ROOM AT THE TABLE - Intersight - University at Buffalo

HOUSEHOLD STRUCTURE
Among the 383,164 households in Erie County, there are various
household structures with the most common one being ‘family.’ In recent
years, however, ‘non­family households’ are becoming increasingly
common in Erie County. Between 2000 and 2010, the proportion of nonfamily
households grew from 36 percent to 40 percent (See Table 1.1).
Among family households, the majority is comprised of married
couples (70%). 8 Families headed by a single mother comprise 23 percent of
all family households.
INCOME AND POVERTY
The median household income is increasing in Erie County. It
was $46,609 in 2009, 9 an increase of 22 percent from the $38,211 income
reported in 2000. 10 This increase is slightly smaller than New York State’s,
where household income increased by 27 percent over the same time period
from $43,393 to $55,233. 11
The distribution of household incomes is also changing. More than
half of households in Erie County (52.8%) has income less than $49,999. 12
The proportion of this group decreased from 61.9 percent to 52.8 percent
from 2000 to 2009, while households in other income groups increased in
proportion (See Figure 1.3). 13
Simultaneously, however, more people are living under poverty in
Erie County. In 2009, 123,150 people lived below poverty level (13.9% of
total), an increase from 112,358 (12.2% of total) since 2000 (See Figure
1.4). Thus, with a decreasing overall population, the absolute number of
individuals and the percentage of the population in Erie County living below
poverty level increased during the past decade (See Figure 1.5).
ECONOMY AND EMPLOYMENT
Erie County’s economy has shifted from a manufacturing­based
economy to a service­oriented economy. Of the 746,427 residents over
the age of 16, 57.3 percent (427,523) are employed. 14 The “educational,
15
Table 1.1 – Family & Non­family Household, Erie County
2000 2010
No. % No. %
Family household 243,359 63.90 230,009 60.00
Non­family household 137,514 36.10 153,155 40.00
Total 380,873 100 383,164 100
(Source: U.S. Census 2000, 2010, Summary File 1)
Figure 1.3 – Distribution of Household by Income
Level, Erie County, 2000 & 2009
(Source: U.S. Census 2000, Summary File 3 and American Community Survey 2009)
Figure 1.4 – Population with Income Below or Above
Poverty Level, Erie County, 2000 & 2009
(Source: U.S. Census 2000, Summary File 3 and American Community Survey 2009)