Regional Overview

Household Structure

Household Structure, 1990-2000

Click on graphic to enlarge

As of 2000, just under half of the households in Western New York, 49%, were married or common law couples with or without children at home. A somewhat larger percentage of Southern Ontario (CMA) households, 63%, were married or common law couples in 1996. These shares have been falling steadily over the past few decades. In Erie County, for example, nearly 70% of all households were married couples in 1970, compared to 49% in 2000 1990 (see chart, Household Structure, 1990-2000).

One-parent households account for 11% (Southern Ontario) to 17% (Western New York) of the region's households. The large majority of these in both parts of the region are female-parent families. Non-family households (those composed of unrelated individuals or persons living alone) account for 35% of households in Western New York-up from around 20% in 1970 and 31% in 1990-and 27% in Southern Ontario. Non-family households, which are most common in cities, are the fastest growing household type in the region.
WNY Median Household Income, 1999 Click on graphic to enlarge

New data on Canadian incomes are not available, but U.S. Census 2000 data on median household incomes for 1999 reveal the unevenness of the region's economic fortunes by county (see chart, WNY Median Household Income, 1999). The Southern Tier counties of Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua have median household income levels in the $32,000 to $34,000 range, nearly 20% below the higher regional incomes-$39,000-$41,000) in Erie and Wyoming counties. Median incomes in Genesee, Niagara, and Orleans counties fell in a middle range from $37,000 to $39,000.