Baltimore City African American Middle Class Analysis
and Metrics
Matthew KachuraProgram Manager
BNIA-JFI, University of BaltimoreJanuary 10, 2008
BNIA-JFI• Part of the Jacob France Institute of the University of
Baltimore• Collects, analyzes, and disseminates over 40
socioeconomic indicators for Baltimore City.• Most recognized for Vital Signs• Specialize in:
– Economic & Workforce Development– Geographic Information Services– Program Evaluation– Data and Information
Methodology
• Review of existing Baltimore City African American Middle Class research
• Analysis of Baltimore City African American Middle Class– Creation of metrics for comparison (8 focus areas)– Comparison of racial groups
(African American and white)– Comparison of middle class groups (charts & maps)
Analysis Methodology• Primary data sources:
– 2000 Census, 5% Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS)– 2002 Survey of Minority Owned Businesses– Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey– Maryland Higher Education Commission
• Definitions:– Middle Income is defined as earning income between
$35,000 and $75,000– African Americans and whites do not include Hispanic
persons– Households are all persons occupying a housing unit and
does not require them to be related.
Metrics Focus Areas• Demographics
– Population– Sex– Households
• Income– Per capita– Median household– Persons below poverty– Income from other sources
• Employment– Percent not in labor force– Unemployed– Occupations
• Housing– Homeownership– Value of home– Mortgages
• Transit– Method of commute– Travel time to work
• Health Insurance– Percentage without health insurance
• Education– Educational attainment– Enrollment trends– Graduation rates
• Minority Owned Business– Number of firms– Number of employees– Total sales
Primary Finding
Baltimore City has a sizeable African American middle class but significant gaps exist between
African American and white residents.
Demographics - PopulationPercent of Population Earning Below $35,000
88%
10%
78%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
African American GAP White
Percent of Population - Middle Class
11%
6%
17%
0%
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
12%
14%
16%
18%
African American GAP White
Percent of Population Earning Above $75,000
1%
4%
5%
0%
1%
2%
3%
4%
5%
6%
African American GAP White
Percent of Households Earning Below $35,000
62%
15%
47%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
African American GAP White
Percent of Households - Middle Class
29%
4%
33%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
African American GAP White
Percent of Households Earning Above $75,000
9%
11%
20%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
African American GAP White
Demographics - Households
Income
• Per capitaAfrican American - $13,123White - $25,139
• Median householdAfrican American - $26,202White - $37,054
• Persons below povertyAfrican American – 27%White – 13%
Percentage of Persons Receiving Income from Interest/Dividends - Total
10%
32%
42%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
African American GAP White
Percentage of Persons Receiving Income from Interest/Dividends - Middle Class
13%
29%
42%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
African American GAP White
Employment
Percent Unemployed - Total
14%
9%
5%
0%
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
12%
14%
16%
African American GAP White
Percent Not in Labor Force - Total
45%
4%
41%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
African American GAP White
AfricanAmerican White GAP
Administrative Support Workers 21% 16% 5%Service Workers, except Protective 21% 10% 11%Sales Workers 9% 10% 1%Other Professional Workers 8% 18% 10%Production Operative Workers 6% 4% 2%Transportation and Material Moving Operative Workers 6% 3% 2%Management, Business and Financial Workers 6% 12% 6%Laborers and Helpers 5% 3% 2%Protective Service Workers 4% 2% 2%Installation, Maintenance and Repair Craft Workers 3% 4% 1%Technicians 3% 2% 0%Construction and Extractive Craft Workers 3% 4% 2%Healthcare Practitioner Professionals 2% 5% 3%Science, Engineering and Computer Professionals 2% 6% 4%
Source: Census
Occupations of Baltimore City Residents, 2000
Employment – Middle Class Occupations
African American • Elementary & Middle
School Teachers – 1,338• Driver/Sales Workers &
Truck Drivers – 1,181• Registered Nurses – 1,071• Managers of Office &
Admin Support Workers – 974
• Social Workers - 921
White• Registered Nurses – 1,313• Postsecondary Teachers –
1,087• Elementary & Middle
School Teachers – 942• Accountants & Auditors –
887• Lawyers - 794
Housing - Homeownership
Homeownership - Total
50%
17%
67%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
African American GAP White
Homeownership - Middle Class
66%
7%
73%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
African American GAP White
Housing – Home Value
Percent of Homes Valued Over $90,000 - Total
11%
25%
36%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
African American GAP White
Percent of Homes Valued Over $90,000 - Middle Class
12%
22%
34%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
African American GAP White
Education - AttainmentPercentage of Persons with a Bachelor's Degree -
Total
6%
11%
17%
0%
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
12%
14%
16%
18%
African American GAP White
Percentage of Persons with a Bachelor's Degree - Middle Class
17%
11%
28%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
African American GAP White
Percentage of Persons with a Graduate/Professional Degree - Total
4%
12%
16%
0%
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
12%
14%
16%
18%
African American GAP White
Percentage of Persons with a Graduate/Professional Degree - Middle Class
14%
15%
29%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
African American GAP White
Education – Graduation Rates• All Maryland Public
Colleges & Universities – Total – 38%– African American – 19%– White – 49%
• Towson– Total – 38%– African American – 32%– White – 41%
• UMBC– Total – 32%– African American – 22%– White – 35%
• Coppin– Total – 6%– African American – 6%– White – NA
• Morgan – Total – 12%– African American – 12%– White - NA
Minority Owned Businesses
• Percent of firms:– African American – 28%– Women Owned – 35%
• Percentage of employer firms:– African American – 7%– Women Owned – 16%
• Percentage of Employment– African American – 3%– Women Owned – 4%
Summary
• Baltimore City has an existing African American middle class population.
• Significant gaps exist between the races.– Income– Wealth (homeownership and home value)– Education
• In order to retain, grow, and attract an African American middle class policies to address these gaps need to be created.
410-837-6651http://www.ubalt.edu/bnia/