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Poverty in Maine -
2003
County Profiles: Waldo County
People
Waldo County's people are somewhat poorer than the state average. The
types of households and age distribution of those below poverty differ
somewhat from the state pattern. The county's economy has been steadily
improving, thanks in large part to expansion by MBNA, so poverty
indicators may be somewhat improved since the 2000 census. As reported
in Census 2000:
- Income is somewhat below the state average; per-capita income is
11% lower, and median household income is 9% lower
- The proportion of households below poverty is higher than in the
state as a whole.
- Compared with the state as a whole, a higher proportion of Waldo
County below-poverty households (one-quarter) consists of
married-couple families.
- Younger persons (age 18 and below) represent a higher proportion
of those under poverty compared with the state as a whole.
| Population
Poverty Status, by Age |
| |
Below Poverty |
Above Poverty |
(Number) |
County
(4,973) |
State
(135,501) |
County
(30,731) |
State
(1,105,392) |
| Age |
|
| Under 18 |
33.4% |
29.6% |
21.9% |
23.0% |
| 18-64 |
54.9% |
57.2% |
61.2% |
62.8% |
| 65 and over |
11.7% |
13.2% |
17.0% |
14.2% |
| Education Levels |
| |
County |
State |
| (Population age 25 and over) |
(24,818) |
(869,893) |
| Less that high school |
15.4% |
14.6% |
| High school |
38.8% |
36.2% |
| Some college, no degree |
17.0% |
19.0% |
| Associate degree |
6.5% |
7.4% |
| Bachelor's or higher |
22.3% |
22.9% |
| Household
Poverty Status, by Household Type (as percent of all
households) |
(Number households) |
County
(14,724)
|
State
(518,372) |
| Poverty Status |
Below |
Above |
Below |
Above |
| Family Households |
|
|
Married-couple |
3.6% |
52.6% |
2.1% |
51.3% |
| Female
householder, no spouse |
3.1% |
5.3% |
2.6% |
6.6% |
| Male
householder, no spouse |
0.8% |
3.3% |
0.5% |
3.0% |
| Other Households |
|
| Single
person, under age 65 |
3.5% |
11.6% |
3.0% |
13.1% |
| Single
person, age 65 or over |
2.0% |
7.7% |
2.1% |
8.7% |
| Other
non-family |
1.2% |
5.3% |
1.2% |
5.8% |
| Total households |
14.2% |
85.8% |
11.5% |
88.5% |
Income and Employment
Employment figures for the county are about the same as in the state
as a whole.
- The average unemployment rate as reported by the Maine Department
of Labor for 2002 was 4.3% in Waldo County, about the same as the
state average.
| Income |
| |
County |
State |
| Median Household Income |
$33,986 |
$37,240 |
| Per-capita Income |
$17,438 |
$19,533 |
| (Number households) |
(14,724) |
(518,372) |
| Household Income, by ranges |
| Under $20,000 |
28.3% |
25.0% |
| $20,000 - $29,999 |
15.8% |
14.9% |
| $30,000 and above |
55.9% |
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 |
18.0% |
46.1% |
35.9% |
65.9% |
20.8% |
13.4% |
| Other Households |
5.4% |
33.4% |
61.2% |
46.9% |
27.0% |
26.1% |
| Unemployment Rate (2002 monthly
average) |
|
County |
State |
| Labor force |
23,510 |
686,200 |
| Percent unemployed |
4.3% |
4.4% |
Housing and Transportation
Housing affordability in Waldo County at the time of Census 2000 was
about the same as in the state overall. There was also a somewhat higher
rate of home ownership. As in the rest of the state, a large proportion
of the poorest households (incomes below $10,000) reported spending 35%
or more of their monthly income for housing. In the past few years,
costs of both home ownership and rental have escalated to the point
that, relative to household income, Waldo County is currently one of
Maine's most unaffordable housing markets.
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 |
70.4% |
79.4% |
74.5% |
68.6% |
75.5% |
70.7% |
| $10,000 - $19,999 |
58.9% |
34.8% |
43.3% |
52.1% |
39.6% |
46.4% |
| $20,000 - $34,999 |
14.9% |
18.6% |
17.5% |
12.9% |
23.6% |
19.1% |
| Households
Lacking Access to Vehicle |
| |
County |
State |
(Number) |
Renters
(2,970) |
Owners
(11,756) |
All Households
(14,726) |
Renters
(147,280) |
Owners
(370,920) |
All Households
(518,200) |
|
%
|
15.0% |
4.1% |
6.3% |
18.5% |
3.3% |
7.6% |
Benefits and Assistance
Waldo County residents were somewhat 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).
- The LIHEAP program served a larger proportion of total county
households with older persons (21%), compared with 13.2% of such
households statewide.
- Compared with LIHEAP households statewide, a larger proportion in
Waldo had food stamps or Medicaid.
| TANF/Food Stamps
and LIHEAP Benefits* |
| |
County |
State |
TANF &/or Food Stamps
(monthly avg. unduplicated count) |
Number |
Percent |
Number |
Percent |
| Cases |
1,744 |
11.8% |
55,445 |
10.7% |
| Recipients |
3,689 |
10.2% |
108,767 |
8.5% |
| LIHEAP |
|
| Households |
2,058 |
14.0% |
46,994 |
9.1% |
| Recipients |
4,381 |
12.1% |
98,825 |
7.8% |
| Hslds age 65 and over |
755 |
21.2% |
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) |
(2,058) |
(46,994) |
| Average household income |
$11,142 |
$11,209 |
| % Single person households |
44.3% |
45.5% |
| % Receiving food stamps |
52.2% |
49.7% |
| % Medicaid |
62.1% |
57.5% |
| % SSI |
25.0% |
22.9% |
| % SS/SSD |
52.7% |
52.8% |
| % With wages or self-employment |
7.3% |
8.6% |
| % LIHEAP applicants age 65 and over |
36.7% |
36.0% |
| *Percentage is % of
LIHEAP households |
|
