Income Causes More Segregation Than Race [study]

Is green the only color that matters?

Surely you've heard that educated, but misguided, hustler on the block quip profound sayings like "it's not about black or white, it's all about green." Come to find out, he's right.

A new study from the Pew Research Center says the percentage of upper-income households in affluent neighborhoods doubled between 1980 and 2010, rising to 18 percent. At the same time, the share of lower-income households located in mostly poorer neighborhoods rose from 18 percent to 23 percent. Meaning that the middle class continues to shrink and the gap between the haves and have-nots continues to grow.

Sociologists are calling the trend "segregation by income" and say that it picked up steam from 2000 to 2010. Especially in the Southwest with cities like Dallas, Houston and San Antonio leading the way.

"The country has increasingly sorted itself into areas where people are surrounded by more of their own kind, if you will," said Paul Taylor, the Pew Center director and coauthor of the report. 

The economy and income equality are the leading factors in the trend. Sociologist also say that income has surpassed race in regards to segregation in America.