The new American Community Survey 5-year data is released

The U.S. Census Bureau released the 2015-2019 American Community Survey (ACS) data, allowing users to compare three nonoverlapping sets of 5-year data: 2005-2009, 2010-2014 and 2015-2019.

The ability to analyze separate datasets is important for identifying trends for small communities and geographies and critical for planning future investments and services by public officials, community leaders, business owners, researchers and others, making the ACS the nation’s leading source of large and small area socioeconomic and demographic statistics for every community in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

“This release marks an important milestone for the ACS program, which has provided communities with detailed information about people, places and the economy for the last 15 years,” said Donna Daily, Chief, American Community Survey Office. “Having three sets of nonoverlapping data allows researchers and leaders across the country to analyze long-term trends, creating a powerful image of communities across the nation.”

Since the survey is based on a sample of the population rather than a census of the entire population, the ACS produces estimates with sampling error. To aid data users, the Census Bureau calculates and publishes a measure of the sampling error — the margin of error — for every estimate.

Below are some quick facts about Marion County’s estimated 353,526 residents from the latest 2019 5-year ACS.

People and population

The median age in Marion County is 48.7.

81.3% Marion County residents are 18 years or older, and 28.6% are 65 years or older.

12.6% of are veterans.

7.6 % were born in a foreign country.

Race and Ethnicity

81.9% are White alone; 12.9% Black or African American alone; 1.4% are Asian alone.

13.2% are Hispanic or Latino (regardless of race)

Health

11.4% are uninsured.

17.9% are disabled. 5.6% with hearing difficulty; 3.0% with vision difficulty; 6.6% with cognitive disability; 10.1% with ambulatory difficulty; 3.3% self-care difficulty; and 7.8% with independent living difficulty.

Education

87.6% of Marion County had attained a high school diploma or higher. 36.9% had a high-school or equivalent degree; 21.9% some college, but no degree; 8.7% an associate’s degree; 13.1% a bachelor’s degree; and 7.1% had a graduate or professional degree.

Income and Poverty

Median household income for Marion was $45,371.

Marion County’s poverty rate was 16.1%.

It should be noted that the Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who is in poverty. If a family’s total income is less than the family’s threshold, then that family and every individual in it is considered in poverty. The official poverty definition uses money income before taxes and does not include capital gains or noncash benefits (such as public housing, Medicaid, and food stamps).

Employment

Of the 125,900 civilian employed Marion County population 16 years of age or older, 2.4% work in         Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining; 7.7% in construction; 6.3% in manufacturing; 2.5% in wholesale trade; 15.6% in retail trade; 4.3 percent in transportation and warehousing, and utilities; 1.2 percent in information; 5.4% in Finance and insurance, and real estate and rental and leasing; 10.8% in professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services; 23.6% in Educational services, and health care and social assistance; 9.8% in arts, entertainment, and recreation, and accommodation and food services; 5.4% in other services, except public administration; and 5.1% in Public Administration.

42.6% of the workforce 16 years or older, is female.

$38,453 is the median income for a male working full time in Marion County.

$33,240 is the median income for a female working full time in Marion County.

Housing

There are an estimated 168,985 housing units in Marion County. 1.6% were built in 2014 or later. 48.9% are 3 bedrooms.

Of the occupied units, 75% are occupied by homeowners, 25% renters.

Median housing value is $139,900.

Median rent is $896.

The 2015-2019 ACS 5-year estimates are available on data.census.gov, the Census Bureau’s primary data dissemination platform. For more information on how to use data.census.gov, visit the resources page. For guidance on comparing 2015-2019 ACS statistics with previous years and other surveys, visit census.gov. For information on the ACS, visit www.census.gov/acs.