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CONNECTICUT
Income & Poverty

Other facts sheets for Connecticut:

The data below describe the state rankings and selected characteristics of the immigrant and native-born populations in Connecticut in 2011.

Rankings
The following shows Connecticut's rankings in several categories. All rankings include the 50 states and the District of Columbia and are ranked highest to lowest.
  Rankings
Number of the foreign-born population living in poverty, 2011: 24 out of 51
Share of the foreign-born population living in poverty, 2011: 43 out of 51
Numeric change in the foreign-born population in poverty, 2000 to 2011: 27 out of 51
Percent change in the foreign-born population in poverty, 2000 to 2011: 34 out of 51

Data Highlights
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Who are the foreign born?
The term foreign born refers to people residing in the United States at the time of the census who were not US citizens at birth. The foreign-born population includes naturalized citizens, lawful permanent immigrants, refugees and asylees, legal nonimmigrants (including those on student, work, or other temporary visas), and persons residing in the country without authorization. By comparison, the term native refers to people residing in the United States who were US citizens in one of three categories: 1) people born in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia; 2) people born in United States Insular Areas such as Puerto Rico or Guam; or 3) people who were born abroad to at least one US citizen parent.

We use the terms immigrants and foreign born interchangeably.

Earnings of Full-Time Workers
(This sheet describes earnings of civilian employed workers)

In Connecticut in 2011, 22.1 percent of foreign-born workers earned less than $25,000 a year and 42.9 percent earned $50,000 or more.
In Connecticut in 2011, 6.8 percent of full-time, year-round, immigrant workers (those working more than 50 weeks a year and more than 35 hours per week) earned less than $15,000 a year; 32.3 percent earned between $15,000 and $35,000; 17.9 percent earned between $35,000 and $50,000; and 42.9 percent earned $50,000 or more. In comparison, 3.1 percent of full-time, year-round, native-born workers earned less than $15,000 a year; 19.0 percent earned between $15,000 and $35,000; 19.6 percent earned between $35,000 and $50,000; and 58.3 percent earned $50,000 or more.

At the national level, 9.8 percent of full-time, year-round, foreign-born workers earned less than $15,000 a year; 40.9 percent earned between $15,000 and $35,000; 16.6 percent earned between $35,000 and $50,000; and 32.6 percent earned $50,000 or more.

Median Earnings by Nativity and Gender

Male immigrant workers had average annual earnings of $46,658 compared to $37,376 for female immigrant workers.
Among full-time, year-round, foreign-born workers in Connecticut in 2011, median earnings over the previous 12 months were $37,376 for women and $46,658 for men. The median earnings of noncitizen women were $30,807 and those of noncitizen men were $38,427. In comparison, naturalized-citizen women had median earnings of $44,111 and naturalized-citizen men $56,404. Among full-time, year-round, native-born workers, median earnings during the comparable period were $49,899 for women and $62,094 for men.

At the national level, median earnings of full-time, year-round, foreign-born workers were $31,749 for women and $35,918 for men. The median earnings for noncitizen workers were $24,347 for women and $28,507 for men. Among naturalized-citizen workers, women had median earnings of $38,419 and men of $47,547. Among native-born workers, median earnings during the comparable period were $38,044 for women and $50,056 for men.

What Was the Poverty Threshold in 2011?
Whether any family is considered below the poverty threshold depends on the family's total income before taxes, not including any capital gains or noncash benefits, such as food stamps or housing subsidies.

The Census Bureau's poverty threshold varies depending on the number of adults and children in a family. The threshold is adjusted each month to account for inflation. Because respondents filled out the American Community Survey in different months, the poverty threshold that is applied to each family depends on the month in which the survey was taken.

To give a general idea of poverty levels, as defined by the Office of Management and Budget, the average poverty threshold for a family of four in 2011 was $23,021; for a family of three, $17,916; for a family of two, $ 14,657; and for an unrelated individual, $11,484. All members of a family are assigned the same poverty status. Poverty thresholds are the same for the entire United States, despite differences in the cost of living across US communities.
Population in Poverty

The immigrant population in Connecticut living below the federal poverty threshold changed by 58.1 percent between 2000 and 2011.
Between 2000 and 2011, the foreign-born population living in poverty went from 38,783 to 61,304, representing a change of 58.1 percent. In comparison, the foreign-born population living in poverty changed from 18,229 to 38,783 between 1990 and 2000, a difference of 112.8 percent.

At the national level, the immigrant population below the poverty threshold increased from 3,435,394 to 5,473,300 between 1990 and 2000, representing a change of 59.3 percent, and grew from 5,473,300 to 7,797,199 (42.5 percent) between 2000 and 2011.

In 2011, 13.1 percent of the foreign-born population lived below the poverty threshold.
In 2011, 13.1 percent of Connecticut's immigrant population lived below the poverty threshold, compared with 10.7 percent in 2000 and 6.8 percent in 1990. Meanwhile, 10.5 percent of the native-born population in Connecticut lived below the poverty threshold in 2011.

At the national level, 19.6 percent of the immigrants population lived below the poverty threshold in 2011, compared to 17.7 percent in 2000 and 17.9 percent in 1990. Nationally, 15.4 percent of the native-born population lived below the poverty threshold in 2011.

In Connecticut, 17.0 percent of noncitizens lived in poverty in 2011, compared to 9.1 percent of naturalized citizens.

Of the foreign-born population in Connecticut in 2011, 17.0 percent of noncitizens lived in poverty, compared to 9.1 percent of naturalized citizens.

Nationally, 26.3 percent of noncitizens lived in poverty in 2011, compared to 11.5 percent of naturalized citizens.

Families with Children in Poverty

In Connecticut, 11.4 percent of all foreign-born families lived below the poverty threshold.
In 2011, 11.4 percent of all families headed by an immigrant had incomes below the poverty threshold. At the same time, 15.9 percent of foreign-born families with children under 18 lived below the poverty threshold. Foreign-born families consisting of a married couple and children under 18 were less likely to live below the poverty threshold than families consisting of a female and children under 18 with no husband present (8.6 versus 31.0 percent).

In comparison, 7.2 percent of all families headed by a native-born person had incomes below the poverty threshold, as did 12.1 percent of native families with children under 18. As with foreign-born families, native families consisting of a married couple with children under 18 were less likely to be living in poverty than families headed by a female and children under 18 with no husband present (2.7 versus 33.3 percent).

At the national level, 18.5 percent of families headed by a foreign-born person had incomes below the poverty threshold in 2011, while 24.6 percent of foreign-born families with children under 18 lived below the poverty threshold. Foreign-born families consisting of a married couple and children under 18 were less likely to live below the poverty threshold than foreign-born families consisting of a female and children under 18 (17.9 versus 45.2 percent).

Language Groupings

Indo-European languages include French, Italian, Portuguese, German, Yiddish, other West Germanic languages, Scandinavian languages, Greek, Russian, Polish, Serbo-Croatian, other Slavic languages, Armenian, Persian, Gujarathi, Hindi, and Urdu.

Asian and Pacific Island languages include Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Mon-Khmer/Cambodian, Miao/Hmong, Thai, Laotian, Vietnamese, and Tagalog.

Other languages include Navajo, other Native North American languages, Hungarian, Arabic, Hebrew, and African languages.

Population in Poverty by Language Spoken at Home

In Connecticut, 27.2 percent of persons who spoke Spanish at home lived in poverty, compared to 9.3 percent of persons who spoke Asian or Pacific Island languages, and 9.2 percent of persons who spoke other Indo-European languages.
Of both native and foreign-born persons in Connecticut in 2011, 8.2 percent of those who spoke only English lived in poverty, compared to 27.2 percent of those who spoke Spanish at home, 9.2 percent who spoke other Indo-European languages, 9.3 percent who spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 22.0 percent who spoke other languages.

Nationally, 13.6 percent of those who spoke only English lived in poverty, compared to 25.4 percent of those who spoke Spanish at home, 13.7 percent who spoke other Indo-European languages, 14.2 percent who spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 26.7 percent who spoke other languages.




Table 1. Population by Poverty Status in Connecticut, 1990 to 2011
 

1990

2000

2011

  Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
Household Population of Connecticut for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined 3,181,210 100.0 3,311,568 100.0 3,471,802 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 211,972 6.7 265,368 8.0 377,856 10.9
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 137,286 4.3 175,607 5.3 233,891 6.7
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 2,831,952 89.0 2,870,593 86.7 2,860,055 82.4
Native Born 2,912,484 100.0 2,949,781 100.0 3,003,152 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 193,743 6.7 226,585 7.7 316,552 10.5
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 121,185 4.2 149,961 5.1 188,464 6.3
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 2,597,556 89.2 2,573,235 87.2 2,498,136 83.2
Foreign Born 268,726 100.0 361,787 100.0 468,650 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 18,229 6.8 38,783 10.7 61,304 13.1
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 16,101 6.0 25,646 7.1 45,427 9.7
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 234,396 87.2 297,358 82.2 361,919 77.2
 

Change 1990 to 2000

Change 1990 to 2011

Change 2000 to 2011

  Numeric Percent Numeric Percent Numeric Percent
Household Population of Connecticut for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined 130,358 4.1 290,592 9.1 160,234 4.8
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 53,396 25.2 165,884 78.3 112,488 42.4
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 38,321 27.9 96,605 70.4 58,284 33.2
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 38,641 1.4 28,103 1.0 -10,538 -0.4
Native Born 37,297 1.3 90,668 3.1 53,371 1.8
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 32,842 17.0 122,809 63.4 89,967 39.7
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 28,776 23.7 67,279 55.5 38,503 25.7
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level -24,321 -0.9 -99,420 -3.8 -75,099 -2.9
Foreign Born 93,061 34.6 199,924 74.4 106,863 29.5
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 20,554 112.8 43,075 236.3 22,521 58.1
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 9,545 59.3 29,326 182.1 19,781 77.1
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 62,962 26.9 127,523 54.4 64,561 21.7
Notes: Poverty status is not determined for unrelated individuals under age 15 (such as foster children) or for persons lacking conventional housing. 2. Data for Alaska, Maine, Montana, South Dakota, Vermont, and West Virginia are from the US Census Bureau's pooled 2009-2011 ACS and for North Dakota and Wyoming are from 2007-2011 ACS. Data for the United States and the rest of the states are from 2011 ACS.
Sources: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS), various years (see Note 2 above); 2000 Decennial Census; Steven Ruggles, J. Trent Alexander, Katie Genadek, Ronald Goeken, Matthew B. Schroeder, and Matthew Sobek. Integrated Public Use Microdata Series: Version 5.0 [Machine-readable database]. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota, 2011.

For information about ACS methodology,sampling error, and nonsampling error, click here.

Table 2. Income and Poverty Characteristics of the Population in Connecticut, 2011
POVERTY STATUS BY CITIZENSHIP
Household Population of Connecticut for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined 3,471,802
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 10.9
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 13.3
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 75.8
Native Born 3,003,152
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 10.5
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 12.5
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 77.0
Foreign Born 468,650
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 13.1
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 18.9
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 68.0
Noncitizen 236,311
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 17.0
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 24.5
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 58.5
Naturalized Citizen 232,339
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 9.1
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 13.2
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 77.7
EARNINGS IN LAST 12 MONTHS OF FULL-TIME, YEAR-ROUND WORKERS
(IN 2011 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)
Full-Time, Year-Round Workers in Connecticut Age 16 And Older with Earnings, 2011 1,174,193
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 1.1
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 2.6
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 8.4
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 12.9
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 19.3
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 24.6
Earned $75,000 or more 31.1
Native Born 974,611
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 1.1
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 2
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 6.9
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 12.1
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 19.6
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 25.8
Earned $75,000 or more 32.5
Foreign Born 199,582
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 1.5
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 5.3
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 15.3
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 17
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 17.9
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 18.7
Earned $75,000 or more 24.2
Noncitizen 91,202
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 2.5
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 7.6
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 20.5
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 19
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 17.2
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 13.4
Earned $75,000 or more 19.8
Naturalized Citizen 108,380
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 0.6
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 3.3
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 11
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 15.3
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 18.6
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 23.2
Earned $75,000 or more 28
MEDIAN EARNINGS IN LAST 12 MONTHS OF FULL-TIME, YEAR-ROUND WORKERS
(IN 2011 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)
Full-Time, Year-Round Workers in Connecticut, 2011  
Male $60,705
Female $47,476
Native Born  
Male $62,094
Female $49,899
Foreign Born  
Male $46,658
Female $37,376
Noncitizen  
Male $38,427
Female $30,807
Naturalized Citizen  
Male $56,404
Female $44,111
SHARE OF FAMILIES IN POVERTY BY CITIZENSHIP AND FAMILY TYPE
All Families (Among Those for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined) 7.9
With related children under age 18 12.8
With related children under age 5 only 14.4
Married-couple families 2.9
With related children under age 18 4.0
With related children under age 5 only 5.2
Families with female householder, no husband present 24.5
With related children under age 18 33.0
With related children under age 5 only 35.6
Native-Born Families 7.2
With related children under age 18 12.1
With related children under age 5 only 12.7
Married-couple families 2.1
With related children under age 18 2.7
With related children under age 5 only 3.4
Families with female householder, no husband present 24.8
With related children under age 18 33.3
With related children under age 5 only 33.8
Foreign-Born Families 11.4
With related children under age 18 15.9
With related children under age 5 only 20.3
Married-couple families 6.9
With related children under age 18 8.6
With related children under age 5 only 10.7
Families with female householder, no husband present 23.0
With related children under age 18 31.0
With related children under age 5 only 44.5
Noncitizen 17.9
With related children under age 18 22.8
With related children under age 5 only 25.8
Married-couple families 9.5
With related children under age 18 11.5
With related children under age 5 only 11.8
Families with female householder, no husband present 35.9
With related children under age 18 42.6
With related children under age 5 only 55.0
Naturalized Citizen 6.8
With related children under age 18 9.4
With related children under age 5 only 12.4
Married-couple families 5.2
With related children under age 18 6.3
With related children under age 5 only 9.2
Families with female householder, no husband present 11.9
With related children under age 18 18.3
With related children under 5 age only N
MEDIAN EARNINGS IN LAST 12 MONTHS BY PERIOD OF ENTRY
(IN 2011 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)
Full-Time, Year-Round, Foreign-Born Workers in Connecticut, 2011  
Male $46,658
Female $37,376
Entered the United States in 2000 or Later  
Male $36,068
Female $29,482
Entered the United States between 1990 and 1999  
Male $40,613
Female $34,760
Entered the United States before 1990  
Male $59,104
Female $45,377
FOREIGN BORN IN POVERTY BY WORLD REGION OF BIRTH
Born in Africa N
Below 100 percent of the poverty level N
Born in Asia 107,754
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 11.5
Born in Europe 129,872
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 8.8
Born in Latin America (South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean) 192,958
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 17.4
Born in Northern America (Canada, Bermuda, Greenland, and St. Pierre and Miquelon) N
Below 100 percent of the poverty level N
Born in Oceania N
Below 100 percent of the poverty level N
Note: 1. Poverty status is not determined for unrelated individuals under age 15 (such as foster children) or for persons lacking conventional housing.

2. Data for Alaska, Maine, Montana, South Dakota, Vermont, and West Virginia are from the US Census Bureau's pooled 2009-2011 ACS and for North Dakota and Wyoming are from 2007-2011 ACS. Data for the United States and the rest of the states are from 2011 ACS.

The letter N indicates that a number could not be provided by the Census Bureau because the number of sample cases was too small for this state.

Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS), different years.

For information about ACS methodology,sampling error, and nonsampling error, click here.

Table 3. Poverty Status of Residents in Connecticut by Language Spoken at Home, 2011
 
Number
Percent
Household Population of Connecticut for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined, Age 5 and Older 3,277,204 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 343,556 10.5
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 2,933,648 89.5
Speaks Only English 2,575,966 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 211,159 8.2
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 2,364,807 91.8
Speaks Spanish 358,632 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 97,458 27.2
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 261,174 72.8
Speaks Other Indo-European Languages 245,037 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 22,569 9.2
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 222,468 90.8
Speaks Asian or Pacific Island Languages 71,512 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 6,640 9.3
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 64,872 90.7
Speaks Other Languages 26,057 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 5,730 22.0
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 20,327 78.0
Note: Poverty status is not determined for unrelated individuals under the age of 15 (such as foster children) or for persons lacking conventional housing.

The letter N indicates that a number could not be provided by the Census Bureau because the number of sample cases was too small for this state.

Source: US Census Bureau, 2011 American Community Survey.
For information about ACS methodology,sampling error, and nonsampling error, click here.

For data on these topics, click on the link: