San Francisco

San Francisco Poised to be “Whitest County” in Bay Area By 2040: Study

A study of the Bay Area region finds that San Francisco is becoming less diverse as surrounding counties increase multicultural populations.

CityLab noted the study's starkest findings in the PolicyLink study: San Francisco is predicted to be the "whitest county" in the Bay Area by the year 2040. San Francisco is the only county in the Bay Area that is becoming less diverse; surrounding counties are becoming more diverse as soaring rent prices continue to drive people into other cities and towns.

"It's startling because the city's diversity and identity as a progressive, inclusive city is seriously at-risk," Sarah Treuhaft, PolicyLink's director of Equitable Growth Initiatives, said in an interview with the publication. "In fact, an honest look at the data shows it is becoming a mirage."

The study predicts that, on the other side of the spectrum, diversity will increase in Alameda, Contra Costa and San Mateo Counties in that timeframe.

Also on the rise throughout the Bay Area: Income inequality, Curbed noted, has jumped from 45th place in the country in 1979 to a current ranking of 14th place.

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