The safety and comfort of Black women in their living spaces continue to be a topic that’s up for discussion. Now, with Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic presidential candidate, a Black woman of Jamaican and Indian descent, all eyes are on Black women.
A national survey from Goldman Sachs says that 71% of Black women feel that they are living paycheck to paycheck compared to 63% of the general population. Financial troubles can contribute to safety in where Black women are able to live, shop and work.
There’s clearly more work that needs to be done in creating safer spaces for Black women to live. However, several places do defy these odds. According to MoneyGeek’s analysis of the Census’ American Community Survey, here are eight of the most affordable cities for Black women to live (in the United States).
Southfield, Michigan has a Black homeownership rate of 70%
Of the 500 cities with over 65,000 people that have strong percentages of income, homeownership and educational attainment, Southfield, Michigan made the top of the list. Low poverty rates and minimal impact of health gaps between Black women and other communities were also taken into consideration. Southfield, Michigan, one of 164 cities that made the cut, has a Black population and homeownership rate of almost 70% with the poverty rate at almost -3%.
Pearland, Texas has a low income gap between Black women and other Texans
Pearland, Texas is the second-ranked city where Black women can live and financially flourish, and is ranked at number 13 of the top 25 cities for Black women in the South. Racially motivated hate crimes fall at zero percent with a low income gap for Black women in this suburb of Houston, Texas.
Carson, California has both a negative higher education gap and poverty rate
Carson, California ranked third, with less than $2,000 spent annually on crime per capita. Additionally, the higher education gap and poverty rates are in the negatives. Thirty percent of homes are owned by Black women compared to a national rate of less than 1%. Carson is the only city located in the state of California to make the top eight.
Port St. Lucie, Florida spends less than $600 annually on crime
Port St. Lucie ranked fourth and is the only city located in the state of Florida to make the top eight. Less than $600 is spent annually on crime per capita with less than 5% of crimes per million people being racially motivated. On the other hand, Miami, Florida is ranked the second-lowest overall due to the second-largest income gap. Income disparities are what land the worst cities in their place on the list.
Norwalk, Connecticut has both negative employment and health insurance gaps
Norwalk, Connecticut comes in at fifth on the list. Despite a Black population of almost 13%, the poverty rate, high school and higher education gaps are in the negative. The employment and health insurance gaps are also in the negatives while the national and local income gaps are between 70% and 85%. Still, homeownership is close to 20%.
Garland, Texas has the third-lowest health insurance coverage gap
Like most of the cities mentioned above, Garland (sixth in ranking) has a low percentage of money spent annually on crime per capita, the health insurance gap and poverty rates are low. The percentage of Black people living there and the homeownership rate are close to 20%.
Mansfield, Texas has the lowest poverty rate of the top eight
Seventh on the list is Mansfield, Texas where the cost of crime per capita, the higher education gap and the poverty rates are also the lowest of the top eight.
Missouri City, Texas has the second-highest Black homeownership rate of the top eight
Missouri City is where Black women are afforded low employment and health insurance gaps, in addition to a low high school diploma gap and poverty rate gap. The Texan city also houses the second-highest Black homeownership rate of the top eight, coming in at almost 50%.
Whether you live in one of these eight cities mentioned above or elsewhere, prioritizing your homeownership odds, employment odds and insurance needs will directly impact an ideal place for housing. You may want to try renting first versus buying to get familiar with the town. Then, decide whether this is the place you want to live in permanently. If you’ve found it safer for black women to live in another location, let us know in the comments.