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Housing Research & Data

Understanding the Racial Wealth Gap Through Housing

73%

White Homeownership Rate

44%

Black Homeownership Rate

29%

Homeownership Gap

40x
More

Wealth for Homeowners

Key Research Findings

Homeownership Rates by Race
White Households
73%
Hispanic Households
49%
Black Households
44%

The 29-30 percentage point gap between White and Black homeownership has remained virtually unchanged since 1992.

Median Household Wealth by Race
White Households
$171K
Hispanic Households
$24K
Black Households
$20K

Black households possess only 15% of White household wealth, with housing being the primary driver of this disparity.

Homeowner vs Renter Wealth Comparison
$255,000

Average Homeowner Wealth

$6,300

Average Renter Wealth

Homeowners possess 40 times more wealth than renters, highlighting the critical importance of homeownership for wealth building.

Research Findings

  • 29-30 percentage point homeownership gap drives wealth inequality between racial groups
  • Gap unchanged since 1992 - systemic intervention needed to address structural barriers
  • Homeowners possess 40x more wealth than renters, making homeownership critical for wealth building
  • Community land trusts show 8.2x lower foreclosure rates than conventional mortgages
  • 67% of CLT residents successfully transition to market-rate homeownership