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Family Income in the United States: 1951
Family Income in the United States: 1951
Report Number P60-12
Average family income was estimated at $3,700 in 1951 or $400 higher than in 1950, according to figures released by Robert W. Burgess, Director, Bureau of the Census, Department of Commerce, This increase in family income was the largest recorded in any year since the end of World War II. It represented only a slight gain in purchasing power for the average family, however, since prices had also increased substantially during this period, according to the Consumers' Price Index.
Twelve million families in the United States received money incomes of $5,000 or more in 1951, but 8 million had incomes under $2,000. The remaining 20 million families were in the $2,000 to $5,000 range. The distribution by income of the Nation's 20 million families (groups of two or more related persons) is shown below.1
Table A.–NUMBER OF FAMILIES, BY FAMILY INCOME, FOR THE UNITED STATES: 1951
| Family Income | Number of Families |
|---|---|
| Total | 40,400,000 |
| Under $1,000 | 3,700,000 |
| $1,000 to $1,999 | 4,600,000 |
| $2,000 to $2,999 | 6,200,000 |
| $3,000 to $3,999 | 8,000,000 |
| $4,000 to $4,999 | 6,300,000 |
| $5,000 to $5,999 | 4,300,000 |
| $6,000 to $6,999 | 2,800,000 |
| $7,000 to $9,999 | 3,000,000 |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 1,000,000 |
| $15,000 and over | 500,000 |
__________
1 These figures are derived from the data in table 1 and are rounded to the nearest 100,000.
A Note on Language
Census statistics date back to 1790 and reflect the growth and change of the United States. Past census reports contain some terms that today’s readers may consider obsolete and inappropriate. As part of our goal to be open and transparent with the public, we are improving access to all Census Bureau original publications and statistics, which serve as a guide to the nation's history.
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Page Last Revised - October 8, 2021
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