Unequal cities: Where rich and poor live within blocks of each other

Consider the 94108 ZIP code, embedded in San Francisco. The area stretches from Chinatown to Union Square — or, for those unfamiliar with the area, from a part of the city that historically has been an enclave for thousands of immigrant Chinese, many of whom live in crushing poverty, to the part best known for its luxury shopping and high-end hotels.

A quick search shows that in recent years, at least one apartment in that ZIP code was listed for $9,500 per month. In and around Union Square, there… …read more