Household income and health insurance coverage are both going up in the Charlotte area, but the poverty rate is holding steady. Those are a few takeaways from new U.S. Census data released Thursday.
The new data come from the Census Bureau’s most comprehensive survey of American households. It shows an improving picture for family finances. Median household income in Charlotte rose 3 percent last year, to roughly $53,500.
The Census Bureau’s Ed Welniak says that amount is lower than many of the other metro areas that researchers focused on.
"Charlotte’s median household income ranked 19th out of 25, so they were on par with Phoenix, San Antonio, Detroit and Pittsburgh," he says.
It’s a similar story when it comes to health insurance. Charlotte’s uninsured rate dropped 3 percent but is still relatively high compared to the other big cities.
On poverty, Charlotte actually stacks up fairly well. But in a sign of what a persistent problem this is here and nationally, Charlotte’s poverty rate basically didn’t change.