Population: An estimated 93,400 Jewish persons live in 42,500 Jewish households in the Greater Baltimore area. Including non-Jews, the total number of people living in these households is approximately 108,000.
The Jewish population of Baltimore has been relatively stable, growing slightly, since the previous studies in 1985 and 1999. In 1985, 87,000 Jewish persons lived in 36,000 Jewish households. In 1999, an estimated 91,400 Jewish persons lived in 36,600 Jewish households.
Since the last study, the number of Jewish persons increased about 2%, the number of all people in Jewish households increased 16% [partially an empty nester phenomenon as adult children moved out of their parents homes in areas like Owings Mills, and established their own households].
Newcomers: 10% of respondents in Baltimore Jewish households have moved to the community within the ten years prior to the survey; newcomers are disproportionately younger adults.
The stability of the Baltimore Jewish population is reflected in the low percentage - only 5% - who believe that they will move out of Baltimore in the coming few years.
Age: Children under age 18 constitute 24% of all people living in Jewish households, while seniors 65 and older represent 19%.
However, the estimated number of Jewish seniors 85 and over has increased 160% from 1999 [1,500] to 2010 [3,900].; 5,700 Jewish seniors living alone in Greater Baltimore; 2,100 Jewish seniors living alone do not have an adult child to help them or the adult child does not live in Greater Baltimore area.
Intermarriage and Children:
Intermarriage rates are relatively low: 20% of couples are intermarried, compared to 17% in 1999.
Among non-Orthodox couples, the intermarriage rate is 27%; 42% of younger non-Orthodox (18-34) are intermarried.
Of approximately 26,000 minor children in Greater Baltimore, only 20% reside in intermarried Jewish households.
30% of children in intermarried households are being raised as Jewish-only, another 18% as Jewish-and-something-else.
Almost all children ages 5-17 raised by two-born Jewish inmarried parents have had some Jewish education, compared to 28% of children in intermarried Jewish households; but, 43% of all children in intermarried households being raised as Jewish or Jewish and something else have had some Jewish education.
Belonging: The percentage of Jewish households which report synagogue membership is 46%, slightly lower than the 52% rate reported in 1999, but given the increased number of Jewish households, the total number of synagogue member households has remained approximately the same.
Only 14% of intermarried couples reports synagogue membership.
Jewish denominational patterns in 2010 are quite different from 1999, reflecting an increase in the Orthodox, a decrease in Reform Jews, and relative stability among Conservative Jews.
Denomination: In 1999, 36% of respondents identified as Reform Jews compared to 27% in 2010; in 1999, 33% identified as Conservative, compared to a similar 30% in 2010; Orthodox respondents accounted for 17% of 1999 and 20% of 2010 respondents.
In terms of the number of Jewish persons, however, Orthodox-respondent households account for 32% of all Greater Baltimore Jews, Conservative Jews 26% and Reform Jews 23%.
Newcomer respondents to Baltimore in the 10 years preceding the survey were Conservative 40%, Orthodox 29% and Reform 22%.
Income:
Financially, approximately one-in-three Jewish households reports it is either just managing financially or cannot make ends meet; single-parent and seniors-living-alone households are most at-risk economically.
43% of all Greater Baltimore Jewish households reports negative consequences of the economic downturn: younger Jewish adults and respondents 50-64 were more likely to have been negatively impacted.
12% of all Baltimore HH report that a member had sought assistance for a job or occupation in the year preceding the survey; 28% of those seeking assistance reported that getting help was "very difficult."
An estimated 5,200 Jewish Baltimore households can be classified as below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, which are unrealistically low. Households fall below the 200% level if their household income is below: $22,000 for a one-person household, below $29,000 for a two-person HH, below $37,00 for a three-person HH and below $44,000 for a four-person HH.
Jewish Connections
75% of households report always/usually lighting Chanukah candles compared to 36% who light Shabbat candles; 76%% report always/usually attending a Passover Seder; in 65% of the households a member always/usually fasts on Yom Kippur; 26% of the HH report keeping kosher.
87% of Jewish households interviewed for the 2010 Study report contributions to charitable organizations; 63% report a Jewish contribution; 40% report an ASSOCIATED Federation donation. In 1999, the comparable percentages were 91%, 70% and 53%.
Diversity.
Diversity within the Jewish community is reflected in many ways, including GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender) Jews and multi-racial households. Just under 2% of the community's Jewish households include a GLBT household member; 8% of the Jewish households can be classified as multi-racial.