Mapping Austin, TX (race, income, housing): NY Times Interactive Map! (Wells Branch: renters, mortgages)

[ImOnFiya]

The NY Times released an interactive map of American demographics from the US Census' American Community Survey, with data supplied from 2005 to 2009.

The results give us a little idea for where people live, their education, but perhaps, most important, where people are going.

What surprised me most is the stark divides in education and race (particularly between whites and hispanics). Also, how distribution of blacks was wide but is represented in very, very low percentages nearly all-over the metro area, save ENE Austin.

Potential 'Gayborhoods': (Central - South) South Lamar, Travis Hts., (Central - East) Delwood/ Mueller, (North) Wells Branch, (South) Texas Oaks North and surprisingly, (Southwest) Travis Country ?!

**What will surprise you?**

1. Type in your Address, ZIP code, or city and go !

2. Click on View More Maps to view race, income, housing, and education data.

Census Bureau 2005-9 American Community Survey

Have fun!

[sinking]

Wow. I didn't realize there were as many Hispanic people as there are where I moved from...

[passionatearts]

I didn't see any surprises with this map. Austin is very racially and economically-segregated just like pretty much every other large city in the U.S.

[Trainwreck20]

The change in income since 2000 is kind of interesting. Other than directly downtown, there is a widespread decline in median income in Austin, with most of the increases in income occurring in the outlying areas.

[austin-steve]

Check out the "Mortgages consuming 30% of income" map.

As expected, higher percentages in starter home areas east of Austin, but also in SoCo, Lakeway and Barton Creek census tracts. Most other areas have low percentages.

So, looks like some areas are full of people trying to keep up with the Jones', and others just trying to be a Jones.

Mapping America — Census Bureau 2005-9 American Community Survey - NYTimes.com

Steve

[jobert]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

The change in income since 2000 is kind of interesting. Other than directly downtown, there is a widespread decline in median income in Austin, with most of the increases in income occurring in the outlying areas.

It also shows that people in some areas have low median incomes, but really high median home prices. It shows that a lot of people in this town have enjoyed the housing boom, and couldn't afford to buy a house where they currently live.

Example : tract 1714 in NW Austin

median home value = 338K
median income = 92K

tract 1718 =

median home value = 323K
median income = 68K

There seems to be a lot of desirable areas in town where the incomes don't match the home values. Retired people, maybe?

[Trainwreck20]

Steve, I did not look at that map, because I figured you would .

Williamson County is interesting, too, when you look at the median income and the low-poverty level income.

[achtungpv]

Haven't had a lot of time to browse what's available but is there a map showing average household income for home owners? Just browsing the map, it's pretty easy to well exceed the average income for desirable areas but those obviously include renters and in some cases (78704) a large portion of renters.

[austin-steve]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

Steve, I did not look at that map, because I figured you would .

Williamson County is interesting, too, when you look at the median income and the low-poverty level income.

Zoom out to the US view and have a look at California. Looks like the entire state is underwater on mortgages whereas Texas looks in fairly good shape.

Would be a funner map if it allowed overlays with other data, such as voting habits.

Steve

[jobert]

Originally Posted by austin-steve

Check out the "Mortgages consuming 30% of income" map.

As expected, higher percentages in starter home areas east of Austin, but also in SoCo, Lakeway and Barton Creek census tracts. Most other areas have low percentages
Steve

Very interesting. So who gets hit harder in these cases? In Lakeway and Barton Creek, there is nobody in a higher bracket above them usually... no "trickle down" to speak off from more affluent areas. In the areas east, there is always someone to fill in when a 150K house needs to be sold.

In the newer neighborhoods, this "flush" is part of the normal life-cycle of a new (less than 5 years old) neighborhood that all existing neighborhoods have gone through. It's a good thing, and inconsequential to those that intend on owning their house for 10-30 years. The higher pricepoints could see a longer period before rebounding. My theory - your thoughts?