Census: Americans in ‘Poverty’ Typically Have Cell Phones, Computers, TVs, VCRS, AC, Washers, Dryers and Microwaves

 

Terry Jeffrey

Americans who live in households whose income is below the federal “poverty” level typically have cell phones (as well as landline phones), computers, televisions, video recorders, air conditioning, refrigerators, gas or electric stoves, and washers and dryers and microwaves, according to a newly released report from the Census Bureau.

In fact, 80.9 percent of households below the poverty level have cell phones, and a healthy majority—58.2 percent—have computers.

Fully 96.1 percent of American households in “poverty” have a television to watch, and 83.2 percent of them have a video-recording device in case they cannot get home in time to watch the football game or their favorite television show and they want to record it for watching later.

Refrigerators (97.8 percent), gas or electric stoves (96.6 percent) and microwaves (93.2 percent) are standard equipment in the homes of Americans in "poverty."

More than 83 percent have air-conditioning.

Interestingly, the appliances surveyed by the Census Bureau that households in poverty are least likely to own are dish washers (44.9 percent) and food freezers (26.2 percent).

However, most Americans in “poverty” do not need to go to a laundromat. According to the Census Bureau, 68.7 percent of households in poverty have a clothes washer and 65.3 percent have a clothes dryer.

The estimates on the percentage of households in poverty that have these appliances were derived by the Census Bureau from its Survey of Income and Program Participation. The latest report on this survey, released this month, published data collected in 2011. 

Here are the percentages of households below the poverty level that the Census Bureau estimates had the following appliances:

Clothes washer: 68.7%

Clothes dryer: 65.3%

Dish washer: 44.9%

Refrigerator: 97.8%

Food freezer: 26.2%

Stove: 96.6%

Microwave: 93.2%

Air conditioner: 83.4%

Television: 96.1%

Video recorder/DVD: 83.2%

Computer: 58.2%

Telephone (landline): 54.9%

Cell phone: 80.9%

I'll have more to say on the subject shortly.

Table 1. Percent of Households Reporting Consumer Durables, For Householders 15 Years and Older, by Selected Characteristics: 2011 [XLS - 41K]

Table 2. Percent of Households Reporting Favorable Housing Conditons by Selected Characteristics, For Householders 15 Years and Older: 2011 [XLS - 41K]

Table 3. Percent of Householders Reporting Satisfaction with Housing Conditions, by Selected Characteristics, For Householders 15 Years and Older: 2011 [XLS - 40K]

Table 4. Percent of Households Reporting Aspects of Neighborhood Safety by Selected Characteristics, For Householders 15 Years and Older: 2011 [XLS - 41K]

Table 5. Percent of Householders Reporting Favorable Neighborhood Conditions by Selected Characteristics, For Householders 15 Years and Older: 2011 [XLS - 41K]

Table 6. Percent of Households Reporting Satisfaction with Community Services , by Selected Characteristics, For Householders 15 Years and Older: 2011 [XLS - 40K]

Table 7. Distribution of School Type and Percent Reporting Satisfaction with Schools by Selected Characteristics, For Households With Children Under 18: 2011 [XLS - 39K]

Table 8. Percent of Householders Reporting Meeting Basic Needs by Selected Characteristics, For Householders 15 Years and Older: 2011 [XLS - 40K]

Table 9. Percent of Householders Expecting Help and Receiving Help Meeting Basic Needs by Selected Characteristics, For Householders 15 Years and Older: 2011 [XLS - 35K]

Table 10. Percent of Households with Selected Measures of Material Well-Being: 1992, 1998, 2003, 2005, 2010, and 2011 [XLS - 42K]

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