Key indicator

Life Expectancy

Average life expectancy can vary widely within a city based on many different factors, including where you live. For example, some neighborhoods in Marion County have residents with a life expectancy well above 80 years while others are well below 70. Several social factors impact life expectancy, including income, education, healthy food access, health insurance access, and housing. These along with other factors contribute to racial disparities in life expectancy. 

Closing the Gap and Key Takeaways

• When looking at the whole city by race, Black residents have the lowest life expectancy by far, followed by white residents.  
• Hispanic and Asian residents in Indianapolis have the highest average life expectancy, which follows national trends. 
• If life expectancy were equal for Black and Asian residents, that would result in an average of 12 additional years of life for over 265,000 people. 
• The racial gap in life expectancy is shrinking, however, that is driven by the downward trend of life expectancy for Hispanic residents. The gap between other race groups is about the same from 2018 to 2021. 

SAVI Reports Related to Life Expectancy

• Worlds Apart: Gaps in Life Expectancy in the Indianapolis Metro Area

• Worlds Further Apart

Driver of Life Expectancy

Lack of Health Insurance Access

Not everyone has access to health insurance or reliable, high-quality healthcare. Federal programs like Medicare and Medicaid provide health insurance to older and lower income residents, however, people without citizenship cannot always access those programs. As a result, Hispanic residents have the highest uninsured rate since many do not meet the eligibility requirements. 

Closing the Gap and Key Takeaways

• Hispanic residents are more likely to not have health insurance at 3.5 times the rate of white residents. 
• If insurance rates were equal between Hispanic and white residents, that would result in nearly 25,000 more people with insurance coverage. 
• Health insurance access is improving for the Hispanic population, which is reducing the overall access gap by race. Other race groups remain about the same.  

SAVI Reports Related to Lack of Health Insurance Access

• Health Profile

Driver of Life Expectancy

Diabetes

Race, poverty, and geographical location are intertwined factors that contribute to disparities in both the prevalence of diabetes and the mortality rates associated with the disease. According to national CDC data, Black residents are more prone to developing diabetes than their white counterparts but are comparable in the rate of deaths related to diabetes, and this holds true in Indianapolis. 

Closing the Gap and Key Takeaways

• The death rates related to diabetes for white and Black residents is three to four times that of Hispanic and Asians.
• If rates were equal across all races, there would be 58 fewer deaths per 100,000 people every year in Indianapolis. 
• The death rate for diabetes fluctuated from 2018 to 2022, but the rate for race groups and the gap between them remains about the same. 

SAVI Reports Related to Diabetes

• Health Profile
• DIP-IN Near West Community
• DIP-IN Near Northwest Community
• DIP-IN Northeast Community

Driver of Life Expectancy

Heart Disease

While heart disease is more prevalent among white Americans, Black Americans face a higher likelihood of mortality from the disease. However, in Indianapolis, white residents are more prone to heart disease-related fatalities than Black residents, and both rates are well above the rate for Asian and Hispanic residents.  

Closing the Gap and Key Takeaways

• Despite Hispanic residents having the highest number of uninsured residents, they have the lowest number of deaths related to heart disease. 
• The death rate for white residents in Indianapolis is nearly 10 times the rate for Hispanic residents and more than 5 times the rate for Asians. 
• In Indianapolis, 1,326 white residents, 462 Black residents,18 Asian residents, and 30 Hispanic residents died of heart disease in 2022. 
• From 2018 to 2022, the heart disease death rate has decreased slightly for Black residents, but the overall gap in race/ethnic groups is similar. 

SAVI Reports Related to Heart Disease

• Health Profile

Driver of Life Expectancy

Infant Mortality

Infant mortality is the number of infant deaths before the age of one per 1,000 live births and is commonly used to measure the overall health of a community. According to the CDC, the five leading causes of infant mortality in the US were birth defects, Prenatal care, sudden infant death syndrome, injuries, and maternal pregnancy complications. Research on racial disparities in infant mortality in the U.S. conclude that social determinants of health play a significant role in infant mortality, suggesting programs that address factors such as education, healthcare access, and neighborhood conditions will have the greatest effect on reducing these disparities.  

Closing the Gap and Key Takeaways

• Black babies have consistently had infant mortality rates that are 1.5 times higher than white and Hispanic babies. 
• If infant mortality rates were equal for babies across all races, the result would have been nearly 25 fewer infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2021. 

SAVI Reports Related to Infant Mortality

• The Lasting Impacts of Segregation and Redlining
• Breaking the cycle: How data-informed support for low-income mothers helps children excel

Driver of Life Expectancy

Drug Overdose Deaths

Indianapolis has seen a rise in drug overdose deaths, reflecting a broader national trend over the past decade. The opioid crisis has been responsible for a portion of this, and consequently has caused life expectancy to decline. In 2021, 228 Black residents died from an overdose compared to 471 white residents, but the rate per 100,000 population is higher for Black residents. 

Closing the Gap and Key Takeaways

• Black residents in Indianapolis have an overdose death rate that is 4.1 times higher than Hispanic residents and 7.8 times higher than Asian residents.  
• White residents, with a rate close to Black residents, consistently had the highest rates of overdose deaths until 2022. 
• If the number of opioid related deaths were equal across all races, that would result in over 570 fewer deaths in Marion County in 2022.  
• The drug overdose death rate steadily increased among Black residents, surpassing the death rate for white residents. 

SAVI Reports Related to Drug Overdose Deaths

• Health Outcomes

Driver of Life Expectancy

Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer’s Disease is the seventh-leading cause of death in the U.S, according to the Alzheimer's Association.  Nationally, 10.6 percent of the population 65 and older have Alzheimer’s or associated dementia. Looking at prevalence by race, Black residents have the highest prevalence (13.8 percent), followed by Hispanic residents (12.2 percent) and non-Hispanic white residents (10.3 percent). 

Closing the Gap and Key Takeaways

• In 2021, the rate of deaths related to Alzheimer’s for white residents was 1.7 times higher compared to Black residents, 4.4 times higher than Asian residents, and 15.5 times higher than Hispanic residents.  
• If Alzheimer’s rates were equal for all populations, that would result in 193 fewer deaths in 2022. 
• The death rate fluctuates between 2018 and 2022, but there was an overall decrease for white and Black residents and an increase for Asian residents during this time. The gap is between race/ethnic groups is narrowing. 

SAVI Reports Related to Alzheimer's Disease

• Health Outcomes

Driver of Life Expectancy

Suicide

Suicide, suicidal thoughts, and suicidal behavior are affected by adverse conditions in which people live, grow, play, and work. Sometimes those conditions are also referred to as social determinants of health and can involve racism, lack of access to physical and mental healthcare services, abuse, bullying, and severe health conditions. White residents are much more likely to die from suicide than residents of other races. 

Closing the Gap and Key Takeaways

• White residents are twice as likely to die from suicide compared to Black residents, and three and a half times as likely compared to Hispanic residents. 

SAVI Reports Related to Suicide

• Health Outcomes

Driver of Life Expectancy

Homicide

In the United States, homicide is one of the major causes of death and contributes to health disparities. The burden of homicide is higher among racial and minority groups and are often linked to socioeconomic factors including poverty, income, neighborhood conditions, lack of education, and exposure to harmful chemicals and pollution. 

Closing the Gap and Key Takeaways

• Black residents in Indianapolis are 8 times more likely to die from homicide than white residents.  
• If homicide rates were equal for Black, white, and Hispanic populations, the result would have been 137 fewer deaths in 2022. 
• There was an uptick in the homicide rate for Black residents in 2020. Though the rate is slowly declining, it is still higher than pre-COVID pandemic levels.  

SAVI Reports Related to Homicide

• Crime and Safety Profile

Median Household Income

The racial wealth gap is a complex issue that is influenced by many societal, governmental, and individual factors over time. These factors can play out over a person’s life cycle and even across generations. In 2020, the Brookings Institution found that nationally, the average Black family’s net worth was ten times less than the average white family’s. 

Closing the Gap and Key Takeaways

• In Marion County, Asian and white households each make 1.7 times (about $ 30,000) more income than Black families per year in Indianapolis and 1.3 times (over $15,000) more than Hispanic households.    
• If Black households earned the same amount as white households, that would be an average of $ 41,970 higher income for almost 140,000 households, resulting in $5.9 billion in additional income across Indianapolis. 
• Despite the upward trend for all race groups from 2018 to 2022, the increase has been slower for Black residents, and the income gap between races continues to increase.  

SAVI Reports Related to Median Household Income

• Equity in Economic Opportunity: How Race, Place, and Class Impact Economic Mobility in Indianapolis

• The Lasting Impacts of Segregation and Redlining

Driver of Median Household Income

Unemployment Rate

Unemployment can vary widely from year-to-year based on larger-scale economic conditions. However, there are long-standing racial gaps in unemployment rates, regardless of economic changes over time.  

Closing the Gap and Key Takeaways

• Black workers in Indianapolis are five times more likely to be unemployed than Asian workers, and 2.5 times more likely to be unemployed than white workers.  
• If unemployment rates were equal across all races, that would result in over 27,000 additional employed workers. 
• The unemployment rate dropped from 2018 to 2022 for all race and minority groups except Hispanic residents. Though disparities persist, the equity gap is shrinking. 

SAVI Reports Related to Unemployment Rate

• The Good Jobs Gap

• Economy Profile

Related to Median Household Income

Poverty Rate

Poverty rate is the measure of individuals whose income is below the minimum level of income deemed necessary to meet basic needs such as food, shelter, clothing, and other essential expenses. In Indianapolis, a family of four living in poverty is surviving on an income below $27,750. Despite seeing decades of progress in addressing overall poverty rates nationwide, large racial gaps persist in Indianapolis. 

Closing the Gap and Key Takeaways

• The poverty rate for Black residents in Indianapolis is more than double (2.3 times higher) on average than the rate for white residents, and the rate for Asian residents is 1.5 times higher on average than white residents. The gap between the rate for Hispanic and white residents is narrowing, dropping from 3 to 1.9 times the rate. 
• If poverty rates were the same for Black and Hispanic individuals as white individuals, that would result in over 40,000 fewer people in poverty. 
• Overall, the poverty gap between races is narrowing. This is partly driven by the large decline in the poverty rate for the Hispanic population. 

SAVI Reports Related to Poverty Rate

• Neighborhood Change 1970-2016

• The Changing Landscape of Poverty

• Poverty and Income Profile

Labor Force Participation

Labor force participation is the percentage of people actively working or looking for work, divided by the working-age population. The combination of the labor force participation rate and median household income tells an interesting story, as many groups have the same participation rate, yet there are household income gaps. This is because getting a job is not enough on its own to create equity. Equity in access to quality jobs and wages are an important part of the solution. 

Closing the Gap and Key Takeaways

• The labor force participation is nearly the same for all race groups. Given the data are based on five-year estimates, the differences are negligible. 
• These equal participation rates suggest major gaps in wages, given the large income disparities by race. 

SAVI Reports Related to Labor Force Participation

• The Good Jobs Gap

• Economy Profile

Homeownership Rate

Homeownership builds wealth and economic stability, providing long-term social and financial benefits for many families, increased civic engagement, and even improved mental health. Home ownership is not accessible for all in Indianapolis due to lack of affordability, access to loans, and other factors, and racial disparities persist. 

Closing the Gap and Key Takeaways

• Sixty-six percent of white households own their home, which is nearly double the ownership rate of Black households and significantly higher than the Hispanic rate of 46 percent. 
• If homeownership rates were equal between white, Hispanic, and Black households, that would result in over 37,000 more Black and Hispanic homeowner households. 
• Since the average U.S. homeowner has $118,000 in home equity (Census), that could be an additional $4.4 billion in combined wealth for those households over time if the equity gap were closed. 
• Between 2018 and 2022, home ownership rates increased for Hispanic and Asian residents but remained about the same for other race groups. The overall racial equity gap is about the same

SAVI Reports Related to Homeownership Rate

• The State of Tenants in Central Indiana
• Basic Needs Profile

Driver of Homeownership Rate

Home Loan Denial Rate

For most people, if you can't get a loan, then you can't buy a home. Despite large efforts in eliminating discrimination from housing practices in the U.S., recent SAVI research has shown that residents of color are still more likely to have their home loan applications denied, even when controlling for other important variables. 

Closing the Gap and Key Takeaways

• Black residents in Marion County are denied a home loan at nearly double the rate of white residents. 
• If Black and Hispanic residents had the same home loan approval rate as white and Asian borrowers, this would result in over 980 more approved loans for borrowers each year. 
• From 2018 to 2022, home loan denial rates fluctuated at about the same rate for all groups. The racial gaps remain unchanged. 

SAVI Reports Related to Home Loan Denial Rate

• Modern Redlining in Indianapolis?

Driver of Homeownership Rate

Housing Cost Burden

A person is considered "housing cost-burdened" if they spend more than 30% of their income on housing. This rate varies by renter and owner with 51% of renters being housing-cost burdened compared to 19% of owners. It also varies by race as noted below. Addressing these disparities requires policies and practices that include increasing affordable housing inventory, promoting fair housing prices, improving access to financial resources and homeownership opportunities, and addressing income inequalities.  

Closing the Gap and Key Takeaways

• Studies have shown that minority households, particularly Black and Hispanic families, are more likely to experience higher housing cost burden compared to white families. 
• In Indianapolis, the percent of Black and Hispanic families who are housing cost-burdened is around 1.2 times higher compared to white and Asian families.  
• If the housing-cost burden rate was equal for Hispanic, Black, and white households, then 10,500 fewer people would be housing cost-burdened. 
• From 2018 to 2022, the housing cost burden lessened for most groups, but the racial gap has widened slightly. 

SAVI Reports Related to Housing Cost Burden

• A Deep Dive into Affordable Rental Housing

 Other Housing Indicator

Eviction Filing Rate

The effects of eviction can be significant and long-lasting, resulting in the personal loss of possessions, one’s neighborhood, and children’s schools, while increasing childhood trauma, negative health outcomes, and stress. Even an eviction filing that does not result in an eviction can hurt a tenant’s prospects for finding a new apartment. 

Closing the Gap and Key Takeaways

• Despite the eviction rates being similar for Black, Hispanic, and white residents in Indianapolis, many black renters (1 in 4 nationally) live in areas in which the black eviction rate is more than double the white eviction rate.  
• If eviction rates for Black and Hispanic households were equal to those in white households, the result would be nearly 1,563 fewer evictions in Indianapolis.  

SAVI Reports Related to Eviction Filling Rate

• Empowering Indiana Communities with Evictions & Foreclosure Data
• Indiana Evictions and Foreclosure Dashboard
• Follow the Money: Indianapolis Evictions in 2022

Jail Population Rate

Jail is typically used to incarcerate a person who has been arrested for an alleged crime while they await their trial. Despite there being fewer Marion County residents in jail than in prison, the jail population is a significant portion of the incarcerated population. Most people in Marion County jails (67%) are there on low-level felonies, which are more severe than a misdemeanor and include such things as theft, unlawful possession of a syringe, and possession of a narcotic drug. Addressing these low-level crimes represents the best opportunity to reduce the jail population significantly. 

Closing the Gap and Key Takeaways

• Black residents make up over half of the jail population per 100,000 people aged 15 to 64. 
• If Black individuals were jailed at the same rate as white individuals, that would result in 1,454 more people free from jail at any given time. 
• The disparities by race have remained consistent over time. 

SAVI Reports Related to Jail Population Rate

• Equity and Criminal Justice: The Cradle to Prison Pipeline in Indianapolis
• Equity in Criminal Prosecutions: Analyzing Case Filings from the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office
• Who is in the Marion County Jail? Exploring Length of Stay through an Equity Lens

Driver of Jail Population Rate

Incarceration Rate

The total incarceration rate, including both people in jail and prison, is much higher for Black residents of Marion County than for white residents. The latest data available by race at the county level for jail and prison rates is 2016. At that time, Marion County's incarceration rate was lower than the national rate. Our incarceration gap was slightly lower than the national rate: the Black incarceration is 4.0 times higher than White in Marion County and 4.2 times higher in the nation overall. 

Closing the Gap and Key Takeaways

• This is one of the largest equity gaps among all the indicators examined in the report card. 
• The incarceration rate for Black residents is 4.0 times higher than for white residents in Marion County and 4.2 times higher in the nation overall. 
• If Black residents were incarcerated at the same rate as white residents, there would be 5,000 more people living in their communities rather than incarcerated. 

SAVI Reports Related to Incarceration Rate

• Equity and Criminal Justice: The Cradle to Prison Pipeline in Indianapolis

Driver of Jail Population Rate

Juvenile Charges

The Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative began in Marion County in 2006 and has dramatically reduced the number of juvenile charges in our city. However, substantial racial inequity exists for Indianapolis’ young people.  For every white youth charged, there are two Hispanic youths and over five Black youths charged with crimes. 

Closing the Gap and Key Takeaways

• If Black youth were charged at the same rate as white youth, the result would be nearly 664  fewer juvenile charges each year. 
• For every white young person facing criminal charges, there are 4 Black young people being charged.
• There has been little change in the rate of charges for white youth but a growing rate for Black youth. The gap between races has grown wider over the last five years.  

SAVI Reports Related to Juvenile Charges

• Equity and Criminal Justice: The Cradle to Prison Pipeline in Indianapolis

Driver of Jail Population Rate

School Suspensions

Removing children from school for even a few days disrupts their education and can increase their chances of entering the criminal justice system. Studies have shown a child who has been suspended is more likely to be retained in grade, drop out, commit a crime, and interface with the juvenile justice system. 

Closing the Gap and Key Takeaways

• Black students are twice as likely as white students to have in-school suspensions and four times more likely to have out-of-school suspensions.  Black students are serving suspensions out-of-school over three times as much as they are serving suspensions in-school.  
• If Black children were suspended at the same rate as white children, the result would be 3,000 fewer suspensions each year. 

SAVI Reports Related to School Suspensions

• Equity and Criminal Justice: The Cradle to Prison Pipeline in Indianapolis

Bachelor's Degree Attainment

Despite national conversations questioning the value of a college degree in today's economy, the fact remains that a degree usually leads to greater economic success. Higher bachelor's degree attainment levels among Asian and white residents are key drivers behind higher median incomes for those groups. 

Closing the Gap and Key Takeaways

• If Black and Hispanic residents had bachelor's degrees at the same rate as Asian residents, that would result nearly 54,000 more people with a bachelor's degree.  
• Because someone with a bachelor's degree earns on average $20,000 per year more than someone with just a high school diploma, that could equate to as much as $1.08 billion in additional earnings across Indianapolis. 
• From 2018 to 2022, there was little change in college attainment rates by race and thus little change in the racial equity gap that exists. 

SAVI Reports Related to Bachelor's Degree Attainment

• A Decade of Decline: College-Going Rates in Central Indiana

Related to Bachelor's Degree Attainment

Postsecondary Degree Attainment 

Rather than looking at only traditional four-year bachelor's degrees, this report card focuses on a more inclusive education measurement. Graduating with any level of college degree has major economic benefits such as increased earnings over a worker's lifespan. Postsecondary degree attainment captures everyone who has earned at least an associate degree up through those with post-graduate degrees. Obtaining credentials and training are a better option than college for some residents. However, data about these education options are limited and are not included in this report. 

Closing the Gap and Key Takeaways

• If Black and Hispanic adults had post-secondary degrees at the same rate as white adults, that would result in over 37,000 more people with at least an associate degree. 
• Even though they have the highest attainment, less than half of all white adults 25 and over in Indianapolis have a degree past high school. Overall, adults in Indianapolis have low attainment, with surrounding counties having levels ranging from 5 to 25 percentage points higher.   

SAVI Reports Related to Postsecondary Degree Attainment

• A Decade of Decline: College-Going Rates in Central Indiana

Driver of Bachelor's Degree Attainment

High School Diploma Attainment

College is not for everyone. There are still good jobs available for those with only a high school diploma; however, there is a large gap in diploma attainment by race which creates an under-represented applicant pool. Black and Hispanic residents in Indianapolis have a higher percentage of people with only a high school diploma compared to other groups. 

Closing the Gap and Key Takeaways

• Hispanic adults in Indianapolis have the lowest education level, with 38% not completing high school and 29% completing only high school. 
• While Asian adults are more likely to obtain the highest education levels of all race groups in Indianapolis, Black adults have near the lowest higher education rate and are twice as likely as Asians to have only a high school education. 
• Because someone with a high school diploma on average earns $5,000 per year more than someone without, having equity in high school degree attainment could equate to as much as $322 million in additional earnings across Indianapolis. 

SAVI Reports Related to High School Diploma Attainment

• Where Schools Are Changing
• Children Transfer Often at Charter Schools, Low-Income Schools
• School Insights

Other Education Indicator

Reading Proficiency Rate (Grades 3-8) 

ILEARN stands for Indiana’s Learning Evaluation and Assessment Readiness Network and tracks the progress made by Indiana students towards standards set by the Indiana Department of Education. One of those standards is the English/Language Arts (ELA) Proficiency Rate, which is the rate for which students are proficient in utilizing the English Language as defined by the Indiana Department of Education. A quick look at the data suggests a lack of equity across race groups. 

Closing the Gap and Key Takeaways

• If Black and Hispanic students tested at the same rate as Asian students, they would be considered proficient at more than twice the rate as they are now. This would be an additional 7,655 Black and 4,819 Hispanic students proficient in English/Language arts. 
• According to Pew Research, 72% of the Asian population is English proficient, and 66% of Asians speak a language other than English in their home. Yet Asian students have the highest English proficiency rate in Indianapolis.  
• Reading proficiency in Indianapolis has declined for all race groups in Indianapolis since 2019, and the wide race gap persists. 

SAVI Reports Related to Reading Proficiency Rate (Grades 3-8) 

• ILEARN ELA Profile

Other Education Indicator

Math Proficiency Rate (Grades 3-8) 

In much the same way as ELA proficiency, ILEARN’s Math Proficiency Rate follows a pattern of inequity across the community, almost identical to the pattern for the ELA Proficiency Rate. Hispanic and Black students are struggling more than other students to achieve proficiency in these standards.  

Closing the Gap and Key Takeaways

• If Black and Hispanic students tested at the same rate as Asian, they would be considered proficient at more than twice the rate as they are now. This would mean an additional 9,102 Black and 5,297 Hispanic students would be proficient in math. 
• Asian students are 4 times more proficient than Black students in math. 
• Math proficiency in Indianapolis has declined for all race groups in Indianapolis since 2019, and the wide race gap persists. 

SAVI Reports Related to Math Proficiency Rate (Grades 3-8) 

• ILEARN Math Profile

Transportation Access (Transit + Car)

Access to public transit is not universal. An estimated 13,000 Black and Hispanic households are without a car and have low access to public transit (that is, they live outside high-transit neighborhoods). High-transit neighborhoods are census tracts with more than 1,000 miles of bus service in a week per square mile according to SAVI's transit density measure. Only one-fourth of census tracts in Indianapolis are considered high-transit.  

Closing the Gap and Key Takeaways

• Black households are likely to be without a car and live outside a transit-rich neighborhood at the 1.6 rate of white households. 
• Hispanic households are 33% more likely to be without a car and live outside a transit-rich neighborhood compared to white households. 
• If the rate were equal for Black and white households, that would result in over 4,200 more households with better transportation access. 
• Access to transportation improved slightly from 2018 to 2022, but the racial gap remains about the same. 

SAVI Reports Related to Transportation Access (Transit + Car)

• Transportation Equity and the Older Adult Population

• Who Rides the Bus: Examining Transit Ridership in Marion County

• Basic Needs Profile

Other Access Indicator

Broadband Internet Access

Access to reliable, high-speed internet is vital to succeeding in today's online world. It improves access to jobs, education, healthcare, and more. Despite recent efforts to expand broadband in Indiana, residents of color are still less likely to have access, even in a big city like Indianapolis. 

Closing the Gap and Key Takeaways

• Not only do Black households have lower broadband access, they also are twice as likely to have no computer device than other race groups.  
• If internet access were equal for Black and white households, that would result in 7,741 more households with broadband internet at home. 
• Internet access improved for all race groups from 2018 to 2022, and the racial disparities have improved. 

SAVI Reports Related to Broadband Internet Access

• Interactive Map: Where Indiana Students Lack Home Internet, Computer
• Equity Profile

Related to Internet Access

Smartphone Access

Internet access at home improves access to jobs, education, and other resources, but desktop and laptop computers can be cost prohibitive for people with less wealth and income. A smartphone can be a cheaper way to access the internet both at home and using free public Wi-Fi.  

Closing the Gap and Key Takeaways

• In Indianapolis, Black residents are five times more likely to be without a smartphone than Asian residents who have the greatest access, and Hispanic residents are nearly four times more likely than Asians to be without a smartphone.  
• If smartphone access were the same for Black and Hispanic individuals as it is for Asian individuals, that would result in nearly 40,000 more residents with a smartphone. 
• Access to a smartphone improved from 2018 to 2022, but the racial gap remains the same. 

SAVI Reports Related to Lack of Smartphone Access

• Interactive Map: Where Indiana Students Lack Home Internet, Computer
• Equity Profile

Other Access Indicator

Healthy Food Access

Lack of access to fresh, high-quality food can influence many factors later in life, including health and overall wellbeing. Indianapolis has many ‘food deserts’, which are neighborhoods without healthy and affordable food available to the public within a reasonable travel distance from home. There is a stark difference comparing the share of people living in a food desert by race. 

Closing the Gap and Key Takeaways

• One in four Black Indianapolis residents lack access to healthy, affordable food as opposed to only one in ten white residents. 
• If Black residents had the same access to healthy food as white residents, at least 35,210 more people would have access to healthy food. 

SAVI Reports Related to Healthy Food Access

• How long does it take to get to a grocery in each neighborhood?

• Getting Groceries

• Food Access Profile

Environmental Burden

Environmental burden can be described as any significant or negative impact to a community’s clean air, water, and land from intentional or foreseeable causes. Examples include pollution from industrial activities, emissions from vehicles, lack of access to parks, and noise pollution from airports and high-volume roads. These burdens can cause cumulative negative impacts on people residing in these communities, including poorer health. 

Identifying communities facing disparate impacts is critical to advancing health equity. Environmental burdens are inequitably distributed between race groups, with some groups experiencing greater exposure than others due to their neighborhood of residence.  

Closing the Gap and Key Takeaways

• Hispanic neighborhoods experience the highest negative environmental exposures while Asian neighborhoods experience the lowest. 
• Environmental burden rates for Hispanic residents are steadily increasing relative to other race/ethnic groups AND relative to peers in other cities. In Indianapolis, this is due in part to a population shift from low-exposure areas (e.g., Michigan-Highlands) into high-exposure areas (e.g., Near Westside).  
• Asian residents have the lowest average exposure relative to other race/ethic groups, in large part due to the high population of Asian residents in Perry Township, which is one of the environmentally safest areas in Marion County according to this metric. 
• Closing the equity gap on environmental burden could take several forms: development of affordable housing in low-exposure areas, policies that provide targeted support for green spaces, cleanup, preventative health screening, and/or zoning protections in Hispanic neighborhoods. 

SAVI Reports Related to Environmental Burden 

• The Lasting Impacts of Segregation and Redlining

• Greenspace Assessment for Marion County

Other Environment Indicator

Toxic Release by Census Tract

This dashboard shows the amount of toxic chemicals released into the air by toxic release sites. The map displays the amount released by census tract. Clicking on a tract allows you to view the race of the population in that community. Several of the tracts most impacted are predominantly black communities. 

SAVI Reports Related to Toxic Release by Census Tract 

• Lead exposure in the Indy East Promise Neighborhood