1997 CUS Summary Report

Race and Hispanic Origin

Continuing trend of racial diversity

The in-migrating minority population contributed overwhelmingly to Montgomery

County’s high growth periods. Between 1970 and 1980, the increase in nonwhite
population accounted for 107 percent of the total population growth. During the County’s
high growth period, 1980 to 1990, when the total population increased by one-third, 60
percent of this growth was new, nonwhite residents. As evidence of the County’s
increasing diversity, between 1990
and 1997, minorities accounted for
The Population Is Growing
120 percent of the total population and Becoming More Diverse
growth. Since 1970, the minority
population in Montgomery County Minority Share of
Population Growth
Annual Growth Rate
has increased nearly ten fold. The 24,000 120
120%

annual growth rates of minorities, 100

18,315
ranging from 14.5 percent in the 18,000
80

1970s to 5.0 percent per year in the 12,000

9,700 60
52%

1990s, substantially exceed the rates 5,625 40

6,000
for non-Hispanic white population, - 20

0.1 percent and -0.3 percent 0 0

1970s 1980s 1990-97
respectively. The State Data Center 1980-90 1990-97

of the Maryland Department of

Planning predicts by year 2020 the
minority population in Montgomery Figure 30: Annual Population Growth Rate and
County will reach 40 percent of the Minority Share of Growth
total population.

According to the 1997 Census

Update Survey, 73.0 percent of
Change in Household Population by
Montgomery County’s resident Race and Hispanic Origin
population is white, 13.4 percent are
black and another 10.9 percent are Hispanic* 8.6%
7.4%
Asian or Pacific Islanders. Those of 1990 1997

Hispanic or Latino origin (of any

Other 2.8%
race) comprise 8.6 percent of the 2.7%

County’s residents. In comparison, Asian 10.9%

8.3%

the nation is 82.7 percent white, 12.7 Black 13.4%

12.1%
percent black, 3.7 percent Asian, White 73.0%

and 11.0 percent Hispanic/Latino. 76.7%

Montgomery County has the largest 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

* Those of Hispanic origin may be of any race.

Hispanic and Asian populations in * Can be of any race
the State; in fact, almost half of
Figure 31: Change in Race and Hispanic Origin
Maryland’s Hispanic and Asian Population 1990 and 1997
 R ACE & HISPANIC ORIGIN

populations live in the County. Hispanics/Latinos, with an annual growth rate since 1990
of 6.1, percent is the fastest growing minority group in the County, followed by Asians at
5.3 percent growth per year. The black population increased by 4.1 percent per year
while the non-Hispanic white majority has a negative annual growth rate of -0.3 percent.

Nonwhite and white in-migration

About 19 percent of all white households in Montgomery County moved into the
area between 1992 and 1997. During the same period, 31.6 percent of the total
nonwhite households moved into the County. Proportionately more nonwhite in-movers
come from outside the metropolitan area (17.0 percent) than new white households
(11.0 percent). For the first time, a higher percentage of nonwhite in-movers are arriving
from other parts of Maryland, 8.4 percent, rather than the District of Columbia, 4.5
percent.

Previous 1992 Place of Residence of 1997 Households by Race

White Nonwhite Total

April 1992 Residence Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
In Montgomery County 182,177 81.1 59,215 68.4 241,393 77.6
Outside County: 42,400 18.9 27,343 31.6 69,742 22.4
from Maryland 8,543 3.8 7,286 8.4 15,829 5.1
from Washington, D.C. 5,661 2.5 3,915 4.5 9,576 3.1
from N. Virginia 3,443 1.5 1,455 1.7 4,898 1.6
from Out of Area 24,753 11.0 14,686 17.0 39,439 12.7
Total Households 224,577 100.0 86,558 100.0 311,135 100.0

Table 51: Previous Place of Residence by Race

The I-270 Corridor is the first choice for both types of in-movers. Almost one
quarter of all new residents moved into this area. The second and third relocation
choices diverge by race with nonwhites choosing Colesville (20.0 percent) and Silver
Spring/Takoma Park (14.7 percent) while whites are moving into Bethesda/Chevy Chase
(16.8 percent) and Kensington/Wheaton (16.6 percent). Nonwhite households left single-
family structures and usually moved into garden apartments (46.5 percent) while most
white households did not change housing structure types when they moved (38.5
percent moved into single-family detached). Coincidental with higher rates of multi-family
occupancy, more new nonwhite households are renters (71.0 percent) than white
households (53.5 percent). New nonwhite households are paying less for housing, but
are carrying a greater housing cost burden. Only 27.8 percent of new white owners are
paying more than 25 percent of their income on housing costs compared to half of
nonwhite owners. Of the new renter households, more nonwhite households spend over
one-quarter of their income on rent, 45.9 percent, compared to 30.3 percent of white
tenants.

The new nonwhite households are larger, 2.78 persons per household, than the
white in-movers averaging 2.38 persons. The nonwhite head of household at 38 years
old is younger than the average white householder by two years. While the majority of
both groups are married couple households (62.7 percent of white and 59.5 percent of
nonwhite), nonwhite households are more likely to be single parents (13.8 percent) than

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1997 CUS Summary Report

white in-movers (4.7 percent). White and nonwhite singles are drawn to the County with
one-quarter of the new white households and one fifth of nonwhite in-movers.

Nonwhite average household size remains larger than white’s

The average household size of nonwhite

Average Household Size by
households at 3.00 is nearly half a person Tenure and Race
larger than white residences at 2.54 persons
per household. The larger household size of Tenure by Race 1987 1997 Total
minority households may be attributed to Owners
White 2.73 2.64 175,212
younger families, higher fertility rates and
Nonwhite 3.40 3.40 46,438
proclivity for extended families to live together – Total 2.80 2.79 221,650
particularly recent immigrants. Among single- Renters
family households, nonwhites average 3.66 White 2.07 1.96 49,365
Nonwhite 2.62 2.71 40,120
persons per household compared to 2.80 for
Total 2.19 2.29 89,485
whites. For multi-family households, nonwhite
households average 2.42 compared to 1.70 for Total Households 2.62 2.65 311,135
white households.
Table 52: Average Household Size by
Basically, there was no change in multi- Tenure and Race
family average household size in both white and
nonwhite households between 1987 and 1997, but change occurred in single-family
structures over this time period. The average household size of single-family white
households dropped from 2.87 in 1987 to 2.80 ten years later. In contrast, the average
number of nonwhite persons living in single-family homes jumped from 3.51 in 1987 to
3.66 in 1997.

Since owner-occupied dwellings usually house families (81.0 percent of owner

occupied households are families compared to 61.0 percent in rental units), the average
household size, 2.79 persons per owner occupied household, is larger than the average
for rental units, 2.29. Among owners, nonwhites average 3.40 persons per household,
compared to 2.64 for whites. For renters, nonwhite households average 2.71 compared
to 1.96 for white households. In all categories of structure type and ownership,
nonwhites show greater average household sizes than whites.

The 1987 to1997 period shows a continuing decline in average household size
for whites in both owner and renter categories and it also reveals contrasting gains in
nonwhite average household size across the tenure groups. The overall average
household size nudged up 0.03 during the period, from 2.62 to 2.65. Among renters,
white households registered a 0.11 decrease in size (1.96) while nonwhite households
increased by 0.09 (2.71). For owners, white owners were the only ones to experience a
reduction in average household size (-0.09); nonwhites remained the same.

Nonwhite tenure status shifts to renters

About 77 percent of white householders in 1997 are owners compared to only

52.6 percent of nonwhite householders. A nearly identical 73.2 percent of white
householders also live in single-family houses. The same holds true for nonwhite
households with 55.1 percent occupying single-family housing.
 R ACE & HISPANIC ORIGIN

Since 1977, the tenure of nonwhite households remained evenly split between
owners and renters until 1997, when the balance shifted to renters, 52.6 percent. In
contrast, white households steadily gained in homeownership, from 65.0 percent in 1977
to 73.0 percent in 1987, then rising to 76.9 percent in 1997. White households are well-
positioned to participate in home purchases - with higher median incomes of $70,515,
older householders who have resided in the County twice as long (averaging 12 years
versus 6 years), and almost three quarters having previously lived in a single-family
structure. Nonwhites confront a less advantageous marketing position – lower median
household incomes ($53,391), younger heads, and a higher percentage of single parent
households.

Structure Type and Length of Residence by Tenure and Race

% of Households Avg Length of Residence

Single- Multi- Single- Multi- Total
Tenure by Race Family Family Total % Family Family Total Households
Owners
White 88.4% 11.6% 100.0% 14.5 8.3 13.8 175,212
Nonwhite 90.3% 9.7% 100.0% 8.7 6.4 8.5 46,438
Total 88.8% 11.2% 100.0% 13.3 8.0 12.7 221,650
Renters
White 26.3% 73.7% 100.0% 3.9 5.5 5.1 49,365
Nonwhite 15.7% 84.3% 100.0% 3.3 3.4 3.4 40,120
Total 21.5% 78.5% 100.0% 3.7 4.5 4.3 89,485

Total Households 215,765 95,370 12.5 5.4 10.3 311,135

Table 53: Structure Type and Length of Residence by Tenure and Race

Renter households are far more diverse in Montgomery County than owner
households. Almost 45 percent of renters, or 40,120 out of 89,485 rental households,
are nonwhite compared to almost four times as many white owner households than
nonwhite owners, that is, 46,440 nonwhite owners out of over 221,000 total owner
occupied households. Nonwhites in the County are disproportionately found in rental
housing.

Housing costs stretch a higher percentage of nonwhite households

Owner costs are stretching a higher percent of nonwhite households with 31.7
percent spending more than 25 percent of their incomes on housing compared to 18.8
percent of white owner-occupied households. Nonwhite owners are spending on
average $100 more per month on housing costs than white households, $1,326 and
$1,230 respectively. While this differential may not in itself be a hardship, paired with a
lower median income, ownership for some nonwhite households may be burdensome.
The 1996 median household income for nonwhite owners at $72,205 is 10.0 percent
below the median for white owner occupied households.

Nonwhite renters are paying less for housing than white tenants, $760 compared
to $827 per month. But again, a higher percentage of nonwhite households face a
greater housing cost burden than white renters, with 45.3 percent of nonwhite renters
paying more than 25 percent of their income on rent versus 35.5 percent of white

95
1997 CUS Summary Report

renters. The 1996 median household income for white renters is $44,106 and $36,980
for nonwhite tenants.

Median Household Income Varies by

Race and Hispanic Origin
Better educated and wealthier
1996 Median Household Income
Montgomery County’s minority $80,000 $70,515
groups are much wealthier and better $65,630

educated than they are nationally. $60,000

$50,325
$47,310

The County’s median household $40,000

income for blacks is $50,325, twice

$20,000
the United States’ median for blacks;
the median household income for $0

Asians is $65,630, 45 percent higher White Asian Black Hispanic*

than the country’s median; and the * Those of Hispanic origin may be of any race.

median household income for

Hispanics (of any race) is $47,310, Figure 32: Median Household Income by Race and
78 percent higher than the national Hispanic Origin
median.

The County’s minority adult (25 years or older) population is very well educated.
Almost 44 percent of the county’s black adults have a Bachelor’s degree or more,
compared to 13 percent for blacks nationwide; 68 percent of Asian adults have at least a
Bachelor’s degree, compared to 42 percent of Asians nationwide; and 39 percent of
local Hispanics have at least a Bachelor’s degree, compared with 10 percent in the
nation. A higher percentage of resident Asian adults have college degrees, 68 percent,
than the white population, 62 percent.

Educational Attainment by Race and Hispanic Origin

Persons 25 Years and Older
Asian/
Total White Black Pacific Isl. Hispanic
% Less than High School 8.1 7.3 11.6 8.9 21.3
% High School Graduate 27.9 27.5 36.4 19.7 35.2
% Associate or Trade School 4.5 4.2 7.6 3.7 4.6
% Bachelor's Degree 28.8 29.3 24.3 32.0 17.7
% Advanced Degree 30.6 31.6 20.1 35.7 21.1
% Masters 23.5 24.5 16.9 24.5 16.3
% Doctoral 7.0 7.1 3.2 11.3 4.8
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

Table 54: Educational Attainment by Race and Hispanic Origin

 R ACE & HISPANIC ORIGIN

Race & Hispanic Origin

Montgomery County, MD 1997 Census Update Survey
RACE
ASIAN or
1
TOTAL PACIFIC HISPANIC
COUNTY WHITE BLACK ISLANDER ORIGIN

Household Population 823,500 601,155 110,100 89,505 70,720

% of Total Population 100% 73.0% 13.4% 10.9% 8.6%
% Female 53.2% 52.6% 55.5% 53.4% 53.2%
Age Distribution:
% 0-4 Years Old 7.1% 6.8% 7.3% 7.4% 9.4%
P % 5-17 Years Old 18.4% 17.1% 23.9% 19.7% 24.2%
O % 18-29 Years Old 13.1% 11.9% 18.0% 15.1% 16.7%
P % 30-44 Years Old 26.9% 26.2% 28.0% 28.8% 28.4%
U % 45-64 Years Old 23.0% 24.4% 17.2% 22.5% 16.9%
L % 65-74 Years Old 6.5% 7.3% 3.5% 4.6% 3.1%
A % Over 74 Years Old 5.1% 6.3% 2.0% 1.9% 1.4%
T Average Age 1
36.0 37.6 30.5 33.1 29.3
1
I % Hispanic Origin 8.6% 8.8% 2.3% * 100.0%
O Educational Attainment:
N Persons 25 Years and Older 559,835 422,285 65,475 57,625 40,405
% Less than High School Diploma 8.4% 7.4% 11.8% 9.3% 21.1%
% High School Graduate 27.9% 27.5% 36.7% 19.6% 35.2%
% Associate or Trade School 4.5% 4.2% 7.5% 3.4% 4.6%
% Bachelor's Degree 28.6% 29.2% 23.9% 31.9% 17.9%
% Grad, Professional or Doctoral 30.6% 31.7% 20.2% 35.7% 21.2%
2
Number of Employed Residents 2 464,115 340,170 62,335 49,565 38,325
% Females Who Are Employed 67.4% 66.1% 77.5% 64.5% 71.8%
Women with Children Under Age 6 61,205 41,480 9,280 8,120 6,595
% Employed 2 68.1% 68.6% 78.1% 56.7% 66.1%
Employer:
% Private for Profit 49.7% 49.2% 50.5% 52.5% 48.5%
% Private not for Profit 13.2% 12.9% 13.3% 15.7% 17.6%
% Self-Employed 11.3% 11.9% 6.9% 10.4% 15.0%
L % Government 25.8% 26.0% 29.2% 21.3% 18.9%
A Work Location:
B % In the County 57.9% 58.8% 53.0% 56.4% 58.1%
O % Inside the Beltway 18.4% 18.1% 20.2% 18.3% 22.1%
R % Outside the Beltway 39.5% 40.7% 32.8% 38.1% 36.0%
% Elsewhere in Maryland 9.2% 9.1% 9.3% 9.6% 6.3%
% to Washington, D.C. 23.6% 22.7% 28.7% 23.5% 28.7%
F % to Virginia 8.0% 8.2% 7.2% 8.3% 5.5%
O Work Trip:
R % Driving 81.6% 82.5% 76.7% 82.0% 79.3%
C % Alone 72.5% 73.6% 67.6% 71.4% 66.0%
E % Carpool 9.1% 9.0% 9.1% 10.6% 13.3%
% Public Transit or Rail 13.2% 12.1% 19.2% 13.1% 16.4%
% Walk/Bicycle/Other 1.9% 1.8% 2.3% 1.6% 2.1%
% Working at Home 3.3% 3.5% 1.9% 3.3% 2.2%
Access to Metrorail:
% Car 53.2% 55.2% 34.6% 59.8% 64.5%
% Ride-On/Metrobus 17.1% 13.3% 35.5% 24.4% 18.1%
% Walk/Bicycle 29.7% 31.5% 29.9% 15.8% 17.4%
* Insufficient data for reliable estimates.
1 Those of Hispanic origin may be of any race.
2
Ages 16 and older and employed full- or part-time.

Table 55: Profile by Race and Hispanic Origin

97
1997 CUS Summary Report

Race & Hispanic Origin (cont.)

RACE
ASIAN or
1
TOTAL PACIFIC HISPANIC
COUNTY WHITE BLACK ISLANDER ORIGIN

Households by Race of HH Head 311,135 239,615 38,115 26,020 18,970

% Total Households 100.0% 77.0% 12.3% 8.4% 6.1%
Average Household Size 2.64 2.54 2.81 3.26 3.42
Tenure:
% Rental 28.8% 23.1% 56.8% 34.0% 41.4%
Average Monthly Costs:
Homeowners $1,244 $1,230 $1,172 $1,508 $1,268
Renters $804 $827 $744 $818 $744
% in Same Home 5 Years Ago 56.1% 61.0% 36.7% 44.8% 46.0%
Median Years in Same Home 6 8 4 5 4
Average Age of Household Head 49.1 50.5 43.6 45.8 43.5
% Households with Foreign Born Head
H or Spouse 26.2% 17.8% 28.8% 89.6% 77.5%
O Households by Type:
U % Family Households 74.9% 73.0% 76.8% 88.5% 88.4%
S % Married-Couple 63.6% 64.2% 50.1% 78.2% 73.0%
I % Single-Parent 9.5% 7.4% 23.7% 6.9% 12.8%
N % Nonfamily Households 25.1% 27.0% 23.2% 11.5% 11.6%
G % Householder Living Alone 22.3% 24.0% 20.1% 10.0% 10.4%
Persons in Households:
% 1 Person 22.3% 24.0% 20.1% 10.0% 10.4%
% 2 Persons 33.6% 35.3% 29.6% 23.1% 20.3%
% 3 Persons 17.3% 16.3% 20.8% 24.2% 21.9%
% 4 Persons 16.1% 15.1% 16.1% 25.2% 23.3%
% 5+ Persons 10.8% 9.3% 13.5% 17.5% 24.1%
Average Number of Cars 1.8 1.8 1.5 2.0 1.9
% of Households with Computers 67.6% 68.1% 57.6% 78.3% 65.0%
% with Internet Connection 63.2% 64.2% 55.0% 64.0% 64.7%

1996 Household Income Distribution:

% Under $15,000 4.1% 3.6% 6.7% 4.5% 6.2%
% $15,000 to $29,999 9.9% 8.6% 14.2% 12.1% 20.6%
I % $30,000 to $49,999 20.0% 18.3% 28.7% 19.6% 26.7%
N % $50,000 to $69,999 19.1% 19.1% 20.5% 17.3% 17.2%
C % $70,000 to $99,999 19.5% 20.4% 15.6% 20.3% 15.4%
O % $100,000+ 27.4% 30.0% 14.4% 26.2% 14.0%
M 1996 Median Household Income $66,085 $70,515 $50,325 $65,630 $47,310
E % of Households Spending More Than
25% of Income on Housing Costs:
% Homeowners 21.1% 18.8% 25.5% 33.4% 42.8%
% Renters 39.7% 36.0% 41.3% 52.9% 51.4%

* Insufficient data for reliable estimates.

1 Those of Hispanic origin may be of any race.

Source: 1997 Census Update Survey; Montgomery County Planning Dept, Research and Technology Center, July 1999.
 R ACE & HISPANIC ORIGIN

1997 Asian & Pacific Islander Population

Montgomery County, MD

As ia n/P .I. % of Pop ul ation

0 - 9%
10 - 24 %
25 - 58 % N
No D ata

D ata Sou rc e: 199 7 C ens us U pdate Sur ve y 1 0 1 2 Mi les

R es ear ch & T ec hnolo gy Cen ter, M-N C PPC

Map 3: Asian and Pacific Islander Percent of Population

1997 Black Population

Montgomery County, MD

Bl ac k % of Po pula tion
0 - 9%
10 - 24 %
25 - 60 % N
No D ata

D ata Sou rc e: 199 7 C ens us U pdate Sur ve y 1 0 1 2 Mi les

R es ear ch & T ec hnolo gy Cen ter, M-N C PPC

Map 4: Black Percent of Population

99
1997 CUS Summary Report

1997 Hispanic Origin Population

Montgomery County, MD

H ispa nic Ori gi n % of Popu latio n

0 - 9%
10 - 24%
25 - 45% N
No Data

D ata Sou rc e: 199 7 C ens us U pdate Sur ve y 1 0 1 2 Mi les

R es ear ch & T ec hnolo gy Cen ter, M-N C PPC

Map 5: Hispanic Origin Percent of Population