Wealth inequality between homeowners and renters continued to be remarkably pronounced in 2017: Homeowners’ median wealth was nearly 89 times larger than the median wealth of renters and not entirely because of home equity.
The 2017 Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) data shows continued disparities in wealth – the value of assets owned minus the liabilities (debts) owed – revealed in last year’s report on household wealth in 2015.
Just two assets — home equity and retirement accounts — accounted for 61.7% of households’ wealth in 2017.
The U.S. Census Bureau report and detailed tables on household wealth in 2017 show wide variations across demographic and socio-economic groups.
The SIPP’s sample size enables comparisons of the assets of many populations and groups, such as low-income households and households with or without children.
Briana Sullivan is an economist and Donald Hays is a survey statistician in the Census Bureau’s Social, Economic and Housing Statistics Division.
Subscribe
Our email newsletter is sent out on the day we publish a story. Get an alert directly in your inbox to read, share and blog about our newest stories.
About
America Counts tells the stories behind the numbers in a new inviting way. We feature stories on various topics such as families, housing, employment, business, education, the economy, emergency management, health, population, income and poverty.
Contact our Public Information Office for media inquiries or interviews.
Publications
Childless Older Americans Presentation
This is an invited presentation given to the Northwest Neighbors Village about the Childless Older Americans: 2018 report.
U.S. Trade with Puerto Rico and U.S. Possessions, 2021
Presents total quantity and value of commodities shipped between the United States, Puerto Rico, and U.S. possessions for the year 2021.
Voting and Registration in the Election of November 2020
This report summarizes and analyzes estimates from the 2020 CPS November Voting Supplement.
Infographics
Fact Sheets
America Counts
Working Papers
Housing Vacancy Survey Nonresponse Analysis
This paper examines the implications for CPS/HVS estimates of a change in data collection procedures made in response to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Automation and the Workforce: A Firm-Level View from the 2019
The adoption of automation technologies across U.S. firms is low, but concentrates on large firms, implying a relatively high worker exposure to automation.
The Long Run Impacts of Court-Ordered Desegregation
We conduct a national assessment of the long-run impacts of court-ordered desegregation.
Videos