2014-006 - Santa Ana General Plan Housing Element and Public Safety Element Updates

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HOUSING NEEDS HOUSEHOLD AND FAMILY INCOME Household Income Except for housing costs, household income is the most critical factor affecting the ability to afford housing. According to the 2011 ACS, Santa Ana's median household income was $54,399, compared to $75,762 for Orange County. Santa Ana's household income is one of the lowest among Orange County cities; —the City of Stanton and the retirement communities of Laguna Woods and Seal Beach are the three lowest. The following describes and analyzes the differences in household income by family type (married families, married families with children, non - families, etc.) and distribution. Like most cities, household income also varies significantly by householder age. For households under age 25, the median income was $43,994 and increased to $54,389 for householders between the ages of 35 and 44 as of the year 2011. The median household income progressively increased to $63,070 for householders 45 -64 years of age, the prime working years. Following retirement, however, the median income drops to $36,658, slightly higher than the youngest age group. The fact that Santa Ana's population is the youngest in Orange County is another reason for the City's low median household income. Income by Family Type The Census defines a family as two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption residing in the same housing unit. The median family income of Santa Ana residents varies significantly among different types of families, shown in Chart A -9. As shown, married couples without children, which comprise 22 percent of all households, earn the highest median income at $63,408. Married couples with children under 18 years of age comprise 34 percent of all households and earn the second highest median income of $46,986. Other family and nonfamily households, collectively comprising 43 percent of all households, earn in the lower $40,000s. Other household characteristics are associated with differences in the median household income of Santa Ana households. According to the 2011 ACS, household income varies between foreign (non- citizen) and native residents. The median income for foreign -born, non –U.S. citizen households in Santa Ana was $47,493 versus $59,876 for native residents (Chart A -10). These differences do not reflect patterns or trends associated with education, occupation, country of origin, or other factors. The AC S tracks the median income household of foreign -born residents and their progression in housing ownership and attainment. Forty five percent of foreign born residents own a home with an average household size of 5.3 persons. Renters on the other hand have a lower household size with an avera e of 4 9 ersons 40 Chart A -9: Median Family Income by Family Type Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2007 -2011 American Community Survey. $60 $59,876 $50 $47,493 $40 $30 $20 $0 Foreign- Native - barn born (non U.S. Citizen) $63.408 $46,986 $38,615 $40,195 Married Married Other Non - Without with Families families Children Children Chart A -10: Median Income by Nativity Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2007- 2011 American Community Survey. g p Recent literature from the Population Dynamics Center at the University of Southern California suggests that median household incomes and housing JA& CITY OF SANTA ANA GENERAL PLAN HOUSING ELEMENT A -9