Thanks for signing up!
Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go.
The 25 Most Segregated Cities In America
Racial segregation in America is lasting longer than anyone expected.
Advertisement
The average black person lives in a neighborhood that is 45 percent black, even though blacks represent only 13 percent of the population, according to professors John Logan and Brian Stults at Brown and Florida State.
Logan and Stults analyzed 2010 Census data with a dissimilarity index, which determines the percentage of one group that would have to move to a different neighborhood to eliminate segregation. A score above 60 shows very high segregation.
While the professors evaluated segregation for pairs of racial groups, we wanted to compare overall segregation. To create an approximate ranking of metropolitan statistical areas, we weighted white-black, white-Hispanic, and white-Asian dissimilarity scores by minority population.
We mapped these areas using the Racial Dot Map from the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia.
Blue = White; Green = Black; Yellow = Hispanic; Red = Asian; Brown = other
The Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach Metropolitan Statistical Area has dissimilarity scores of 64 for white-black, 57 for white-Hispanic, 33 for white-Asian, according to a study of 2010 Census data by professors John Logan and Brian Stults of Brown and Florida State University; and a score of 58.5 for overall dissimilarity, according to Business Insider's population-weighted index (scores over 60 show very high segregation).
Blue = White; Green = Black; Yellow = Hispanic; Red = Asian; Brown = other
The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana Metropolitan Statistical Area has dissimilarity scores of 65 for white-black, 62 for white-Hispanic, 45 for white-Asian, according to a study of 2010 Census data by professors John Logan and Brian Stults of Brown and Florida State University; and a score of 58.6 for overall dissimilarity, according to Business Insider's population-weighted index (scores over 60 show very high segregation).
Blue = White; Green = Black; Yellow = Hispanic; Red = Asian; Brown = other
The Niles-Benton Harbor Metropolitan Statistical Area has dissimilarity scores of 69 for white-black, 31 for white-Hispanic, 42 for white-Asian, according to a study of 2010 Census data by professors John Logan and Brian Stults of Brown and Florida State University; and a score of 59.2 for overall dissimilarity, according to Business Insider's population-weighted index (scores over 60 show very high segregation).
Blue = White; Green = Black; Yellow = Hispanic; Red = Asian; Brown = other
The Cincinnati-Middletown Metropolitan Statistical Area has dissimilarity scores of 67 for white-black, 37 for white-Hispanic, 42 for white-Asian, according to a study of 2010 Census data by professors John Logan and Brian Stults of Brown and Florida State University; and a score of 59.3 for overall dissimilarity, according to Business Insider's population-weighted index (scores over 60 show very high segregation).
Blue = White; Green = Black; Yellow = Hispanic; Red = Asian; Brown = other
The Peoria Metropolitan Statistical Area has dissimilarity scores of 69 for white-black, 36 for white-Hispanic, 49 for white-Asian, according to a study of 2010 Census data by professors John Logan and Brian Stults of Brown and Florida State University; and a score of 59.8 for overall dissimilarity, according to Business Insider's population-weighted index (scores over 60 show very high segregation).
Blue = White; Green = Black; Yellow = Hispanic; Red = Asian; Brown = other
The Springfield, MA Metropolitan Statistical Area has dissimilarity scores of 62 for white-black, 63 for white-Hispanic, 37 for white-Asian, according to a study of 2010 Census data by professors John Logan and Brian Stults of Brown and Florida State University; and a score of 59.9 for overall dissimilarity, according to Business Insider's population-weighted index (scores over 60 show very high segregation).
Blue = White; Green = Black; Yellow = Hispanic; Red = Asian; Brown = other
The Muskegon-Norton Shores Metropolitan Statistical Area has dissimilarity scores of 71 for white-black, 30 for white-Hispanic, 22 for white-Asian, according to a study of 2010 Census data by professors John Logan and Brian Stults of Brown and Florida State University; and a score of 60.0 for overall dissimilarity, according to Business Insider's population-weighted index (scores over 60 show very high segregation).
Blue = White; Green = Black; Yellow = Hispanic; Red = Asian; Brown = other
The Pinebluff Metropolitan Statistical Area has dissimilarity scores of 61 for white-black, 30 for white-Hispanic, 48 for white-Asian, according to a study of 2010 Census data by professors John Logan and Brian Stults of Brown and Florida State University; and a score of 60.0 for overall dissimilarity, according to Business Insider's population-weighted index (scores over 60 show very high segregation).
Blue = White; Green = Black; Yellow = Hispanic; Red = Asian; Brown = other
The Youngstown-Warren-Boardman Metropolitan Statistical Area has dissimilarity scores of 65 for white-black, 46 for white-Hispanic, 32 for white-Asian, according to a study of 2010 Census data by professors John Logan and Brian Stults of Brown and Florida State University; and a score of 60.1 for overall dissimilarity, according to Business Insider's population-weighted index (scores over 60 show very high segregation).
Blue = White; Green = Black; Yellow = Hispanic; Red = Asian; Brown = other
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington Metropolitan Statistical Area has dissimilarity scores of 67 for white-black, 55 for white-Hispanic, 40 for white-Asian, according to a study of 2010 Census data by professors John Logan and Brian Stults of Brown and Florida State University; and a score of 60.1 for overall dissimilarity, according to Business Insider's population-weighted index (scores over 60 show very high segregation).
Blue = White; Green = Black; Yellow = Hispanic; Red = Asian; Brown = other
The Memphis Metropolitan Statistical Area has dissimilarity scores of 62 for white-black, 51 for white-Hispanic, 37 for white-Asian, according to a study of 2010 Census data by professors John Logan and Brian Stults of Brown and Florida State University; and a score of 60.1 for overall dissimilarity, according to Business Insider's population-weighted index (scores over 60 show very high segregation).
Blue = White; Green = Black; Yellow = Hispanic; Red = Asian; Brown = other
The Flint Metropolitan Statistical Area has dissimilarity scores of 67 for white-black, 23 for white-Hispanic, 36 for white-Asian, according to a study of 2010 Census data by professors John Logan and Brian Stults of Brown and Florida State University; and a score of 60.7 for overall dissimilarity, according to Business Insider's population-weighted index (scores over 60 show very high segregation).
Blue = White; Green = Black; Yellow = Hispanic; Red = Asian; Brown = other
The Monroe Metropolitan Statistical Area has dissimilarity scores of 63 for white-black, 32 for white-Hispanic, 35 for white-Asian, according to a study of 2010 Census data by professors John Logan and Brian Stults of Brown and Florida State University; and a score of 60.9 for overall dissimilarity, according to Business Insider's population-weighted index (scores over 60 show very high segregation).
Blue = White; Green = Black; Yellow = Hispanic; Red = Asian; Brown = other
The Beaumont-Port Arthur Metropolitan Statistical Area has dissimilarity scores of 67 for white-black, 51 for white-Hispanic, 51 for white-Asian, according to a study of 2010 Census data by professors John Logan and Brian Stults of Brown and Florida State University; and a score of 60.9 for overall dissimilarity, according to Business Insider's population-weighted index (scores over 60 show very high segregation).
Blue = White; Green = Black; Yellow = Hispanic; Red = Asian; Brown = other
The Danville Metropolitan Statistical Area has dissimilarity scores of 68 for white-black, 43 for white-Hispanic, 41 for white-Asian, according to a study of 2010 Census data by professors John Logan and Brian Stults of Brown and Florida State University; and a score of 61.2 for overall dissimilarity, according to Business Insider's population-weighted index (scores over 60 show very high segregation).
Blue = White; Green = Black; Yellow = Hispanic; Red = Asian; Brown = other
The Gadsen Metropolitan Statistical Area has dissimilarity scores of 66 for white-black, 44 for white-Hispanic, 38 for white-Asian, according to a study of 2010 Census data by professors John Logan and Brian Stults of Brown and Florida State University; and a score of 61.5 for overall dissimilarity, according to Business Insider's population-weighted index (scores over 60 show very high segregation).
Blue = White; Green = Black; Yellow = Hispanic; Red = Asian; Brown = other
The Reading, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area has dissimilarity scores of 47 for white-black, 69 for white-Hispanic, 30 for white-Asian, according to a study of 2010 Census data by professors John Logan and Brian Stults of Brown and Florida State University; and a score of 61.5 for overall dissimilarity, according to Business Insider's population-weighted index (scores over 60 show very high segregation).
Blue = White; Green = Black; Yellow = Hispanic; Red = Asian; Brown = other
The Birmingham-Hoover, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area has dissimilarity scores of 65 for white-black, 45 for white-Hispanic, 43 for white-Asian, according to a study of 2010 Census data by professors John Logan and Brian Stults of Brown and Florida State University; and a score of 61.7 for overall dissimilarity, according to Business Insider's population-weighted index (scores over 60 show very high segregation).
Blue = White; Green = Black; Yellow = Hispanic; Red = Asian; Brown = other
The Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, Illinois-Indiana-Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area has dissimilarity scores of 76 for white-black, 57 for white-Hispanic, 42 for white-Asian, according to a study of 2010 Census data by professors John Logan and Brian Stults of Brown and Florida State University; and a score of 61.9 for overall dissimilarity, according to Business Insider's population-weighted index (scores over 60 show very high segregation).
Blue = White; Green = Black; Yellow = Hispanic; Red = Asian; Brown = other
The St. Louis, Missouri-Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area has dissimilarity scores of 71 for white-black, 31 for white-Hispanic, 41 for white-Asian, according to a study of 2010 Census data by professors John Logan and Brian Stults of Brown and Florida State University; and a score of 63.2 for overall dissimilarity, according to Business Insider's population-weighted index (scores over 60 show very high segregation).
Blue = White; Green = Black; Yellow = Hispanic; Red = Asian; Brown = other
The Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area has dissimilarity scores of 71 for white-black, 51 for white-Hispanic, 51 for white-Asian, according to a study of 2010 Census data by professors John Logan and Brian Stults of Brown and Florida State University; and a score of 64.0 for overall dissimilarity, according to Business Insider's population-weighted index (scores over 60 show very high segregation).
Blue = White; Green = Black; Yellow = Hispanic; Red = Asian; Brown = other
The New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, New York-New Jersey-Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area has dissimilarity scores of 77 for white-black, 62 for white-Hispanic, 51 for white-Asian, according to a study of 2010 Census data by professors John Logan and Brian Stults of Brown and Florida State University; and a score of 64.5 for overall dissimilarity, according to Business Insider's population-weighted index (scores over 60 show very high segregation).
Blue = White; Green = Black; Yellow = Hispanic; Red = Asian; Brown = other
The Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor, Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Area has dissimilarity scores of 73 for white-black, 52 for white-Hispanic, 38 for white-Asian, according to a study of 2010 Census data by professors John Logan and Brian Stults of Brown and Florida State University; and a score of 66.2 for overall dissimilarity, according to Business Insider's population-weighted index (scores over 60 show very high segregation).
Blue = White; Green = Black; Yellow = Hispanic; Red = Asian; Brown = other
The Detroit-Warren-Livonia, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area has dissimilarity scores of 74 for white-black, 43 for white-Hispanic, 46 for white-Asian, according to a study of 2010 Census data by professors John Logan and Brian Stults of Brown and Florida State University; and a score of 66.7 for overall dissimilarity, according to Business Insider's population-weighted index (scores over 60 show very high segregation).
Blue = White; Green = Black; Yellow = Hispanic; Red = Asian; Brown = other
The Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area has dissimilarity scores of 80 for white-black, 57 for white-Hispanic, 38 for white-Asian, according to a study of 2010 Census data by professors John Logan and Brian Stults of Brown and Florida State University; and a score of 67.9 for overall dissimilarity, according to Business Insider's population-weighted index (scores over 60 show very high segregation).
Advertisement