Examining Houston Metro Demographic-Economic Characteristics

.. tools & data to examine metro demographic-economic characteristics .. this Houston, TX metro focused section is one of several similar metro sections that will be covered in weeks ahead.  Each metro-focused section provides a summary of tools and data that can be used to view, rank, compare, analyze conditions and trends within the metro and this metro relative to other metros, regions and the Nation.  The ready-to-use GIS project/datasets provide the basis for extended data/geographic views and analysis immediately.  See more detail about topics covered in this related Web section.

Relating your data to demographic-economic characteristics and trends in a region involves more than information provided by a report or set of statistical tables. It is important to use your data to be able to identify areas of missed opportunity and competitive position. It is important to have a “10,000 foot” view as well as understanding individual neighborhoods and market/service areas. Geographic Information System (GIS) tools, with the right set of geographic, demographic and economic data can facilitate decision-making through the use of visual and tabular data analytics.

This section provides information on installing and using the Houston Metro Demographic-Economic GIS software and project/datasets. This same scope of data, tools and operation is available for any metro, state or combination.

10,000 Foot View
The following graphic shows patterns of median household income by census tract for the Houston metro area. This is the start-up view when using the GIS tools and data described below. The color patterns/intervals are shown in the highlighted layer in legend at left of map window. Use the GIS tools described below to develop thematic pattern maps for a range of data and criteria.

.. view developed using the CVGIS software.

See more about census tracts; see tracts main page.

Several additional views follow, developed using this same GIS project. These views illustrate different levels of geographic granularity and patterns of different subject matter.

Median Household Value by Block Group
See more about block groups; see block groups main page.

.. view developed using the CVGIS software.

Population/Housing Unit by Block
See more about census blocks; see census block main page.

.. view developed using the CVGIS software.

Zoom-in to Sugarland/Fort Bend County
See more about cities/places; see cities/places main page.
Access data for any city using interactive table.

.. view developed using the CVGIS software.

Further Zoom-in Showing Street/Road Detail
See more about streets.

.. view developed using the CVGIS software.

Additional Information
See the related Houston metro Situation & Outlook Report.

Using the GIS Software and Project/Datasets
(requires Windows computer with Internet connection)
1. Install the ProximityOne CV XE GIS
… run the CV XE GIS installer
… requires UserID; take all defaults during installation
2. Download the Houston Metro GIS project fileset
… requires UserID; unzip Houston Metro GIS project files to local new folder c:\p1data
3. Open the c:\p1data\us1_metros_houston.gis project
… after completing the above steps, click File>Open>Dialog
… open the file named c:\p1data\us1_metros_houston.gis
4. Done. The start-up view is shown above.

Join me in a Data Analytics Lab session to discuss more details about accessing and using wide-ranging demographic-economic data and data analytics. Learn more about using these data for areas and applications of interest.

About the Author
— Warren Glimpse is former senior Census Bureau statistician responsible for innovative data access and use operations. He is also the former associate director of the U.S. Office of Federal Statistical Policy and Standards for data access and use. He has more than 20 years of experience in the private sector developing data resources and tools for integration and analysis of geographic, demographic, economic and business data. Contact Warren. Join Warren on LinkedIn.

Neighborhood Analysis: Block & Block Group Demographics

.. steps to analyze NYC Chelsea area demographics that can be applied to any neighborhood … demographic characteristics of the Chelsea area in New York City, an area west of Avenue of the Americas between 14th and 34th Streets, is radically different from adjacent areas. This topic was covered in a “great wealth divide” New York Times story. This section reviews how census block and block group demographic-economic data can be used to examine these patterns. A GIS project is used that associates census block and block group data for visual analysis Methods summarized here can be applied to any area. Use the tools described in this section to obtain demographic-economic profiles for any neighborhood based on an address. See related Web page for more detail.

See related post on Most Populated New York City Census Blocks.

Study Area in Context of Broader Area
The study area, a group of selected census tracts, is shown as the red cross-hatched area in context of lower Manhattan in the view below.

  — view created using CV XE GIS and associated GIS Project

Zoom-in View of Study Area
The next view shows a zoom-in to the study area. Block groups are shown with a red boundary. Chelsea Park is visible as the green area above the pointer south of 29th street.

  — view created using CV XE GIS and associated GIS Project

Census Block Demographics in Context of Block Groups
The next view shows a further zoom-in showing census blocks with black boundary and block groups with red boundary. Census blocka are shown with a semi-transparent yellow fill pattern (population greater than 4) and gray fill pattern (blocks with population less than 5). The block group containing Chelsea Park (green area above pointer) contains three census blocks, 2 with no population and one with 1,010 population. Block data are from Census 2010; there are no post-Census 2010 block level demographics available. The analysis could be extended to shown wide-ranging demographics at the block level.

  — view created using CV XE GIS and associated GIS Project

Examining Socioeconomic Attributes
In this further zoom-in, Chelsea Park (green area) is shown near the pointer. Census block population labels are turned off for blocks with 5 or more population to help show a less cluttered view. Block groups are labeled with two values. The yellow upper label shows the median housing value (MHV). The green lower label shows median household income (MHI). Both data items are based on the American Community Survey 5-year estimates (ACS 2013) are centric to 2011. The ACS data are updated annually; as of October 2015, the latest data are from ACS 2013; the ACS 2014 data become available December 2015. The ACS 2013 5 year estimates are top-coded at $1,000,001 for MHV and $250,001 for $MHI.

  — view created using CV XE GIS and associated GIS Project

The block group containing Chelsea Park has a median household income of $26,440; the median housing value estimate is not available (too few owner-occupied units to develop MHV estimate). The Chelsea Park block group code is “360610097002” — this code uniquely identifies this block group among all other block groups in the U.S.

The block group immediately to the south of the Chelsea Park block group median household income of $21,750; the median housing value estimate is $1,000,001 (top-coded). The code for this block group code is “360610093006”.

While the MHI for BG 360610093006 might seem like it should be higher, a look at the number of households by income interval explains this number. Almost half of the households in the BG have a household income below $20,000. Analytical options that might be considered include using mean household income or mean family income instead of median.

Compare number of households by household income intervals for these two block groups.

Compare Your Block Group of Interest to Chelsea Park BG
Compare the above BG attributes to any BG of interest:
1. Copy and paste this string into text editor (eg, Notepad) window (do not press enter after paste):
http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/13_5YR/B19001/1500000USXXXXXXXXXXX|1500000US360610097002

2. Click here, key in an address then click Find to locate the 11 character BG code.
— scroll down to “2010 Census Blocks” and then further to “GEOID”
— copy the first 11 digits of the GEOID value to clipboard see illustrative graphic.

3. Paste those 11 characters into the URL, replacing the “XXXXXXXXXXXX”; this modification must be exact.

4. Press Enter. A profile appears comparing your BG to the Chelsea Park BG 360610097002.

Data Analytics Lab Session
Join me in a Data Analytics Lab session. There is no fee. Discuss how tools and methods reviewed in this section can be applied to your situation.

About the Author
— Warren Glimpse is former senior Census Bureau statistician responsible for innovative data access and use operations. He is also the former associate director of the U.S. Office of Federal Statistical Policy and Standards for data access and use. He has more than 20 years of experience in the private sector developing data resources and tools for integration and analysis of geographic, demographic, economic and business data.

USA TODAY County Diversity Analyses: 1960-2060

.. USA TODAY uses ProximityOne county demographic projections to 2060 to analyze patterns of diversity. See main story.  See related Web section.

The USA TODAY Diversity Index shows diversity has surged in the last 50 years and is expected to continue rising. The U.S. index rose from 20 in 1960 to 55 in 2010. Driven by changing attitudes and a record wave of immigration, the pace of change varies widely, sometimes even in adjacent counties.

The diversity index measures the degree of racial and ethnic diversity of the population. The percentage of each race (White, Black, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian) and Hispanic origin/ethnicity are used to calculate the chance that any two people are from different groups. The index ranges from 0 (no diversity) to 100 (highest diversity).

From USA TODAY main story … “USA TODAY used Census data to calculate the chance that two random people are different by race or ethnicity and came up with a Diversity Index to place every county on a scale of 0 to 100. The nationwide USA TODAY Diversity Index hit 55 in 2010, up sharply from 20 in 1960 and 40 as recently as 1990. In South Orange, the index is 59.

This is just the beginning. Barring catastrophe or a door-slam on immigration, the Diversity Index is on track to top 70 by 2060, according to a USA TODAY analysis of population projections by ProximityOne of Alexandria, Va. That means there will be less than a 1-in-3 chance that the next person you meet will share your race or ethnicity, whatever it is: white, black, American Indian, Asian, Native Hawaiian or Hispanic.

As people from varying cultures and races come together or collide, local governments and other institutions deal with a host of new issues, from conflicts over spending and diverse hiring to violence in the streets and language barriers.”

USA TODAY Analyses of ProximityOne Projections to 2060
• Main story — Second immigration wave lifts diversity to record high
• Interactive mapping: Mapping the USA’s Diversity: 1960-2060
• About ProximityOne projections used in the USA TODAY analyses

ProximityOne Neighborhood Diversity Analyses

Mapping Diversity Patterns

Click graphic for larger view.
Credits: Paul Overberg, USA TODAY Amanda Astey, Sarah Frostenson, Anthony DeBarros, Gannett Digital
Source: USA TODAY analysis of data from Census Bureau; NHGIS, University of Minnesota; ProximityOne, Alexandria, VA

Viewing National Diversity Patterns by Race/Origin Charts

Click graphic for larger view.
Credits: Paul Overberg, USA TODAY Amanda Astey, Sarah Frostenson, Anthony DeBarros, Gannett Digital
Source: USA TODAY analysis of data from Census Bureau; NHGIS, University of Minnesota; ProximityOne, Alexandria, VA

Viewing Change by State: 1960 – 2010 – 2060

Click graphic for larger view.
Source: USA TODAY analysis of data from Census Bureau; NHGIS, University of Minnesota; ProximityOne, Alexandria, VA

Get the Diversity Profile for Your County
Visit the main story. Scroll down to the interactive section shown below, illustrating the chart and data for Maricopa County, AZ and Arizona. Key in a county name of interest to view the chart and data for that location.

Maricopa County, AZ Diversity Patterns

Click graphic for larger view.
Credits: Tory Hargo, Paul Overberg, Mitchell Thorson, USA TODAY
Source: USA TODAY analysis of data from Census Bureau; NHGIS, University of Minnesota; ProximityOne, Alexandria, VA

Support Using these Resources
Learn more about demographic economic data and related analytical tools. Join us in a Decision-Making Information Web session. There is no fee for these one-hour Web sessions. Each informal session is focused on a specific topic. The open structure also provides for Q&A and discussion of application issues of interest to participants.

ProximityOne User Group
Join the ProximityOne User Group to keep up-to-date with new developments relating to children’s demographics and school district decision-making information resources. Receive updates and access to tools and resources available only to members. Use this form to join the User Group. There is no fee.

Examining Neighborhood Diversity Patterns

Population race/ethnic diversity varies widely by neighborhood in the United States. This section reviews use of tools that you can use to examine patterns of neighborhood race/ethnic diversity for anywhere in the United States. There are many types of neighborhood diversity (economic, age, etc.); we examine just one here — diversity based on race/ethnicity. Using the tools and resources described in this section, you can also examine many other types of neighborhood diversity, or simply sub-county demographic-economic characteristics.

Dallas, TX Area Diversity Patterns by Neighborhood/Census Tract
Census tracts are colored based on value of the diversity index. See color patterns assigned based on diversity index values as shown in legend at left of the map. Blue tracts are most diverse; red tracts are least diverse. Tracts shown with black cross-hatched pattern are tracts with 50-percent or more Hispanic population.

Click graphic for larger view.

Click Link to View Neighborhood Diversity Patterns for Selected Metro Areas:
  • Atlanta, GA
  • Austin, TX
  • Charlotte, NC
  • Chicago, IL
  • Houston, TX
  • Los Angeles, TX
  • New York, NY
  • San Diego, CA
  • Washington, DC

Neighborhood Diversity Index
The diversity index measures the degree of racial and ethnic diversity of the population. The percentage of each race (White, Black, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian) and Hispanic origin/ethnicity are used to calculate the chance that any two people are from different groups. The index ranges from 0 (no diversity) to 100 (highest diversity). The diversity index is computed for each census tract using data from Census 2010 Summary File 1 Table P5.

Variation in Neighborhood Diversity
Census tract 06001437701 in Alameda County, CA has the highest diversity index (88). Of the approximate 73,000 census tracts, there are more than 800 tracts with a diversity index above 80 (highly diverse). There are more than 8,000 tracts with a diversity index below 10 (little diversity).

Visual Patterns of Neighborhood Diversity
We illustrate use of CV XE GIS with associated GIS project to visually examine patterns of diversity by census tract. We extracted the Census 2010 Table 5 data using the Demographic Economic Data Extraction API tool and then integrated those data into a U.S. by census tract shapefile. See more about the GIS project.

Relating Visual to Tabular Data
The graphic below shows diversity patterns by census tract in the Alexandria, VA area. The view of Alexandria shows census tracts with black boundary and labeled with the diversity index.

Illustrative Table P5 Mini-Profile
Census 2010 Summary File 1 Table P5 items for census tract 51-510-200900 are shown in the table below. Table P5 contains 17 data items for each tract, P0050001 through P0050017. As shown here, the total Census 2010 population of this tract was 4,693. The total non-Hispanic population was 4,534. The relatively low size of the Hispanic population suggests that this tract will have less diversity than others.

Using the GIS Resources
The Geographic Information System GIS project/files and software used to develop views shown in this section are available at no fee to members of the ProximityOne User Group. Zoom to you own areas of interest. Change labeling/colors/appearance. Add other geography. Select from other wide-ranging demographic-economic data. Join now; no fees to participate.

See more about analyzing neighborhood diversity patterns in this related Web section.