Net Worth & Home Equity State-Level Data
United States
Opportunities to build wealth are not shared equally across all populations, as evidenced by the wide disparity in net worth between white and minority populations as well as low- and high-income households. Home equity is the most significant component of net worth overall, accounting for approximately half of all wealth nationally and in many states. When minority and low-income households own their homes, far more of their wealth is concentrated in home equity than other populations. This demonstrates that homeownership is a crucial asset-building strategy for those populations, but also shows how vulnerable these populations are to downturns in the housing market when it is the only asset-building strategy.
Home Equity as Percentage of Median Net Worth, 2006 |
| |
Total Population |
Homeowners Only |
| |
Median Net Worth |
% Home Equity |
Median Net Worth |
% Home Equity |
| All |
$88,803 |
50.7 |
$180,794 |
55.3 |
| White |
$122,505 |
49.8 |
$198,336 |
51.9 |
| Minority |
$20,132 |
0.0 |
$128,025 |
66.4 |
| Black |
$11,925 |
0.0 |
$98,568 |
71.0 |
| Latino |
$17,968 |
0.0 |
$124,730 |
73.8 |
| 1st Income Quintile |
$6,697 |
0.0 |
$110,610 |
72.3 |
| 2nd Income Quintile |
$31,078 |
35.4 |
$128,000 |
69.5 |
| 3rd Income Quintile |
$70,491 |
49.7 |
$134,820 |
63.0 |
| 4th Income Quintile |
$123,549 |
48.6 |
$172,814 |
54.4 |
| 5th Income Quintile |
$301,000 |
43.2 |
$344,319 |
45.6 |
|
Populations not represented in charts due to insufficient data.
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Home Equity as Percentage of Mean Net Worth, 2006 |
| |
Total Population |
Homeowners Only |
| |
Mean Net Worth |
% Home Equity |
Mean Net Worth |
% Home Equity |
| All |
$197,565 |
50.8 |
$279,560 |
53.3 |
| White |
$230,448 |
48.8 |
$297,670 |
51.1 |
| Minority |
$116,002 |
60.6 |
$214,221 |
64.5 |
| Black |
$85,013 |
60.0 |
$166,984 |
64.8 |
| Latino |
$111,058 |
66.0 |
$208,031 |
69.2 |
| 1st Income Quintile |
$92,189 |
62.4 |
$192,357 |
66.7 |
| 2nd Income Quintile |
$120,183 |
60.4 |
$203,600 |
64.1 |
| 3rd Income Quintile |
$158,538 |
54.2 |
$221,158 |
57.2 |
| 4th Income Quintile |
$216,878 |
50.1 |
$262,321 |
52.9 |
| 5th Income Quintile |
$388,449 |
44.4 |
$425,917 |
46.0 |
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Populations not represented in charts due to insufficient data.
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Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Survey of Income and Program Participation. Calculations by Beacon Economics.
“-” = Not Sufficient Data
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