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Poverty
in Maine - 2006
Sagadahoc County Profile
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Population growth
in Sagadahoc County from 2000 to 2005 (5%) was above the state
average (3.7%). It was the third fastest growing county in the
state in this time period. Among all Maine counties in 2005,
Sagadahoc had the highest estimated proportion of the
population under the age of 18 and the lowest age 65 and
above.
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Sagadahoc County’s
poverty rate in 2003 was lower than the state rate, both for
the population as a whole and for those under age 18.
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Median household
income in Sagadahoc County in 2003 was 14% higher than the
state median income. It was almost 19% higher than the 200%
poverty level for a four-person household.
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The 2004 ‘livable
wage’ estimate for a four-person household (2 parents, both
wage earners, and 2 children) in Sagadahoc County was more
than 2.5 times higher than the poverty level for a four-person
household.
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The proportion of
per-capita personal income in 2004 from net earnings was
higher in Sagadahoc County than in the state as a whole, while
the proportion from transfer payments was lower. This pattern
is consistent with the higher proportion of a younger,
working-age population and with the higher wage rates in the
area. Higher wage rates reduce the numbers of people eligible
for means-tested benefits.
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Sagadahoc County’s
monthly average unemployment rate for 2005 was slightly lower
than the state average.
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Sagadahoc County
residents were below the state average participation rates for
food stamps and LIHEAP in FY05.
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The proportion of
the school-age population eligible for free and reduced school
lunch in FY06 was lower than in the state as a whole, and was
the third lowest among Maine’s counties.
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A higher
proportion of the Sagadahoc County population has college
degrees (associate or bachelor’s) than in the state as a
whole, and a lower proportion has less than a high school
education.
TREND HIGHLIGHTS
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Over the most
recent four-year period for which county-level data are
available, the poverty rate in Sagadahoc County varied very
little, ranging from 8.1% to 8.7%.
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Over the four-year
period from FY02 to FY05, the number of Sagadahoc County
households receiving food stamps increased each year; the
number in FY05 was 52% greater than in FY02. Household food
stamp use statewide increased by 49% in this time period.
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The number of
Sagadahoc County households receiving LIHEAP benefits declined
slightly each year from FY02 to FY04, with a slight increase
in FY05.
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From 2002 to 2004,
Sagadahoc County’s monthly average unemployment rate
remained fairly stable, but rose to its highest level in 2005.
This trend is different than that of the state as a whole,
where there was a decrease in the unemployment rate from 2004
to 2005.
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The percentage of
school-age children eligible for free and reduced school lunch
in Sagadahoc County increased slightly from FY03 to FY04, but
decreased in FY05 and FY06. This pattern is different than in
the state as a whole, where the percentage eligible increased
steadily from FY03 to FY06.
MAPS AND GRAPHS
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