This report examines the racial wealth gap for people with disabilities in the United States. While the racial wealth gap is well-documented, with the median White household having a net worth 7-10 times higher than the median Black household, the wealth gap experienced by people with disabilities remains less explored. Recent data show that households without disabilities possess, on average, 6 times the net worth of households led by a working-age person with a disability. Wealth, defined as total household assets minus total liabilities, is a comprehensive measure of economic well-being and social stratification, and it has wide implications, including for personal security and long-term health and well-being. For people with disabilities, wealth has an added dimension, as additional costs associated with living with a disability reduce the amount individuals can save over their lifetime.
In this report we explore the racial wealth gap for people with disabilities in the United States. We analyze how race, disability status, and other demographic factors intersect to influence patterns of economic security, identifying overlapping challenges and differences that affect financial outcomes across groups. The racial wealth gap is well documented. The median White household has a net worth 7-10 times that of the median Black household and this disparity has grown over the past 50 years. 1-3 In contrast, the wealth gap associated with disability is less commonly examined. One study found that households without disabilities have six times the net worth of households led by a working-age person with a disability.
This research was supported by a grant from MetLife Foundation, awarded through Syracuse University’s Lender Center for Social Justice. As part of a three-year initiative, the Lender Center is leading a series of research projects, convenings, and public scholarship efforts aimed at addressing the root causes of wealth disparities in the United States.
Citation: Goodman, N., Avila-Acosta, M., Hyseni, F.,& Blanck, P. (2025) Disability as a Critical Element in Exploring the Racial Wealth Gap . Burton Blatt Institute Report Prepared for Syracuse University’s Lender Center for Social Justice. September 2025.