U S C E N S U S B U R E A U 

American Community Survey Reports

U.S. Department of Commerce 

Economics and Statistics Administration 

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 

ACS-03

Issued February 2007

Helping You Make Informed Decisions 

The American Community— 

Hispanics: 2004
This report was drafted for the U.S. Census Bureau’s Ethnicity and

Ancestry Branch by staff of the Pew Hispanic Center, Washington, DC

(Roberto Suro, Rakesh Kocchar, Jeffrey Passel, Gabriel

Escobar, Sonya Tafoya, Richard Fry, Dulce Benevides, and

Michelle Wunsch). Edward Spar and Frederick J. Cavanaugh of

Sabre Systems, Inc. provided initial review of the report.

Direction for the report was provided by Jorge H. del Pinal, former

Assistant Division Chief, Special Population Statistics, Population

Division. Overall direction was provided by Howard Hogan,

Associate Director for Demographic Programs, and Enrique J.

Lamas, Chief, Population Division.

The report was finalized by Nicholas A. Jones, Population

Division. Within the Population Division, Frank B. Hobbs and

Roberto R. Ramirez provided subject matter review and guidance,

Maryam Asi and Letha L. Clinton provided principal statistical

assistance, and Anika Juhn and Pedro Martinez prepared the

maps. Principal editorial review and guidance was provided by

Marjorie F. Hanson, Data Integration Division. In addition, Lisa M.

Blumerman, Kenneth R. Bryson, and Deborah H. Griffin of the

American Community Survey Office provided helpful comments on

this report.

Dale Garrett, under the guidance of Alfredo Navarro and

Anthony G. Tersine, Jr. of the Decennial Statistical Studies

Division, conducted sampling review.

Jan Sweeney, Theodora Forgione, and Jamie Peters of the

Administrative and Customer Services Division, Walter C. Odom,

Chief, provided publications and printing management, graphics

design and composition, and editorial review for print and electronic

media. General direction and production management were provided

by Wanda Cevis, Chief, Publications Services Branch.

Acknowledgments
U.S. Census Bureau The American Community—Hispanics: 2004 1

INTRODUCTION

This report presents a portrait of

the Hispanic or Latino population

in the United States.1 It is part of

the American Community Survey

(ACS) report series. Information on

demographic, social, economic,

and housing characteristics in the

tables and figures are based on

data from the 2004 ACS Selected

Population Profiles and Detailed

Tables.2 The data for the Hispanic

population are based on responses

to the 2004 ACS question on

Hispanic origin, which asked all

respondents to report whether or

not they were Hispanic.3

The American Community—

Hispanics: 2004

Table 1.

Household Population by Hispanic Origin and Race: 2004

(Data based on sample limited to the household population and exclude the population

living in institutions, college dormitories, and other group quarters. For information on

confidentiality protection, sampling error, nonsampling error, and definitions, see

http://factfinder.census.gov/home/en/datanotes/exp_acs2004.html)

Hispanic origin or race

Population

Percent of

total

population

Margin of

error1 (±)

Total . . . . . . . . . . ................. 285,691,501 100.0 (X)

White alone, not Hispanic . . . . . . . . ......... 192,362,875 67.3 0.01

Hispanic or Latino . . . . . . . . . . ............. 40,459,196 14.2 0.01

Mexican . . . . .......................... 25,894,763 9.1 0.06

Caribbean2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,363,182 2.2 0.04

Puerto Rican . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,874,322 1.4 0.03

Cuban . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,437,828 0.5 0.02

Dominican . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,051,032 0.4 0.02

Central American . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,901,679 1.0 0.04

Salvadoran . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,201,002 0.4 0.02

South American . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,215,503 0.8 0.03

European (Spaniard) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358,570 0.1 0.01

All other Hispanic or Latino . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,725,499 1.0 0.04

Not Hispanic or Latino . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245,232,305 85.8 0.01

(X) Not applicable.

1 This number, when added to and subtracted from the estimate, produces the 90-percent

confidence interval around the estimate.

2 The Caribbean group represents the sum of Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Dominican responses.

Respondents who responded ‘‘Caribbean’’ are included in the ‘‘All other Hispanic or Latino’’ group.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2004 American Community Survey, Selected Population Profiles and

Detailed Tables, B03001 and B03002.

1 The federal government defines

Hispanic or Latino as a person of Mexican,

Puerto Rican, Cuban, South or Central

American, or other Spanish culture or origin

regardless of race. Thus, Hispanics may be

any race. The terms “Hispanic” and “Latino”

are used by the U.S. Census Bureau; hereinafter in this report, the term “Hispanic” is

used to refer to all individuals who reported

they were Hispanic or Latino. 2 The 2004 ACS datasets, including

Selected Population Profiles and Detailed

Tables, are available online in the American

FactFinder at <http://factfinder.census.gov>. 3 For further information on the content

and format of the questionnaire, see

<www.census.gov/acs/www/Downloads

/SQuest03.pdf>.
The 2004 ACS estimated the number of Hispanics to be 40.5 million,

or 14.2 percent of the U.S. household population (Table 1).4

Hispanics of Mexican origin, with a

population of 25.9 million in the

United States, were the largest

Hispanic group. 

Mexicans accounted for 64 percent

of the Hispanic population (Table 2).

Puerto Ricans (3.9 million) were the

second-largest group and made up

nearly 10 percent of the Hispanic

population. The third-largest

Hispanic group, Other Hispanic or

Latino, numbered 2.7 million and

accounted for nearly 7 percent of

the Hispanic population.5

Other sizable Hispanic populations

included 1.4 million Hispanics of

Cuban origin and 1.1 million

Hispanics of Dominican origin. The

2.9 million Hispanics of Central

American origin included 1.2 million Salvadorans, the largest group

from that region. Of the 2.2 million

people of South American origin,

Colombians, with a population of

686,000 were the largest.6

Because Hispanics are a heterogeneous group, variation within the

Hispanic population is also discussed in this report. Central

Americans are a group that includes

Costa Ricans, Guatemalans,

Hondurans, Nicaraguans,

Panamanians, Salvadorans, and

Other Central Americans. South

Americans include those who indicated that they were Argentinean,

Bolivian, Chilean, Colombian,

Ecuadorian, Paraguayan, Peruvian,

Uruguayan, Venezuelan, and Other

South American. 

In addition to the broader Central

and South American origin categories, this report includes data for

the following selected groups that

each had populations of 250,000 or

more: Guatemalans, Hondurans,

Salvadorans, Colombians,

Ecuadorians, and Peruvians.7 In the

future, as the ACS goes to full

implementation and multiple-year

estimates are produced, more

information about additional groups

may be available.

2 The American Community—Hispanics: 2004 U.S. Census Bureau

4 This report discusses data for the

United States, including the 50 states and

the District of Columbia; it does not include

data for Puerto Rico. 5 The term “Other Hispanic” includes general Hispanic-origin responses, such as

“Hispanic,” “Spanish,” and “Latino.” 6 The estimates in this report are based

on responses from a sample of households.

Estimates may vary from the actual values

because of sampling error and other factors.

All comparative statements have undergone

statistical testing and are significant at the

90-percent confidence level unless 

otherwise noted.

Table 2.

Hispanic Household Population by Type of Origin: 2004

(Data based on sample limited to the household population and exclude the population

living in institutions, college dormitories, and other group quarters. For information on

confidentiality protection, sampling error, nonsampling error, and definitions, see

http://factfinder.census.gov/home/en/datanotes/exp_acs2004.html)

Type of origin

Population

Percent of

Hispanic

population

Margin of

error1 (±)

Hispanic or Latino. . . . . . . . ....... 40,459,196 100.0 (X)

Mexican . . . ............................. 25,894,763 64.0 0.39

Puerto Rican . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,874,322 9.6 0.22

Cuban . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,437,828 3.6 0.13

Dominican . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,051,032 2.6 0.15

Spaniard . . . . . . .......................... 358,570 0.9 0.09

Central American . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,901,679 7.2 0.29

Costa Rican . . . . . . . . . .................. 120,316 0.3 0.05

Guatemalan . . . ........................ 698,745 1.7 0.14

Honduran . . . .......................... 407,994 1.0 0.10

Nicaraguan . . . . . . . . . .................. 248,725 0.6 0.08

Panamanian . . . . . . . ................... 113,053 0.3 0.04

Salvadoran . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,201,002 3.0 0.16

Other Central American . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111,844 0.3 0.06

South American . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,215,503 5.5 0.19

Argentinean . . . . . ...................... 189,190 0.5 0.06

Bolivian . . . ............................ 90,401 0.2 0.04

Chilean . . . . ........................... 106,458 0.3 0.03

Colombian . . . ......................... 686,185 1.7 0.11

Ecuadorian . . . ......................... 453,360 1.1 0.11

Paraguayan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14,123 – 0.02

Peruvian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 399,240 1.0 0.10

Uruguayan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41,577 0.1 0.03

Venezuelan . . . . ....................... 164,699 0.4 0.05

Other South American . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70,270 0.2 0.03

All other Hispanic or Latino . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,725,499 6.7 0.26

(X) Not applicable.

– Rounds to zero.

1 This number, when added to and subtracted from the estimate, produces the 90-percent

confidence interval around the estimate.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2004 American Community Survey, Selected Population Profiles and

Detailed Tables, B03001.

7 These origins represent the largest

groups reporting Caribbean, Mexican,

Central American, or South American

Hispanic origins.
HIGHLIGHTS

While Hispanics resided in every

state in 2004, most lived in just a

handful of states. Nearly two-thirds

of Hispanics, or more than 26 million, lived in California, Texas,

Florida, and New York. 

Compared with the non-Hispanic

White population, Hispanics had a

larger proportion of young people

and a smaller proportion of older

people.8 They were also somewhat

less likely than non-Hispanic

Whites to be divorced. Compared

with non-Hispanic White women,

Hispanic women were more likely

to have given birth in the past 

12 months. Hispanics had a lower

median income level and a larger

proportion of their households

were maintained by women. A

larger proportion of Hispanics lived

in poverty and Hispanics were

more likely to rent their homes.9

Most Hispanics were born in the

United States and most spoke only

English at home or spoke English

very well. Most Hispanics were

high school graduates and more

than half were married. Most

foreign-born Hispanics entered the

United States in 1990 or later.

Among the Hispanic-origin groups

analyzed in this report, Mexicans

and Puerto Ricans had the highest

proportions who spoke only

English at home. Colombians and

Peruvians had the highest proportions with a bachelor’s degree or

more education. Ecuadorians and

Peruvians had the highest median

household incomes; Dominicans

and Hondurans the lowest.

U.S. Census Bureau The American Community—Hispanics: 2004 3

The American Community Survey (ACS) is a new

nationwide survey designed to provide reliable,

timely information for local communities on how

they are changing. This survey is a critical element

in the Census Bureau’s 2010 Decennial Census

Program. The ACS collects detailed information on

the characteristics of the population and housing

on an ongoing sample basis. These data previously

were collected in census years in conjunction with

the decennial census. Since the ACS is conducted

every year, rather than once every 10 years, it will

provide more current data throughout the decade.

Fully implemented in 2005, the ACS is the largest

household survey in the United States, with an

annual sample size of about 3 million housing unit

addresses throughout the country. Release of

annual estimates from the ACS began in 2006 for

all geographic areas with a population of 65,000 or

more; 3-year period estimates will begin in 2008

for areas and populations as small as 20,000; and

5-year period estimates will start in 2010 for census tracts, block groups, and small populations. All

estimates, including the 3-year and 5-year period

estimates, are planned to be updated every year.

During the testing program (2000 to 2004), the

ACS sampled approximately 800,000 addresses per

year and produced estimates for the United States,

states, and essentially all places, counties, and metropolitan areas with at least 250,000 people.

The data contained in this report are based on the

ACS sample interviewed in 2004. The population

represented (the population universe) is limited to

the household population and excludes the population living in institutions, college dormitories, and

other group quarters. For information on the ACS

sample design and other ACS topics, visit

<http://factfinder.census.gov/home/en/datanotes

/exp_acs2004.html>. 

The Census Bureau’s population estimates program

releases official population estimates of the U.S. resident population by sex, age, race, and Hispanic origin. For information on the Census Bureau’s population estimates program, visit <www.census.gov

/popest/estimates.php>. The ACS estimates in this

report pertain to the household population only (i.e.,

the total population, excluding the group quarters

population). Therefore, the ACS estimate of the

Hispanic population shown in this report should not

be viewed as the official measure of this population.

What Is the American Community Survey?

8 In this report, the term “non-Hispanic

White” refers to individuals who reported they

were the single-race White and not Hispanic.

9 The summary statistics mentioned in

these highlights often refer to different segments of the Hispanic population. For example, birth rates are estimated for women 15

to 50 years old and educational attainment

refers to the population aged 25 and older.

The figures in the report contain information

on the universe for each statistic.
4 The American Community—Hispanics: 2004 U.S. Census Bureau

The 2004 American Community Survey (ACS) followed the federal standards for collecting and presenting data on race and Hispanic origin established

by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in

1997. In accordance with these standards, which

mandate that race and Hispanic origin are two separate and distinct concepts, the ACS asked both a

Hispanic-origin question and a race question.* 

The first question asked respondents if they were

Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino. The next question

asked respondents to indicate the race or races

they considered themselves to be.**

The questions about Hispanic origin and race on

the 2004 ACS are comparable with those on Census

2000. In both, the Hispanic-origin question preceded the race question and respondents were

asked to select one or more race categories. The

2004 ACS question on Hispanic origin included four

response categories where Hispanics could indicate

their origin (Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, or Other

Spanish/Hispanic/Latino). The last category “Other

Spanish/Hispanic/Latino” had a write-in option for

respondents to provide a specific Hispanic-origin

group, such as Dominican or Salvadoran.

Because race and Hispanic origin are treated as separate concepts in the federal statistical system,

people in each race group may be either Hispanic

or not Hispanic, and Hispanics may be any race.

The Census Bureau uses a variety of approaches for

showing data on race and ethnicity.

Because Hispanics may be any race, data in this

report for Hispanics overlap with data for race

groups. Data from the ACS show that in 2004 among

Hispanics, 58.5 percent indicated that their race was

White alone, 35.2 percent indicated Some Other Race

alone, and 1.6 percent indicated Black or African

American alone. In addition, 3.6 percent indicated

that they were Two or More Races and 

1.2 percent indicated that they were either American

Indian and Alaska Native alone, Asian alone, or

Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone.

Understanding Data on Hispanic Origin and Race From the 

2004 American Community Survey

* For further information see: <www.whitehouse.gov/omb

/fedreg/1997standards.html>.

** Race and Hispanic origin, as used by the Census Bureau,

reflect self-identification by individuals according to the group or

groups with which they most closely identify. The categories are

sociopolitical constructs that include racial, ethnic, and nationalorigin groups. For more details, see <www.census.gov/acs/www

/Downloads/2004/usedata/Subject_Definitions.pdf>.
• In 2004, about 80 percent of all

Hispanics in the United States

lived in nine states.

• About 1 of every 2 Hispanics

lived in two states: California,

with 30 percent of the Hispanic

population, and Texas, with 

19 percent.

• Florida (8 percent) and New York

(7 percent) accounted for

another 15 percent of the

Hispanic population. Combined,

those four states were home to

about two-thirds of all

Hispanics.

• The other states with relatively

large numbers of Hispanics were

Illinois, Arizona, New Jersey,

Colorado, and New Mexico.

These states accounted for

another 15 percent of all

Hispanics.

U.S. Census Bureau The American Community—Hispanics: 2004 5

Figure 1.

Hispanic Household Population by State: 2004 

Note: Percentages do not sum to 100.0 due to rounding. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2004 American Community Survey, Selected Population 

Profiles, S0201.

(Percent distribution. Data based on sample limited to the household population 

and exclude the population living in institutions, college dormitories, and other 

group quarters. For information on confidentiality protection, sampling error, 

nonsampling error, and definitions, see 

http://factfinder.census.gov/home/en/datanotes/exp_acs2004.html) 

All other states 19.9

California 30.3 

Texas 18.9 

Florida 8.0 

New York 7.4 

Illinois 4.3 

Arizona 3.9 

New Jersey 3.2 

Colorado 2.1 

New Mexico 2.0 

About 4 of every 5 Hispanics lived in nine states.
• Hispanics represented about 

14 percent of the U.S. household population. The four states

bordering Mexico had the highest percentages of Hispanics in

their population—Arizona 

(28 percent), California (35 percent), Texas (35 percent), and

New Mexico (43 percent).

• In addition to these states, the

proportion of Hispanics was

higher than the U.S. level of 

14 percent in five other states

(Nevada, Colorado, Florida, 

New York, and New Jersey).

6 The American Community—Hispanics: 2004 U.S. Census Bureau

Hispanics accounted for more than one-fourth of the total household population in 

four border states.

U.S. percent 14.2

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2004 American Community Survey, Detailed Tables, B03001.

43.4 (NM)

20.0 to 39.9

10.0 to 19.9

5.0 to 9.9

Less than 5.0

Figure 2.

Percent Hispanic by State: 2004

(Hispanics as a percent of state population. Data based on sample limited to the 

household population and exclude the population living in institutions, college 

dormitories, and other group quarters. For information on confidentiality protection, 

sampling error, nonsampling error, and definitions, see 

http://factfinder.census.gov/home/en/datanotes/exp_acs2004.html)

MT

WY

TX

CA

AK

AZ

NV

NM

CO

OR

UT

ID

KS

NE

SD

MN

ND

OK

WA

IA

WI

MO

GA

FL

KY

IL

AR

AL

IN

NC

NY

MS

LA

PA

ME

TN

MI

OH

VA

SC

WV

VT

0.9

NH

2.1

MD 5.4

MA 7.7

NJ 15.0

CT 10.6

HI

DE 5.9

RI 10.5

DC 8.9

4.8

8.5

7.9

34.9

28.1

9.6

22.9

8.9

10.6

34.9

2.2

43.4

6.7

19.2

3.5

6.1

7.0

1.7

1.1

6.4

2.6

3.7

4.4

4.4

14.0

1.5

2.7

6.7 2.0

6.1

3.7

16.1 3.6

4.4

19.1

2.9

2.2

1.9

5.8

0.9

3.0

0.6
• In 2004, Hispanics had a

median age of 26.9 years, about 

13 years younger than the

median age of the non-Hispanic

White population, 40.1 years. 

• The Hispanic population had a

larger proportion of young people and a smaller proportion of

older people than the nonHispanic White population.

About 1 in 3 Hispanics was a

child (under 18 years), compared with 1 in 5 non-Hispanic

Whites. About 5 percent of

Hispanics were 65 and older,

compared with about 15 percent

of non-Hispanic Whites.

• Among the Hispanic-origin

groups shown in this report,

Mexicans had the lowest median

age, 25.3 years, and Cubans

had the highest, 40.6 years.

• About one-third of Mexicans,

Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, and

Hondurans were children. 

• A larger proportion of Cubans

were aged 65 and older (18 percent) than any other Hispanicorigin group. For the remaining

specific Hispanic groups, the

proportion of the population

that was 65 and older was

about 7 percent or less.

U.S. Census Bureau The American Community—Hispanics: 2004 7

The median age of the Hispanic population was about 13 years younger than that of 

the non-Hispanic White population.

Figure 3.

Selected Age Groups and Median Age: 2004 

Note: Some percentages do not sum to 100.0 due to rounding. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2004 American Community Survey, Selected Population Profiles, S0201.

(Percent distribution. Data based on sample limited to the household population and exclude the population living in institutions, 

college dormitories, and other group quarters. For information on confidentiality protection, sampling error, nonsampling error, and 

definitions, see http://factfinder.census.gov/home/en/datanotes/exp_acs2004.html) 

All other Hispanic

Peruvian

Ecuadorian

Colombian

South American

Salvadoran

Honduran

Guatemalan

Central American

Dominican

Cuban

Puerto Rican

Mexican

Hispanic

White alone, not

Hispanic

Total

Under 18 18 to 44 45 to 64 65 and older

Median age 

(years)

36.2

40.1

26.9

25.3

28.3

40.6

29.2

29.4

28.2

28.0

29.3

33.1

33.5

31.4

35.1

36.9 26.4

25.5

22.3

34.3

36.6

33.7

21.2

33.4

27.8

27.5

31.5

28.0

25.3

25.9

26.9

23.4

38.0

35.8

45.3

46.0

42.1

36.3

42.3

53.7

57.6

52.2

54.6

48.8

47.1

49.9

49.3

38.2

24.5

27.3

15.2

13.4

18.2

24.2

18.4

15.4

13.0

13.5

14.8

20.2

21.2

16.8

21.5

17.9 6.9

12.0

14.5

5.1

4.1

6.0

18.3

5.9

3.1

1.9

2.7

2.6

5.7

5.8

6.5

5.6
• In 2004, about one-half of

Hispanics aged 15 and older

were married, while about 35

percent were never married.

Non-Hispanic Whites aged 15

and older were more likely to be

married (about 57 percent) and

less likely never to have married

(about 24 percent).10

• A smaller proportion of the

Hispanics (about 8 percent) than

non-Hispanic Whites (about 

11 percent) were divorced.

Cubans, Dominicans, and Puerto

Ricans had among the highest

proportions of divorced individuals. Guatemalans, Hondurans,

and Salvadorans had among the

lowest, at about 5 percent.

• Among Hispanic-origin groups,

about 50 percent or more of

Mexicans, Cubans, Guatemalans,

Colombians, Ecuadorians, and

Peruvians aged 15 and older

were married. Puerto Ricans, at

41 percent, were the least likely

to be married.

• The likelihood of having never

married was about 40 percent

among Puerto Ricans,

Guatemalans, Hondurans, and

Salvadorans. Cubans were the

least likely among Hispanics

never to have married (about 

25 percent).

8 The American Community—Hispanics: 2004 U.S. Census Bureau

About one-half of Hispanics were married.

10 Differences between the age distributions of Hispanics and non-Hispanic Whites

may affect marital status patterns.

Figure 4. 

Marital Status: 2004 

Note: Some percentages do not sum to 100.0 due to rounding. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2004 American Community Survey, Selected Population Profiles, S0201.

(Percent distribution of population 15 and older. Data based on sample limited to the household population and exclude the 

population living in institutions, college dormitories, and other group quarters. For information on confidentiality protection, 

sampling error, nonsampling error, and definitions, see http://factfinder.census.gov/home/en/datanotes/exp_acs2004.html)

All other Hispanic

Peruvian

Ecuadorian

Colombian

South American

Salvadoran

Honduran

Guatemalan

Central American

Dominican

Cuban

Puerto Rican

Mexican

Hispanic

White alone, not

Hispanic

Total

Never married Married Separated Widowed Divorced

27.8

23.8

34.8

35.0

38.8

25.2

35.1

38.6

39.5

40.4

40.3

29.7

29.9

30.1

31.7

34.4 47.9

53.8

57.3

50.8

52.7

40.6

51.9

43.3

48.8

51.4

45.9

47.7

55.6

54.8

54.2

54.6

2.8

2.1

1.5

3.5

3.2

5.1

3.1

6.9

4.7

3.5

5.7

5.4

3.5

3.9

4.1

4.1

4.0

6.1 

6.7

3.3

2.9

4.0

7.5

3.2

2.2

1.5

2.8

2.1

3.2

3.4

3.8

3.1

10.9

10.2

10.7

7.5

6.2

11.4

12.3

11.6

5.8

4.1

5.2

4.5

8.0

8.0

7.9

6.5
• Hispanic women had a higher

fertility rate than non-Hispanic

White women.11 About 75 of

every 1,000 Hispanic women

aged 15 to 50 had given birth in

the 12 months prior to being

surveyed in 2004, compared

with about 50 of every 1,000

non-Hispanic White women aged

15 to 50.

• About 33 percent of Hispanic

mothers who had given birth

were unmarried, compared with

about 20 percent of nonHispanic White mothers.

• Guatemalan women and

Mexican women had among the

highest fertility rates of the specific Hispanic-origin groups.

U.S. Census Bureau The American Community—Hispanics: 2004 9

Hispanic women were more likely to have given birth in the past 12 months than 

non-Hispanic White women.

11 Of every 1,000 women aged 15 to 50,

the number who had given birth in the 12

months preceding the date of the survey,

whether in 2003 or 2004.

Figure 5.

Fertility: 2004

Note: An ‘N’ entry indicates that data cannot be displayed because the number of sample 

cases is too small.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2004 American Community Survey, Selected Population 

Profiles, S0201.

(Of every 1,000 women aged 15 to 50 years, the number who had given birth in the 

12 months preceding the survey, based on the Hispanic origin and race of the mother. 

Data based on sample limited to the household population and exclude the population 

living in institutions, college dormitories, and other group quarters. For information 

on confidentiality protection, sampling error, nonsampling error, and definitions, see 

http://factfinder.census.gov/home/en/datanotes/exp_acs2004.html)

All other Hispanic

Peruvian

Ecuadorian

Colombian

South American

Salvadoran

Honduran

Guatemalan

Central American

Dominican

Cuban

Puerto Rican

Mexican

Hispanic

White alone, not

Hispanic

Total

Births per 1,000 women in the past 12 months 

Percent of 

women with a 

birth in the 

past 12 months 

who were 

unmarried

28.6

20.5

33.4

30.3

50.3

52.5

51.4

36.3

41.9

35.2

39.1

17.7

20.7

N

15.8

69.2 40.1

55.4

50.3

75.3

82.8

69.7

41.7

57.1

67.1

92.1

56.1

63.0

58.7

58.1

43.1

59.1
• More than three-fourths (77 percent) of Hispanic households and

about two-thirds (66 percent) of

non-Hispanic White households

were family households.12

• A lower proportion of Hispanic

households (50 percent) than

non-Hispanic White households

(54 percent) were maintained by

a married couple. About 19 percent of Hispanic households were

families maintained by a woman

with no husband present, compared with about 9 percent of

non-Hispanic White households.

• About one-half of the households

of most Hispanic-origin groups

were married-couple family

households. Puerto Rican households, Dominican households,

and Honduran households had

among the lowest percentages of

married-couple households.

About 25 percent or more of

Dominican households, Puerto

Rican households, and Honduran

households were families maintained by a woman with no husband present.

• Hispanic households consisted

of 3.4 people on average, compared with 2.5 people in nonHispanic White households.

Guatemalan households and

Salvadoran households, with 

3.9 people on average, were the

largest Hispanic households.

10 The American Community—Hispanics: 2004 U.S. Census Bureau

Hispanic households were more likely than non-Hispanic White households

to be family households.

12 A household is a person or a group of

people who occupy a housing unit as their

current residence. A family household consists of a householder and one or more people living together in the same household

who are related to the householder by birth,

marriage, or adoption. It may also include

people unrelated to the householder. There

are three types of family households in the

survey data: married couple, female householders with no husband present, and male

householders with no wife present. In addition, there are nonfamily households, such

as a person living alone or with unrelated

individuals. 

Figure 6. 

Household Type: 2004 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2004 American Community Survey, Selected Population Profiles, S0201, and Detailed Tables, B11001.

(Percent distribution. Household type is shown by the Hispanic origin and race of the householder. Data based on sample limited to 

the household population and exclude the population living in institutions, college dormitories, and other group quarters. For

information on confidentiality protection, sampling error, nonsampling error, and definitions, see 

http://factfinder.census.gov/home/en/datanotes/exp_acs2004.html)

All other Hispanic

Peruvian

Ecuadorian

Colombian

South American

Salvadoran

Honduran

Guatemalan

Central American

Dominican

Cuban

Puerto Rican

Mexican

Hispanic

White alone, not

Hispanic

Total

Married couple

Female householder, 

no husband present 

Male householder, 

no wife present Nonfamily households

46.1

50.2

53.5

49.6

53.4

36.7

48.6

38.5

47.7

48.0

42.8

50.3

51.6

50.2

49.8

52.7

12.6

8.9

18.8

17.3

26.6

14.6

32.3

20.2

18.5

26.1

20.3

16.5

16.3

20.2

18.8

17.5

Average 

household 

size 

2.60

2.45

3.44

3.70

2.87

2.70

3.36

3.65

3.90

3.52

3.86

3.14

3.00

3.55

3.30

6.7 2.89

4.4

3.5

8.8

9.5

6.7

6.5

7.2

11.3

12.9

9.3

14.5

7.2

6.6

11.2

6.8

32.8

34.1

22.8

19.8

30.0

30.3

22.0

20.8

20.6

21.8

14.9

24.7

26.9

18.8

21.7

29.7

Family households
• Nearly three-quarters of Hispanics

were U.S. citizens, either through

birth (about 61 percent) or naturalization (about 11 percent).

About 28 percent of Hispanics

were foreign born and had not

become U.S. citizens. Among

non-Hispanic Whites, 96 percent

were native, 2 percent were U.S.

citizens through naturalization,

and the remaining 2 percent were

born abroad and not U.S. citizens.

• The majority of Mexicans and

Puerto Ricans were native.

About 61 percent of Hispanics

of Mexican origin were native

and 9 percent more were foreign born and had become U.S.

citizens through naturalization.

• Although people born in Puerto

Rico are U.S. citizens by birth,

about 1 percent of people who

identified themselves as being of

Puerto Rican origin were foreign

born, meaning they were born

outside of the United States and

Puerto Rico and did not have a

parent who was a U.S. citizen.

• About 38 percent of Cubans

were naturalized citizens, the

highest proportion of any

Hispanic-origin group. About half

of Guatemalans, Hondurans, and

Salvadorans were foreign born

and not U.S. citizens.

U.S. Census Bureau The American Community—Hispanics: 2004 11

About 60 percent of Hispanics were native.13

Figure 7. 

Nativity and Citizenship Status: 2004 

Note: Some percentages do not sum to 100.0 due to rounding. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2004 American Community Survey, Selected Population Profiles, S0201.

(Percent distribution. Data based on sample limited to the household population and exclude the population living in institutions, 

college dormitories, and other group quarters. For information on confidentiality protection, sampling error, nonsampling error, and 

definitions, see http://factfinder.census.gov/home/en/datanotes/exp_acs2004.html) 

All other Hispanic

Peruvian

Ecuadorian

Colombian

South American

Salvadoran

Honduran

Guatemalan

Central American

Dominican

Cuban

Puerto Rican

Mexican

Hispanic

White alone, not

Hispanic

Total

Native 

Foreign born, 

naturalized citizen 

Foreign born, 

not a citizen 

88.0

96.2

60.8

60.6

98.7

36.7

38.7

32.2

28.9

32.1

32.3

30.3

33.2

33.1

27.8

82.5 8.0

5.0

2.1

11.0

8.5

0.7

38.1

28.0

19.1

15.4

17.5

18.1

26.2

28.3

25.2

28.1

9.4

7.0

1.7

28.2

30.9

0.6

25.2

33.3

48.8

55.7

50.5

49.6

43.6

38.6

41.8

44.1

13 Nativity is determined by U.S. citizenship status and place of birth. Natives are

those born in the United States, Puerto Rico,

or a U.S. island area (the U.S. Virgin Islands,

Guam, American Samoa, and the

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana

Islands), or born abroad of a U.S. citizen

parent. All other individuals are considered

foreign born.
• In the United States, six states

(California, Florida, Illinois, New

Jersey, New York, and Texas)

had total foreign-born populations of 1 million or more. In

these states, the proportion of

the Hispanic population that

was foreign born ranged from

about one-third in Texas to

more than one-half in Florida. 

• Among states with at least

100,000 Hispanics, all those

with a majority foreign born

among their Hispanic population

were in the South (South

Carolina, Georgia, North

Carolina, Maryland, Tennessee,

Virginia, Florida, and

Arkansas).14 In contrast, 5 of the

6 states with relatively lower

proportions of foreign-born

Hispanics (about one-fourth or

less) were in either the Midwest

(Iowa, Michigan, and Ohio) or

the Northeast (Pennsylvania and

Connecticut).

• Although New Mexico had the

highest percentage of Hispanics

in its state population (43 percent), the percentage of its

Hispanic population that was

foreign born (16 percent) was

one of the lowest in the country.

12 The American Community—Hispanics: 2004 U.S. Census Bureau

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2004 American Community Survey, Selected Population Profiles, S0201, and 

Detailed Tables, B06004I.

Figure 8.

Hispanic Foreign-Born Household Population by State: 2004

(Percent of the state's Hispanic population that is foreign born. Data based on sample 

limited to the household population and exclude the population living in institutions, 

college dormitories, and other group quarters. For information on confidentiality 

protection, sampling error, nonsampling error, and definitions, see 

http://factfinder.census.gov/home/en/datanotes/exp_acs2004.html)

50.0 or more

38.0 to 49.9

26.0 to 37.9

Less than 26.0

Fewer than

100,000 Hispanics

TX

CA

AZ

NV

NM

CO

OR

UT

ID

KS

NE

MN

OK

WA

IA

WI

MO

GA

FL

IL

AR

IN

NC

NY

LA

PA

TN

MI

OH

VA

SC

MD 57.0

MA 33.4

NJ 42.4

CT 24.6

RI 41.6

34.6

41.5

35.9 

42.0

47.7

37.8

36.6

31.6

16.2

29.8

40.9

34.4

37.2

37.4

29.1

25.6

36.9

51.2

44.3

37.9

59.0

57.4

20.6

38.2 24.1

42.5

52.5

54.0

20.1

53.5

60.3

Hispanics in southern states were more likely to be foreign born.

14 The proportion of foreign-born

Hispanics in Arkansas is not significantly

greater than 50 percent.
• About 1 in 5 foreign-born

Hispanics entered the United

States in 2000 or later. More

than one-third entered between

1990 and 1999 and less than

one-half arrived before 1990. 

In comparison, the majority of

foreign-born non-Hispanic

Whites (about 58 percent)

entered the United States prior

to 1990.

• For most of the Hispanic-origin

groups shown, a majority of the

foreign born entered in the

1990s or later. For example,

about 58 percent of foreignborn Mexicans entered the

United States in 1990 or later,

including about 37 percent

between 1990 and 1999.

• Cubans had one of the highest

proportions of the foreign born

who entered earlier (about twothirds entered the United States

before 1990).

U.S. Census Bureau The American Community—Hispanics: 2004 13

The majority of foreign-born Hispanics arrived since 1990.

Figure 9. 

Foreign Born by Year of Entry: 2004 

Note: Some percentages do not sum to 100.0 due to rounding. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2004 American Community Survey, Selected Population Profiles, S0201.

(Percent distribution. Data based on sample limited to the household population and exclude the population living in institutions, 

college dormitories, and other group quarters. For information on confidentiality protection, sampling error, nonsampling error, and 

definitions, see http://factfinder.census.gov/home/en/datanotes/exp_acs2004.html)

All other Hispanic

Peruvian

Ecuadorian

Colombian

South American

Salvadoran

Honduran

Guatemalan

Central American

Dominican

Cuban

Puerto Rican

Mexican

Hispanic

White alone, not

Hispanic

Total

Before 1990 1990 to 1999 2000 or later 

48.8

57.5

44.8

41.9

60.4

64.8

50.2

48.6

41.1

37.5

50.9

40.6

44.3

43.8

38.9

56.5

32.9

27.8

34.7

36.8

24.6

23.5

36.4

32.7

35.9

38.2

32.3

33.1

32.6

36.7

36.2

26.7

18.3

14.6

20.5

21.3

15.0

11.7

13.4

18.8

23.0

24.3

16.8

26.3

23.1

19.4

24.9

16.8
• Among Hispanics aged 5 and

older, more than three-fourths

spoke a language other than

English at home. This included

about 39 percent of Hispanics

who spoke a language other

than English at home and also

spoke English very well. In comparison, about 6 percent of nonHispanic Whites aged 5 and

older spoke a language other

than English at home.

• Puerto Ricans and Mexicans had

among the largest proportions

of Hispanics who spoke only

English at home; Dominicans,

Guatemalans, Hondurans, and

Salvadorans had among the

smallest proportions.

• About 40 percent or more of

Puerto Ricans, Cubans,

Dominicans, Colombians,

Ecuadorians, and Peruvians

spoke English very well and also

spoke a language other than

English at home.

14 The American Community—Hispanics: 2004 U.S. Census Bureau

More than three-fourths of Hispanics spoke a language other than English at home.

Figure 10. 

Language Spoken at Home and English-Speaking Ability: 2004 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2004 American Community Survey, Selected Population Profiles, S0201.

(Percent distribution of population 5 and older. Data based on sample limited to the household population and exclude the 

population living in institutions, college dormitories, and other group quarters. For information on confidentiality protection, 

sampling error, nonsampling error, and definitions, see http://factfinder.census.gov/home/en/datanotes/exp_acs2004.html)

All other Hispanic

Peruvian

Ecuadorian

Colombian

South American

Salvadoran

Honduran

Guatemalan

Central American

Dominican

Cuban

Puerto Rican

Mexican

Hispanic

White alone, not

Hispanic

Total

Only English at home 

Non-English at 

home, English 

spoken "very well" 

Non-English at home, 

English spoken less than 

"very well" 

81.3

94.3

22.8

22.9

30.6

14.1

6.9

7.8

6.2

6.5

5.2

12.4

12.9

10.7

10.2

41.5

10.3

3.9

38.5

36.4

47.2

42.7

41.8

37.0

32.3

31.7

36.2

45.1

46.1

39.2

43.7

39.4

8.4

1.8

38.7

40.7

22.2

43.2

51.3

55.2

61.5

61.8

58.6

42.5

41.0

50.1

46.1

19.1
• About 60 percent of Hispanics

aged 25 and older were high

school graduates and about 

13 percent had a bachelor’s

degree or more education.

Among non-Hispanic Whites aged

25 and older, about 89 percent

were high school graduates and

about 30 percent had a bachelor’s degree or more education.

• The proportion of Hispanics

who were high school graduates

was about 85 percent or higher

for Colombians and Peruvians;

between 70 percent and 80 percent for Puerto Ricans, Cubans,

and Ecuadorians; about 60 percent for Dominicans; about 

50 percent for Mexicans,

Guatemalans, and Hondurans;

and about 40 percent for

Salvadorans.

• About 25 percent or more of

Cubans, Colombians, and

Peruvians had a bachelor’s

degree or more education. In

contrast, the proportion of

Mexicans, Guatemalans,

Hondurans, and Salvadorans

who had a bachelor’s degree or

more education was about 

10 percent or less.

U.S. Census Bureau The American Community—Hispanics: 2004 15

About 60 percent of Hispanics were high school graduates.

Figure 11. 

Educational Attainment: 2004 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2004 American Community Survey, Selected Population Profiles, S0201.

(Percent of population 25 and older. Data based on sample limited to the household population and exclude the population living 

in institutions, college dormitories, and other group quarters. For information on confidentiality protection, sampling error, 

nonsampling error, and definitions, see http://factfinder.census.gov/home/en/datanotes/exp_acs2004.html)

All other Hispanic

Peruvian

Ecuadorian

Colombian

South American

Salvadoran

Honduran

Guatemalan

Central American

Dominican

Cuban

Puerto Rican

Mexican

Hispanic

White alone, not

Hispanic

Total

Less than high school High school graduate or more Bachelor's degree or more 

17.7

16.1

11.4

40.4

47.6

28.6

25.8

38.4

47.2

51.7

47.3

58.7

15.5

14.4

26.2

10.9

25.7

83.9

88.6

59.6

52.4

71.4

74.2

61.6

52.8

48.3

52.7

41.3

84.5

85.6

73.8

89.1

74.3

27.0

29.7

12.7

8.6

16.2

25.3

14.5

10.8

8.0

9.1

6.2

29.3

29.4

18.4

30.0
• About 24 percent of civilian

employed Hispanics aged 16

and older worked in service

occupations; 16 percent were in

construction, extraction, and

maintenance occupations; and

approximately 19 percent were

employed in production, transportation, and material moving

occupations.

• In comparison, among civilian

employed non-Hispanic Whites

aged 16 and older, about 

14 percent worked in service

occupations; about 10 percent

worked in construction, extraction, and maintenance occupations; and about 12 percent

worked in production, transportation, and material moving

occupations.

• About 38 percent of nonHispanic Whites worked in managerial, professional, and related

occupations; and about 27 percent worked in sales and office

occupations. Hispanics were

less likely to work in these

occupations, with about 18 percent in managerial, professional,

and related occupations; and

about 22 percent worked in

sales and office occupations.

• Among Hispanics, more than

one-fourth of Cuban workers

worked in managerial, professional, and related occupations.

In contrast, about 10 percent of

Guatemalan, Honduran, and

Salvadoran workers were in

managerial, professional, and

related occupations.

16 The American Community—Hispanics: 2004 U.S. Census Bureau

Hispanics were more likely than non-Hispanic Whites to work in service, 

construction, and production jobs.

Figure 12. 

Occupation: 2004 

Note: Some percentages do not sum to 100.0 due to rounding.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2004 American Community Survey, Selected Population Profiles, S0201.

(Percent distribution of civilian employed population 16 and older. Data based on sample limited to the household population and 

exclude the population living in institutions, college dormitories, and other group quarters. For information on confidentiality 

protection, sampling error, nonsampling error, and definitions, see http://factfinder.census.gov/home/en/datanotes/exp_acs2004.html)

All other Hispanic

Peruvian

Ecuadorian

Colombian

South American

Salvadoran

Honduran

Guatemalan

Central American

Dominican

Cuban

Puerto Rican

Mexican

Hispanic

White alone, not

Hispanic

Total

Management, 

professional, and 

related occupations 

Service 

occupations 

Sales and office 

occupations 

Farming, 

fishing, and 

forestry 

occupations 

Construction, 

extraction, and 

maintenance 

Production, 

transportation, 

and material 

moving

12.8

34.1

37.6

18.0

14.7

25.7

30.9

17.0

12.5

10.0

10.7

9.8

26.4

27.5

18.9

22.7

27.6

16.2

13.7

23.7

23.7

20.8

17.7

29.8

30.6

29.4

34.6

33.5

24.3

23.4

27.5

26.5

20.2

26.2

26.9

22.2

20.5

30.3

27.3

24.6

18.0

15.4

14.3

16.4

23.5

22.7

21.7

24.9

26.7

0.7

0.5

2.1

3.2

0.2

0.2

0.1

0.5

0.6

0.5

0.5

0.2

0.1

0.4

0.2

0.8

9.8

9.6

15.5

17.8

7.9

9.7

7.9

17.8

23.7

20.0

16.1

11.6

10.4

13.5

11.9

11.9

13.1

11.7

18.5

20.1

15.2

14.1

20.6

20.6

20.9

19.9

23.7

14.0

15.8

18.2

13.7
• The median income of Hispanic

households in the 12 months

prior to being surveyed was

about $36,000. This was less

than three-quarters of the

median income of non-Hispanic

White households, which was

about $48,800.

• Median household incomes were

about $40,000 or more for

Colombians, Ecuadorians, and

Peruvians. Among the lowestincome Hispanic households,

with median incomes of about

$30,000, were Dominican

households and Honduran

households.

U.S. Census Bureau The American Community—Hispanics: 2004 17

The median income of Hispanic households was less than that of 

non-Hispanic White households.

15

Figure 13. 

Median Household Income: 2004 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2004 American Community Survey, Selected Population 

Profiles, S0201.

(Household income in the past 12 months in 2004 inflation-adjusted dollars. Housing 

units are classified by the Hispanic origin and race of the householder. Data based 

on sample limited to the household population and exclude the population living in 

institutions, college dormitories, and other group quarters. For information on 

confidentiality protection, sampling error, nonsampling error, and definitions, 

see http://factfinder.census.gov/home/en/datanotes/exp_acs2004.html)

All other Hispanic

Peruvian

Ecuadorian

Colombian

South American

Salvadoran

Honduran

Guatemalan

Central American

Dominican

Cuban

Puerto Rican

Mexican

Hispanic

White alone, not

Hispanic

Total

$37,396

$44,684

$48,784

$35,929

$35,185

$34,092

$38,256

$29,624

$36,369

$37,912

$31,526

$36,789

$43,788

$41,566

$43,184

$42,956

15 Data reflect the median income of

households in the 12 months prior to being

surveyed. Income is expressed in 2004

inflation-adjusted dollars. It is based on the

distribution of the total number of households and includes those with no income.

Households are classified by the race and

Hispanic origin of the householder.
• About 22 percent of Hispanics

were living below the poverty

level in the 12 months prior to

being surveyed, compared with

about 9 percent of non-Hispanic

Whites. 

• Among Hispanics, the poverty

rate was about 15 percent or

less for Cubans, Salvadorans,

Colombians, and Peruvians. 

The poverty rate for Mexicans,

Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, and

Hondurans was about 24 percent or higher.

• The poverty rate was generally

higher for Hispanic children

(under age 18). About 29 percent of Hispanic children and 

11 percent of non-Hispanic

White children lived in poverty.

The poverty rate for children

was about 30 percent or higher

for Mexicans, Puerto Ricans,

Dominicans, and Hondurans.17

• Among those 65 and older,

Hispanics had a poverty rate of

about 20 percent, compared

with about 7 percent for nonHispanic Whites.

18 The American Community—Hispanics: 2004 U.S. Census Bureau

The poverty rate was higher for Hispanics than for non-Hispanic Whites.

16

Figure 14. 

Poverty Rate by Age Group: 2004 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2004 American Community Survey, Selected Population Profiles, S0201.

(Percent of specific group in poverty in the past 12 months. Data based on sample limited to the household population and exclude 

the population living in institutions, college dormitories, and other group quarters. For information on confidentiality protection,

sampling error, nonsampling error, and definitions, see http://factfinder.census.gov/home/en/datanotes/exp_acs2004.html)

All other Hispanic

Peruvian

Ecuadorian

Colombian

South American

Salvadoran

Honduran

Guatemalan

Central American

Dominican

Cuban

Puerto Rican

Mexican

Hispanic

White alone, not

Hispanic

Total

All ages Under 18 65 and older 

14.1

13.1 

8.8

22.0

23.6

23.7

15.2

28.1

17.6

20.5

23.7

15.0

12.9

10.6

16.2

13.6

19.6

18.4 

11.0

28.6

30.3

30.5

15.8

32.7

22.5

26.2

32.7

18.1

16.5

12.8

18.1

19.7

25.6

9.4 

7.2

19.9

18.1

25.5

24.3

36.3

21.3

19.2

33.8

24.1

17.0

16.7

23.9

10.3

16 In accordance with the U.S. Office of

Management and Budget’s (OMB) Statistical

Policy Directive 14, 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 threshold for the family,

then that family and every individual in it

are considered in poverty. For example, the

poverty threshold for a family of three with

one child under 18 for the 1-year period

preceding the ACS interview was $14,974.

Poverty status was determined for all individuals except for unrelated individuals

under 15 years old. The official poverty definition uses money income before taxes and

does not include capital gains or noncash

benefits. For more information on poverty in

the ACS, see <www.census.gov/prod

/2005pubs/acs-01.pdf> and

<www.census.gov/acs/www/UseData/Def

/Poverty.htm>.

17 The child poverty rates for Puerto

Ricans, Dominicans, and Hondurans are not

significantly different from the rate for all

Hispanics.
• A majority of Hispanic households, about 52 percent, lived in

renter-occupied homes and

about 48 percent lived in owneroccupied homes. In comparison,

about 74 percent of 

non-Hispanic White households

lived in owner-occupied homes.

• Among the specific Hispanic

household groups, the likelihood of living in owneroccupied homes varied from a

low of 25 percent for

Dominicans to a high of 61 percent for Cubans. Additionally,

about half of Mexican and

Colombian homes were owner

occupied.

U.S. Census Bureau The American Community—Hispanics: 2004 19

Figure 15. 

Housing Tenure: 2004 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2004 American Community Survey, Selected Population Profiles, S0201.

(Percent of occupied housing units. Housing tenure is shown by the Hispanic origin and race of the householder. Data based on 

sample limited to the household population and exclude the population living in institutions, college dormitories, and other group 

quarters. For information on confidentiality protection, sampling error, nonsampling error, and definitions, 

see http://factfinder.census.gov/home/en/datanotes/exp_acs2004.html)

All other Hispanic

Peruvian

Ecuadorian

Colombian

South American

Salvadoran

Honduran

Guatemalan

Central American

Dominican

Cuban

Puerto Rican

Mexican

Hispanic

White alone, not

Hispanic

Total

Owners Renters 

37.9

67.1

73.9

47.8

49.2

36.9

60.6

24.8

38.3

33.2

33.4

40.6

46.1

49.9

36.7

43.9

62.1

32.9

26.1

52.2

50.8

63.1

39.4

75.2

61.7

66.8

66.6

59.4

53.9

50.1

63.3

56.1

More than one-half of Hispanic households lived in renter-occupied homes.
• For Hispanic households, the

median value of owner-occupied

homes was $152,000, similar to

the median value ($154,000) of

owner-occupied homes for nonHispanic White households.18

• Among the specific Hispanic

groups, median values of owneroccupied homes ranged from

just below $300,000 for

Ecuadorians and Peruvians to

about $130,000 for Mexicans.

• The median monthly rental payment by Hispanic households in

renter-occupied homes was

about $713, compared with

about $693 for non-Hispanic

White households. While the

median monthly rental payment

made by most Hispanic households was less than about $800,

it was about $875 for

Colombian, Ecuadorian, and

Peruvian households.19

20 The American Community—Hispanics: 2004 U.S. Census Bureau

The median value of owner-occupied homes was similar for Hispanic households

and non-Hispanic White households.

Figure 16. 

Selected Housing Characteristics: 2004 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2004 American Community Survey, Selected Population Profiles, S0201.

(Housing units are classified by the Hispanic origin and race of the householder. Data based on sample limited to the household

population and exclude the population living in institutions, college dormitories, and other group quarters. For information on 

confidentiality protection, sampling error, nonsampling error, and definitions, 

see http://factfinder.census.gov/home/en/datanotes/exp_acs2004.html)

All other Hispanic

Peruvian

Ecuadorian

Colombian

South American

Salvadoran

Honduran

Guatemalan

Central American

Dominican

Cuban

Puerto Rican

Mexican

Hispanic

White alone, not

Hispanic

Total

Median value of owner-occupied housing units 

Median gross rent of 

renter-occupied housing units 

$714

$151,366

$153,693

$152,181

$130,468

$169,709

$206,303

$236,252

$199,680

$216,084

$150,012

$221,473

$238,314

$194,846

$297,144

$289,521

$134,599

$694 

$693

$713

$684

$712

$730

$765

$760

$781

$716

$727

$893

$871

$882

$908

18 Differences between the geographic

distribution of Hispanics and non-Hispanic

Whites may affect home values and rental

costs.

19 The monthly rental payment represents

gross rent (i.e., the amount of the contract

rent plus the estimated average monthly

cost of utilities and fuels).
• In 2004, about two-thirds of

Hispanic workers aged 16 and

older drove alone and about 

18 percent carpooled to work.

Among non-Hispanic White workers aged 16 and older, about 

81 percent drove alone and

about 8 percent carpooled to

work. Public transportation was

used to commute by a higher

proportion of Hispanic workers

(about 8 percent) than nonHispanic White workers (about 

3 percent). Hispanic workers

were more likely than nonHispanic White workers to walk

to work or take other means of

transportation. Non-Hispanic

Whites were more likely to work

at home than were Hispanics.20

• Among the specific Hispanic

groups, Dominicans and

Ecuadorians were among the

most likely to use public transportation. Dominican workers

and Ecuadorian workers were

also among the least likely to

drive alone to work. Cubans

were the most likely to drive

alone to work. About 20 percent

of Mexicans, Guatemalans, and

Salvadorans carpooled to work.

• The mean travel time to work

for Hispanic workers was about

26 minutes, compared with

about 24 minutes for nonHispanic White workers.

Dominican, Guatemalan,

Salvadoran, and Ecuadorian

workers traveled for about 

30 minutes or more to work.

The mean travel time to work

for other Hispanic groups fell

between about 25 minutes to

about 30 minutes.

U.S. Census Bureau The American Community—Hispanics: 2004 21

Hispanic workers were more likely than non-Hispanic White workers to carpool 

and to use public transportation.

20 Differences between the geographic

distribution of Hispanics and non-Hispanic

Whites may affect commuting patterns.

Figure 17.

Commuting to Work: 2004

Note: Some percentages do not sum to 100.0 due to rounding. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2004 American Community Survey, Selected Population Profiles, S0201. 

(Percent of workers 16 and older. Data based on sample limited to the household population and exclude the population living in

institutions, college dormitories, and other group quarters. For information on confidentiality protection, sampling error, nonsampling 

error, and definitions, see http://factfinder.census.gov/home/en/datanotes/exp_acs2004.html)

All other Hispanic

Peruvian

Ecuadorian

Colombian

South American

Salvadoran

Honduran

Guatemalan

Central American

Dominican

Cuban

Puerto Rican

Mexican

Hispanic

White alone, not

Hispanic

Total

Drove alone: 

car, truck, or van

Carpooled: 

car, truck, 

or van

Public 

transportation, 

except taxicab Walked

Other 

means 

Worked

at home

Mean 

travel 

time 

(mins.)

24.7

23.9

26.4

25.3

28.5

28.9

31.0

29.5

30.2

27.2

30.4

28.4

28.3

32.3

27.3

2.8 24.7

77.7

81.1

66.9

67.7

62.7

77.7

48.3

61.2

56.8

58.9

61.4

64.3

66.8

52.1

65.9

74.1

10.1 

8.3

17.7

20.3

11.9

10.4

10.6

18.0

19.4

16.7

19.3

12.3

12.3

11.3

13.9

13.5

4.6

2.6

7.9

4.9

16.1

4.6

30.0

13.4

15.2

15.1

12.6

14.0

13.0

27.0

11.7

5.9

2.4

2.2

3.1

2.9

4.1

1.7

5.3

3.2

4.1

3.6

2.8

3.9

2.7

5.3

4.9

2.1

1.4

1.3

2.2

2.3

2.7

1.6

2.5

2.0

2.3

3.1

1.9

1.7

1.6

1.9

1.9

1.7

3.8

4.4

2.3

1.9

2.4

4.0

3.3

2.3

2.3

2.6

2.0

3.9

3.7

2.4

1.8
SOURCE OF THE DATA 

AND ACCURACY OF 

THE ESTIMATES

The findings presented in this

report are based on the ACS sample interviewed in 2004. The data

in this report are based on the

population living in households

that were included in the ACS sample. The 2004 ACS did not collect

information from people living in

group quarters, which include correctional facilities, hospitals, college dormitories, group homes,

and overnight shelters.

The 2004 ACS used a two-stage

stratified sample of approximately

838,000 housing units and the

occupants of these units. ACS figures are estimates based on this

sample and approximate the actual

figures that would have been

obtained by interviewing the entire

household population using the

same methodology. The estimates

from the 2004 ACS sample may differ from other samples of housing

units and people within those housing units. The process of sampling

ensures the integrity and the representativeness of sample survey

results but also results in sampling

error. Sampling error is the deviation of a sample estimate from the

average of all possible samples. 

In addition to sampling error, other

types of errors, specifically

nonsampling errors, may be introduced during any of the operations

used to collect and process survey

data. For example, operations such

as editing, reviewing, or keying

data from questionnaires may

introduce error into the estimates.

Nonsampling errors may affect the

data in two ways. Errors that are

introduced randomly increase the

variability of the data. Systematic

errors that are consistent in one

direction introduce bias into the

results of a sample survey. The

Census Bureau protects against the

effect of systematic errors on survey estimates by conducting

extensive research and evaluation

programs on sampling techniques,

questionnaire design, and data collection and processing procedures.

The primary sources of error and

the processes instituted to control

error in the 2004 ACS are

described in further detail in the

Accuracy of the Data (2004) explanation located at <www.census.gov

/acs/www/Downloads/ACS

/accuracy2004.pdf>.

Sampling errors and some types of

nonsampling errors are estimated

by the measure of standard error.

The sample estimate and its

estimated standard error permit the

construction of interval estimates

with a prescribed confidence that

the interval includes the average

result of all possible samples. All

comparison statements in this ACS

2004 report have undergone statistical testing, and comparisons are

significant at the 90-percent confidence level unless otherwise noted.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Further information from the 2004

ACS is available from the American

FactFinder on the Census Bureau’s

Web site. More than 1,000 tables

are available, including population

profiles for race, Hispanic-origin,

and ancestry groups.

The Internet address is

<http://factfinder.census.gov>. For

information on confidentiality protection, also see <www.census.gov

/acs/www/Downloads/ACS

/accuracy2004.pdf>.

For more information on the

Hispanic population, visit

<www.census.gov/population

/www/socdemo/hispanic.html>.

CONTACT

For additional information, contact

the Ethnicity and Ancestry Branch

at 301-763-2403 or via e-mail

<pop@census.gov>.

22 The American Community—Hispanics: 2004 U.S. Census Bureau