Census Bureau Releases Updated Income and Poverty Estimates
for Illinois and Northeastern Illinois Counties (2/12/99)

On February 12th, the U.S. Census Bureau released 1995 income and poverty estimates for the nation's states and 3,143 counties. Included in the estimates were figures for Illinois and the six counties in Northeastern Illinois. These new figures can be used to allocate federal funds for programs such as Head Start.

Among the data items posted on the Internet were 1995 state and county estimates of median household income, the total number of poor persons, and the number of poor children under 18.  !990 Census results on income and poverty for the year 1989 were also posted so that changes in income and poverty during the first half of the decade could be measured.

A panel of the National Academy of Sciences on estimates of poverty for small geographic areas recommended that the Department of Education use Census Bureau poverty estimates to determine the distribution of funds for programs to aid disadvantaged children under Title I. The Education Department will use either these county-level estimates or recently released school district-level poverty estimates.

1995 Income and Poverty Estimates for Northeastern Illinois Counties

                                                                 Est.
                     Est.     Est. %       Est.     Est. %     Median
                  Persons    Persons    Persons    Persons     House-
                       in         in    0-17 in    0-17 in       hold
                  Poverty    Poverty    Poverty    Poverty     Income
                     1995       1995       1995       1995    in 1995

Illinois        1,331,704       11.3    593,057       18.5    $38,078

Cook County       747,979       14.7    348,721       25.8    $37,824
DuPage County      28,518        3.3     10,107        4.3    $59,601
Kane County        23,950        6.5     11,878       10.3    $50,747
Lake County        30,016        5.2     13,225        7.8    $59,528
McHenry County      7,386        3.2      3,080        4.4    $56,766
Will County        25,713        6.0     12,187        9.1    $52,278

1989 Income and Poverty Estimates from the 1990 Census
for Northeastern Illinois Counties

                                                                 Est.
                     Est.     Est. %       Est.     Est. %     Median
                  Persons    Persons    Persons    Persons     House-
                       in         in    0-17 in    0-17 in       hold
                  Poverty    Poverty    Poverty    Poverty     Income
                     1989       1989       1989       1989    in 1989

Illinois        1,326,731       11.9    495,505       17.0    $32,252

Cook County       713,255       14.2    281,469       22.3    $32,673
DuPage County      20,948        2.7      6,036        2.9    $48,876
Kane County        21,275        6.8      8,874        9.6    $40,080
Lake County        25,557        5.2      9,561        6.8    $46,047
McHenry County      6,342        3.5      2,155        4.1    $43,471
Will County        21,024        6.0      7,819        7.5    $41,195

Source:  U.S. Census Bureau Internet Release, February 12, 1999.

The Census Bureau produced the state and county estimates by combining results from its March 1996 Current Population Survey with aggregate data from federal individual income tax returns, administrative records on food stamp program participation and 1990 decennial census figures. The estimates were financed by the Census Bureau and the Departments of Housing and Urban Development, Agriculture, Labor, Education, and Health and Human Services.

Please contact tomasso@nipc.org for additional information about the availability of either the 1995 state/county or school district income and poverty estimates for Northeastern Illinois.