This brief compares various socioeconomic indicators between Latinos and non-Latino-Whites in the city of Omaha. Data come from the U.S. Bureau of the Census. The author found that the Latino population in the Midwest has been substantially increasing and is projected to continue to do so. Looking at various socioeconomic indicators, he found that Latinos in Omaha occupy a lower strata relative to non-Latino Whites. More Latinos occupy “blue collar” types of jobs than non-Latino Whites. Conversely, non-Latino-Whites occupy “white collar” types of jobs than Latinos, who have a higher rate of employment than non-Latino Whites, but suffer from a higher rate of poverty than non-Latino Whites. Latinos have also a higher percentage of households headed by women and their median income is lower than that of non-Latino Whites. In terms of education, more non-Latino Whites have Bachelor’s degrees than Latinos. More Latinos rent their homes than non-Latino Whites and tend to live in slightly old homes. Most Latino households have access to a vehicle and a telephone, but lag slightly behind in access to such conveniences than non-Latino Whites. South Omaha has been transformed into a Latino community and socioeconomic differences exist between census tracts within this community.

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