The U.S. Census Bureau reported today that the Boston metro area's median household income and poverty rate were not statistically different from the year before, while the uninsured rate decreased.

According to the 2012 American Community Survey, the median household income in the Boston metro area was $71,738 in 2012, which was not statistically different from $70,699 in 2011. In addition, 10.7 percent of people in the Boston area were in poverty in 2012, unchanged from 2011. In 2012, 4.3 percent of the area's population lacked health insurance coverage, a decrease from 4.7 percent in 2011. Across all U.S. metro areas, median household income was $53,607 in 2012 (not statistically different from $53,545 in 2011), the poverty rate remained at 15.5 percent, and the uninsured rate decreased from 15.0 percent to 14.7 percent since 2011. (Table CP03).

The American Community Survey provides a wide range of important statistics about all communities in the country — including the Boston area. The American Community Survey gives communities the current information they need to plan investments and services. Retailers, homebuilders, police departments, and town and city planners are among the many private- and public-sector decision makers who count on these annual results.

The survey is the only source of local statistics for most of the 40 topics it covers, such as educational attainment, housing, employment, commuting, language spoken at home, nativity, ancestry and selected monthly homeowner costs.

Other selected highlights for the Boston metro area (compared with all U.S. metro areas):

• In 2012, 61.0 percent of 3- and 4-year-olds were enrolled in school, which was not statistically different from 62.8 percent in 2011. Nationally, 48.7 percent of 3- and 4-year-olds living in metro areas were enrolled in school in 2012, which was not statistically different from 48.4 percent in 2011. (Table S1401 2012 | 2011).
• Among the Boston area's 25-and-older population, 90.7 percent had completed high school or more in 2012, not statistically different from 90.6 percent in 2011. Among all U.S. metro areas, 86.7 percent were high school graduates or higher, an increase from 86.3 percent in 2011. (Table CP02).
• Meanwhile, 42.9 percent of the Boston area's 25-and-older population had a bachelor's degree or higher in 2012, not statistically different from 43.1 percent in 2011. Nationally, 31.2 percent had a bachelor's degree in 2012, up from 30.6 percent in 2011. (Table CP02).

• In 2012, the median value for an owner-occupied home in the Boston metro area was $358,400, not statistically different from $356,100 in 2011. Across all U.S. metro areas, homes had a median value of $188,300 in 2012, a decrease from $191,000 in 2011. (Table CP04).
• In 2012, the median gross rent (rent plus utilities) was $1,162, a decrease from $1,181 in 2011. Renters in metro areas across the U.S. paid $925 in 2012, not statistically different from $927 in 2011. (Table CP04).

• About 16.7 percent of Boston area residents were foreign-born in 2012, which was not statistically different from 16.8 percent in 2011. Among all U.S. metro areas, 14.8 percent of the population was foreign-born, not statistically different from 14.7 percent in 2011. (Table CP02).

In addition to these statistics, the Census Bureau has released a set of analytical briefs with American Community Survey statistics on income, poverty and health insurance coverage for states and metro areas.

More information about the Boston area and the nation's social, economic and housing characteristics can be found on the Census Bureau's American FactFinder website. The 2012 American Community Survey statistics are available for the nation, all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, every congressional district, every metro area, and all counties and places with populations of 65,000 or more. (Note that statistics for metro areas based on the Office of Management and Budget's statistical area delineations issued in February 2013 will be available with the release of the 2013 American Community Survey results next year.) Statistics for areas with smaller populations will be available later this year.

Note: Unless otherwise noted, local-to-national and year-to-year comparisons are statistically different. The median household income and gross rent figures are in 2012 inflation-adjusted dollars.

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