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Poverty in Maine -
2003
County Profiles: Oxford County
People
Oxford County's people are somewhat poorer and have lower levels of
educational attainment than the state average. As reported in Census
2000:
- Per-capita income is 13.3% below the state average, and median
household income is 10.2% below.
- The household poverty rate is close to that of the state average;
compared with the statewide totals, a higher proportion of
below-poverty households consists of married-couple families.
- Younger persons (age 18 and below) represent a considerably higher
proportion of those under poverty compared with the state as a
whole.
- A considerably smaller proportion of the county population has
college degrees (Associate or Bachelor's) than in the state as a
whole.
| Population
Poverty Status, by Age |
| |
Below Poverty |
Above Poverty |
(Number) |
County
(6,353) |
State
(135,501) |
County
(47,381) |
State
(1,105,392) |
| Age |
|
| Under 18 |
31.4% |
29.6% |
22.9% |
23.0% |
| 18-64 |
55.6% |
57.2% |
61.5% |
62.8% |
| 65 and over |
13.1% |
13.2% |
15.6% |
14.2% |
| Education Levels |
| |
County |
State |
| (Population age 25 and over) |
(37,929) |
(869,893) |
| Less that high school |
17.7% |
14.6% |
| High school |
43.0% |
36.2% |
| Some college, no degree |
17.7% |
19.0% |
| Associate degree |
6.0% |
7.4% |
| Bachelor's or higher |
15.7% |
22.9% |
| Household
Poverty Status, by Household Type (as percent of all
households) |
(Number households) |
County
(22,321)
|
State
(518,372) |
| Poverty Status |
Below |
Above |
Below |
Above |
| Family Households |
|
|
Married-couple |
2.5% |
53.0% |
2.1% |
51.3% |
| Female
householder, no spouse |
2.8% |
6.1% |
2.6% |
6.6% |
| Male
householder, no spouse |
0.3% |
3.5% |
0.5% |
3.0% |
| Other Households |
|
| Single
person, under age 65 |
2.8% |
11.4% |
3.0% |
13.1% |
| Single
person, age 65 or over |
2.3% |
8.9% |
2.1% |
8.7% |
| Other
non-family |
1.2% |
5.5% |
1.2% |
5.8% |
| Total households |
12.0% |
88.0% |
11.5% |
88.5% |
Income and Employment
Employment figures for the county are worse than state averages.
- The average unemployment rate as reported by the Maine Department
of Labor for 2002 was 6.6% in Oxford County, compared with the state
average of 4.4%.
- Compared to the state as a whole, a higher proportion of
households below poverty in Oxford County (Census 2000) reported no
one in the household had worked in the past year.
| Income |
| |
County |
State |
| Median Household Income |
$33,435 |
$37,240 |
| Per-capita Income |
$16,945 |
$19,533 |
| (Number households) |
(22,321) |
(518,372) |
| Household Income, by ranges |
| Under $20,000 |
27.5% |
25.0% |
| $20,000 - $29,999 |
17.0% |
14.9% |
| $30,000 and above |
55.6% |
60.2% |
| Household
Poverty Status and Employment |
| |
Percent
of Households Below Poverty |
Percent
of Households Above Poverty |
| |
Full-time
work |
Less than
full-time |
Did not
work |
Full-time
work |
Less than
full-time |
Did not
work |
| Family Households |
16.4% |
40.3% |
43.3% |
65.1% |
18.9% |
16.0% |
| Other Households |
4.9% |
28.8% |
66.3% |
42.8% |
25.6% |
31.6% |
| Unemployment Rate (2002 monthly
average) |
|
County |
State |
| Labor force |
26,430 |
686,200 |
| Percent unemployed |
6.6% |
4.4% |
Housing and Transportation
Housing is more affordable than in the state as a whole. However,
affordable housing is a problem for the poorest households (those with
incomes under $10,000).
Percent of
Households with Income Below $35,000
Paying More Than 35% of Monthly Income for Housing |
| |
County |
State |
| Income |
Renters |
Owners |
All Households |
Renters |
Owners |
All Households |
| Under $10,000 |
66.3% |
70.7% |
68.1% |
68.6% |
75.5% |
70.7% |
| $10,000 - $19,999 |
37.6% |
37.1% |
47.0% |
52.1% |
39.6% |
46.4% |
| $20,000 - $34,999 |
6.7% |
17.2% |
14.1% |
12.9% |
23.6% |
19.1% |
| Households
Lacking Access to Vehicle |
| |
County |
State |
(Number) |
Renters
(5,138) |
Owners
(17,176) |
All Households
(22,314) |
Renters
(147,280) |
Owners
(370,920) |
All Households
(518,200) |
|
%
|
18.8% |
3.2% |
6.8% |
18.5% |
3.3% |
7.6% |
Benefits and Assistance
Oxford County residents were considerably above the state average in
participation in DHS benefits programs (TANF and food stamps) and in
overall participation in the LIHEAP program in the last fiscal year
(October 1, 2001- September 30, 2002).
- A somewhat higher proportion of LIHEAP households in Oxford had
social security or social security disability income, but a lower
proportion had supplemental security income (SSI).
| TANF/Food Stamps
and LIHEAP Benefits* |
| |
County |
State |
TANF &/or Food Stamps
(monthly avg. unduplicated count) |
Number |
Percent |
Number |
Percent |
| Cases |
3,213 |
14.4% |
55,445 |
10.7% |
| Recipients |
6,524 |
11.9% |
108,767 |
8.5% |
| LIHEAP |
|
| Households |
2,897 |
13.0% |
46,994 |
9.1% |
| Recipients |
6,200 |
11.3% |
98,825 |
7.8% |
| Hslds age 65 and over |
1,018 |
16.8% |
16,937 |
13.2% |
| *Percentage cases or
households is % of total county or state households; percentage
recipients is % of county or state population. |
| LIHEAP Client
Household Characteristics* |
| |
County |
State |
| (Number households) |
(2,897) |
(46,994) |
| Average household income |
$11,119 |
$11,209 |
| % Single person households |
44.6% |
45.5% |
| % Receiving food stamps |
50.1% |
49.7% |
| % Medicaid |
56.2% |
57.5% |
| % SSI |
16.5% |
22.9% |
| % SS/SSD |
55.3% |
52.8% |
| % With wages or self-employment |
8.6% |
8.6% |
| % LIHEAP applicants age 65 and over |
35.1% |
36.0% |
| *Percentage is % of
LIHEAP households |
|
