Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island

Tables of selected demographics »

After growing at a near-record pace in the late-1990s—led by a boom on Wall Street, rapid growth in a variety of service industries, and a strong influx of immigrants—New York City's economy slipped into a recession in early 2001. This downturn was exacerbated by the 2001 terrorist attack and a particularly sharp contraction in the city’s key financial sector. After bottoming out in mid-2003, employment expanded gradually in 2004 and then grew at a brisk pace from 2005 through mid-2007.

The city sustained far steeper job losses than the nation in the last economic downturn—7.2 percent, versus 2.4 percent nationally—reflecting not only the 2001 terrorist attack but also a slump in the city's key financial services industry. Since 2006, however, the city has surpassed both the nation and the rest of the region in job growth. Manhattan, in particular, led the city in job and income growth during the 1990s boom but then experienced far steeper declines in employment and earnings than the outer boroughs during the downturn; since 2004, Manhattan has once again outpaced the city, the region and the nation in both job creation and wage and salary earnings growth.

Manhattan (New York County)

The "Outer Boroughs"

Brooklyn (Kings County)

Brooklyn is the most populous of the five boroughs—home to an estimated 2.5 million people in 2005. With nearly 35,000 residents per square mile, it is the second most densely populated borough (after Manhattan), and likewise, the second densest county in the United States. If the five boroughs were separate cities, Brooklyn would be the nation's third most populous. During the 1990s, its population grew by 7.2 percent—a bit less rapidly than the city as a whole but above the statewide average.

Brooklyn has a fairly typical urban demographic profile, with an above-average representation of minority groups: 36 percent of the population is black, including a sizable West Indian population. One in five residents is Hispanic and 7.5 percent are Asian, including a large Chinese community. In the past decade, Brooklyn's growth has been fueled by immigration, especially from the former Soviet Union and the Caribbean.

Only one in four housing units are owner-occupied, well below the U.S. average but in line with other major urban centers. Similarly, well over half of residents live in traditional apartment buildings (with five or more units), and another 35 percent are in two- to four-family homes. Most of the single-family houses—and likewise most of the owner-occupied units—are in the parts of the borough farthest from Manhattan.

In 2005, Brooklyn's median household income was roughly $37,000—about 20 percent below the U.S. average and 25 percent below the New York State average but, again, comparable to other urban centers. In terms of educational attainment, nearly one in three adults over the age of 25 hold college degrees, compared with 27 percent nationally.

Nearly 40 percent of working residents commuted to Manhattan, according to the 2000 Census. Still, Brooklyn does have a substantial industry base of its own—for example, substantially more people commuted from Long Island to Brooklyn than vice versa. Brooklyn's most important sector is health care, which represents 26 percent of jobs and 28 percent of earnings. In addition, a number of major Manhattan firms (especially in financial services), as well as government agencies, house some of their back-office operations at Metrotech Center—a multi-use complex of high-tech commercial buildings in downtown Brooklyn. Local government is also a major employer, led by the Board of Education's administrative headquarters. Manufacturing is somewhat important, accounting for 6 percent of jobs—well below the nationwide average, but slightly above the statewide average and well above the citywide figure.

Queens

Queens is the second most populous of the five boroughs, with 2.2 million residents. It is only slightly behind Brooklyn in terms of population, but it is much less densely populated, with roughly 20,000 people per square mile. During the 1990s, its population surged by 14.2 percent, making it the second fastest growing county in the state. Queens has an unusual demographic profile, even by New York's standards. Blacks account for 20 percent of the population-higher than the U.S. average, but low for a major urban area. On the other hand, a striking 18 percent of residents are Asian—triple the national and statewide averages—and 25 percent are Hispanic. As of 2005, 47 percent of Queens residents were foreign-born, which is the second highest proportion of any county in the United States.

While a majority of residents live in multi-family structures, a sizable proportion (30 percent) live in single-family homes; moreover, another 25 percent live in two- to four-family houses, as opposed to traditional apartment buildings. Similarly, there is a fairly even mix of owner-occupied homes, concentrated in the eastern tier of the borough, and rental units, mainly closer to Manhattan.

In 2005, Queens' median household income was roughly $48,000—in line with the United States and New York State averages but quite high for an urban county. In terms of educational attainment, 28 percent of adults 25 or over hold college degrees, again close to the national average.

As in Brooklyn, nearly 40 percent of working residents commuted to Manhattan in 2000. Its economy is also closely linked with that of neighboring Nassau and Suffolk Counties (Long Island). Queens also has a substantial industry base, dominated by its two major airports—John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia. Overall, air transportation and support services account for a sizable 10 percent of earnings generated in the borough, compared with slightly over 1 percent nationally.

Health care also represents a relatively important local industry, representing 17 percent of earnings. Finally, banks and other financial intermediaries have a notable presence in Queens. As in Brooklyn, manufacturing is moderately important, accounting for 7 percent of both jobs and income.

Bronx

Staten Island (Richmond County)

Staten Island is, by far, the least populous of the five boroughs, with just 455,000 [444,000] residents, but also the most affluent. It is much less densely populated than the others, with just 7,588 residents per square mile. During the 1990s, its population surged by 17.1 percent, making it the fastest growing county in the state.

Staten Island's demographic profile is more similar to the nation's than the rest of the city's. Blacks account for 10 percent of the population, slightly below the U.S. average, while Hispanics account for 12 percent —roughly on par with the United States. Asians account for 6 percent of the population, above the national rate but low for the New York City area.

Most residents live in single-family structures, and the homeownership rate is 64 percent, again close to the national average. In 2005, median household income was roughly $63,000-far higher than in any other borough (including Manhattan), well above the U.S. and New York State averages, and extraordinarily high for an urban center. In terms of educational attainment, 27 percent of adults 25 or over hold college degrees—up from 23 percent in 2000 and on par with the national average.

Roughly 30 percent of working residents commuted to Manhattan in 2000—a lower proportion than for the other boroughs. However, 16 percent commuted to Brooklyn, which is more accessible by bus or car. Staten Island does not have as large an industry base as the other boroughs, but again, health care is a relatively important sector, accounting for a third of jobs and 40 percent of income.