Home ownership in Washington has followed a disturbing pattern in recent decades. While more than two-thirds of White families are able to own homes, most Black and Latino families do not. And for Black households the trend has gotten worse. In recent census reports the disparity is beyond alarming: 69% of White families are homeowners compared to only 34% of Black families. Fifty years ago, in 1970, 48% of Black families owned homes. Since them it has fallen decade after decade. In some counties the disparities are worse than the state average (only 28% in Seattle/King County; nearly the lowest rate among US big cities). Links below lead to reports that show homeownership rates and home values differentiated by race since 1970 for the state as a whole and key counties. Other charts show that even at comparable income levels, the disparity is dramatic.
