Census Bureau Releases New Data On Racial Groups In Lakewood

The U.S. Census Bureau released more detailed statistics for Ohio from the , including new data for racial groups in Lakewood.

The bureau says the new data offers a "new layer of detail" to the population and housing data released last year as part of the decennial population study.

The new data even drills down into city data, giving communities like Lakewood a window into how different racial groups are living within our communities.

The Census data is a massive trove of information, so the plan here is to highlight some interesting facts gleamed from the data.

1. Lakewood is largely white, but getting more diverse

Lakewood describes itself as a diverse community, and the data shows that the city is only getting more diverse.

Lakewood has 52,131 people, according to the Census. While 45,598 people — or about 87.5 percent, down from 93.1 in 2000 — describe themselves as white, the .

This is sort of a recap:

• The black population in Lakewood has tripled. In 2000, there were 1,116 blacks in the city, compared with 3,340 in 2010.

• There are 988 Asians in Lakewood, up 188 from 800 in 2000.

• And the Hispanic population has nearly doubled since 2000; there were 2,147 Hispanics living in Lakewood in 2010, compared with 1,269 in 2000.

2. Minority populations are younger

Lakewood’s largest and fastest growing minorities are blacks, Hispanics and Asians. So it’s no surprise then that those populations have the highest percentage of young people.

More than a third, 39 percent, of people with Hispanic heritage in Lakewood are 19 or younger, while 30 percent of blacks are 19 or under, and 26 percent of the Asian population is 19 or under.

About 20 percent of the white population is 19 or younger.

3. Asians have largest families

The average family size in Lakewood is just under three — meaning the typical family structure in Lakewood is a husband, wife and one kid.

Asians have the largest families, at 3.76 people per household.

There are 3.14 people per Hispanic family, 3.08 people for black families, and 2.96 for white families.

4. More single moms

In 2000, Lakewood had 2,594 households led by a woman with no husband present. In 2010, that number increased to 2,742.

Single mothers lead more than 5 percent of white households.

Nearly 15 percent of black and 14 percent of Hispanic households are led by single mothers.

Asians have the lowest percent of single mothers at 4.7 percent.

5. Most people in Lakewood rent, but homeownership rates vary based on race

With about 57 percent of the city’s total households renting, Lakewood is a renter’s town.

But homeownership rates vary based on race.

About 47 percent of white households own their own home, or 10,558 out of 22,513 households.

The rest rent.

Black and Hispanic households were the least likely to own their own homes, with about 93 percent of blacks and 77 percent of Hispanics renting.

Nearly 69 percent of Asian households rent, while the other 31 percent live in a home they own.