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Census Data Shows Median Income Improves, Poverty Rates Drop In Franklin County

Newly released U.S. Census Bureau data shows median income rose slightly, while poverty rates and the number of people without health insurance in Franklin County and the state declined from 2015 to 2016. Jim Letizia reports.

Ohio is ranked 35th in the nation for its median income of 52 thousand dollars. State median household income for Whites last year was nearly 57 thousand dollars, for Blacks it was 31 thousand, for Latinos it was 41 thousand and for Asians it was nearly 71 thousand dollars. Median incomes in Columbus last year were 60 thousand dollars. Franklin County's poverty rate fell by four-tenths of a point to 16.7 percent, which is four points higher than the national average. The Bureau also says the number of Columbus residents lacking health insurance fell eight-tenths of a point to 6.3 percent, lower than the national rate of 8.8 percent.  Ohio is ranked 13th with an uninsured rate of 5.6 percent.  Non-profit organizations and individuals fighting poverty in Ohio say the numbers are a good sign, but more funding and policy changes need to be made in order to see further improvement. 

 

Jim has been with WCBE since 1996. Before that he worked as a reporter at another Columbus radio station, and for three newspapers in Southwest Florida.
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