Puerto Rico vs. Detroit
Published on September 12, 2013
Policy Director
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No one cared much about Detroit until the Dow collapsed in 2008ā¦Suddenly the eyes of the nation turned back upon this postindustrial sarcophagus, where crime and corruption and mayhem played themselves out in the corridors of power and on the powerless streetsā¦Detroit, which once led the nation in home ownership, is now a foreclosure capital. Its downtown is a museum of ghost skyscrapers. Trees and switch grass and wild animals have come back to reclaim their rightful places. Coyotes are hereā¦
Once the nationās richest city, Detroit is now its poorest.Ā It is the countryās illiteracy and dropout capital, where children must leave their books at school and bring toilet paper from home.Ā It is the unemployment capital, where half the adult population does not work a consistent job.Ā Ā There are firemen with no boots, cops with no cars, teachers with no pencils, city council council members with telephones tapped by the FBI, and too many grandmothers with no tears left to give.
Ā ā Charlie LeDuff, Detroit: An American Autopsy (2013)
A lot of ink has been spilt lately comparing Puerto Rico with the City of Detroit. Ā We at the Center for a New Economy actually did that analysis a few months ago. Ā The comparison was not flattering to Puerto Rico. If you look at indicators such as per capita income, poverty rates, labor force participation, and mean and median household income, Detroit actually has an edge over Puerto Rico.
Having said that, it is also true that things are not as bad in Puerto Rico when compared with what Charlie LeDuff describes in his bookĀ Detroit: An American Autopsy (2013), the source of the quotations at the beginning of this post. Ā Nonetheless, Puerto Rico is well on its way to becomingĀ the Detroit of the Caribbean, a desolate, post-industrial wasteland, with massive poverty, high crime rates, dysfunctional government institutions, and a rapidly shrinking and aging population. Ā Puerto Rico still has time to avoid that fate but we have to radically change our ways of doing thingsāfast.
For those who prefer to see the data for themselves I have reproduced below Table DP03 ā Selected Economic Characteristics, comparing Puerto Rico and the City of Detroit, using data from the 2011 American Community Survey executed by the U.S. Census. Ā You can run your own comparisons by going to the American Factfinder2 site on the U.S. Census web page.
Table DP03
SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS Ā
2011 American Community Survey 1-Year EstimatesĀ
Although the American Community Survey (ACS) produces population, demographic and housing unit estimates, it is the Census Bureauās Population Estimates Program that produces and disseminates the official estimates of the population for the nation, states, counties, cities and towns and estimates of housing units for states and counties.
| Subject | Puerto Rico | Detroit city, Michigan | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estimate | Margin of Error | Percent | Percent Margin of Error | Estimate | Margin of Error | Percent | Percent Margin of Error | |
| EMPLOYMENT STATUS | ||||||||
| Population 16 years and over | 2,942,799 | +/-3,081 | 2,942,799 | (X) | 545,745 | +/-3,489 | 545,745 | (X) |
| In labor force | 1,354,801 | +/-10,914 | 46.0% | +/-0.4 | 288,482 | +/-6,248 | 52.9% | +/-1.1 |
| Civilian labor force | 1,352,971 | +/-11,013 | 46.0% | +/-0.4 | 288,482 | +/-6,248 | 52.9% | +/-1.1 |
| Employed | 1,102,866 | +/-11,341 | 37.5% | +/-0.4 | 203,993 | +/-6,510 | 37.4% | +/-1.2 |
| Unemployed | 250,105 | +/-7,757 | 8.5% | +/-0.3 | 84,489 | +/-5,380 | 15.5% | +/-1.0 |
| Armed Forces | 1,830 | +/-634 | 0.1% | +/-0.1 | 0 | +/-167 | 0.0% | +/-0.1 |
| Not in labor force | 1,587,998 | +/-11,492 | 54.0% | +/-0.4 | 257,263 | +/-6,125 | 47.1% | +/-1.1 |
| Civilian labor force | 1,352,971 | +/-11,013 | 1,352,971 | (X) | 288,482 | +/-6,248 | 288,482 | (X) |
| Percent Unemployed | (X) | (X) | 18.5% | +/-0.5 | (X) | (X) | 29.3% | +/-1.7 |
| Females 16 years and over | 1,560,664 | +/-3,097 | 1,560,664 | (X) | 293,438 | +/-3,169 | 293,438 | (X) |
| In labor force | 641,904 | +/-8,291 | 41.1% | +/-0.5 | 152,951 | +/-4,663 | 52.1% | +/-1.4 |
| Civilian labor force | 641,718 | +/-8,247 | 41.1% | +/-0.5 | 152,951 | +/-4,663 | 52.1% | +/-1.4 |
| Employed | 526,067 | +/-7,708 | 33.7% | +/-0.5 | 113,941 | +/-4,375 | 38.8% | +/-1.5 |
| Own children under 6 years | 255,218 | +/-3,937 | 255,218 | (X) | 56,157 | +/-2,472 | 56,157 | (X) |
| All parents in family in labor force | 152,592 | +/-5,797 | 59.8% | +/-2.2 | 35,414 | +/-2,912 | 63.1% | +/-4.3 |
| Own children 6 to 17 years | 582,852 | +/-4,322 | 582,852 | (X) | 113,787 | +/-3,798 | 113,787 | (X) |
| All parents in family in labor force | 353,613 | +/-9,325 | 60.7% | +/-1.5 | 75,975 | +/-4,195 | 66.8% | +/-3.4 |
| COMMUTING TO WORK | ||||||||
| Workers 16 years and over | 1,060,138 | +/-10,821 | 1,060,138 | (X) | 197,750 | +/-6,534 | 197,750 | (X) |
| Car, truck, or van ā drove alone | 849,235 | +/-10,770 | 80.1% | +/-0.7 | 137,494 | +/-4,943 | 69.5% | +/-1.6 |
| Car, truck, or van ā carpooled | 93,373 | +/-5,004 | 8.8% | +/-0.5 | 24,098 | +/-2,657 | 12.2% | +/-1.3 |
| Public transportation (excluding taxicab) | 31,256 | +/-3,254 | 2.9% | +/-0.3 | 19,257 | +/-2,454 | 9.7% | +/-1.1 |
| Walked | 40,128 | +/-3,483 | 3.8% | +/-0.3 | 5,946 | +/-1,189 | 3.0% | +/-0.6 |
| Other means | 19,744 | +/-2,684 | 1.9% | +/-0.3 | 5,440 | +/-1,440 | 2.8% | +/-0.7 |
| Worked at home | 26,402 | +/-2,997 | 2.5% | +/-0.3 | 5,515 | +/-1,172 | 2.8% | +/-0.6 |
| Mean travel time to work (minutes) | 29.7 | +/-0.4 | (X) | (X) | 27.7 | +/-0.8 | (X) | (X) |
| OCCUPATION | ||||||||
| Civilian employed population 16 years and over | 1,102,866 | +/-11,341 | 1,102,866 | (X) | 203,993 | +/-6,510 | 203,993 | (X) |
| Management, business, science, and arts occupations | 343,821 | +/-9,592 | 31.2% | +/-0.8 | 47,548 | +/-3,259 | 23.3% | +/-1.4 |
| Service occupations | 223,128 | +/-6,847 | 20.2% | +/-0.6 | 59,339 | +/-4,089 | 29.1% | +/-1.7 |
| Sales and office occupations | 303,815 | +/-8,280 | 27.5% | +/-0.7 | 49,665 | +/-3,508 | 24.3% | +/-1.5 |
| Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations | 109,387 | +/-5,690 | 9.9% | +/-0.5 | 13,072 | +/-1,712 | 6.4% | +/-0.8 |
| Production, transportation, and material moving occupations | 122,715 | +/-5,769 | 11.1% | +/-0.5 | 34,369 | +/-2,402 | 16.8% | +/-1.2 |
| INDUSTRY | ||||||||
| Civilian employed population 16 years and over | 1,102,866 | +/-11,341 | 1,102,866 | (X) | 203,993 | +/-6,510 | 203,993 | (X) |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining | 15,212 | +/-1,858 | 1.4% | +/-0.2 | 664 | +/-362 | 0.3% | +/-0.2 |
| Construction | 69,157 | +/-5,181 | 6.3% | +/-0.5 | 7,585 | +/-1,209 | 3.7% | +/-0.6 |
| Manufacturing | 101,644 | +/-5,283 | 9.2% | +/-0.5 | 23,230 | +/-2,325 | 11.4% | +/-1.2 |
| Wholesale trade | 29,348 | +/-2,854 | 2.7% | +/-0.3 | 3,700 | +/-1,033 | 1.8% | +/-0.5 |
| Retail trade | 152,078 | +/-6,518 | 13.8% | +/-0.6 | 18,700 | +/-2,329 | 9.2% | +/-1.1 |
| Transportation and warehousing, and utilities | 40,149 | +/-3,136 | 3.6% | +/-0.3 | 12,227 | +/-1,804 | 6.0% | +/-0.8 |
| Information | 21,584 | +/-2,457 | 2.0% | +/-0.2 | 4,037 | +/-961 | 2.0% | +/-0.5 |
| Finance and insurance, and real estate and rental and leasing | 59,498 | +/-4,620 | 5.4% | +/-0.4 | 10,089 | +/-1,714 | 4.9% | +/-0.8 |
| Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services | 98,040 | +/-5,170 | 8.9% | +/-0.4 | 19,996 | +/-2,170 | 9.8% | +/-1.1 |
| Educational services, and health care and social assistance | 255,028 | +/-8,221 | 23.1% | +/-0.7 | 56,005 | +/-3,655 | 27.5% | +/-1.5 |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation, and accommodation and food services | 92,324 | +/-5,902 | 8.4% | +/-0.5 | 26,490 | +/-3,066 | 13.0% | +/-1.4 |
| Other services, except public administration | 62,831 | +/-4,615 | 5.7% | +/-0.4 | 10,770 | +/-1,638 | 5.3% | +/-0.8 |
| Public administration | 105,973 | +/-5,062 | 9.6% | +/-0.5 | 10,500 | +/-1,447 | 5.1% | +/-0.7 |
| CLASS OF WORKER | ||||||||
| Civilian employed population 16 years and over | 1,102,866 | +/-11,341 | 1,102,866 | (X) | 203,993 | +/-6,510 | 203,993 | (X) |
| Private wage and salary workers | 730,605 | +/-10,931 | 66.2% | +/-0.7 | 168,716 | +/-5,881 | 82.7% | +/-1.3 |
| Government workers | 261,517 | +/-8,673 | 23.7% | +/-0.8 | 27,707 | +/-2,522 | 13.6% | +/-1.1 |
| Self-employed in own not incorporated business workers | 108,755 | +/-6,022 | 9.9% | +/-0.5 | 7,385 | +/-1,358 | 3.6% | +/-0.7 |
| Unpaid family workers | 1,989 | +/-686 | 0.2% | +/-0.1 | 185 | +/-181 | 0.1% | +/-0.1 |
| INCOME AND BENEFITS (IN 2011 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS) | ||||||||
| Total households | 1,256,151 | +/-8,804 | 1,256,151 | (X) | 253,629 | +/-5,276 | 253,629 | (X) |
| Less than $10,000 | 372,186 | +/-7,248 | 29.6% | +/-0.5 | 56,067 | +/-3,337 | 22.1% | +/-1.2 |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 154,338 | +/-5,688 | 12.3% | +/-0.5 | 26,517 | +/-2,385 | 10.5% | +/-0.9 |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 235,752 | +/-6,723 | 18.8% | +/-0.5 | 43,449 | +/-2,665 | 17.1% | +/-1.0 |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 153,129 | +/-5,640 | 12.2% | +/-0.4 | 33,250 | +/-2,222 | 13.1% | +/-0.8 |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 141,635 | +/-5,689 | 11.3% | +/-0.4 | 35,434 | +/-2,494 | 14.0% | +/-1.0 |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 115,922 | +/-5,819 | 9.2% | +/-0.5 | 31,009 | +/-2,266 | 12.2% | +/-0.9 |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 39,391 | +/-3,237 | 3.1% | +/-0.3 | 13,542 | +/-1,402 | 5.3% | +/-0.5 |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 28,719 | +/-2,729 | 2.3% | +/-0.2 | 9,919 | +/-1,435 | 3.9% | +/-0.6 |
| $150,000 to $199,999 | 8,626 | +/-1,451 | 0.7% | +/-0.1 | 3,117 | +/-871 | 1.2% | +/-0.3 |
| $200,000 or more | 6,453 | +/-1,098 | 0.5% | +/-0.1 | 1,325 | +/-470 | 0.5% | +/-0.2 |
| Median household income (dollars) | 18,660 | +/-358 | (X) | (X) | 25,193 | +/-806 | (X) | (X) |
| Mean household income (dollars) | 28,865 | +/-552 | (X) | (X) | 35,709 | +/-991 | (X) | (X) |
| With earnings | 738,808 | +/-9,295 | 58.8% | +/-0.6 | 155,793 | +/-4,623 | 61.4% | +/-1.3 |
| Mean earnings (dollars) | 34,430 | +/-727 | (X) | (X) | 38,168 | +/-1,424 | (X) | (X) |
| With Social Security | 534,710 | +/-7,229 | 42.6% | +/-0.5 | 82,548 | +/-2,619 | 32.5% | +/-0.9 |
| Mean Social Security income (dollars) | 11,379 | +/-131 | (X) | (X) | 14,775 | +/-369 | (X) | (X) |
| With retirement income | 176,771 | +/-4,882 | 14.1% | +/-0.4 | 51,799 | +/-2,610 | 20.4% | +/-1.0 |
| Mean retirement income (dollars) | 13,463 | +/-725 | (X) | (X) | 19,680 | +/-1,820 | (X) | (X) |
| With Supplemental Security Income | 5,547 | +/-1,043 | 0.4% | +/-0.1 | 33,684 | +/-2,306 | 13.3% | +/-0.9 |
| Mean Supplemental Security Income (dollars) | 8,204 | +/-923 | (X) | (X) | 8,479 | +/-363 | (X) | (X) |
| With cash public assistance income | 70,703 | +/-3,477 | 5.6% | +/-0.3 | 21,860 | +/-1,887 | 8.6% | +/-0.8 |
| Mean cash public assistance income (dollars) | 2,024 | +/-77 | (X) | (X) | 3,785 | +/-367 | (X) | (X) |
| With Food Stamp/SNAP benefits in the past 12 months | 471,272 | +/-8,107 | 37.5% | +/-0.6 | 104,099 | +/-3,989 | 41.0% | +/-1.4 |
| Families | 903,660 | +/-10,060 | 903,660 | (X) | 145,224 | +/-3,759 | 145,224 | (X) |
| Less than $10,000 | 220,666 | +/-5,978 | 24.4% | +/-0.6 | 25,296 | +/-2,364 | 17.4% | +/-1.4 |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 100,839 | +/-4,746 | 11.2% | +/-0.5 | 13,627 | +/-1,723 | 9.4% | +/-1.2 |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 178,714 | +/-6,139 | 19.8% | +/-0.6 | 23,640 | +/-1,992 | 16.3% | +/-1.4 |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 121,548 | +/-5,233 | 13.5% | +/-0.6 | 18,535 | +/-1,815 | 12.8% | +/-1.2 |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 116,260 | +/-5,037 | 12.9% | +/-0.5 | 22,756 | +/-1,989 | 15.7% | +/-1.4 |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 95,256 | +/-4,656 | 10.5% | +/-0.5 | 20,262 | +/-1,812 | 14.0% | +/-1.2 |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 32,828 | +/-2,887 | 3.6% | +/-0.3 | 10,047 | +/-1,223 | 6.9% | +/-0.8 |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 24,560 | +/-2,574 | 2.7% | +/-0.3 | 7,611 | +/-1,201 | 5.2% | +/-0.8 |
| $150,000 to $199,999 | 7,216 | +/-1,366 | 0.8% | +/-0.2 | 2,620 | +/-796 | 1.8% | +/-0.5 |
| $200,000 or more | 5,773 | +/-1,102 | 0.6% | +/-0.1 | 830 | +/-401 | 0.6% | +/-0.3 |
| Median family income (dollars) | 22,043 | +/-426 | (X) | (X) | 30,524 | +/-1,229 | (X) | (X) |
| Mean family income (dollars) | 32,063 | +/-705 | (X) | (X) | 40,860 | +/-1,511 | (X) | (X) |
| Per capita income (dollars) | 10,555 | +/-185 | (X) | (X) | 13,965 | +/-447 | (X) | (X) |
| Nonfamily households | 352,491 | +/-8,347 | 352,491 | (X) | 108,405 | +/-4,298 | 108,405 | (X) |
| Median nonfamily income (dollars) | 10,955 | +/-345 | (X) | (X) | 18,345 | +/-1,134 | (X) | (X) |
| Mean nonfamily income (dollars) | 18,104 | +/-706 | (X) | (X) | 27,238 | +/-1,457 | (X) | (X) |
| Median earnings for workers (dollars) | 16,427 | +/-201 | (X) | (X) | 19,400 | +/-890 | (X) | (X) |
| Median earnings for male full-time, year-round workers (dollars) | 22,529 | +/-514 | (X) | (X) | 35,322 | +/-2,418 | (X) | (X) |
| Median earnings for female full-time, year-round workers (dollars) | 22,117 | +/-324 | (X) | (X) | 30,175 | +/-866 | (X) | (X) |
| HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE | ||||||||
| Civilian noninstitutionalized population | 3,680,339 | +/-638 | 3,680,339 | (X) | 700,334 | +/-1,254 | 700,334 | (X) |
| With health insurance coverage | 3,399,698 | +/-12,873 | 92.4% | +/-0.4 | 563,318 | +/-5,970 | 80.4% | +/-0.8 |
| With private health insurance | 1,500,631 | +/-24,828 | 40.8% | +/-0.7 | 263,916 | +/-10,730 | 37.7% | +/-1.5 |
| With public coverage | 2,123,860 | +/-26,437 | 57.7% | +/-0.7 | 371,213 | +/-9,095 | 53.0% | +/-1.3 |
| No health insurance coverage | 280,641 | +/-12,928 | 7.6% | +/-0.4 | 137,016 | +/-5,738 | 19.6% | +/-0.8 |
| Civilian noninstitutionalized population under 18 years | 875,489 | +/-141 | 875,489 | (X) | 183,699 | +/-3,516 | 183,699 | (X) |
| No health insurance coverage | 34,493 | +/-3,935 | 3.9% | +/-0.4 | 9,920 | +/-2,320 | 5.4% | +/-1.3 |
| Civilian noninstitutionalized population 18 to 64 years | 2,246,412 | +/-820 | 2,246,412 | (X) | 434,570 | +/-3,186 | 434,570 | (X) |
| In labor force: | 1,310,766 | +/-10,320 | 1,310,766 | (X) | 274,201 | +/-5,691 | 274,201 | (X) |
| Employed: | 1,067,217 | +/-10,512 | 1,067,217 | (X) | 195,181 | +/-6,071 | 195,181 | (X) |
| With health insurance coverage | 935,092 | +/-10,867 | 87.6% | +/-0.6 | 140,704 | +/-6,213 | 72.1% | +/-1.8 |
| With private health insurance | 675,054 | +/-11,790 | 63.3% | +/-1.0 | 113,592 | +/-5,752 | 58.2% | +/-2.0 |
| With public coverage | 280,970 | +/-10,576 | 26.3% | +/-1.0 | 31,287 | +/-2,890 | 16.0% | +/-1.4 |
| No health insurance coverage | 132,125 | +/-7,112 | 12.4% | +/-0.6 | 54,477 | +/-3,520 | 27.9% | +/-1.8 |
| Unemployed: | 243,549 | +/-7,687 | 243,549 | (X) | 79,020 | +/-5,033 | 79,020 | (X) |
| With health insurance coverage | 204,057 | +/-7,414 | 83.8% | +/-1.4 | 43,812 | +/-3,846 | 55.4% | +/-3.3 |
| With private health insurance | 40,604 | +/-3,322 | 16.7% | +/-1.2 | 12,191 | +/-1,943 | 15.4% | +/-2.4 |
| With public coverage | 165,838 | +/-6,598 | 68.1% | +/-1.6 | 33,234 | +/-3,211 | 42.1% | +/-2.6 |
| No health insurance coverage | 39,492 | +/-3,490 | 16.2% | +/-1.4 | 35,208 | +/-3,378 | 44.6% | +/-3.3 |
| Not in labor force: | 935,646 | +/-10,160 | 935,646 | (X) | 160,369 | +/-5,671 | 160,369 | (X) |
| With health insurance coverage | 865,044 | +/-11,460 | 92.5% | +/-0.5 | 123,565 | +/-4,825 | 77.1% | +/-1.8 |
| With private health insurance | 282,155 | +/-8,894 | 30.2% | +/-0.9 | 41,844 | +/-3,153 | 26.1% | +/-1.9 |
| With public coverage | 621,762 | +/-11,283 | 66.5% | +/-0.9 | 93,367 | +/-4,522 | 58.2% | +/-2.2 |
| No health insurance coverage | 70,602 | +/-4,593 | 7.5% | +/-0.5 | 36,804 | +/-3,428 | 22.9% | +/-1.8 |
| PERCENTAGE OF FAMILIES AND PEOPLE WHOSE INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS IS BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL | ||||||||
| All families | (X) | (X) | 41.7% | +/-0.8 | (X) | (X) | 35.5% | +/-1.8 |
| With related children under 18 years | (X) | (X) | 51.7% | +/-1.2 | (X) | (X) | 49.3% | +/-2.9 |
| With related children under 5 years only | (X) | (X) | 50.0% | +/-2.6 | (X) | (X) | 54.8% | +/-6.9 |
| Married couple families | (X) | (X) | 30.2% | +/-1.0 | (X) | (X) | 18.8% | +/-2.4 |
| With related children under 18 years | (X) | (X) | 33.9% | +/-1.7 | (X) | (X) | 29.7% | +/-4.6 |
| With related children under 5 years only | (X) | (X) | 34.5% | +/-4.0 | (X) | (X) | 27.9% | +/-12.3 |
| Families with female householder, no husband present | (X) | (X) | 58.4% | +/-1.3 | (X) | (X) | 46.4% | +/-2.6 |
| With related children under 18 years | (X) | (X) | 68.6% | +/-1.8 | (X) | (X) | 59.1% | +/-3.5 |
| With related children under 5 years only | (X) | (X) | 67.4% | +/-4.1 | (X) | (X) | 66.9% | +/-8.4 |
| All people | (X) | (X) | 45.6% | +/-0.7 | (X) | (X) | 40.9% | +/-1.7 |
| Under 18 years | (X) | (X) | 57.5% | +/-1.4 | (X) | (X) | 57.3% | +/-3.5 |
| Related children under 18 years | (X) | (X) | 57.3% | +/-1.4 | (X) | (X) | 57.1% | +/-3.5 |
| Related children under 5 years | (X) | (X) | 61.5% | +/-2.1 | (X) | (X) | 62.7% | +/-5.2 |
| Related children 5 to 17 years | (X) | (X) | 56.0% | +/-1.5 | (X) | (X) | 55.0% | +/-3.5 |
| 18 years and over | (X) | (X) | 41.9% | +/-0.7 | (X) | (X) | 35.1% | +/-1.4 |
| 18 to 64 years | (X) | (X) | 42.6% | +/-0.8 | (X) | (X) | 37.9% | +/-1.6 |
| 65 years and over | (X) | (X) | 39.0% | +/-0.9 | (X) | (X) | 20.4% | +/-2.1 |
| People in families | (X) | (X) | 43.9% | +/-0.9 | (X) | (X) | 39.7% | +/-2.2 |
| Unrelated individuals 15 years and over | (X) | (X) | 56.1% | +/-1.3 | (X) | (X) | 45.3% | +/-2.0 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011 American Community Survey
Explanation of Symbols:
- An ā**ā entry in the margin of error column indicates that either no sample observations or too few sample observations were available to compute a standard error and thus the margin of error. A statistical test is not appropriate.
- An ā-ā entry in the estimate column indicates that either no sample observations or too few sample observations were available to compute an estimate, or a ratio of medians cannot be calculated because one or both of the median estimates falls in the lowest interval or upper interval of an open-ended distribution.
- An ā-ā following a median estimate means the median falls in the lowest interval of an open-ended distribution.
- An ā+ā following a median estimate means the median falls in the upper interval of an open-ended distribution.
- An ā***ā entry in the margin of error column indicates that the median falls in the lowest interval or upper interval of an open-ended distribution. A statistical test is not appropriate.
- An ā*****ā entry in the margin of error column indicates that the estimate is controlled. A statistical test for sampling variability is not appropriate.
- An āNā entry in the estimate and margin of error columns indicates that data for this geographic area cannot be displayed because the number of sample cases is too small.
- An ā(X)ā means that the estimate is not applicable or not available.