Measuring Segregation in Boston We’re concerned about segregation because it is linked to stunted home prices, unequal educational outcomes, racial polarization, health disparities, limited employment opportunities In some regard, segregation is not always a bad thing… but is it? Say explicitly, we think there is a lot of interesting something here, and we’re thinking about doing some report or further work on it, we’d love to connect it to an action agenda… if you have ideas on how this can be useful to your work, please do let us know
Measures of segregation Racial segregation in Boston Income segregation in Boston Comparisons to other cities Potential solutions - Summary of leading approaches to measuring residential segregation - Racial segregation may be the top variable of interest; income is another one of interest - Comparing segregation within Boston; within the metro area; Boston compared to other metro areas; how this has changed over time - Catalogue leading research on effects of residential segregation - Catalogue ideas for change; both big ideas and smaller ideas - School segregation in MA/Boston; Nicole Hannah-Jones, ProPublica
Isolation index Measure of isolation Measured for one group For an average group member, what percentage of their neighborhood is from their same group
Dissimilarity index Measure of evenness Measured between two groups The percentage of one population that would have to move to produce perfect evenness
Racial segregation: relatively high, but going down
Boston is becoming more Hispanic and Asian. Population by race and ethnicity. Boston (city). 1980 to 2010. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Boston’s racial distribution has become more even. Dissimilarity Index. Race and ethnicity. Boston (city). 1980 to 2010. Sources: Decennial census. Brown S4 project.
… And so has the metro area’s. Dissimilarity Index. Race and ethnicity. Boston MSA. 1980 to 2010. Sources: Decennial census. Brown S4 project.
All Bostonians are less isolated - except for Hispanic people. Isolation Index. Race and ethnicity. Boston (city). 1980 to 2010. Sources: Decennial census. Brown S4 project.
And the metro’s Asian and Hispanic populations are increasingly isolated. Isolation index. Race and ethnicity. Boston MSA. 1980 to 2010. It is interesting that data suggests Boston proper is more segregated than metro Boston. Does that feel like the way we all have experienced the region? Do you think this trend of Boston’s racial segregation getting a little better is right to you? Sources: Decennial census. Calculations by Brown S4 project.
The odd relationship between diversity and segregation. Integration-Segregation Index. 100 most populous cities. 2010. Integration Score https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-most-diverse-cities-are-often-the-most-segregated/ Diversity Score Source: FiveThirtyEight.
Boston ranks 70th out of 100 cities in integrating its racial populations. Integration-Segregation Index. 100 most populous cities. 2010. City Diversity score Integration score Over/underperforming 1. Irvine, CA 60.4% 58.7% 11.0% 2. Sacramento, CA 73.8% 66.5% 10.1% 3. Paradise, NV 61.6% 9.8% … 69. Toledo, OH 53.3% 40.0% -2.8% 70. Boston, MA 68.2% 50.0% -2.9% 71. Omaha, NE 49.7% 37.2% -3.0% 98. Milwaukee, WI 66.4% 38.6% -13.1% 99. Atlanta, GA 56.8% 30.7% -14.5% 100. Chicago, IL 70.3% 35.7% -18.6% https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-most-diverse-cities-are-often-the-most-segregated/ Source: FiveThirtyEight.
Income segregation: relatively low, but going up
The lower income population in Boston is less ‘concentrated’ than in other large metro areas. Share of lower income households living in lower-income tracts. Ten largest MSAs. 2010. + Lower-income defined as 67% of the national median http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2012/08/01/the-rise-of-residential-segregation-by-income/ Source: Pew Research Center. Method from Massey and Fischer (2003).
… The upper income population is also less ‘concentrated’ in Boston. Share of upper income households living in upper-income tracts. Ten largest MSAs. 2010. + Upper Income defined as 200% of the national median http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2012/08/01/the-rise-of-residential-segregation-by-income/ Source: Pew Research Center. Method from Massey and Fischer (2003).
… And Boston has experienced less growth in income ‘concentration’ than other cities. Change in residential income segregation index (RISI). Ten largest MSAs. 1980 to 2010. + RISI is share of lower income living in majority lower income tracts + share of upper income living in lower-income tracts http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2012/08/01/the-rise-of-residential-segregation-by-income/ * Does this surprise other people in the room? Do a quick poll? Source: Pew Research Center. Method from Massey and Fischer (2003).
Comparisons
The number of ‘hyper-segregated’ metro areas has dropped dramatically. Source: Pew Research Center. Method from Massey and Fischer (2003).
All Hyper-Segregated Areas in 1970 The 52 hyper-segregated areas. Black-white hyper-segregated metro areas. 1970. All Hyper-Segregated Areas in 1970 2010 Albany, GA Amarillo, TX Asheville, NC Atlanta, GA Buffalo, NY Cleveland, OH Denver, CO Fort Wayne, IN Grand Rapids, MI Houston, TX Indianapolis, IN Jacksonville, FL Lakeland, FL Las Vegas, NV Louisville, KY Muncie, IN Nashville, TN New Orleans, LA Oklahoma City, OK Omaha, NE-IA Pittsburgh, PA Richmond, VA Roanoke, VA Saginaw, MI Savannah, GA Springfield, MA Toledo, OH Washington, DC Wichita, KS York, PA Baltimore, MD Birmingham, AL Boston, MA Chattanooga, TN Chicago, IL Cleveland, OH Dayton, OH Detroit, MI Flint, MI Gadsden, AL Hartford, CT Kansas City, MO Milwaukee, MI Mobile, AL Monroe, LA New York, NY Philadelphia, PA Rochester, NY St. Louis, MO Syracuse, NY Winston-Salem, NC *287 total. 52 defined as hyper-segregated at one point or another. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4886656/ * What are the right comparison cities? Sources: Massey and Tannen (2015).
Some comparable cities by total population size and density. Population +/- 250,000 of Boston. Density +/- 6,000 people per square mile of Boston. 2016. City Total Population (rank in brackets) Density, people per square mile (rank in brackets) Race/ethnicity makeup White Black Asian Hispanic San Francisco 870,887 (#13) 18,569/sq mi (#2) 41% 5% 34% 15% Seattle 704,358 (#18) 8,405/sq mi (#29) 64% 7% 6% Washington, DC 681,170 (#21) 11,148/sq mi (#17) 36% 46% 4% 11% Boston 672,840 (#22) 13,938/sq mi (#7) 45% 23% 10% 19% Miami 453,584 (#42) 12,599/sq mi (#8) 12% 13% 1% 74% https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-most-diverse-cities-are-often-the-most-segregated/ NY has 28,000 people per square mile Worcester has about 5,000 per square mile Houston has about 3,500 per square mile Source: American Community Survey, 1 year estimates.
Boston is doing okay in relation to comparable cities. Isolation Index. Race and ethnicity. 2010. Sources: Decennial census. Brown S4 project.
Unevenness between the two largest groups in each comparison city. Dissimilarity Index. Two largest racial/ethnic groups. 2010. Sources: Decennial census. Brown S4 project.
Unevenness between black and white populations. Dissimilarity Index. Two largest racial/ethnic groups. 2010. Sources: Decennial census. Brown S4 project.
Northeastern cities by total population size and density. Population +/- 250,000 of Boston. Density +/- 6,000 people per square mile of Boston. 2016. City Total Population (rank in brackets) Density, people per square mile (rank in brackets) Race/ethnicity makeup White Black Asian Hispanic New York 8,537,673(#1) 28,317/sq mi (#1) 32% 22% 14% 29% Philadelphia 1,567,872 (#6) 11,683/sq mi (#14) 35% 41% 7% Washington, DC 681,170 (#21) 11,148/sq mi (#17) 36% 46% 4% 11% Boston 672,840 (#22) 13,938/sq mi (#7) 45% 23% 10% 19% Baltimore 614,664 (#30) 7,598/sq mi (#33) 27% 62% 2% 5% https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-most-diverse-cities-are-often-the-most-segregated/ NY has 28,000 people per square mile Worcester has about 5,000 per square mile Houston has about 3,500 per square mile Source: American Community Survey, 1 year estimates.
Boston is doing okay in comparison to northeastern cities. Isolation Index. Race and ethnicity. 2010. Sources: Decennial census. Brown S4 project.
Unevenness between the two largest groups in Northeastern cities. Dissimilarity Index. Two largest racial/ethnic groups. 2010. Sources: Decennial census. Brown S4 project.
Unevenness between black and white populations in Northeastern cities. Dissimilarity Index. Two largest racial/ethnic groups. 2010. Sources: Decennial census. Brown S4 project.
Potential solutions * Get some butcher paper and brainstorm
PARKING LOT
Some general ideas on undermining segregation Change school choice incentives Alter district boundaries, school attendance formulas, public school funding Assist home-seekers in finding homes in neighborhoods with significant populations that are not of their race Down-payment assistance, low-interest mortgages, public awareness campaign Strengthen services and amenities in minority neighborhoods Improve public transit, social services, recreational facilities, business development Expand affordable housing options in exclusive neighborhoods and maintain affordability in low-income areas Inclusionary zoning, affordable housing developments, public transit Enforce fair housing laws Proactive testing of real estate agents, housing providers, and lending institutions Redraw municipal boundaries (or move toward regionalization) Relevant to dense, multi-city metros like Boston/Cambridge/Newton/Brookline/Quincy/etc. *have to watch out for gentrification…
Spatial proximity index Measure of clustering Measured between two groups
Concentration index Measure of concentration – how much space groups occupy Measured between two groups
Absolute centralization index Measure of centrality Measured for one group
Entropy index Measure of spatial distribution Measured for all groups present
Five dimensions of segregation A perfectly mixed situation Uneven & clustered & concentrated & centralized & isolated
Other measures: Single proportions – e.g. percent of tracts that are 50% or more upper income Double proportions – e.g. percent of upper income households that live in neighborhoods that are 50% or more upper income Adjusted (and combined) standard measures – e.g. FiveThirtyEight’s Integration-Segregation Index, Rank Order Information Theory Index *note that segregation measures are most often applied to race, so people are just now getting around to applying the previously listed segregation measures to income Renamed standard measures – e.g. Martin Prosperity Institute’s “Economic Segregation Index”, which is just the Dissimilarity Index applied to income
Local Income Segregation is Growing – and Growing Faster Than the Average Metro Area. Adjusted entropy index (rank-order information theory index). Boston MSA & mean of metro areas. 1970 to 2012. Boston MSA Mean of metro areas *Mean is of metro areas with populations above 500,000. There were 117 of those. Sources: Decennial census. Brown S4 project.
… And So Are the Highest Earning 10% of Families. Adjusted entropy index (rank-order information theory index). Boston MSA & mean of metro areas. 1970 to 2012. Boston MSA *Mean is of metro areas with populations above 500,000. There were 117 of those. Mean of metro areas Sources: Decennial census. Brown S4 project.
The Lowest Earning 10% of Families Are Increasingly Segregated. Adjusted entropy index (rank-order information theory index). Boston MSA & mean of metro areas. 1970 to 2012. Boston MSA *Mean is of metro areas with populations above 500,000. There were 117 of those. Mean of metro areas Sources: Decennial census. Brown S4 project.