A recent report from the Pew Research Center describes the growing wealth gap between households of different racial/ethnic backgrounds: the median wealth of white households is 20 times that of black households and 18 times that of Hispanic households.  In 2009, white households had a median net worth of $113,149, compared to $5,677 for black and $6,325 for Hispanic households.  The findings of the report point to the loss in housing equity beginning in 2006 and the recession from 2007 to 2009.  From 2005 to 2009, inflation adjusted median wealth fell by 66% among Hispanic households and 53% among black households, compared to 16% among white households.  About one-third of black and Hispanic households had zero or negative net worth in 2009, compared to 15% of white households.

The report’s findings are based on analysis of data from the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP).

Other U.S. income data by race can be found on our website for the United States, Michigan, Mississippi and New Mexico.