Income and Poverty of the Aging Population
The financial status of households and individuals affects the quality of life of the aging population. The TJPDC is a destination for retirement age population. The region offers outdoor recreation, access to health facilities, cultural events and a lively civic culture. The ability to take advantage of these depends in part on the income or wealth of the aging population. This section maps the distribution of household income for various ages of household heads, the proportion of those receiving Retirement Income and the distribution of those whose income fall below the poverty level.
Household Income
Three maps present the income distribution of households headed by seniors of different ages. The data is presented at the Block Group level of detail. For householders in the 55 to 64 year range, the proximity to the employment center of Charlottesville and Albemarle county some of the communities designed for older households (Wintergreen, Lake Montecello) is clear.
As the focus shifts to older household heads, the disparities between census block groups become more obvious. Retirement community neighborhoods become more obvious. Some high tax jurisdiction avoidance by those with highest incomes may also be seen in the patterns.
Retirement Income
The census asks about the different kinds of income received by a household. Wages and salaries, investment incomes, and rents are common among those still in the labor force. Aging households are more apt to have incomes from retirement sources. Below is a map showing the percent of all households receiving retirement income. The retirement neighborhoods and communities are very distinct. Outlying rural block groups also have a higher proportion probably because of the lower proportion of younger households.
Poverty Level Maps
Poverty of persons is determined by the household or family structure and the aggregate income received therein. See the Glossary for further definitions. The first map below shows the rates of poverty for Block Groups for all persons for whom the poverty status was calculated.
The second map shows the poverty rates for those persons who are 75 years of age and older. Notice the higher rates among the rural areas of the Planning District. The neighborhoods with higher poverty rates among the senior population is also apparent (15% to 30%)
A view of Poverty and persons with disabilities is presented on another page.
A view of the proportion of households that receive Supplemental Social Security is presented on another page.
