Community Corner
Census: Plainfield Bests State Averages for Home Ownership, Income
Released Thursday, the five-year American Community Survey offers detailed demographic information on communities throughout the U.S.
The U.S. Census Bureau on Thursday released estimates from its American Community Survey, which provides local statistics for the combined years from 2007 to 2011 on everything from housing to employment to marital status in communities throughout the country.
The numbers look promising for the Village of Plainfield, with an estimated median household income that's nearly double the Illinois average and a homeownership rate of more than 90 percent — topping the state average of 68.7 percent.
On the employment front, more than half of the village's nearly 40,000 residents, or about 26,000, are ages 16 and older. More than 19,000 people make up the village's civilian labor force, according to the data, and 68.9 percent of those individuals — about 17,853 — are employed.
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Nearly 7,000, or about 26 percent, stated they are not in the labor force, and 1,210, or 4.7 percent, reported that they are unemployed.
The five-year estimates are based on interviews with almost two million housing units nationwide from 2007 through 2011. By pooling several years of survey responses, the American Community Survey generates detailed statistical portraits for small areas. The groupings of five-year estimates are released annually.
Find out what's happening in Plainfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“By telling the story of our towns and neighborhoods, the American Community Survey helps planners locate schools and firehouses,” said Thomas Mesenbourg, the Census Bureau’s acting director. “Thanks to the cooperation of the public, the Census Bureau produces reliable, quality statistical information for even small communities in the U.S. That’s why it’s so important for households that are selected to participate in the ACS to respond.”
American Community Survey Data can be found on the Census Bureau's QuickFacts site, and browsers can also use “Easy Stats,” a tool that allows users to build their own tables by selecting a desired topic and geography. Early next year, the Census Bureau will release “Dwellr,” a mobile app designed to put Census Bureau statistics directly in the hands of new users in an engaging way.
Here's what the American Community Survey has to say about Plainfield when it comes to home ownership and income:
Plainfield State Homeownership rate 90.4% 68.7% Housing units in multi-unit structures, percent, 2007-2011 5.7% 32.9% Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2007-2011 $309,800 $198,500 Households, 2007-2011 11,135 4,773,002 Persons per household, 2007-2011 3.35 2.62 Per capita money income in the past 12 months (2011 dollars), 2007-2011 $34,402 $29,376 Median household income, 2007-2011 $108,239 $56,576 Persons below poverty level, percent, 2007-2011 3.6% 13.1%Some facts on the demographic makeup of the Plainfield community:
*Z: Value greater than zero but less than half unit of measure shown
What else do the statistics show?
That data also shows that out of Plainfield's estimated 11,135 households, the vast majority — 9,495 — are families. Of that number, 8,185 are married-couple families, and more than 5,700 have children under the age of 18.
The average household size is 3.35 people.
Of the more than 22,000 residents ages 25 and older, statistics for the highest level of education completed are as follows:
- Less than 9th grade: 292
- 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 583
- High school graduate: 4,672
- Some college, no degree: 4,598
- Associate's degree: 1,511
- Bachelor's degree: 6,699
- Graduate or professional degree: 3,973
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