Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 7 June 2002 — Page 4

PAGE A4

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

FRIDAY, JUNE 7,2002

Indy stacks up well against top 40 U.S. cities

Continued from A1

bus Ohio, Los Angeles and Kansas City. The percentage of individuals and families in Indianapolis living below the federal poverty level is significantly below virtually all of America’s top cities. Only Virginia Beach, San Jose, Charlotte and San Francisco had individual poverty rates lower than Indianapolis’ 11.4 percent. Those same cities, plus Seattle, Portland and Las Vegas had lower percentages of families in poverty than Indianapolis, whose family poverty rate was a very low 8.7 percent. The 23.8 percent of Indy’s female headed families living below the poverty level placed our city 30th among the country’s 40 top cities. However, Indianapolis’ strength in high incomes and low poverty levels didn’t translate into high values of homes and monthly mortgage and rent costs. The median price of a home in Indianapolis, according to the 2000 Census, was $99,000. But that only ranked Indianapolis 23rd among the top 40 American cities. The city ranked 26th in median monthly mortgage ($935) and 26th in median monthly rent ($567). Education is a hotly debated topic in every major American city. Indianapolis ranked high in one key educational statistic and sits in the pack in another education variable. Indianapolis ranks 11th out of the top 40 cities in the percentage of adults over 25 who are high school graduates (81.6 percent); but Indy

ranks just 23rd out of 40 cities in the percentage of adults over 25 who are college graduates (25.4 percent). However, the percentage of Indianapolis adults who graduated high school or college is above the national total of 80.4 percent (high school) and 24.4 percent (college). The big city with the highest percentage of adult high school graduates is Virginia Beach (90.4 percent); Seattle has the largest percentage of college grads (47.2 percent). Los Angeles has the lowest percentage of adult high school graduates (66.6 percent); Detroit the lowest percentage of adult college graduates (11 percent). The 2000 Census recorded higher unemployment rates than did the regular monthly surveys of the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. However Indianapolis’ 2000 unemployment of 5.4 percent, was fourtenths of a percent below the national 2000 Census unemployment rate of 5.8 percent. Among the 40 major cities, Indianapolis’ unemployment rate is 10th lowest. Virginia Beach had the lowest unemployment rate (4.1 percent); Atlanta the highest (14 percent). When it comes to driving to work, Indianapolis is virtually unmatched with 80.4 percent of Indianapolis workers driving alone to work. We’re tied with Oklahoma City for second highest percentage of residents driving to work. Only Virginia Beach is higher. Very few persons use public transportation, including the local IndyGo system, to get to work. But Indianapo-

lis isn’t the worst major city in having its residents not use public transportation to commute to work. Indianapolis in fact is eighth worst. Virginia Beach has the lowest percentage of residents taking public transportation to work than Indianapolis, The Recorder’s analysis found. The 2000 Census was the first that asked about the extent grandparents are providing direct care for their grandchildren. According to the census, 53.3 percent of Indianapolis’ grandparents, who live with their grandchildren, are the ones primarily responsible for those children’s care. That’s the second highest percentage of America’s top cities. Only New Orleans has a higher percentage of grandparents providing primary care for their grandchildren than Indianapolis. The census brought attention to the increased number of foreign born persons in the United States. Of the 40 largest cities, Indianapolis has the fifth lowest percentage of foreign born residents. The city has the 20th highest percentage of AfricanAmerican residents but the fifth lowest percentage of Hispanics and Asians of America’s largest cities. Census data is available on line from the Census Bureau's Web site at http:// www.census.gov or http:// factfinder.census.gov. More detailed census data for Indiana, including detailed information on the social, economic and housing characteristics of African Americans is expected to be released next month.

SALE NOW IN PROGRESS

25-50%OFF Big selection of shoes, apparel, accessories, including items purchased especially for this event. Hurry for best selection.

WOMEN + KIDS

DOUBLE POINTS Receive double points on all Nordstrom credit card and Nordstrom VISA* card, in-store, www.nordstrom.com and catalog purchases* made during the first 5 days of the sale, June 5-9. 'Excludes Nordstrom Rack

Sovkigt off original pricot on §oUcfod Homs stylos may vary by storo. Shop oorly for host soloction Circlo Contro, (317) 636-2121. located in downtown Indianapolis You can also shop our Matf-Yoorly Solo online at nordstrom.com