7 Belmont and Fishtown
Two Neighborhoods
Belmont is a wealthy suburb of Boston, home to highly educated upper-middle-class residents, mostly professionals like doctors, attorneys, and business executives. In 2000, 63% of adults had bachelor's degrees, and the median family income was $124,200. For the fictional Belmont, individuals are assigned based on strict criteria, such as holding a bachelor’s degree and working in specific management or professional fields.
In contrast, Fishtown, a working-class neighborhood in Philadelphia, has a much lower education level, with only 8% of adults holding college degrees in 2000. Residents typically work in blue-collar, service, or low-level white-collar jobs, with a median family income of just $41,900. Fictional Fishtown criteria exclude anyone with an academic degree beyond high school.
Another group with various occupations and education levels is not highlighted due to their mixed results falling between the two neighborhoods. The focus remains on Belmont and Fishtown to clarify key trends. The analysis specifically targets adults aged 30 to 49, considered to be in their prime working years.
The Top 20 Percent and the Bottom 30 Percent
Trendlines show how behaviors and opinions have shifted in Belmont and Fishtown, reflecting changes in these neighborhoods' social dynamics. The percentage of prime-age white Americans in Fishtown dropped from 64 percent in 1960 to 30 percent in 2010, while those in Belmont went from 6 percent to 21 percent. This raises questions about whether these changes are due to more capable individuals moving to the middle class or an increase in college-educated residents. An index combining education and job demands was created to analyze these trends and understand the impact of neighborhood changes on working-class behavior.
The Rest of the Underpinnings
The main text includes important information, while appendix C offers more detailed analyses. It is suggested to begin with the main text to grasp the key concepts, as it is designed to be clear and focused. After understanding the main ideas, readers can delve into the appendix for further exploration of specific questions and technical material. This approach helps maintain a clean and organized main text while providing deeper insights in the appendix when needed.
Two Neighborhoods
Belmont is a wealthy suburb of Boston, home to highly educated upper-middle-class residents, mostly professionals like doctors, attorneys, and business executives. In 2000, 63% of adults had bachelor's degrees, and the median family income was $124,200. For the fictional Belmont, individuals are assigned based on strict criteria, such as holding a bachelor’s degree and working in specific management or professional fields.
In contrast, Fishtown, a working-class neighborhood in Philadelphia, has a much lower education level, with only 8% of adults holding college degrees in 2000. Residents typically work in blue-collar, service, or low-level white-collar jobs, with a median family income of just $41,900. Fictional Fishtown criteria exclude anyone with an academic degree beyond high school.
Another group with various occupations and education levels is not highlighted due to their mixed results falling between the two neighborhoods. The focus remains on Belmont and Fishtown to clarify key trends. The analysis specifically targets adults aged 30 to 49, considered to be in their prime working years.
The Top 20 Percent and the Bottom 30 Percent
Trendlines show how behaviors and opinions have shifted in Belmont and Fishtown, reflecting changes in these neighborhoods' social dynamics. The percentage of prime-age white Americans in Fishtown dropped from 64 percent in 1960 to 30 percent in 2010, while those in Belmont went from 6 percent to 21 percent. This raises questions about whether these changes are due to more capable individuals moving to the middle class or an increase in college-educated residents. An index combining education and job demands was created to analyze these trends and understand the impact of neighborhood changes on working-class behavior.
The Rest of the Underpinnings
The main text includes important information, while appendix C offers more detailed analyses. It is suggested to begin with the main text to grasp the key concepts, as it is designed to be clear and focused. After understanding the main ideas, readers can delve into the appendix for further exploration of specific questions and technical material. This approach helps maintain a clean and organized main text while providing deeper insights in the appendix when needed.