19 of 1,036 Majority-Black ZIP Codes Are 'Prosperous,' Report Says

The Economic Innovation Group has released its 2020 Distressed Communities Index.

2 minute read

January 18, 2021, 8:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Maryland

The most prosperous majority-Black ZIP code in the United States is found in Bowie, Maryland. | SevenMaps / Shutterstock

"A shocking 70% of the nation’s 1,036 majority-Black ZIP codes are considered 'distressed,' while only 19 — 1.8% — rank as 'prosperous,'" according to an article by Andy Olin.

Olin cites the most recent Distressed Communities Index (DCI) from the Economic Innovation Group (EIG), in addition to focusing on the fact that two of the prosperous zip codes are located in Fort Bend County, Texas.

"Distressed communities are characterized by widespread poverty, high rates of unemployment and low levels of educational attainment. They also face stagnant or negative economic growth, which means little to no change in the prospects of those who live there," according to Olin's explanation.

"The seven metrics used to calculate a community’s score on the index were no high school diploma, housing vacancy rate, adults not working, poverty rate, median income ratio, change in employment and change in business establishments." Four out of the five most prosperous majority-Black ZIP codes in the country are located in Maryland, according to these metrics.

In total, the report estimates that 50.5 million Americans live in distressed zip codes, compared to 50 million in 2016. The report makes the case that the gap between prosperous and distressed grew in the United States over the course of the past decade, but despite the high ratio of distressed majority-Black ZIP codes, the share of the U.S. Black population living in distressed zip codes dropped between 2010 and 2018, according to the report.

Wednesday, January 13, 2021 in Rice Kinder Institute for Urban Research: The Urban Edge

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

Google street view of red brick multi-story power plant building in Pittsburgh, PA.

Defunct Pittsburgh Power Plant to Become Residential Tower

A decommissioned steam heat plant will be redeveloped into almost 100 affordable housing units.

July 4 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Cyclist on protected bike lane in middle of street in Washington D.C. with Washington Monument obelisk visible in background.

Trump Prompts Restructuring of Transportation Research Board in “Unprecedented Overreach”

The TRB has eliminated more than half of its committees including those focused on climate, equity, and cities.

July 4 - Streetsblog USA

Blue and silver Amtrak train at small station.

Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train

The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.

July 3 - New Orleans City Business