Rhode Island Community Profiles

Definition

Count of housing units.

Universe

Housing Units

Source

U.S. Census Bureau

Definition

The median family income in U.S. dollars.

Census 2000 reports income for the calendar year 1999. Data for the 2006-2010 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates are collected on an on-going basis from January 1, 2006-December 31, 2010. ACS income values are reported based on the amount of income received during the 12 months preceding the interview month. For example, a person interviewed in July 2009 would report their total family income for the previous 12 months (July 2008 through June 2009). Therefore, the 2006-2010 ACS 5-year data reflect incomes over 2005-2010 (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars).

Universe

Families

Limitations

Since answers to income questions are frequently based on memory and not on records, many people tended to forget minor or sporadic sources of income and, therefore, underreport their income. Underreporting tends to be more pronounced for income sources that are not derived from earnings, such as public assistance, interest, dividends, and net rental income.

Census 2000 - Although the family income statistics cover calendar year 1999, the characteristics of individuals and the composition of families refer to the time of enumeration (April 1, 2000). Thus, the income of the family does not include amounts received by individuals who were members of the family during all or part of calendar year 1999 if these individuals no longer resided with the family at the time of enumeration. Similarly, income amounts reported by individuals who did not reside with the family during 1999 but who were members of the family at the time of enumeration are included. However, the composition of most families was the same during 1999 as at the time of enumeration. For more details see Income of Families in the Technical Documentation .

ACS 2006-2010 - Although the family income statistics cover the past 12 months, the characteristics of individuals and the composition of families refer to the time of interview. Thus, the income of the family does not include amounts received by individuals who were members of the family during all or part of the past 12 months if these individuals no longer resided with the family at the time of interview. Similarly, income amounts reported by individuals who did not reside with the family during the past 12 months but who were members of the family at the time of interview are included. However, the composition of most families was the same during the past 12 months as at the time of interview. For more details see Income of Families in the Technical Documentation .

Source

U.S. Census Bureau

Definition

The median household income in U.S. dollars.

Census 2000 reports income for the calendar year 1999. Data for the 2006-2010 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates are collected on an on-going basis from January 1, 2006-December 31, 2010. ACS income values are reported based on the amount of income received during the 12 months preceding the interview month. For example, a person interviewed in July 2009 would report their total household income for the previous 12 months (June 2009 through July 2008). Therefore, the 2006-2010 ACS 5-year data reflect incomes over 2005-2010 (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars).

Universe

Households

Limitations

Since answers to income questions are frequently based on memory and not on records, many people tended to forget minor or sporadic sources of income and, therefore, underreport their income. Underreporting tends to be more pronounced for income sources that are not derived from earnings, such as public assistance, interest, dividends, and net rental income.

Census 2000 - Although the household income statistics cover calendar year 1999, the characteristics of individuals and the composition of households refer to the time of enumeration (April 1, 2000). Thus, the income of the household does not include amounts received by individuals who were members of the household during all or part of calendar year 1999 if these individuals no longer resided in the household at the time of enumeration. Similarly, income amounts reported by individuals who did not reside in the household during 1999 but who were members of the household at the time of enumeration are included. However, the composition of most households was the same during 1999 as at the time of enumeration. For more details see Income of Households in the Technical Documentation .

ACS 2006-2010 - Although the household income statistics cover the past 12 months, the characteristics of individuals and the composition of households refer to the time of interview. Thus, the income of the household does not include amounts received by individuals who were members of the household during all or part of the past 12 months if these individuals no longer resided in the household at the time of interview. Similarly, income amounts reported by individuals who did not reside in the household during the past 12 months but who were members of the household at the time of interview are included. However, the composition of most households was the same during the past 12 months as at the time of interview. For more details see Income of Households in the Technical Documentation .

Source

U.S. Census Bureau

Definition

Count of population for whom poverty status is determined with income below the federal poverty level.

2000 Census determines poverty based on income reported for the calendar year 1999. The 2006-2010 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year data reflect incomes over 2005-2010 (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars). Data for the 2006-2010 (ACS) 5-year estimates are collected on an on-going basis from January 1, 2006-December 31, 2010. ACS income values are reported based on the amount of income received during the 12 months preceding the interview month.

To determine a person's poverty status, one compares the person's total family income in the previous calendar year (2000 Census) or the last 12 months (ACS 2006-2010) with the poverty threshold appropriate for that person's family size and composition. If the total income of that person's family is less than the threshold appropriate for that family, then the person is considered "below the poverty level," together with every member of his or her family. The total number of people "below the poverty level" is the sum of people in families and the number of unrelated individuals with incomes in the previous calendar year (2000 Census) or the last 12 months (ACS 2006-2010) below the poverty threshold.

For more details see How Poverty Status is Determined in the 2000 technical documentation or How the Census Bureau Determines Poverty Status in the 2006-2010 technical documentation.

Universe

Population for whom poverty status is determined

Limitations

This data has very wide Margins of Error (MoE) at the tract level. Be sure to check MoE and USE CAUTION IF MAKING ANY COMPARISONS, EITHER OVER TIME OR AMONG TRACTS WITHIN ACS PERIOD (2006-20010).

Since answers to income questions are frequently based on memory and not on records, many people tended to forget minor or sporadic sources of income and, therefore, underreport their income. Underreporting tends to be more pronounced for income sources that are not derived from earnings, such as public assistance, interest, dividends, and net rental income.

Source

U.S. Census Bureau

Definition

Count of population age 16 and over in the labor force. Includes members of the armed forces.

Universe

Population 16 years and over

Source

U.S. Census Bureau

Definition

Count of the total population.

The age classification for a person in census tabulations is the age of the person in completed years as of the census reference date. For Census 2000 the reference date is April 1, 2000; for Census 2010 the date is April 1, 2010.

Universe

Total population

Limitations

The most general limitation for many decades has been the tendency of people to overreport ages or years of birth that end in zero or five. This phenomenon is called "age heaping."

There is some tendency for respondents to provide their age as of the date they completed the census questionnaire or interview, not their age as of the census reference date (April 1). In Census 2010, the question was expanded to two parts (i.e., age and date of birth). Both age and date of birth responses are used in combination to determine the most accurate age for the person as of the census reference date. The modified question along with editing procedures have attempted to minimize the effect of this reporting problem on tabulations. Additionally, the 2010 age question displays the census reference date prominently, and interviewer training emphasizes the importance of collecting age as of the reference date.

Respondents sometimes round a persons age up if they were close to having a birthday. For most single years of age, the misstatements are largely offsetting. The problem is most pronounced at age 0. There is some respondent resistance to reporting age as 0 years. (Age in completed months was not collected for infants under age 1.) Editing procedures correct this problem.

For more details see the Technical Documentation on Summary File 1 for Census 2000 and Census 2010.

Source

U.S. Census Bureau

Definition

Count of the population under age 18.

The age classification for a person in census tabulations is the age of the person in completed years as of the census reference date. For Census 2000 the reference date is April 1, 2000; for Census 2010 the date is April 1, 2010.

Universe

Total population

Limitations

The most general limitation for many decades has been the tendency of people to overreport ages or years of birth that end in zero or five. This phenomenon is called "age heaping."

There is some tendency for respondents to provide their age as of the date they completed the census questionnaire or interview, not their age as of the census reference date (April 1). In Census 2010, the question was expanded to two parts (i.e., age and date of birth). Both age and date of birth responses are used in combination to determine the most accurate age for the person as of the census reference date. The modified question along with editing procedures have attempted to minimize the effect of this reporting problem on tabulations. Additionally, the 2010 age question displays the census reference date prominently, and interviewer training emphasizes the importance of collecting age as of the reference date.

Respondents sometimes round a persons age up if they were close to having a birthday. For most single years of age, the misstatements are largely offsetting. The problem is most pronounced at age 0. There is some respondent resistance to reporting age as 0 years. (Age in completed months was not collected for infants under age 1.) Editing procedures correct this problem.

For more details see the Technical Documentation on Summary File 1 for Census 2000 and Census 2010.

Source

U.S. Census Bureau