New Census data: Incomes up, poverty down for most in Ohio
Posted September 15, 2016 in Press Releases
Ohio made gains in income, poverty, and health coverage last year but official poverty rate remains above the pre-recession level.
For immediate release
Contact: Hannah Halbert, 614.221.4505
Ohio made gains in income, poverty, and health coverage last year according to new data released today by the U.S. Census Bureau. Median household income increased by 3.5 percent to $51,075, meaning a typical Ohio household earned $1,735 more last year than in 2014. There were 111,365 fewer Ohioans in poverty last year than in 2014, a 1 percent point drop to a rate of 14.8 percent. Deep poverty also fell by a smaller margin (-.5 percentage point drop or 50,403 fewer people).“After years of persistently high poverty and stagnant incomes, 2015 finally brought some measure of relief,” said Hannah Halbert, researcher with Policy Matters Ohio. “Today’s report is good news for Ohio.”
Health insurance data showed solid improvements across the state. Health care coverage continues to expand in Ohio. Only 6.5 percent of Ohioans have no coverage (93.5 percent are covered). Ohioans also made education gains. Nearly 90 percent of Ohioans over the age of 25 had their high school diploma last year and 26.8 percent had a Bachelor’s degree.
While the topline data from today’s report is very positive, there is still more to be done. “Even with last year’s gains, both income and poverty remain worse than when the recession started and many communities are being left behind,” said Halbert.
Inflation-adjusted median household income is still less than in 2007 (-$2,192) and Ohio ranked 35th among states. Women working full-time, year-round earned $37,365 in 2015, just 75 cents for each dollar earned by men, who made slightly more than $50,000 at the median. Racial disparities have endured and some widened. The median income for white, non-Hispanic households in Ohio was $55,448 last year