Racial Progress In NJ: See Where The Garden State Ranks

NEW JERSEY — Ahead of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, a newly-released study by WalletHub ranks each U.S. state for progress made closing the gap between Black and white Americans in a variety of areas.

New Jersey ranked 10th in the study for racial progress over time, and 27th for current racial integration.

WalletHub measured 21 indicators of equality among Black and white people across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The study measures gaps from standardized test scores, voter turnout, median annual income, infant mortality and more.

"This report examines the differences between only black people and white people in light of the high-profile police-brutality incidents that sparked the Black Lives Matter movement," WalletHub said. "We released this report ahead of the holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who played a prominent role in the Civil Rights Movement to end segregation and discrimination against black people."

The indicators were sorted into four categories: employment and wealth, education, social and civic engagement, and health.

In the racial progress calculations, New Jersey ranked 8th in the country in the employment and wealth category, 9th in education, 14th in social and civic engagement, and 18th in health.

In the racial integration calculations, New Jersey ranked 32nd in the employment and wealth category, 34th in education, 26th in social and civic engagement, and 24th in health.