Having low income, or even being near low income, often means putting up with sub-standard living conditions – and having a rough time paying for them. So say data collected by the 1991 American Housing Survey.

This Brief uses these data to examine various demographic, financial, and housing characteristics of low-income households (those with incomes below the poverty threshold). It also provides some information on “near low-income” households (those with incomes between 100 and 124 percent of the poverty level). In 1991, 14 percent of all households (13 million) were low-income; another 5 percent (5 million) were near low-income.

Others in Series

Publication

Phoneless in America

July 1994

This brief uses data collected by the 1990 Census of Population and Housing to show which types of households were most likely to still be phoneless.

Publication

More Education Means Higher Career Earnings

August 1994

This brief examines the relationship between education and earnings; it also demonstrates how the relationship has changed over the last two decades.

Publication

Housing in Metropolitan Areas — Renter Financial Characteristics

September 1994

This brief examines the characteristics of rental housing in America’s metropolitan areas (MA’s).

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Related Information

Housing Publications

Income & Poverty Publications

American Housing Survey (AHS)

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