WASP suburbs and Jewish suburbs

[King of Kensington]

How does their voting differ within metropolitan areas at a similar socioeconomic level?  In other words, what extent does the difference disappear when you account for regional differences (i.e. to what extent are Jews "more liberal" and WASPs "more conservative" just a factor of where they're from or live in the country.)

There still seems to be a pretty big difference.  For instance Lake Forest vs. Highland Park in Chicago, Rye vs. Scarsdale in Westchester, etc.

I suspect the differences are bigger though in places in the Sunbelt where Jews are many transplants (i.e. Atlanta Jews are a lot more liberal than Atlanta WASPs), than in say, Boston.  But that's likely because Democratic voting is likely pretty similar everywhere (at least outside the New York area) among Jews. 

[Thunderbird is the word]

I grew up in Connecticut and given my experiences in Fairfield County towns like Darien, Greenwich, New Caanan and Wilton tended to be heavily Republican (New Caanan more then all the others) and towns like Westport which was more Jewish but almost as wealthy was more Democratic leaning, (it's trended Republican locally in recent years though a Trump or Cruz nomination will probably more then reverse that.)

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

"WASP suburbs" don't really exist anymore. I assume you mean "upper middle class non-Jewish white suburbs"

[100% pro-life no matter what]

Maybe the difference between somewhere like Lower Merion Township (Montgomery CO), PA and Tredyffirin Township (Chester CO), PA?

[Stranger in a strange land]

I can assure you that a non-Jewish white suburb of Boston has MUCH, MUCH more in common with a Jewish suburb on Long Island than it does with a white non-Jewish suburb in Atlanta.

[King of Kensington]

A possible working definition for "WASP suburb":  where British + American first ancestry (and hence no overlap) forms a plurality of the population.  By that definition New Canaan and Darien CT, Rye NY and Kenilworth and Lake Forest IL all qualify.

[King of Kensington]

A qualification:  There may be some suburbs that meet my definition but with a Jewish population almost the same size.  Montreal's Westmount is like that.  I'm sure there's several in the US too (possibly Larchmont, Chevy Chase, some places on Chicago's North Shore etc.)  So strike out anywhere that has a Jewish population of at least say, 20%.

[Thunderbird is the word]

A possible working definition for "WASP suburb":  where British + American first ancestry (and hence no overlap) forms a plurality of the population.  By that definition New Canaan and Darien CT, Rye NY and Kenilworth and Lake Forest IL all qualify.

It goes back to some of those towns having anti-Semitic restrictions on Jews moving there at one point.

[King of Kensington]

It goes back to some of those towns having anti-Semitic restrictions on Jews movint there at one point.

Probably virtually all of them.

[Mr. Illini]

Highland Park's wealth level isn't quite at Lake Forest's level, but Glencoe's is.

When we look at the 2008 results below, we see WASPy Lake Forest as Pub and Glencoe deeply blue. Yet, when we look one south, we see Winnetka, which is WASPy like LF, yet light blue (probably light red in 2012, but much bluer than LF).



Different types of rich WASPs is how I would summarize it.

[King of Kensington]

Probably being closer in to Chicago plays a role in Winnetka being more liberal than Lake Forest as well.

[DavidB.]

Probably being closer in to Chicago plays a role in Winnetka being more liberal than Lake Forest as well.

How would that make Winnetka different demographically?

[Mr. Illini]

Probably being closer in to Chicago plays a role in Winnetka being more liberal than Lake Forest as well.

How would that make Winnetka different demographically?

Likely younger and more urban in culture. Not sure on the stats for the first item but can confirm the second.

[King of Kensington]

I'm sure Winnetka has a larger Jewish population than Lake Forest (maybe 10% or so in the forme, and probably 2% or less in the latter) but I don't think that's the main reason for it being more Democratic.

[King of Kensington]

Assuming these voting figures are correct, but the author is likely exaggerating the Jewish population in selected places and the Jewish vote's contribution to the Democratic vote (it's quite possible that wealthy non-Jews are more liberal in heavily Jewish suburbs as well).

http://rrhelections.com/index.php/2011/09/08/the-grosse-pointes-why-they-still-vote-republican/

In 2008, Kenilworth and LF went 57% and 56% Republican, Winnetka 44%.

Glencoe voted 73% Democratic and Wilmette 67%.

Highland Park, meanwhile, went 76% that year, according to Wikipedia.