In the narrative profile below, if one sample estimate is larger than another, it does not necessarily mean that the same holds for their true values for the entire population. These estimates are derived from a sample of housing units and measure the true values with a degree of uncertainty. In the Profiles found at www.census.gov/CMS/www/index_c.htm, this uncertainty is represented by the 90 percent confidence interval given for each estimate. For further information on confidence intervals see the Accuracy of the Data documents at www.census.gov/CMS/www/index_b.htm.

POPULATION OF Multnomah County: In 1998, Multnomah County had a population of 617,207. The median age was 36 years. Twenty-four percent were under 18 years and 11 percent were 65 years or older. There were 51 percent women and 49 percent men.

That same year, 80 percent of the people in Multnomah County were white, not of Hispanic origin; 7 percent were black, and 6 percent were Asian or Pacific Islander. Five percent of the people of Multnomah County were of Hispanic origin. People of Hispanic origin may be of any race.

HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES: In 1998 there were 268,799 households in Multnomah County. The average household size was 2.3 people.

Families made up 57 percent of the households in Multnomah County that year. This figure includes both married couple families (41 percent) and other families with no spouse present (16 percent). Non-family households made up 43 percent of all households in Multnomah County. Most of the non-family households were people living alone, but some were people living in households maintained by non-relatives.

NATIVITY AND LANGUAGE: Eleven percent of the people living in Multnomah County in 1998 were foreign born. Of the 89 percent who were native born, 53 percent were born in the State of Oregon.

Among people at least five years old living in Multnomah County in 1998, 75,425 spoke a language other than English at home. Of this group, 31 percent spoke Spanish, and 69 percent spoke some other language; 53 percent reported that they did not speak English "very well".

GEOGRAPHIC MOBILITY: In 1998, 47 percent of the people living in Multnomah County were living in the same house as five years earlier. Among movers, 56 percent had moved during the past five years from another house in the same county, 15 percent from elsewhere in Oregon, 23 percent from another state, and 6 percent from abroad.

EDUCATION: In 1998, 87 percent of people at least 25 years old had at least graduated from high school and 29 percent had a bachelor's degree or higher. Among people 16 to 19 years old, 13 percent were dropouts: they were not enrolled in school and had not graduated from high school.

The total school enrollment in Multnomah County was 150,981 in 1998. Preprimary school enrollment was 11,905 and 91,921 children were enrolled in elementary or high school. College enrollment was 40,715.

DISABILITY: In Multnomah County, among people at least five years old in 1998, 11 percent had a disability. The likelihood of having one or more functional limitations varied by age - from 2 percent of children 5 to 15 years old, to 7 percent of people 16 to 64 years old, to 33 percent of those 65 and older.

INDUSTRIES, OCCUPATIONS AND TYPE OF EMPLOYER: In 1998, the leading industries in Multnomah County were professional and related services, 25 percent, and retail trade, 17 percent.

Among the most common occupations were: professional specialty occupations, 17 percent; administrative support occupations, including clerical, 15 percent; executive, administrative, and managerial occupations, 15 percent; service occupations, except protective and household, 12 percent; and sales occupations, 11 percent. Seventy-seven percent of the people in the employed labor force were private wage and salary workers; 12 percent were federal, state, or local government workers; and 12 percent were self-employed.

TRAVEL TO WORK: Sixty-seven percent of Multnomah County workers drove to work alone in 1998 and 11 percent car- or van-pooled. On average it took them 22 minutes to get to work.

INCOME: The median income of households in Multnomah County was $36,231. Seventy-nine percent of the households received wage and salary income and 14 percent received retirement income other than Social Security. These income sources are not mutually exclusive; that is, some households received income from more than one source.

POVERTY AND PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS: Of all families in Multnomah County, 9 percent had incomes below the poverty level; 26 percent of families with a female householder and no spouse present, and 33 percent of mother-child families with a related child under 18, had incomes below the poverty level.

Sixteen percent of the households in Multnomah County received means-tested public assistance or noncash benefits. Twenty-three percent of the households received Social Security. The average income from Social Security was $10,723.

HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS: In 1998, Multnomah County had 279,232 housing units, of which 4 percent were vacant. Thirteen percent of the vacant units were for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use. Housing in Multnomah County was spread among 175,927 single-family homes (detached or attached), 6,078 mobile homes, and 96,887 units in multi-unit structures. Nine percent of the housing units were built since 1990. Ninety-nine percent of Multnomah County housing units had complete plumbing, 99 percent had complete kitchen facilities and 29 percent had air conditioning.

CHARACTERISTICS OF OCCUPANTS: The occupied units consisted of 153,445 that were owned by residents and 115,354 that were rented. Three percent of the households occupying these units reported not having a telephone in their home and 12 percent did not have access to a car, truck, or van for private use. Multi-vehicle households were not rare. Thirty-six percent had two vehicles and another 15 percent had three or more.

HOUSING COSTS: Thirty-six percent of owners with mortgages in Multnomah County spent less than 20 percent of their household income on housing; 32 percent spent 30 percent or more on housing. Among renters, 26 percent spent less than 20 percent of their household income on rent and 47 percent spent 30 percent or more on rent. The median gross rent was $600 per month.