Latest news with #CensusData
Bloomberg
03-07-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
China Shuns US Oil for Longest Stretch Since 2018
China avoided purchasing US crude for the third straight month — the longest stretch since 2018 — delivering a fresh blow to shale drillers already facing lower oil prices. The world's biggest oil importer bought no American crude in May, according to US Census data released Thursday, following zero purchases in both March and April as a trade dispute between the largest global economies roiled markets. The absence of Chinese buying sent US overseas oil sales tumbling to the lowest in two years.
Wall Street Journal
02-07-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
The Problematic Politics of Trump's Bill: More Lower-Income Americans Are Voting GOP
To understand why Republicans have struggled to unite behind their domestic-policy bill that cuts taxes and Medicaid, look at how much progress the party has made on one of its other primary goals: winning support from working-class Americans. About 15 years ago, in 2009, Republicans represented 26 of the 100 lowest-income House districts, according to Census data. By 2023, they represented 56—more than half. At the same time, Democrats came to dominate the wealthiest House districts, representing 69 of the 100 where incomes are highest.
Daily Mail
28-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
The quintessential Southern town where everyone knows their neighbor becomes new hotspot after population boom
A charming Southern town dubbed the heart of the Lowcountry has become a hotspot for those yearning for a laid-back lifestyle. With its natural allure and vibrant art scene, Bluffton, South Carolina has caught the eyes of more adults than any other town or city this year. US News & World Report analyzed online search patterns to determine where people are interested in living, and the riverfront gem garnered the most traction. This comes as no surprise to locals, as Bluffton's population has more than doubled over the past 15 years. Since 2010, the number of Bluffton residents has grown by 120 percent, Bluffton Public Information Officer Debbie Szpanka told Daily Mail. Census data shows an even greater growth rate. With 12,530 residents in 2010 and 36,146 in July 2024 - an increase of roughly 188 percent. 'People are drawn to the strong sense of community, the chance to slow down, and the everyday access to nature, culture, award-winning culinary scene, and local businesses - all within a short drive from home,' Szpanka wrote. 'Bluffton has that unique "sense of place." It's where neighbors still wave to each other and where historic structures - and the stories behind them - are celebrated.' Bluffton realtors Joan Kelly and Desiree Dulski, both originally from the Northeast, said most of their clients come from out of state and are looking for a change of pace. 'Quite honestly, the folks who are originally from the area are definitely outnumbered,' Kelly explained to Daily Mail. Bluffton is situated on the bank of the stunning May River and is just a 30-minute drive from Hilton Head's white sand beaches. 'You're really centrally located,' Kelly said, adding that Beaufort and Savannah, Georgia, are both less than an hour away as well. Over the past several years, both Kelly and Dulski said their clientele consists of people mainly from the Northeast and Midwest, specifically Ohio. And while moving rates have been 'evening out' since the COVID real estate boom, according to Dulski, it is certainly a hot spot nonetheless. 'So, the nickname is the Lowcountry, and it lives up to the name,' Dulski said, explaining why those sick of chilly weather or a hectic city life flock to Bluffton. 'It's just kind of like a small town, slower pace of life - imagine, life on the river.' The 15-mile long May River - arguably the town's main draw - runs through Bluffton and is a popular site for fishing and boating. 'Many residents say they feel more connected to life by being surrounded by natural beauty,' Szpanka said. 'It never gets old to gaze at the May River, watch the tide roll in, or see dolphins playing just offshore.' 'World famous oysters' are also sourced from the gorgeous river's waters, according to Bluffton's official website. During low tide, outdoors-lovers are known to take boats to the May River Sandbar - a hidden gem adored by locals about a mile from Bluffton's Brighton Beach coast. Bluffton's delightful downtown, also known as Old Town Bluffton, features art galleries, award-winning restaurants and boutiques. Original buildings and structures fill the area, maintaining its historical integrity. For example, The Church of the Cross was built before the civil war. Dulski moved to Bluffton from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania about 10 years ago - one of the best decisions she said she ever made. 'I feel in love with it right away and never looked back,' she said. 'It's very family oriented, so many young families - I will say that population seems to be growing.' Kelly added retirees have always been fond of Bluffton as well, as there are several large communities catered to that demographic available. 'Their obviously attracted to the weather and lower taxes, not from everywhere, but if you're coming from places like Connecticut or New Jersey, certainly lower taxes than those folks are used to paying,' she explained. New Jersey, for example, has one of the highest property tax rates in America, with residents paying an average rate of 2.23 percent. This is a significantly greater burden than in South Carolina - a state known for its low property taxes - where the average rate is 0.53 percent, according to SmartAsset. The average home price in Bluffton is $508,307 and the median income is $105,463, which is higher than the $80,610 national average, according to census data. The Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort Metropolitan Statistical Area has a low an unemployment rate of 3.3 percent as of April, while the national rate is 4.2 percent. 'I would just say you have to come experience it for yourself,' Dulski said when asked what she would tell someone considering moving to Bluffton. Despite its booming population, the small town - the so called 'Bluffton state of mind,' Kelly said - remains.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
What would you need to earn to feel financially secure? A quarter of Americans say $150,000 or more
Almost half of Americans (45%) think they would need to make $100,000 or more a year to 'feel financially secure' or 'comfortable,' according to a new survey from Bankrate. Breaking that down further, a quarter of respondents in total (26%) put the number at $150,000 or more. Among them, 8% said they would need to earn between $200,000 and $499,999, while another 8% said $500,000 or more. On the flip side, nearly half of respondents (45%) said they would feel financially secure making less than six figures, with 34% saying they would feel comfortable making between $50,00 and $99,999. The online survey, conducted by YouGov and taken by 2,260 US adults in mid-May, also asked 'What annual income would you need to feel rich/attain financial freedom?' More than half (55%) put the number at $200,000 or more. Among them, a quarter (26%) said it would take at least $1 million a year, while 13% said they would need to earn somewhere between $500,000 and $999,999. More than half of respondents (56%) said they needed to earn more than they are currently making to feel secure. So what do Americans make in reality? Based on the latest Census data, median US household income in 2023 was $80,610. That's the mid-point on incomes, meaning half of US households made less. But that median is across all households regardless of size. In family households specifically — where two or more people live — the median was $102,800. Within that group, the highest median ($119,400) reported was among married couples. In terms of individual incomes in 2023, the median income of a full-time worker with earnings working year round was $60,070. Neither the Bankrate survey nor the respondents specified what was meant by the terms 'financially secure' or 'rich,' nor what financial freedom meant to them. The answer, of course, will always be highly subjective. How much you personally think you need is going to be influenced by many factors, including: Your current income, your age, whether you have children, where you live, how much debt you have and what your monthly expenses are. (Not to mention assets that contribute to your net worth, such as a 401(k) or brokerage account, a home or a business. But the survey didn't address that issue.) Among Bankrate survey respondents, 54% of those who already made $100,000 or more said they'd need to make at least $150,000 to feel financially secure. Gen Xers (ages 45 to 60) were most likely (35%) to say they'd need to earn $150,000 or more to live comfortably, compared to 26% of millennials (ages 29 to 44) and 20% of Gen Zers (ages 18 to 28). Among parents with children under 18, 35% indicated earning $150,000 or more a year would make them feel financially secure. And those most likely to say they'd need to earn $1 million or more to feel financially free were parents whose children were 18 or older (33%). Bankrate asked respondents how they would describe their current level of financial security. Overall, most (77%) said they did not feel 'completely financially secure,' including 32% who said they didn't think they ever would. Those most likely to say they did feel 'completely financially secure' were people making at least $100,000. Within that income group, 42% of respondents said they considered themselves secure. Only a quarter of those in the $50,000 to $79,999 income group and 12% of those making less than $50,000 said the same. In terms of life stages, large majorities of each generation said they don't feel financially secure, including 84% of Gen Xers; 80% of Gen Zers; 79% of millennials and 69% of Baby Boomers. 'Getting rich may have once been what many Americans fantasized about, but now, simply living comfortably feels like the new aspiration, as economic challenges make financial stability a rare luxury,' said Bankrate economic analyst Sarah Foster. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Forbes
13-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
The 20 Richest Places In Indiana, New Census Data Shows
Many of the top wealthiest cities in Indiana lie in the radius of suburbs around Indianapolis. Where other states in the Midwest have struggled with population decline, Indiana has held strong. Back in 2000, the population of Indiana was a little over a million. By 2024, the population had grown by 14%, reaching 6.92 million. As part of an ongoing series of analyses, states have been examined using the latest Census Bureau data to determine which the richest cities in the state are. For this study, the focus is Indiana. This study analyzed 976 cities — what the Census Bureau designates as 'places' — in Indiana that had complete data from the Census Bureau, in terms of their median household income, mean (average) household income, median home value, and median property taxes paid per year, to come up with a list of the 25 richest cities in the state. Read on to find out what the richest city in Indiana is, plus the top 20 wealthiest cities in the state overall. In order to compile this list of the richest cities in Indiana, we sourced key financial data from the Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey. Wielding these datasets, we put together a four-factor scoring system to help identify the wealthiest cities in Indiana: When analyzing the data, it is important to note that Census figures have upper limits, so there's no exact value for certain factors. For example, for median household income, the Census Bureau has an upper limit of '$250,000+'. For median home value, the upper limit is '$2,000,000+'. For median property taxes paid, the upper limit is '$10,000+'. For these reasons, the mean household income (which is the same as average household income) dataset is particularly useful. Since the Census Bureau has exact figures for it, it's an even more precise barometer of wealth. All four of these metrics were scored, added up, and then ranked by the cities' combined scores. Another aspect of the Census to point out is the Census-designated place — CDP. The Census, more or less, treats CDPs as cities — their terminology is 'place' — and so will this list of the richest cities in Indiana. So, if you see cities on this list that you see as neighborhoods or retirement communities, you're not wrong. These places happen to be treated as cities by the Census Bureau. Below, you'll find a table detailing the top 20 richest cities in Indiana and their respective dollar figures for each metric, below: The No. 1 richest city in Indiana in our ranking is Crows Nest, a town within Washington Township, due north of Indianapolis. Crows Nest is a small place, with only 28 households. This town has an occupational mix that's common to many suburbs. According to Data USA, the top three industries by employment are Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services (39.5% of the workforce), Accommodation & Food Services (18.4% of the workforce), and Health Care & Social Assistance (13.2% of the workforce). Incomes in Crows Nest are very high. The median household income here is $245,000, around triple the state median of $81,702. The average household income is even higher, at $744,021. The median home value exceeds $2 million. And property taxes are so high, the median amount paid per household is over $10,000. The No. 2 richest place is just north of the No. 1 city, and it's name is North Crows Nest, appropriately. They are almost exactly the same size, with North Crows Nest having 27 households to Crows Nest's 28 households. The median household income in North Crows Nest is above $250,000. Its average household income isn't as high as in Crows Nest: $546,926 in North Crows Nest versus $744,021 for Crows Nest. The median home value reported by the Census is well over $1.5 million. And just like in Crows Nest, the median property taxes by household is in excess of $10,000. The third richest place in Indiana is Williams Creek. This place is also due north of Indianapolis and lies in the same township, Washington Township. This town is larger than No. 1 and No. 2, being home to 164 households. The employment breakdown is comparable to Crows Nest. The top three industries include Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services (24.2% of the workforce), Health Care & Social Assistance (15.2% of the workforce), and Retail Trade (11.1% of the workforce). The median household income in Williams Creek is $218,750, while the mean household income is $372,541. Property taxes are also substantial here, costing households a median of over $10,000 per year. The median home value is reported as $1.212 million.
