December 2011

The State of Equity in Metro Boston

E X E C U T I V E S U M M A RY

To create MetroFuture, the regions plan for growth through the year 2030, thousands of people came together to talk about the future they wanted for their region. These plan builders shared a common vision of an equitable region where all people have full and equal access to opportunities that enable them to attain their full potential. 1

The MetroFuture Equity Goals

MetroFuture directs us to achieve this vision by eliminating unfair, preventable, and systematic differences between groups that not only harm individuals and families, but threaten the vibrancy of our region. We believe that a focus on equity will make our region not only more just, but also more prosperous for all its residents. The MetroFuture region is one where: A wider diversity of housing types are built in all communities (Goal #16), helping to combat segregation based on race, ethnicity, and income (Goal #15). Health outcomes improve for residents of historically disadvantaged communities, with increased access to healthy food (Goal #24), green space (Goal #23), better air quality (Goal #22), and medical care (Goal #26). More convenient transportation options, leading to a healthier lifestyle, are available throughout the region, particularly in traditionally under-served areas (Goal #44). All of the regions residents are equipped with all of the tools they need to succeed in tomorrows economy (Goal #29), and small business owners and first-time homebuyers have the resources to build wealth for future generations (Goal #38).

So, what is the state of equity in Metro Boston?

Inequity Impacts Us
CHILDREN as they try to grow up healthy, learn, and play YOUNG ADULTS as they try to learn, stay safe, and establish independence

Black/African American and Latino teens enter the workforce less prepared for the regions knowledge economy.

White children and children of color rarely grow up side-by-side in Metro Boston. Children of color are highly concentrated in the regions urban areas areas that are nearly absent Whites the same age.

Dropout rates for Black/African American and Latino teens are vastly higher than those for Whites and Asians.

We are Becoming More Diverse

Metro Boston is changing. These demographic trends will have huge impacts on the region in decades to come, and the face of the region in 2030 will look substantially different than it does now. Our older population is growing The youngest among us are our most diverse residents We are increasingly foreign-born

At Each Stage of Our Lives

ADULTS as they try to make a good living, build a home, and stay healthy SENIORS as they try to remain active, retire comfortably, and stay connected

The foreclosure crisis hit urban and minority neighborhoods first and hardest.

Grandparents raising grandchildren are especially impacted by poverty.

About half of all renters in the region are costburdened by housing.

Blacks/African Americans die prematurely at more than one and a half times the rate of whites.

We are Becoming Less Equal

Segregation and income inequality harm individuals throughout their lives and leave Metro Boston less able to compete on the global stage with more equitable regions. These factors also underpin or exacerbate many of the inequalities highlighted in this report. Income inequality is high and growing in Metro Boston The region remains highly segregated Our regressive tax structure worsens income inequality

State of Equity in Metro Boston Indicators Report

Key Findings
The State of Equity in Metro Boston is the first in a series of indicator reports that will monitor the regions progress towards achieving goals set out by the MetroFuture plan. It will be followed by a policy report that will outline key recommendations to help ensure that the region is on track to meet its goals. It is a baseline report that establishes the numbers against which progress will be measured. Weve taken a snapshot of the region as it looks right now, and future reports will tell us more clearly whether we are moving towards our goals or away from them. We highlight equity-related goals first, because meeting them is crucial to achieving the vibrant region envisioned in MetroFuture. Each of the 65 MetroFuture goals is supported by a set of more specific, and largely numeric, objectives. As many objectives as possible are tied to indicators, which are regularly collected data points that form the basis of our analysis. For example:
MetroFuture Goal #29: More workers will graduate from high school and go on to college or career training opportunities. Objective: 98% of 25 -34 year olds will have a high school diploma or equivalent (up from 91% today, and 89% if Current Trends continue). Objective: 90% of high school graduates will go on to 2- or 4-year college (up from 79% today). Objective: Only 10% of graduates from public high schools will need to take remedial courses during their first year of college (down from 37% today). Indicator: Educational attainment rates Objective: 91% of all working-age adults (ages 25-65) will have a high school diploma or equivalent, up from 90% today and 85% if current trends continue.

Key Findings

The MetroFuture plan includes hundreds of indicators, of which we chose the thirty that best tell the story of equity in the region. In addition, the indicators selected are updated regularly and cover the entire region in detail, making them benchmarks we can revisit in years to come to track our progress. To add greater depth to each indicator, we slice the data in several ways. For example, we look at the data by race/ethnicity and/or by geography, comparing results across municipalities or census tracts, or occasionally comparing the region as a whole to other regions. Other slices you will see regularly in our data are gender, age, and income, although they are not the only ones we use. This enables us to look at each indicator from a variety of perspectives. The indicators we address in this report do not simply stand on their own. Conditions described by each indicator can interact with or exacerbate conditions described by others. The reader will notice that some geographic areas suffer from negative outcomes across a variety of indicators, as do some racial or ethnic groups. The overlay of concentrated poverty with racial/ethnic segregation can worsen the challenges created by each. For that reason, it is important to take a look across the indicators in the report as a whole. On the following pages, you will see a list of the equity-related indicators we Demographics Demographics have measured and will revisit regularly moving forward. For each indicator, we Economy Demographics Economy summarize key findings andDemographicsicon indicating its topic area. The icons, provide an Demographics listed in the key below, will enable those interested in learning more to find each Economy Demographics EducationEconomy Education Demographics indicator easily on the regional indicators website. Economy Demographics Demographics
Economy Education Economy Education Environment & Recreation Environment Education Demographics Economy Demographics Environment & Recreation Housing Environment Education Housing Environment Public Health Education Economy Housing Environment & Recreation Education Public Health

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Economy EducationEconomy Demographics Regional Indicators Issue Areas Demographics Housing Environment & Recreation Economy Housing Education Public Health Education Economy Public Health Housing

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Education Environment & Recreation Housing Environment Public Health Public Safety Public Safety Public Health Housing Transportation Public Safety Health Public Civic Vitality Transportation Public Safety References Civic Vitality Transportation References Vitality Civic FINAL

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Environment & Recreation Housing Environment Education Public Safety Public Public Health Transportation Safety

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Housing Environment Public Health Housing Environment & Recreation Transportation Safety Civic Vitality Transportation Public Safety Public Housing Transportation Public Health Civic Vitality Public Safety References Public Health Public Health Public Safety Housing Civic Vitality Civic Vitality References Transportation Public Safety Public Public Health Transportation Safety References References Civic Vitality Transportation Transportation Safety Civic Vitality Public References

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State of Equity in Metro Boston Indicators Report

ISSUE AREA

Demographics Economy Education Environment & Recreation Housing

Demographics Economy Education

INDICATOR

KEY FINDING

Inequity Across the Region

Environment Housing

Dissimilarity Index segregation

Public Health Public Safety Transportation Civic Vitality Demographics References Economy

Over 60% of Black/African American residents of Metro Boston would have to move to a new neighborhood to achieve complete integration Public Health with Whites.
Public Safety

Roughly 60% of all Latino residents of Metro Boston would have to move to a new neighborhood in order to achieve complete Civic Vitality integration with Whites.
Transportation Demographics References Economy

Household Income

Education Environment & Recreation Demographics Housing Economy Public Health

The richest fifth of the population earns, on FINAL average, more than 10 times the income of the poorest fifth. Education
Environment There is

Demographics Housing Economy Public Health

a more than twofold gap between median White and Latino household incomes. Incomes are distributed less equitably in Metro Boston than in 85% of the metro areas in the US.

Demographics Education Public Safety

Gini Coefficient of Income Inequality Tax Burden as a Percent

Demographics Education Public Safety

Economy Environment & Recreation TransportationIncome of Family Education Housing Civic Vitality Environment & Recreation Public Health References Housing Public Safety Public Health Transportation Public Safety Civic Vitality Transportation References Civic Vitality References

Massachusetts poorest families pay more than much of their income on taxes as do the Commonwealths richest families. Education
Economy Environment Transportation twice as Housing Civic Vitality Environment Public Health References Housing Public Safety Public Health Transportation Public Safety Civic Vitality Transportation References Civic Vitality References

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Key Findings

Demographics

Demographics Economy Education Demographics Environment Housing

ISSUE Economy AREA

Education

INDICATOR

KEY FINDING

Demographics Recreation Environment & Economy Housing

Inequity Impacts Children Economy

A Black/African Education Public Health American woman with a college degree is more likely to have an underweight Environment baby than is a White woman with a high school Public Safety education. Demographics
Housing Transportation Economy Black/African Public Health Civic Vitality

Low Birth Weight Education Public Health

Environment Public Safety & Recreation Demographics Housing Transportation Economy Asthma Youth Public Health Civic Vitality

Education Public Safety References Open Space per 1,000 Demographics Recreation Environment & Transportation Residents Economy Housing Civic Vitality

Hospitalization Rate

Education Public Safety References Inner Core communities and Regional Demographics Environment Transportation Urban Centers have less open space in their FINAL Economy neighborhoods (per capita) than do suburban Housing Civic Vitality Education Public Health References Environment Public Safety

American youth are hospitalized for asthma at over five times the rate of White youth.

Education Public Health References

communities.

Environment Public Safety & Recreation Demographics Housing Transportation Economy Public Health Civic Vitality

Distance to the Nearest Open Space

Much of the Inner Core, many Regional Urban Centers, and FINAL Maturing Suburbs offer some Demographics open space resources within walking or residents Housing Transportation biking distance.
Economy Public Health Civic Vitality

Education Public Safety References Schools Demographics Poverty

Attendance of High-

Environment & Transportation Recreation Economy Housing 3rd Grade Civic Vitality Education

Nearly three quarters of Black/African American students attend high-poverty schools, while just over 10% of Whites do. Environment Transportation
Education Public Safety References Demographics and Latino Economy

FINAL

English Language Arts MCAS Public Health References Scores Environment & Recreation
Public Safety Housing Transportation Public Health Civic Vitality Public Safety References Transportation Civic Vitality References

Housing A gap Civic Vitalityof Education

nearly 40 percentage points separates White and Black/African American children in third Public Health References reading proficiency rates. grade Environment
Public Safety Housing Transportation Public Health Civic Vitality Public Safety References Transportation Civic Vitality References

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State of Equity in Metro Boston Indicators Report

ISSUE AREA

INDICATOR

KEY FINDING

Demographics Economy Education

Demographics

Inequity Impacts Teenagers

Economy

Demographics Environment & Recreation Economy Housing Education Public Health

10th Grade Math MCAS Scores

White and Asian 10th graders score proficient or advanced on the math MCAS at rates nearly Demographics double Environment those of Latinos and Blacks/African Americans.
Education Economy Housing

High School Graduation Rates

Environment Public Safety & Recreation Housing Transportation Public Health Civic Vitality Demographics Public Safety References Economy Demographics Transportation

Greater Boston suffers from dramatic disparities in graduation rates by school district, with rates ranging Environment Public Safety from 54% in Chelsea to 98-100% in many other districts.
Education Public Health Housing Transportation

More than 90% of the regions White and Asian graduate in four years, while slightly Demographics more than 70% of Black/African American and 75% Public Safety References of Latino students do.
Public Health Civic Vitality students Economy Demographics Transportation

High School Dropout Education Economy Civic Vitality Demographics Rates

Environment & Recreation Education References Economy Housing Exclusionary Discipline Environment & Recreation Education Public Health Housing Environment & Recreation Demographics Public Safety Public Health Housing Economy Crime Violent Transportation Public Safety Public Health Education Civic Vitality Demographics Transportation Public Safety Environment & Recreation References Economy Civic Vitality Transportation

Dropout rates for Blacks/African Americans and Education Economy Civic Vitality in the region are at least three times as Demographics Latinos high as Environment those for Whites and Asians. Education
References Economy Housing Predominantly White Environment Education FINAL

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Rates

school districts have an outof-school suspension rate of about 4%, while more Public Health Housing diverse Environment districts have out-of-school suspension rates of Demographics Public Safety nearly 15%.
Public Health Housing Economy Boston, Chelsea, and Lynn experience, on average, Transportation Public Safety Public Health

Rates

Education Civic Vitality Demographics municipalities suffer fewer than 1.5 crimes suburban Transportation Public Safety Environment References Economy Civic Vitality Transportation

five violent crimes per 1,000 residents, while many per 1,000 residents.

High Housing School Students Education References Civic Vitality After Plans for
Public Health Graduation Environment & Recreation References Public Safety Housing Transportation Public Health Civic Vitality Public Safety References Transportation Civic Vitality References

A third of students in predominantly White districts Housing Education FINAL References Civic Vitality attend a 4-year public college, while less plan to
Public Health than a Environment quarter of students in more diverse districts FINAL References Public Safety Housing

have the same plan.

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Young adults access to MBTA transit

Well over three quarters of the areas with high concentrations of teens and young adults (25% or more), Civic Vitality Public Safetyare within a quarter mile of MBTA transit.
Transportation Public Health References Transportation Civic Vitality References

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Key Findings

ISSUE AREA

INDICATOR

KEY FINDING

Demographics Economy Education

Demographics

Inequity Impacts Adults

Economy

Educational Attainment Rates

Environment & Recreation Demographics Housing Force Labor Economy

While fewer than 10% of Whites lack a high school diploma, roughly 35% of Latinos have not completed high school. Environment
Education Demographics

Public Health Education Demographics Public Safety EnvironmentRates Poverty & Recreation Economy Transportation Housing Education Demographics Civic Vitality Public Health Environment & Recreation Economy References Public Safety Housing Education Demographics Transportation Public Health & Recreation Environment Economy Civic Vitality Housing Public Safety Affordability Demographics Housing Education References Transportation Economy Public Health Environment & Recreation Civic Vitality Education Public Safety Cost Housing Housing Demographics

Rates

Participation Housing While only 65% of those lacking a high school Economy degree are active in the labor force, 88% of those Public Health with Education a bachelors degree are.

Burden

Demographics Public Safety Environment 25% of Latinos, nearly 20% of Blacks/African Nearly Economy Americans, and over 15% of Asians in our region Transportation Housing live in Education poverty compared to 6% of Whites Demographics Civic Vitality Public Health Environmentfewer than 10% of families overall earn less While Economy References than 130% of the poverty line, more than 25% of Public Safety Housing Education female-headed households with no spouse present Demographics FINAL Transportation than that amount. earn less Public Health Environment Economy Civic Vitality Over 60% of the poorest households are living in Public Safety Demographics Housing Education unaffordable housing, defined as housing that References Transportation costs Economy more than 30% of gross household income. Public Health Environment FINAL Civic Vitality Education Public Safetyhalf of the renters in Massachusetts pay About Housing Demographics References Environment Transportation Public Health Economy

References & Recreation Environment Transportation Public Health Economy Housing Civic Vitality Demographics Public Safety Education

more than 30% of their income on rent.

Foreclosure Rates

Public Health References Economy Transportation Recreation Environment & Public Safety Home Education Loan Civic Vitality Housing Demographics

Foreclosure rates were 10% or higher within parts FINAL and the South End between January 2007 Public Health References and June 2008.
Housing Civic Vitality Demographics Public Safety Education of Roxbury Economy Transportation Environment

FINAL Denial Rates Public Safety low-income Boston neighborhoods, as In many Education Civic Vitality Housing Demographics well as Randolph, Rockland, and Chelsea, more Transportation Transportation Environment Environment References & Recreation References40% of high-income buyers are unable to get than Public Health Public Health Economy Economy loans for home purchases. Civic Vitality Civic Vitality
Housing Public Safety Education References Premature Mortality Public Health Transportation Recreation Environment & Rates Public Safety Civic Vitality Housing Transportation Hospitalizations References Public Health Civic Vitality Public Safety Housing Public Safety Education

FINAL

References Blacks/African Americans die prematurely at three Public Health Transportation Environment times the rate of Asians and one and a half times

the rate Public Safety Civic Vitality Housing

FINAL of Whites.

due to High Blood Pressure

Transportation The rate References Public Health

of hospitalization for hypertension is more than seven times as high for Inner Core Blacks/ Civic Vitality FINAL African Public Safety Americans as it is for suburban Whites.
References Transportation Civic Vitality

References Transportation Civic Vitality

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Demographics State of Demographics Equity in Metro Boston Indicators Report Economy Education Economy Education Demographics Environment Economy Housing Education Public Health

ISSUE Demographics Recreation Environment & INDICATOR AREA

Economy Housing Education Public Health Environment & Recreation Public Safety

KEY FINDING

Inequity Impacts Seniors Environment

Public Safety

Transit and Housing Transportation

Public Health Civic Vitality Public Safety References Transportation Civic Vitality References Demographics Economy

Sidewalk Access for Seniors

The Housing concentration Transportation

of seniors is over twice as high in sections of Framingham and Weymouth as it is Public Health in the Civic Vitalityregion overall, yet these areas offer seniors limited transportation options.
Public Safety References

Transportation Services for Seniors

Most of the communities offering multiple FINAL paratransit options for seniors already have train or Civic Vitality commuter rail access, whereas the municipalities with only 1 or 2 shuttles tend to References be farther from the city where such services are needed most.
Transportation Demographics Economy

FINAL

Poverty Rates for Seniors

Education Demographics Environment & Recreation Economy Housing Education Public Health Environment & Recreation Public Safety Housing Transportation Nursing Homes Public Health Civic Vitality Public Safety References Transportation Civic Vitality References

Nearly 35% of Latino households headed by a senior bring in less than $10,000 per year, while just Educationunder 8% of White households are in this lowest income category. Demographics
Environment

14% Economy Housing

of grandparents who are the primary caregivers for their grandchildren live in poverty Education compared with rates of only 9% of the regions Public Health residents overall.
Environment Public Safety

Dissimilarity Index for

About 65% of Black/African American nursing would have to move to a new facility Public Health in order to achieve integration with White Civic Vitality nursing home residents.
Housing Transportation home residents Public Safety References Transportation Civic Vitality References

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United We Stand... Or Divided We Fall

Persistent inequality is bad for all of us. Societies with large gaps between the rich and the poor struggle more with social ills like crime and poor health than do their more equal counterparts. And while it is a new field of research, academics are starting to examine the impact that inequality and segregation have on economic growth. Early studies have shown that there is a correlation between equity and economic growth, and that reductions in poverty in central cities can correspond with stronger regional economic growth.2 So, as we work towards the MetroFuture goals for a healthy, secure, and prosperous future for Metro Boston, we must incorporate equity at the heart of that work. We do this not only because it is a fundamental value of our society, but also because our future stability and prosperity as a region depend on it.

About this report

The State of Equity in Metro Boston is made up of three complementary products:
State of Equity in Metro Boston
I N D I C AT O R S R E P O R T

The State of Equity in Metro Boston is the first in a series of indicator reports that will monitor the regions progress towards achieving goals set out by the MetroFuture plan. The regional indicators website provides data on the key findings presented in this report, and many other indicators, in an interactive, dynamic format.

The policy report will identify key policy and programmatic recommendations to bend the trends towards greater regional equity. MAPC will reach out to a wide variety of stakeholders in translating our data findings to policy; stay in touch to learn more.

Learn more
About the data behind the indicators www.regionalindicators.org/equity About the MetroFuture plan www.metrofuture.org About MAPC and its work www.mapc.org

1 2

We credit King County, Washington with this definition of equity. It can be found online at www.kingcounty.gov/exec/equity.aspx. For a summary of the early research in this field, see the PolicyLink and Center for American Progress report Prosperity 2050: Is Equity the Superior Growth Model, at http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2011/04/pdf/prosperity_2050.pdf

www.mapc.org

The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) is a regional planning agency serving the people who live and work in Metropolitan Boston. Our mission is to promote smart growth and regional collaboration, which includes protecting the environment, supporting economic development, encouraging sustainable land use, improving transportation, bolstering affordable housing, ensuring public safety, advancing equity and opportunity among people of all backgrounds, and fostering collaboration among municipalities.