Recent Trends in Residential Segregation in New England Recent Trends in Residential Segregation in New England

April 8, 2020
Key Facts
Residential segregation in large New England metro areas declined 12 percent between 1990 and 2017.

Hispanic population growth drove that decline; Hispanics accounted for 64 percent of New England's total population growth between 1990 and 2017.

On average, white residents of New England metro areas live in neighborhoods that are 80 percent white.

Between 1990 and 2017, residential segregation increased 10 percent in the region’s small metro areas, most of which are located in northern New England.

Summary Summary

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An Increasingly Diverse New England An Increasingly Diverse New England

Residential Segregation of Minorities Residential Segregation of Minorities

Table 1: Residential Segregation of All Minorities Relative to White Residents

By New England metropolitan area, 1990–2017 Metropolitan area (MSA)

Metropolitan area (MSA) 1990 2000 2010 2017
Large metro areas (more than 1 million residents)        
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT 60.8 56.5 52.1 50.5
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA 53.8 3.2 50.2 50.4
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 55.7 53.6 49.7 48.2
Average for large US metro areas 55.7 52.7 48.9 48.4
Medium metro areas (500,001 to 1 million residents)        
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT 59.6 58.4 55.3 53.2
Springfield, MA 59.3 56.5 55.5 53.1
New Haven-Milford, CT 58.9 55.4 51 48.4
Worcester, MA-CT 47 46.1 43.8 42.7
Portland-South Portland, ME 27.3 26.6 27.8 33.1
Average for medium US metro areas 48.4 45 41.6 41.1
Small metro areas (500,000 or fewer residents)        
Norwich-New London, CT 41.7 41 40.5 39.4
Manchester-Nashua, NH 28.2 35.8 34.9 38.1
Bangor, ME 33.8 29.4 22.8 34.1
Pittsfield, MA 30.6 27.8 29.3 31.8
Burlington-South Burlington, VT 22 22.5 24.3 30.2
Barnstable Town, MA 31.6 27.1 24.8 29.5
Lewiston-Auburn, ME 23.2 19.8 35.4 27.6
Average for small US metro areas 41.7 38.6 35.8 37.2
Note(s): Table displays the dissimilarity index for all minority groups relative to non-Hispanic whites in New England metro areas. Values represent the percent of minority residents who would need to move out of their neighborhood (census tract) and into another within the same metro area in order for every neighborhood within that metro area to have an equal share of minority residents. Metropolitan areas were excluded if less than 3 percent of their population identified as a minority group. Averages include all metro areas in the United States by population size.

Source(s): Decennial census 1990–2010; American Community Survey 5-year estimates for 2013–2017

Neighborhood Diversity in New England Neighborhood Diversity in New England

Obstacles to Future Declines in Residential Segregation Obstacles to Future Declines in Residential Segregation

Concluding Remarks Concluding Remarks

Data Sources Data Sources

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