The data from the first paper indicates those areas of highest cumulative AIDS cases were localized to neighborhoods closer to downtown Syracuse. These areas are impoverished and economically worse off than those neighborhoods from rural Onondaga County. With this in mind, it would make sense to first examine if there is a correlation between median household income and the AIDS rate of a zip code. Between median household income and the living AIDS population rates in Onondaga County, there was a correlation value of -.76085. With the cumulative AIDS rate from the past twenty years and median household income, there was a correlation value of -.74805 (pg. 5). Both of these values indicate there is a strong negative relationship between average income of an area and its AIDS rate. This is not surprising because those with less money than others typically cannot afford medical care, a healthy living environment, and other amenities which help prevent and contain the spread of infectious disease. Also, this lack of financial stability can lead to physical depression and stress. Furthermore, typically those financially challenged live in the city, where close quarters, high population numbers, and inferior sanitation contributes to the spread of disease.
