Arlington
According to the 2010 census, Arlington has a total population of 365,438, making it the third largest city in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Arlington is also the 7th largest city in Texas as well as the 50th largest in the United States. With 73,417 African American residents, Arlington has a larger Black population than any other suburb in the DFW area. The cost of living here is very low compared to that of the northern suburbs.
Arlington is home to the University of Texas at Arlington, the Texas Rangers’ Ballpark in Arlington, the new Cowboys Stadium, and the original Six Flags theme park; Six Flags Over Texas. African Americans in Arlington are located in different areas of the city.
The south part of Arlington (south of interstate 20) has a rather large and fast growing African American middle-class population of homeowners. This section of the city is filled with recently built tracks of single family homes and good schools located within the Arlington ISD and the Mansfield ISD. As of 2010 approximately 26,000 African Americans live here making up 33% to 43% of the total population south of interstate 20 where medium household incomes ranged from $50,000 to $90,000 annually. Median home values here average $110,000 to $160,000 while rents range from $1,000 to $1,500 a month.
The central section of Arlington has a Black population about half that of south Arlington. Many here are working class and middle class renters of apartments and modest ranch houses with incomes from $27,000 to $43,000. Most of the Black population in this area lives south of Pioneer Pkwy, north of I-20 and east of S Cooper St. Median rents range from $850 to $950 per month.
The northern section of Arlington has approximately 10,000 African Americans, mostly middle class renters living in apartments that are a bit more upscale than those on the central part of the city. They are concentrated north of interstate 30 and east of N Cooper St. most incomes in this area range from 35,000 to $50,00 with median rents ranging from 700 to 900.
Most Arlington residents are forced to commute to adjacent Fort Worth or to the large employment centers located in northern Tarrant and Dallas counties. This calls for longer than average commutes for families who choose to live here. Although Arlington is the largest city in the world without public transportation, for many the affordability and quality of life in here makes it all worth it.
STATISTICS
Total population:—–383,899
Black population—–84,399 / 22%
Black median household income—–$43,650
Black married households—–29%
Percent of Blacks with a bachelor’s degree or higher—–28%
Percent of Black households that are homeowners—–32%
Percent of Black Families in poverty—–17%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012-2016 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates.