immigrants, that could explain why they live in distinct
parts of the metropolis.

In the following pages, you can check on the levels of segregation by income class and nativity, regardless of race. You can assess how much income and nativity account for racial/ethnic segregation. And you can view this information at the MSA level or the city level.

The data for each category - individual metropolitan area and city - divide whites, blacks, Hispanics and Asians into subgroups based on income (poor, middle and affluent - see sidebar) and nativity (US-born and foreign-born).

Metropolitan Statistical Area

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 elect 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.