American Community Survey says Morris, Hunterdon and Somerset have among fewest percentage of low-income residents
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Trout Brook Estates, a development of expensive "McMansion" type homes located in Chester Township. Morris County was named one of 19 in the country with the number of residents under the poverty level below 5 percent.The U.S. Census Bureau released its largest ever set of demographic data today, offering an intricately detailed portrait of America based on more than 11 billion estimates.
Called the American Community Survey, the data was compiled between 2005 and 2009 after questionnaires were mailed out to roughly 3 million addresses around the nation. Businesses, researchers and policymakers now have information on even the smallest towns across the nation for the first time since 2000.
"The ACS represents the first time such a massive compilation of data estimates for small geographic areas is available," said Robert Groves, the director of the U.S. Census Bureau.
During a conference call this morning, Census officials highlighted some preliminary findings:
• Across the country, 19 counties have a povery rate below 5 percent. Three of those are in New Jersey — Morris, Somerset and Hunterdon.
• Hudson County is one of nine counties in the country with a foreign-born population rate above 33 percent.
Launched in 2005, the survey is not as well known as the decennial Census, but has quickly become a hit among businesses, researchers and policy makers for its data-rich snapshots of American life.
Unlike the Census, which aims to count everyone in the nation, the survey is sent to only 250,000 randomly selected households each month. The questionnaires are much more detailed than the Census forms delivered in April and cover 72 wide-ranging topics, from housing values and income levels to commuting times.
The data can be found here.
Previous coverage:
• N.J.'s lag in 2010 Census participation should concern residents, officials say
• U.S. Census Bureau officials alarmed by low response from N.J. residents
• 2010 Census forms arrive, kicking off once-a-decade head count
