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2.05 Income

This page includes income data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Per capita income is an average obtained by dividing aggregate income by the total population of an area. The median household income divides all households into two equal groups, one with incomes above the median and the other with incomes below the median. The income gap ratio is the difference between the income levels at the 80th and 20th percentiles of the household income distribution, divided by the income level at the 20th percentile. 

Sources

U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

Notes

Income is defined as wages and salary; interest dividends; Social Security; Supplemental Security Income; public assistance or welfare payments; and any other sources of income received regularly, such as unemployment compensation, child support, or alimony. The median household income data are based on Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, while the income gap ratio and per capita income data are based on American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 

Where per capita income is an average obtained by dividing aggregate income by the total population of an area, per capita personal income is total disposable personal income divided by total population. This article provides further definition of these two measures.