The Bronx has nearly twice as many COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations as Manhattan. These charts reveal why.

People wait for a distribution of masks and food from the Rev. Al Sharpton in the Harlem neighborhood of New York, after a new state mandate was issued requiring residents to wear face coverings in public due to the COVID-19 coronavirus, Saturday, April 18, 2020.AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews

• Across the US, the coronavirus is hitting some communities harder than others.
• In New York City, those disparities are evident across two boroughs: the Bronx and Manhattan.
• Even though Manhattan has more people, the Bronx has more cases and more deaths per capita.
• Income inequality, housing issues, food deserts, and poor clinical care have made it difficult for the Bronx to battle the outbreak.

This pandemic does not affect all Americans equally. The coronavirus has spread through urban areas faster than rural areas, and has disproportionately affected African-American and Hispanic communities.

Even in New York City, stark differences are visible between outbreaks in different boroughs. Take Manhattan and the Bronx: While the former has about 13% more people, the latter has more cases, hospitalizations, and deaths.

The reasons for this have to do with underlying systemic inequalities already present in the city. On average, Manhattan residents have higher incomes and better access to healthcare. Parts of the Bronx, meanwhile, face food deserts, income inequality, public housing that's in poor condition, and low-quality clinical care. The borough is also home to more frontline workers and subway riders.

The following graphs show why two communities only about 10 miles apart have faced such different situations.