COVID-19 and place-based disparities by neighborhood (census tract)

The scatterplot below shows the relationship at the neighborhood (census tract) level between COVID-19 case rate – the only COVID-19 indicator available at census tract level – and an indicator of community characteristics, such as population race/ethnicity, chronic disease, or unemployment.

The plot below shows the correlation coefficient for each pair of indicators chosen. The correlation coefficient, a decimal number between 0.00 and 1.00, is a statistical measure of the strength and direction of the relationship between two indicators. The higher the number, the stronger the relationship. If the direction is positive, then as one indicator increases, the other increases, too. If it’s negative, then as one indicator increases, the other decreases – an inverse relationship. It’s important to remember that correlation doesn’t say anything about causation. A positive relationship between two indicators could be completely coincidental, or it might be one indicator driving the other, or it might be both indicators being driven by some other factor.

PLEASE NOTE that COVID-19 case data is as of November 2020. Neither local nor state health authorities have published more recent data by census tract.

View a brief video overview of the tool

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