Which Northeast city would be best for a black middle class family? (live, state)
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Here is a set of continuous, predominantly black census tracts in a portion of the North Side of Hartford/southern half of Windsor and most of Bloomfield in terms of median family income(2021 5 year info like the other sets): https://censusreporter.org/data/dist...0US09003471500
That is likely the highest concentration of a mostly black middle class area in New England, especially given the relative cost of living.
Here is a set of continuous, predominantly black census tracts in a portion of the North Side of Hartford/southern half of Windsor and most of Bloomfield in terms of median family income(2021 5 year info like the other sets): https://censusreporter.org/data/dist...0US09003471500
That is likely the highest concentration of a mostly black middle class area in New England, especially given the relative cost of living.
I am white and lived in southern New England for a long time. There are noticeably more middle-class black people in CT than RI. And overall, black people are more integrated into mainstream society in CT than RI. I think that white people in RI and eastern MA have a tendency to be overtly racist (in an almost unbelievable way), whereas white people in CT are just more aloof (in general), so racism is more covert there. People in RI and eastern MA tend to be louder and more emotive, so you usually know what they are feeling or thinking (for better or for worse).
I am white and lived in southern New England for a long time. There are noticeably more middle-class black people in CT than RI. And overall, black people are more integrated into mainstream society in CT than RI. I think that white people in RI and eastern MA have a tendency to be overtly racist (in an almost unbelievable way), whereas white people in CT are just more aloof (in general), so racism is more covert there. People in RI and eastern MA tend to be louder and more emotive, so you usually know what they are feeling or thinking (for better or for worse).
I don't know, as I've been to eastern MA and RI and didn't sense that was necessarily the case.
In the case of Hartford, I think since it is the second biggest metro in the region, it isn't that surprising that they have a substantial black middle class.
Also, here is some median family income information for a set of continuous and primarily predominantly black census tracts in the eastern portion of Mount Vernon NY: https://censusreporter.org/data/dist...0US36119003200 (Oakwood Heights/Vernon Heights)
A good portion of these census tracts are upwards of 80-85% black, non Hispanic alone. Out of all of the tracts selected, only one is in plurality(48% b, nH alone), with the rest at 59%-85% b, nH alone. The bulk of that area straddles zip codes that are 73%(10553) and 68%(10550) black, non Hispanic alone(76% and 72.2% inc. alone and in combo). There are some businesses and an African American Club on East 3rd Street, as well as some big box shopping on East Sandiford Boulevard in that area of town. This may be one of the better examples of a "suburban city" in the region with a relative concentration of a highly black, middle class presence in town. Mount Vernon is 62.1% black(alone and in combo, 56.6% alone 2021 5 year info./62.4%-2020 info). It is also the 9th biggest city in NY State and is one of the top 100 most population dense municipalities in the country(just under 74,000 people in 4 square miles). Some street views: https://www.google.com/maps/@40.9156...7i16384!8i8192
You can also view the census tract location by clicking on the Map tab and can find out more information on a census tract by clicking on a button on the distribution line and then clicking on the census tract heading.
In terms of #6 and I’m surprised this didn’t come up earlier in the thread, if I can recall, but parts of Ardmore in the Lower Merion SD/Township would offer diverse/even predominantly black(at the block level) areas within arguably the best school district in PA.
It is also a walkable community and it’s black population has a long history.
Just to add, you may have other suburban communities like this in the region, where there is a long time black population in a section of town like say Mamaroneck NY in Westchester County in the area in between North Barry Street and Mamaroneck Avenue(Rye Neck and Mamaroneck SD’s), as another example.
Last edited by ckhthankgod; 04-13-2023 at 07:59 PM..
In terms of #6 and I’m surprised this didn’t come up earlier in the thread, if I can recall, but parts of Ardmore in the Lower Merion SD/Township would offer diverse/even predominantly black(at the block level) areas within arguably the best school district in PA.
It is also a walkable community and it’s black population has a long history.
Just to add, you may have other suburban communities like this in the region, where there is a long time black population in a section of town like say Mamaroneck NY in Westchester County in the area in between North Barry Street and Mamaroneck Avenue(Rye Neck and Mamaroneck SD’s), as another example.
Part of South Ardmore — the oldest and largest Black community on the Main Line, dating to just after the Civil War — lies within Haverford Township, Delaware County.
The Haverford School District doesn't have the elevated reputation of Lower Merion, but it's a perfectly fine district as well.
There's also a Black community in Bryn Mawr's southern reaches, with the county line splitting it as well, in this case among three townships: Lower Merion in Montgomery and Haverford and Radnor in Delaware. The Radnor School District enjoys the best reputation of all three, but I've heard some reports about Black students getting hassled in Radnor schools, however.
Part of South Ardmore — the oldest and largest Black community on the Main Line, dating to just after the Civil War — lies within Haverford Township, Delaware County.
The Haverford School District doesn't have the elevated reputation of Lower Merion, but it's a perfectly fine district as well.
There's also a Black community in Bryn Mawr's southern reaches, with the county line splitting it as well, in this case among three townships: Lower Merion in Montgomery and Haverford and Radnor in Delaware. The Radnor School District enjoys the best reputation of all three, but I've heard some reports about Black students getting hassled in Radnor schools, however.
Good stuff and I didn’t know that about Haverford and Ardmore…I did know about Bryn Mawr and Radnor due to this Pro Football Hall of Famer attending Radnor HS in the late 1930’s/early 1940’s: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emlen_Tunnell
^Other examples of higher/high end suburban communities/school districts with a long time black population is the Spinney Hill area split between the Manhasset and Great Neck SD’s, a community in the Roslyn Heights portion of the Roslyn SD and Port Washington west of its Downtown. All are in the same part of Nassau County on the North Shore of Long Island. Oyster Bay is another Nassau County/North Shore community with a long time black population, which goes back centuries.
Those are some others off the top of my head, but I’m sure there are other examples in other states in the region. While not high end, I know places in the Boston area like Medford and Woburn have low key, but long time black populations.
In many cases, the population is located around a church or two(usually a Baptist and/or AME/AME Zion church).
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