Comments on: The Richest and Poorest Counties and Cities in the US http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2006/06/08/the-richest-and-poorest-counties-and-cities-in-the-us/ Feminist, anti-racist, pro-fat, plus whatever else we feel like talking about. Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:33:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Lee http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2006/06/08/the-richest-and-poorest-counties-and-cities-in-the-us/#comment-138735 Lee Mon, 12 Jun 2006 13:20:43 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2006/06/08/the-richest-and-poorest-counties-and-cities-in-the-us/#comment-138735 The city vs. county thing - to the best of my knowledge, cities like Baltimore, Chicago, and St. Louis are considered completely separate from the counties outside of the city limits. The city vs. county thing - to the best of my knowledge, cities like Baltimore, Chicago, and St. Louis are considered completely separate from the counties outside of the city limits.

]]> By: carlaviii http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2006/06/08/the-richest-and-poorest-counties-and-cities-in-the-us/#comment-138601 carlaviii Mon, 12 Jun 2006 03:01:20 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2006/06/08/the-richest-and-poorest-counties-and-cities-in-the-us/#comment-138601 Yeah, duh, DC's #15 on the wealthiest cities. I've got to wonder who's living downtown with so much cash -- ambassadors? Senators? That money sure doesn't show up in the city budget. DC is a pretty screwed up city, financially. Yeah, duh, DC’s #15 on the wealthiest cities. I’ve got to wonder who’s living downtown with so much cash — ambassadors? Senators? That money sure doesn’t show up in the city budget. DC is a pretty screwed up city, financially.

]]> By: carlaviii http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2006/06/08/the-richest-and-poorest-counties-and-cities-in-the-us/#comment-138599 carlaviii Mon, 12 Jun 2006 02:57:29 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2006/06/08/the-richest-and-poorest-counties-and-cities-in-the-us/#comment-138599 I'm living in one of the counties next door to #1, #2 and #4 on the richest counties list -- Prince George's County, MD, which is said to be the county with the highest median black family income in the country. I'm sure that median is lower than our neighbors', though. I am a bit surprised/relieved that DC did not make the poorest city list -- counties #1, #2 and #4 are all suburbs of DC, and all the wealth fled DC rather early in the surburbanization of MD/VA. I’m living in one of the counties next door to #1, #2 and #4 on the richest counties list — Prince George’s County, MD, which is said to be the county with the highest median black family income in the country. I’m sure that median is lower than our neighbors’, though.

I am a bit surprised/relieved that DC did not make the poorest city list — counties #1, #2 and #4 are all suburbs of DC, and all the wealth fled DC rather early in the surburbanization of MD/VA.

]]> By: elizak http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2006/06/08/the-richest-and-poorest-counties-and-cities-in-the-us/#comment-138396 elizak Sun, 11 Jun 2006 07:09:07 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2006/06/08/the-richest-and-poorest-counties-and-cities-in-the-us/#comment-138396 I am a college student, definately interested in bridging the gap between the wealth and poverty particularly in Connecticut. Having grown up in CT, I have lived with others perceptions of this state being the wealthiest in the country. However, I have seen firsthand the huge gap that exists between different cities and towns here. According to city-data.com, the "the gold coast" of ct: Darien, Greenwich, Wesport, etc.. have median incomes of around 150,000 which is true for most towns in Fairfield County. Even towns in Hartford County, like West Hartford and Avon for instance, have high median incomes of over 60,000. However, neighboring cities and some cities in these wealthy counties are extremely poor and the statistics are staggering and a little disturbing. Bridgeport (located in fairfield county) has a median income of a little over than 34,000. More alarming to me and one of the primary reasons I have such a passion for those that are victims of poverty, are the statistics of my neighboring city and state capital, Hartford. In this city, the median household income in 2000 was a little over 24,000!! With a population of over 124,000, residents with a bachelor's degree or higher was only 12.4%. According to www.morganquitno.com, Hartford is on the top 25 of the countries most dangerous cities. Murders, burglaries, etc...are far above the national average according to areaconnect.com. I even compared Hartford with other cities which were know for having high crime rates, and per 100,000 people, the capital always came in at the top. These past couple of weeks have really sparked my concern. In just twenty days, (according to the Hartford Courant), from May 24- (today) June 11, twenty people in Hartford have been shot and this year thirteen people already murdered. (up 25%from last year at this time). Obviously, we all know that crime as well as other social ills has a direct correlation with poverty. I just feel dumbfounded at the fact that in our small state which is know for wealth and affluence, that there are these pockets of such poverty. With the shootings that have occured in Hartford recently, politicians as well as law enforcement has taken notice and initiatives are being made to help combat the violence. State police are working with local law enforcement to take back the streets of Hartford. But at the same time I feel like the bigger issues are not being addressed. To really stop the violence, doesn't the issue of poverty need to be addressed? What initiatives can be taken to turn around not just a few handful of peoples' lives, but a whole city? I definately feel that the crime needs to be combatted in Hartford. At the same time, unless other issues are addressed there is still going to be a lingering feeling of desparity and hopelessness among residents who are the victims of poverty. How can such a gap exist and what can be done to bridge this gap? any suggestions? I am a college student, definately interested in bridging the gap between the wealth and poverty particularly in Connecticut. Having grown up in CT, I have lived with others perceptions of this state being the wealthiest in the country. However, I have seen firsthand the huge gap that exists between different cities and towns here. According to city-data.com, the “the gold coast” of ct: Darien, Greenwich, Wesport, etc.. have median incomes of around 150,000 which is true for most towns in Fairfield County. Even towns in Hartford County, like West Hartford and Avon for instance, have high median incomes of over 60,000.

However, neighboring cities and some cities in these wealthy counties are extremely poor and the statistics are staggering and a little disturbing. Bridgeport (located in fairfield county) has a median income of a little over than 34,000. More alarming to me and one of the primary reasons I have such a passion for those that are victims of poverty, are the statistics of my neighboring city and state capital, Hartford. In this city, the median household income in 2000 was a little over 24,000!! With a population of over 124,000, residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher was only 12.4%. According to http://www.morganquitno.com, Hartford is on the top 25 of the countries most dangerous cities. Murders, burglaries, etc…are far above the national average according to areaconnect.com. I even compared Hartford with other cities which were know for having high crime rates, and per 100,000 people, the capital always came in at the top. These past couple of weeks have really sparked my concern. In just twenty days, (according to the Hartford Courant), from May 24- (today) June 11, twenty people in Hartford have been shot and this year thirteen people already murdered. (up 25%from last year at this time).

Obviously, we all know that crime as well as other social ills has a direct correlation with poverty. I just feel dumbfounded at the fact that in our small state which is know for wealth and affluence, that there are these pockets of such poverty. With the shootings that have occured in Hartford recently, politicians as well as law enforcement has taken notice and initiatives are being made to help combat the violence. State police are working with local law enforcement to take back the streets of Hartford. But at the same time I feel like the bigger issues are not being addressed.

To really stop the violence, doesn’t the issue of poverty need to be addressed? What initiatives can be taken to turn around not just a few handful of peoples’ lives, but a whole city?

I definately feel that the crime needs to be combatted in Hartford. At the same time, unless other issues are addressed there is still going to be a lingering feeling of desparity and hopelessness among residents who are the victims of poverty. How can such a gap exist and what can be done to bridge this gap? any suggestions?

]]> By: Charles http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2006/06/08/the-richest-and-poorest-counties-and-cities-in-the-us/#comment-138377 Charles Sun, 11 Jun 2006 04:25:30 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2006/06/08/the-richest-and-poorest-counties-and-cities-in-the-us/#comment-138377 Actually, I'm sure you know that perfectly well, and were more reacting off of the phrase "skewing the median." Still, I think Purple Girl's central point - Manhattan poverty pockets are invisible in the median is both true and relevant. Actually, I’m sure you know that perfectly well, and were more reacting off of the phrase “skewing the median.” Still, I think Purple Girl’s central point - Manhattan poverty pockets are invisible in the median is both true and relevant.

]]> By: Charles http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2006/06/08/the-richest-and-poorest-counties-and-cities-in-the-us/#comment-138376 Charles Sun, 11 Jun 2006 04:22:28 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2006/06/08/the-richest-and-poorest-counties-and-cities-in-the-us/#comment-138376 Rachel S, Actually, Purple Girl is right that the median can be less informative than you'd think. 50 % of Manhattanites make more than $50,000 and 50% make less, but that doesn't tell you how many make <i>lots</i> less than $50k. In fact, looking at the median family, per capita, and % poverty shows that Manhattan has a slightly higher median than the bronx, but Manhattan has both much more poverty and much more wealth (higher poverty rate and higher mean) than the Bronx. The high poverty rate in Manhattan is hidden by the fact that the majority of Manhattanites are well off, so the median family is well off. Notably, New York City over all has both a lower median family income and a higher poverty rate than the country over all, while having a slightly higher per capita income than the country over all. Manhattan median family $50k per capita (mean) $43k family poverty 17.6% Queens median family $48.5k per capita $19k family poverty 12% Bronx median family $30.6k per capita $14k family poverty 28% New York over all median family $42k per capita $22k family poverty 18.5% Rachel S,

Actually, Purple Girl is right that the median can be less informative than you’d think. 50 % of Manhattanites make more than $50,000 and 50% make less, but that doesn’t tell you how many make lots less than $50k.

In fact, looking at the median family, per capita, and % poverty shows that Manhattan has a slightly higher median than the bronx, but Manhattan has both much more poverty and much more wealth (higher poverty rate and higher mean) than the Bronx. The high poverty rate in Manhattan is hidden by the fact that the majority of Manhattanites are well off, so the median family is well off.

Notably, New York City over all has both a lower median family income and a higher poverty rate than the country over all, while having a slightly higher per capita income than the country over all.

Manhattan
median family $50k
per capita (mean) $43k
family poverty 17.6%

Queens
median family $48.5k
per capita $19k
family poverty 12%

Bronx
median family $30.6k
per capita $14k
family poverty 28%

New York over all
median family $42k
per capita $22k
family poverty 18.5%

]]> By: Rachel S. http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2006/06/08/the-richest-and-poorest-counties-and-cities-in-the-us/#comment-138329 Rachel S. Sat, 10 Jun 2006 21:56:17 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2006/06/08/the-richest-and-poorest-counties-and-cities-in-the-us/#comment-138329 April, Are the other counties in southern Texas, too?? April, Are the other counties in southern Texas, too??

]]> By: April http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2006/06/08/the-richest-and-poorest-counties-and-cities-in-the-us/#comment-138289 April Sat, 10 Jun 2006 17:24:00 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2006/06/08/the-richest-and-poorest-counties-and-cities-in-the-us/#comment-138289 My hometown of Brownsville Texas is in Cameron county. My hometown of Brownsville Texas is in Cameron county.

]]> By: Antigone http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2006/06/08/the-richest-and-poorest-counties-and-cities-in-the-us/#comment-138283 Antigone Sat, 10 Jun 2006 17:04:46 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2006/06/08/the-richest-and-poorest-counties-and-cities-in-the-us/#comment-138283 There are some days that I feel very, very, very lucky to be going to school in Grand Forks, ND instead of in a bigger city. Not only is this the best school for my field, but one could EASILY get a two-bedroom apartment, in a "nice" (said in quotation marks, because there's not really a "bad" part of town, just bad comparatively) part of town for UNDER $500/ month. But yeah, I know Seattle's expensive: because that was one of the things that the teachers had to argue about during their strike: they could not afford to live in the city on their salaries. Not to mention, quite a few of my friends and family live as far away as Mount Vernon and do the commute thing. There are some days that I feel very, very, very lucky to be going to school in Grand Forks, ND instead of in a bigger city. Not only is this the best school for my field, but one could EASILY get a two-bedroom apartment, in a “nice” (said in quotation marks, because there’s not really a “bad” part of town, just bad comparatively) part of town for UNDER $500/ month.

But yeah, I know Seattle’s expensive: because that was one of the things that the teachers had to argue about during their strike: they could not afford to live in the city on their salaries. Not to mention, quite a few of my friends and family live as far away as Mount Vernon and do the commute thing.

]]> By: Rachel S. http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2006/06/08/the-richest-and-poorest-counties-and-cities-in-the-us/#comment-138262 Rachel S. Sat, 10 Jun 2006 14:13:48 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2006/06/08/the-richest-and-poorest-counties-and-cities-in-the-us/#comment-138262 Purple Girl said, "Manhattan has its own areas with low earners, but it has so many high income households that it skews the median for the rest of us." Actually the median cannot be skewed because it is a measure of position, mean on the other hand can be skewed. The median is literally the middle number, so if you ined everybody up in a row and picked out the middle person that would be the median. I looked up the Manhattan stats, as did Brandon, and he is right about the median. However, Purple Girl's point about data being skewed in not at all invalid if we were talking about means. I tried to look up MEAN (NOT MEDIAN) income, and it is not listed on the chart. However, they do list per capita income, per capita measures are similar to means and can be swayed by very high numbers. Per capita income measures the how much money would be available for each person in the household assuming it was divided evenly. For example, a family of 4 making 40,000 has a per capita income of 10,000. If you look that the per capita income for Manhattan, it is a staggering 42,922 in 1999. That's higher than the family incomes for the US as a whole. The fact that the per capita income is just a little bit lower than the median, let''s us know that their is a dramatic number of ultra rich people in that area. Purple Girl said, “Manhattan has its own areas with low earners, but it has so many high income households that it skews the median for the rest of us.”

Actually the median cannot be skewed because it is a measure of position, mean on the other hand can be skewed. The median is literally the middle number, so if you ined everybody up in a row and picked out the middle person that would be the median.

I looked up the Manhattan stats, as did Brandon, and he is right about the median. However, Purple Girl’s point about data being skewed in not at all invalid if we were talking about means. I tried to look up MEAN (NOT MEDIAN) income, and it is not listed on the chart. However, they do list per capita income, per capita measures are similar to means and can be swayed by very high numbers. Per capita income measures the how much money would be available for each person in the household assuming it was divided evenly. For example, a family of 4 making 40,000 has a per capita income of 10,000. If you look that the per capita income for Manhattan, it is a staggering 42,922 in 1999. That’s higher than the family incomes for the US as a whole. The fact that the per capita income is just a little bit lower than the median, let’’s us know that their is a dramatic number of ultra rich people in that area.

]]> By: NancyP http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2006/06/08/the-richest-and-poorest-counties-and-cities-in-the-us/#comment-138198 NancyP Sat, 10 Jun 2006 04:06:05 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2006/06/08/the-richest-and-poorest-counties-and-cities-in-the-us/#comment-138198 I don't know about Baltimore, but I too can confirm that St. Louis City, with a relatively small area, is its own county, and the inner ring suburbs of St. Louis are in St. Louis County, a second entity much larger in area. It says so on my MO tax return (can't get more official than that!), and from the same source, I know that Kansas City, MO city limits do not comprise a county by itself. KCMO is included in a large area including KCMO suburbs. I don’t know about Baltimore, but I too can confirm that St. Louis City, with a relatively small area, is its own county, and the inner ring suburbs of St. Louis are in St. Louis County, a second entity much larger in area. It says so on my MO tax return (can’t get more official than that!), and from the same source, I know that Kansas City, MO city limits do not comprise a county by itself. KCMO is included in a large area including KCMO suburbs.

]]> By: Brandon Berg http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2006/06/08/the-richest-and-poorest-counties-and-cities-in-the-us/#comment-138187 Brandon Berg Sat, 10 Jun 2006 03:34:37 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2006/06/08/the-richest-and-poorest-counties-and-cities-in-the-us/#comment-138187 Nicole: IMO, this is a non-issue. If people can't afford to live there, they'll move to places where they can. If enough low-skill workers move away, their wages will rise enough so that those who can stay can afford it. Newbie: I live in Seattle (actually, Redmond), and I'm not at all sure that Antigone's comment about Seattle is accurate. I know a few people who live in Seattle proper on fairly modest incomes. Sure, a big apartment smack in the middle of downtown Seattle will cost you a bundle, and your rent doesn't go nearly as far as it would in the midwest, but you should have no problem finding a two-bedroom apartment for under $1000/month (mine is $865). PurpleGirl: There's no way that the median household income for New York City is anywhere near $98,000. <a href="http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/DTTable?_bm=y&-context=dt&-ds_name=ACS_2004_EST_G00_&-CONTEXT=dt&-mt_name=ACS_2004_EST_G2000_B19013&-tree_id=304&-redoLog=false&-all_geo_types=N&-geo_id=06000US3606144919&-search_results=ALL&-search_results=16000US3611000&-search_results=16000US3651000&-format=&-_lang=en" rel="nofollow">Even in Manhattan</a> it's just over half of that. Nicole:
IMO, this is a non-issue. If people can’t afford to live there, they’ll move to places where they can. If enough low-skill workers move away, their wages will rise enough so that those who can stay can afford it.

Newbie:
I live in Seattle (actually, Redmond), and I’m not at all sure that Antigone’s comment about Seattle is accurate. I know a few people who live in Seattle proper on fairly modest incomes. Sure, a big apartment smack in the middle of downtown Seattle will cost you a bundle, and your rent doesn’t go nearly as far as it would in the midwest, but you should have no problem finding a two-bedroom apartment for under $1000/month (mine is $865).

PurpleGirl:
There’s no way that the median household income for New York City is anywhere near $98,000. Even in Manhattan it’s just over half of that.

]]> By: PurpleGirl http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2006/06/08/the-richest-and-poorest-counties-and-cities-in-the-us/#comment-138164 PurpleGirl Sat, 10 Jun 2006 01:27:42 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2006/06/08/the-richest-and-poorest-counties-and-cities-in-the-us/#comment-138164 Rachel, right, Bronx County only is the borough of the Bronx, no other cities in the county. The same for Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan. Rachel, right, Bronx County only is the borough of the Bronx, no other cities in the county. The same for Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan.

]]> By: PurpleGirl http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2006/06/08/the-richest-and-poorest-counties-and-cities-in-the-us/#comment-138162 PurpleGirl Sat, 10 Jun 2006 01:20:58 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2006/06/08/the-richest-and-poorest-counties-and-cities-in-the-us/#comment-138162 Rachel -- Yes, NYC is five boroughs, each borough is also a county. However Bronxville is a town in Westchester County, on the border with the Bronx. Also, please note that the median income for NYC will depend on whether you mean the city as a whole or taking one borough as the unit. For example, for the city as a whole I saw the median being something like $98,??? but that includes Manhattan. If you look at Queens county, the borough I live in, its median income is $48,???. (I use the question marks because I forget the rest of the number.) Queens (and the Bronx, Brooklyn, Staten Island) doesn't have the high earners that Manhattan has. Queens and the other borough has middle class, blue collar, working poor and poor. Manhattan has its own areas with low earners, but it has so many high income households that it skews the median for the rest of us. (That's why they calculate a median for each county on its own.) (Those corporate titans have apartments in the city, houses in the country and skew the stats for everyone.) Rachel — Yes, NYC is five boroughs, each borough is also a county. However Bronxville is a town in Westchester County, on the border with the Bronx.

Also, please note that the median income for NYC will depend on whether you mean the city as a whole or taking one borough as the unit. For example, for the city as a whole I saw the median being something like $98,??? but that includes Manhattan. If you look at Queens county, the borough I live in, its median income is $48,???. (I use the question marks because I forget the rest of the number.)

Queens (and the Bronx, Brooklyn, Staten Island) doesn’t have the high earners that Manhattan has. Queens and the other borough has middle class, blue collar, working poor and poor. Manhattan has its own areas with low earners, but it has so many high income households that it skews the median for the rest of us. (That’s why they calculate a median for each county on its own.) (Those corporate titans have apartments in the city, houses in the country and skew the stats for everyone.)

]]> By: Rachel S. http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2006/06/08/the-richest-and-poorest-counties-and-cities-in-the-us/#comment-138161 Rachel S. Sat, 10 Jun 2006 01:19:18 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2006/06/08/the-richest-and-poorest-counties-and-cities-in-the-us/#comment-138161 And there are no other cities in Bronx county but the Bronx, right??? And there are no other cities in Bronx county but the Bronx, right???

]]> By: Born in the Bronx http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2006/06/08/the-richest-and-poorest-counties-and-cities-in-the-us/#comment-138147 Born in the Bronx Fri, 09 Jun 2006 23:07:23 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2006/06/08/the-richest-and-poorest-counties-and-cities-in-the-us/#comment-138147 Each of the five New York City boroughs -- Manhattan, The Bronx, Staten Island (Richmond County), Brooklyn (Kings County), and Queens -- is a county. So NYC is a city containing counties. Each of the five New York City boroughs — Manhattan, The Bronx, Staten Island (Richmond County), Brooklyn (Kings County), and Queens — is a county. So NYC is a city containing counties.

]]> By: Newbie http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2006/06/08/the-richest-and-poorest-counties-and-cities-in-the-us/#comment-138102 Newbie Fri, 09 Jun 2006 17:10:21 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2006/06/08/the-richest-and-poorest-counties-and-cities-in-the-us/#comment-138102 I've seen interesting statistics (if only I could remember where!) that analyzed not only the wealth of specific cities but also cost of living. This type of analysis gives a good idea of how far one's median income will stretch when faced with rent and food prices. On this list, not surprisingly, San Francisco and New York ranked near the bottom despite their high median income, while places like Tulsa, OK were near the top. When looking at a city's wealth, in my opinion, you can't erase gentrification and the accompanying high prices from the equation. Which is why Antigone's comment above about living in Seattle is important to keep in mind. I’ve seen interesting statistics (if only I could remember where!) that analyzed not only the wealth of specific cities but also cost of living. This type of analysis gives a good idea of how far one’s median income will stretch when faced with rent and food prices. On this list, not surprisingly, San Francisco and New York ranked near the bottom despite their high median income, while places like Tulsa, OK were near the top. When looking at a city’s wealth, in my opinion, you can’t erase gentrification and the accompanying high prices from the equation. Which is why Antigone’s comment above about living in Seattle is important to keep in mind.

]]> By: Rachel S. http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2006/06/08/the-richest-and-poorest-counties-and-cities-in-the-us/#comment-138096 Rachel S. Fri, 09 Jun 2006 16:51:20 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2006/06/08/the-richest-and-poorest-counties-and-cities-in-the-us/#comment-138096 I found that St. Louis was listed as a city and not a county was very odd. They did the same thing for Baltimore. I was wondering if cities are not considered parts of counties in these states, but I am really clueless about that. I found that St. Louis was listed as a city and not a county was very odd. They did the same thing for Baltimore. I was wondering if cities are not considered parts of counties in these states, but I am really clueless about that.

]]> By: Rachel S. http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2006/06/08/the-richest-and-poorest-counties-and-cities-in-the-us/#comment-138095 Rachel S. Fri, 09 Jun 2006 16:46:44 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2006/06/08/the-richest-and-poorest-counties-and-cities-in-the-us/#comment-138095 Bronx County is the borough of the Bronx. Are your sure? If Bronxville also included the Bronx definitely is in Bronx county. You mind elaborating. Bronx County is the borough of the Bronx.
Are your sure? If Bronxville also included the Bronx definitely is in Bronx county. You mind elaborating.

]]> By: Nicole http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2006/06/08/the-richest-and-poorest-counties-and-cities-in-the-us/#comment-138085 Nicole Fri, 09 Jun 2006 15:49:41 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2006/06/08/the-richest-and-poorest-counties-and-cities-in-the-us/#comment-138085 I grew up in one of the NYC suburbs you mention, Bergen County, NJ. Seeing these lists makes it even clearer to me why it is nearly impossible for young couples (I'm in my 20's) to try and actually own property in Northern NJ. Not only owning property is daunting though, even renting an apartment means $1,200 to $1,800 a month (for a 1 bedroom!). I see the phenomenon that Rachel S. clarifies all around me. My family has lived in the same area for an estimated 100 years. I went to the same elementary school as my grandmother. Can I afford to someday raise my kids in the same area? Not if I want to put food on the table to feed them as well. The stark contrast of poverty vs. riches in my area of the country is staggering. There is no middle class anymore, there's either $5 million dollar McMansions or people barely able to make rent each month. I'm wondering what the backlash is going to be, can my area's economy support this much longer? I grew up in one of the NYC suburbs you mention, Bergen County, NJ. Seeing these lists makes it even clearer to me why it is nearly impossible for young couples (I’m in my 20’s) to try and actually own property in Northern NJ. Not only owning property is daunting though, even renting an apartment means $1,200 to $1,800 a month (for a 1 bedroom!). I see the phenomenon that Rachel S. clarifies all around me. My family has lived in the same area for an estimated 100 years. I went to the same elementary school as my grandmother. Can I afford to someday raise my kids in the same area? Not if I want to put food on the table to feed them as well.

The stark contrast of poverty vs. riches in my area of the country is staggering. There is no middle class anymore, there’s either $5 million dollar McMansions or people barely able to make rent each month. I’m wondering what the backlash is going to be, can my area’s economy support this much longer?

]]>