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Mapping Income Inequality Using Census Data
Rich Block, Poor Blocks is a pretty neat tool that maps out household income using recent census data.
The way the map looks isn't surprising. The coast and hills are where the wealthy green households are at. Lower income households and concentrated on the Eastern side of town and down through South Los Angeles. But it is interesting to see the way income shifts in some parts of the city almost block by block (technically, it's census tract by census tract). The map relies on data from 2006-2010 by U.S. Census' American Community Survey.
The tool is great, but the map geek in us wants more. We'd love to be able to see how this data has changed over time—to better visualize how the forces of development, gentrification and the economy are shaping our city. Or we'd love to overlay it was any of the other demographics the census polls, like age or race or gender. (So if you've found other cool visualizations of census data, send it our way!)
Related:
4 Cool Ways Of Visualizing Local Census Data
Maps: Color-Coding the Racial Divide
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
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