Equity in Sutter County, California

What does it mean for conditions to be equitable? Equity is about just and fair inclusion into a society in which all have a fair chance to participate, prosper, and reach their full potential (Policy Link). It means that people are not held back from reaching their potential because of social conditions, systems, and policies that make it difficult to live good lives. Racism, poverty, living in certain neighborhoods, gender, and stigma all can lead to poor well-being outcomes. Communities that are equitable strive to put into place the social conditions, systems, and policies that address these harms in order to allow everyone to contribute to their full potential and help the whole community to flourish.

INCOME INEQUALITY 

How does the Gini Index vary in Sutter County, California?

What this measures: The Gini Index of Income Inequality, also called the Gini Coefficient, presents income inequality as a scale from 0 (perfect equality) to 1 (the most extreme inequality). In a location with a Gini coefficient of 0, every household would have the exact same income. In a place with a coefficient of 1, a single household would own all of the wealth, and everyone else would have nothing. 

Why this matters: Income inequality within US communities can have wide health effects. These effects include higher risk of death and poor health. Communities with higher income inequality can also experience a loss of connectedness from one another. 

What this relates to: Community vitality, health outcomes.

Data source: American Community Survey, Table B19083.

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Other Interesting Measures

INCOME INEQUALITY

• Relative disparity in poverty rates: Index value 0-1, with 0 being perfect equality, includes white vs. Hispanic & black. Source: Census.

EMPLOYMENT INEQUALITY

• Relative disparity in unemployment rates between total population and disabled population, higher values reflect more disparity. Source: Census.

EDUCATIONAL EQUITY

• Relative disparity in population with Bachelor's Degree+, index ranges 0-1, with 1 being more disparity, includes white vs. Hispanic & black. Source: Census.

HEALTH EQUITY

• Relative disparity in pollution exposure, index ranges 0-100, with 100 being more disparity, includes white vs. Hispanic, black & other. Source: EPA.