Cities in Tennessee, Texas and Virginia top list for best places for Black families

Paul Austin and Tenisha Tate-Austin invested thousands in renovating their Marin City, California home. In 2020, they brought in a home appraisal firm to value the house as they prepared to sell. The firm valued the home at $995,000. While that may seem substantial, the Austins knew something was wrong.

Suspecting their race affected the amount they were given, they chose to do one more renovation job. The couple removed all evidence of them being Black from their home. They swept all family pictures, books, music, and their African art collection out of sight. They employed their white friend to pose as the homeowner and contacted the same appraisal firm. Their suspicion of racial discrimination was proved to be right when the new appraisal total came in at over $1.5 million.

According to Revolt, the Austins filed a civil complaint in court against Janette Miller and her firm, Miller and Perotti Real Estate Developers. Although they won their lawsuit, the reality of the racism and discriminatory practices in real estate can be very discouraging for Black people.

The small city of Marin City, CA, reported a population of 2,993 in 2020. Black people comprised 26.53% of that number, but that was a 10% drop from the population of Black people in the area reported in 2010.

Could there be a connection between real estate racism in areas with low Black populations? Are the lack of Black realtors, homeowners, and even Black financial institutions all factors in housing discrimination?

Daily Mail provided a list of some of the areas where African-American families are flourishing within the United States. The indicators of this data from Smart Asset was based upon income, average home value, education and employment opportunities.

1. Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Located in the middle of Tennessee, southeast of Nashville, the city has a population of about 152,769. The data found the median income for Black residents was $94,972. Forty percent of the Black population held bachelor’s degrees, 62 percent were homeowners, and 78 percent were actively involved in the labor force.

2. Enterprise, Nevada

A few miles from Las Vegas, Enterprise has a population of about 221,831. The region’s casino industry provides a large number of jobs in the city. Enterprise’s Black residents had a median household income of $84,023, 36.5 percent held bachelor’s degrees, 56 percent were homeowners, and 73 percent were employed.

3. Chesapeake, Virginia

Located at the southeastern-most corner of Virginia, Chesapeake has a population of 249,422. The median household income for Black residents was $81,031, 36 percent held bachelor’s degrees, 56 percent were homeowners, and 67 percent were in the workforce.

4. Pembroke Pines, Florida

Less than an hour north of Miami, Pembroke Pines has a population of 171,178. For Black residents, the median household income was $90,525, 30 percent held bachelor’s degrees, 56 percent were homeowners, and 67 percent were in the workforce.

5. Aurora, Illinois

The middle-American city has a population of 180,542 people. Located just outside of Chicago, the city has a long history of being a hub for regional manufacturing. The median household income for Black residents was $55,517. Thirty percent of residents held a bachelor’s degree, 57 percent were homeowners, and 69 percent were in the labor force.

6. Virginia Beach, Virginia

Located in southeast Virginia, the city has a population of about 457,672. Median household incomes were $60,185, 30 percent of Black residents held a bachelor’s degree, 43 percent were homeowners, and 73 percent were in the workforce.

7. Chandler, Arizona

A suburb city of Phoenix, Chandler has a population of 275, 987. The data showed Black residents had a median income of $86,648, that 45 percent held a bachelor’s degree, 36 percent were homeowners, and 74 percent were a part of the labor force.

8. Grand Prairie, Texas

Located in Fort Worth and Dallas, Grand Prairie’s residents find work across the two major cities. It has a population of 196,100. A median income among Black residents of $62,923, that 37 percent had bachelor’s degrees, 38 percent were homeowners, and 72 percent were in the workforce.

9. Colorado Springs, Colorado

Colorado Springs sits in the center of Colorado, the city has a population of 478,961. The city’s black population had a median household income of $57,565. About 32 percent of Black residents had bachelor’s degrees, 44 percent were homeowners, and 71 percent were a part of the workforce.

10. Elk Grove, California

Just south of Sacramento, Elk Grove has a population of 176,124. The data showed a household median income among Black residents of $89,054. Some 33 percent of the population held bachelor’s degrees, and 49 percent were homeowners, and 64 percent were in the labor force.

Martie Bowser is a journalist and public relations professional in Charlotte, NC. She enjoys amplifying the voices of POC and women that fill a void within their community. Her bylines include “person of interest” interviews, small business highlights, pop culture commentary, entertainment features, and everything Beyonce.

This story was originally published March 10, 2023 at 1:07 PM with the headline "Cities in Tennessee, Texas and Virginia top list for best places for Black families."