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Neon Tommy - Annenberg digital news

Income, Home Values Both Drop In L.A. County

Paresh Dave |
September 28, 2010 | 2:43 p.m. PDT

Executive Producer

Eclipsing a 6 percent decline nationwide, values of owner-occupied homes in L.A. County sank nearly 16 percent between 2008 and 2009, according to U.S. Census Bureau survey estimates released Tuesday.

The economic downturn brought a record low number of marriages last year, a greater economic disparity between the rich and the poor, and more people falling below poverty level.

The Sacramento Bee reports the 2.9 percent drop in the median household income for California to $58,921 matched the national decline of 2.9 percent to $50,221. At only 1.9 percent, the decrease was less severe for L.A. County. The median income in the California is still $8,000 above the national level.

The Associated Press reports:

The number of U.S. households receiving food stamps surged by 2 million last year to 11.7 million, the highest level on record, meaning that 1 in 10 families were receiving the government aid. In all, 46 states and the District of Columbia had increases in food stamps, with the largest jumps in Nevada, Arizona, Florida and Wisconsin.

The census figures come weeks before the pivotal Nov. 2 congressional elections, when voters anxious about rising deficits and the slow pace of the economic recovery will decide whether to keep Democrats in power.

The data comes from an annual survey of 3,000,000 households by the U.S. Census Bureau. Official dicennial census results based on this year's data will be released in Spring 2011.

In other numbers:

  • The number of students in high school decreased slightly, but the number of students in college increased. This matches national demographics shifts.
  • More than 1 million more children were insured nationwide in 2009 than 2008.
  • There was 0.7 second decrease in the commute to work of L.A. County residents. As far as method of commute, 72 percent continue to drive to work alone and 7 percent use public transportation. Those figures did not change from 2008.
  • The poverty rate rose by one percent to 16 percent in L.A. County from 2008 to 2009.
  • The monthly housing costs for people on mortgages fell $17 in 2009, but renters had to pay $34 more each month than they did in 2008.

To reach reporter Paresh Dave, click here.

Find him on Twitter: @peard33.

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