New Hampshire received one of those good news/bad news reports today.
The US Census has released new figures on income.
New Hampshire Public Radio's Mark Bevis reports.
HERE'S THE GOOD NEWS.
THE U.S. CENSUS REPORTS THAT NEW HAMPSHIRE'S MEDIAN INCOME HAS INCREASED NEARLY 15% SINCE THE LATE 1990s.
HALF THE HOUSEHOLDS IN THE STATE NOW MAKE OVER 55 THOUSAND DOLLARS.
NEW HAMPSHIRE'S INCOME HAS NOW PASSED CONNECTICUT'S AS THE HIGHEST IN NEW ENGLAND.
IT RANKS RIGHT UP THERE WITH NEW JERSEY AND MARYLAND.
DEMOGRAPHER PETER FRANCESE IS AN ANALYST FOR OGILVY AND MATHER, AND FOUNDING EDITOR OF AMERICAN DEMOGRAPHICS MAGAZINE.
TAPE: what's occuring in the state is that above average income people who are older in their 50s and 60s are moving to NH and young families with children and young people who do not make as much money are moving out.
FRANCESE SAYS MOST OF THOSE WEALTHY PEOPLE MOVING IN COME FROM MASSACHUSETTS.
BUT NOT ALL THE NEWS IS POSITIVE.
THE SAME CENSUS FIGURES SHOW THAT FROM 2000 TO 2003, NEW HAMPSHIRE'S CHILD POVERTY RATE
INCREASED FROM 6.2% TO 7.8%.
TAPE: and it's even higher for children under five, our youngest children and that's a critical time for social and emotional development.
THAT'S CELINA HURLEY.
SHE'S WITH THE NEW HAMPSHIRE CHILDREN'S ALLIANCE.
HURLEY IS ALSO CONCERNED THAT THE NUMBER OF FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN LIVING IN POVERTY GREW MORE THAN 40% TO OVER 12 THOUSAND OVER THE SAME PERIOD.
THE PICTURE THAT EMERGES IS A STATE WITH A LARGER NUMBER OF OLDER RESIDENTS WITH COMFORTABLE INCOMES AND MORE YOUNGER RESIDENTS IN HOUSEHOLDS THAT STRUGGLE FINANCIALLY.
DEMOGRAPHER PETER FRANCESE SAYS IT SEEMS NEW HAMPSHIRE IS LOSING ITS BALANCE.
TAPE: if income were rising for everyone, that would be delightful, we'd be thrilled to pieces....but it's not.
FOR NHPR NEWS, THIS IS MARK BEVIS.
