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White to Non-White Racial Dissimilarity (5-year estimate) Index for Polk County, IA (RACEDISPARITY019153)

Observations

2024: 36.59468
Updated: Jan 29, 2026 9:58 AM CST
2024:  36.59468  
2023:  37.86638  
2022:  38.53789  
2021:  38.85639  
2020:  38.70511  

Units:

Percent,
Not Seasonally Adjusted

Frequency:

Annual

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Notes

Title Release Dates
White to Non-White Racial Dissimilarity Index for Polk County, IA 2017-02-07 2017-12-06
White to Non-White Racial Dissimilarity (5-year estimate) Index for Polk County, IA 2017-12-07 2026-01-29
 
Source    
U.S. Census Bureau 2017-02-07 2026-01-29
 
Release    
Racial Dissimilarity Index 2017-02-07 2026-01-29
 
Units    
Percent 2017-02-07 2026-01-29
 
Frequency    
Annual 2017-02-07 2026-01-29
 
Seasonal Adjustment    
Not Seasonally Adjusted 2017-02-07 2026-01-29
 
Notes    
The Racial Dissimilarity Index measures the percentage of the non-hispanic white population in a county which would have to change Census tracts to equalize the racial distribution between white and non-white population groups across all tracts in the county.Multiyear estimates from the American Community Survey (ACS) are "period" estimates derived from a data sample collected over a period of time, as opposed to "point-in-time" estimates such as those from past decennial censuses. ACS 5-year estimate includes data collected over a 60-month period. The date of the data is the end of the 5-year period. For example, a value dated 2014 represents data from 2010 to 2014. However, they do not describe any specific day, month, or year within that time period.

Multiyear estimates require some considerations that single-year estimates do not. For example, multiyear estimates released in consecutive years consist mostly of overlapping years and shared data. The 2010–2014 ACS 5-year estimates share sample data from 2011 through 2014 with the 2011–2015 ACS 5-year estimates. Because of this overlap, users should use extreme caution in making comparisons with consecutive years of multiyear estimates.

Please see "Section 3: Understanding and Using ACS Single-Year and Multiyear Estimates" on publication page 13 (file page 19) of the 2018 ACS General Handbook for a more thorough clarification. https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2018/acs/acs_general_handbook_2018.pdf

2017-02-07 2017-12-06
The Racial Dissimilarity Index measures the percentage of the non-hispanic white population in a county which would have to change Census tracts to equalize the racial distribution between white and non-white population groups across all tracts in the county.

Starting with the 2016 observations, the calculation has been changed so that counties with only one census tract have missing data. Zero values represent counties where the proportions of non-white population and non-hispanic white population are the same. Multiyear estimates from the American Community Survey (ACS) are "period" estimates derived from a data sample collected over a period of time, as opposed to "point-in-time" estimates such as those from past decennial censuses. ACS 5-year estimate includes data collected over a 60-month period. The date of the data is the end of the 5-year period. For example, a value dated 2014 represents data from 2010 to 2014. However, they do not describe any specific day, month, or year within that time period.

Multiyear estimates require some considerations that single-year estimates do not. For example, multiyear estimates released in consecutive years consist mostly of overlapping years and shared data. The 2010–2014 ACS 5-year estimates share sample data from 2011 through 2014 with the 2011–2015 ACS 5-year estimates. Because of this overlap, users should use extreme caution in making comparisons with consecutive years of multiyear estimates.

Please see "Section 3: Understanding and Using ACS Single-Year and Multiyear Estimates" on publication page 13 (file page 19) of the 2018 ACS General Handbook (https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2018/acs/acs_general_handbook_2018.pdf) for a more thorough clarification.

2017-12-07 2026-01-29

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Polk County, IA Des Moines Racial Dissimilarity Non-white White Iowa American Community Survey 5-Year Census County or County Equivalent Annual Public Domain: Citation Requested United States of America Not Seasonally Adjusted