Census Estimates Confirm Decline in Household Income and Increased Poverty September 23, 2011 The recession’s longstanding toll on the incomes of Vermont households is shown clearly in estimates released by the Census Bureau yesterday.  The median income of a household in the state dropped to $49,406 in 2010 from $51,618 in 2009.  The poverty rate among Vermont households rose to 12.7% up from 11.4% in 2009.   Poverty among the state’s children rose particularly high–to an alarming 16.7% in 2010 up from 13.3% in 2009. Across the nation, poverty rose in 49 of the 50 states.   In total, 46.2 million Americans lived in poverty in 2010– the highest number in the 52 years the Census Bureau has been publishing figures on it.  Median household incomes across the country fell to levels last seen in 1996. The Census Bureau has recently released the results of two national surveys pertaining to household income and poverty–the American Community Survey and the Current Population Survey
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New Estimates About Characteristics of Vermont Households Released September 22, 2011 The Census Bureau released new estimates today that provide information about the characteristics of residents and homes in Vermont and its counties in 2010.   These estimates are based on the annual American Community Survey (ACS), which asks a sample of Vermonters questions about their home and the household members living there. While the decenniel Census provided counts of people and households, ACS estimates provide valuable information about the characteristics of Vermont residents. Here’s a sample of the types of information collected through the ACS:
§ Total monthly housing costs
§ Household income
§ Type of home heating fuel
§ Age of the household members
VHFA’s researchers are available to speak to members of the media about ACS data pertaining to Vermont’s housing market and the housing situations of low- and moderate-income people. Inquiries may be directed to Research and Communications Coordinator, Leslie Black-Plumeau We’re currently reviewing the data and will share highlights as we complete our analyses. Access the ACS 2010 estimates. Due to the small size of the ACS sample in some Vermont communities, data users are advised to carefully consider the error ranges provided by the Census Bureau with each estimate.