Table 3320. South region by housing tenure: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer 

Expenditure Surveys, 2020-2021

Homeowner 

Item 

All 

consumer 

units in 

the South 

Total 

Homeowner 

with 

mortgage 

Homeowner 

without 

mortgage 

Renter 

Number of consumer units (in thousands)1................................................... 51,191 34,375 19,186 15,188 16,816 

Consumer unit characteristics: 

 Income before taxes ................................................................................... $78,620 $93,180 $114,300 $66,501 $48,858 

 Income after taxes ...................................................................................... 70,918 82,594 101,299 58,964 47,052 

 Age of reference person ............................................................................. 51.7 55.6 49.5 63.4 43.7 

 Average number in consumer unit: 

 People ..................................................................................................... 2.4 2.5 2.9 2.1 2.2 

 Children under 18 .................................................................................... .6 .6 .8 .3 .6 

 Adults 65 and older ................................................................................. .4 .5 .3 .8 .2 

 Earners .................................................................................................... 1.2 1.3 1.6 .8 1.2 

 Vehicles ................................................................................................... 1.9 2.2 2.3 2.0 1.2 

Percent distribution: 

 Reference person: 

 Men.......................................................................................................... 46 47 48 45 44 

 Women .................................................................................................... 54 53 52 55 56 

 Housing tenure: 

 Homeowner ............................................................................................. 67 100 100 100 n.a. 

 With mortgage ...................................................................................... 37 56 100 n.a. n.a. 

 Without mortgage ................................................................................. 30 44 n.a. 100 n.a. 

 Renter ...................................................................................................... 33 n.a. n.a. n.a. 100 

 Race of reference person: 

 Black or African-American ....................................................................... 19 14 16 11 29 

 White, Asian, and all other races, not including Black or 

 African-American .................................................................................. 81 86 84 89 71 

 Hispanic or Latino origin of reference person: 

 Hispanic or Latino .................................................................................... 15 13 13 13 20 

 Not Hispanic or Latino ............................................................................. 85 87 87 87 80 

 Education of reference person: 

 Elementary (1-8)...................................................................................... 3 2 1 3 4 

 High school (9-12) ................................................................................... 30 26 20 34 37 

 College .................................................................................................... 67 72 79 62 58 

 Never attended and other ....................................................................... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 

 At least one vehicle owned or leased ......................................................... 91 96 97 94 81 

Average annual expenditures ........................................................................ $58,682 $66,198 $78,020 $51,012 $43,274 

 Food ............................................................................................................ 7,053 7,742 8,494 6,665 5,623 

 Food at home .......................................................................................... 4,549 4,989 5,319 4,511 3,635 

 Cereals and bakery products ............................................................... 579 639 675 587 454 

 Cereals and cereal products ............................................................. 183 197 215 172 154 

 Bakery products ................................................................................ 396 442 460 415 300 

 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .............................................................. 1,012 1,092 1,180 965 845 

 Beef ................................................................................................... 282 303 332 259 238 

 Pork ................................................................................................... 213 232 233 232 172 

 Other meats ...................................................................................... 123 135 142 124 97 

 Poultry ............................................................................................... 182 190 212 159 164 

 Fish and seafood .............................................................................. 155 170 195 133 125 

 Eggs .................................................................................................. 58 62 65 57 49 

 Dairy products ...................................................................................... 415 458 486 418 324 

 Fresh milk and cream ....................................................................... 132 143 151 132 111 

 Other dairy products ......................................................................... 282 315 335 286 214 

 Fruits and vegetables ........................................................................... 867 960 1,015 880 674 

 Fresh fruits ........................................................................................ 300 330 349 303 237 

 Fresh vegetables .............................................................................. 265 298 321 265 198 

 Processed fruits ................................................................................ 117 129 135 120 93 

 Processed vegetables ...................................................................... 185 203 211 192 147 

 Other food at home .............................................................................. 1,676 1,839 1,963 1,661 1,338 

 Sugar and other sweets .................................................................... 153 170 176 162 117 

See footnotes at end of table. 
Table 3320. South region by housing tenure: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer 

Expenditure Surveys, 2020-2021 — Continued 

Homeowner 

Item 

All 

consumer 

units in 

the South 

Total 

Homeowner 

with 

mortgage 

Homeowner 

without 

mortgage 

Renter 

 Fats and oils ...................................................................................... 123 134 137 129 101 

 Miscellaneous foods ......................................................................... 902 990 1,083 856 718 

 Nonalcoholic beverages ................................................................... 451 489 500 474 372 

 Food prepared by consumer unit on out of town trips ...................... 47 55 67 41 30 

 Food away from home............................................................................. 2,504 2,753 3,175 2,154 1,988 

 Alcoholic beverages ................................................................................... 419 476 559 357 302 

 Housing ....................................................................................................... 19,682 20,825 25,623 14,714 17,335 

 Shelter ..................................................................................................... 11,097 10,864 14,466 6,314 11,572 

 Owned dwellings .................................................................................. 6,648 9,869 13,407 5,399 66 

 Mortgage interest and charges ......................................................... 2,628 3,908 6,939 79 310 

 Property taxes ................................................................................... 1,757 2,604 2,906 2,223 24 

 Maintenance, repairs, insurance, and other expenses .................... 2,264 3,356 3,562 3,097 32 

 Rented dwellings .................................................................................. 3,751 111 85 143 11,192 

 Other lodging ........................................................................................ 697 885 974 772 314 

 Utilities, fuels, and public services .......................................................... 4,160 4,719 5,037 4,317 3,016 

 Natural gas ........................................................................................... 257 323 339 302 122 

 Electricity .............................................................................................. 1,744 1,947 2,017 1,859 1,328 

 Fuel oil and other fuels ......................................................................... 53 73 56 94 12 

 Telephone services .............................................................................. 1,424 1,559 1,752 1,315 1,149 

 Residential phone service, VOIP, and phone cards ......................... 157 202 150 268 66 

 Cellular phone service ...................................................................... 1,267 1,357 1,602 1,047 1,083 

 Water and other public services .......................................................... 682 818 874 747 405 

 Household operations ............................................................................. 1,477 1,779 2,044 1,441 857 

 Personal services ................................................................................. 309 373 551 148 179 

 Other household expenses .................................................................. 1,168 1,407 1,493 1,292 678 

 Housekeeping supplies ........................................................................... 750 884 936 808 474 

 Laundry and cleaning supplies ............................................................ 165 177 181 171 139 

 Other household products .................................................................... 481 582 625 519 273 

 Postage and stationery ........................................................................ 105 125 130 118 62 

 Household furnishings and equipment .................................................... 2,198 2,578 3,140 1,834 1,416 

 Household textiles ................................................................................ 102 118 148 77 67 

 Furniture ............................................................................................... 589 647 813 438 471 

 Floor coverings ..................................................................................... 25 32 39 23 10 

 Major appliances .................................................................................. 404 512 589 414 185 

 Small appliances and miscellaneous housewares .............................. 120 137 164 99 84 

 Miscellaneous household equipment ................................................... 958 1,131 1,386 783 599 

 Apparel and services .................................................................................. 1,326 1,400 1,606 1,103 1,173 

 Men and boys .......................................................................................... 305 325 383 243 261 

 Men, 16 and over ................................................................................. 224 252 290 198 167 

 Boys, 2 to 15 ........................................................................................ 80 73 93 45 95 

 Women and girls ..................................................................................... 519 561 644 442 432 

 Women, 16 and over ............................................................................ 420 451 506 372 354 

 Girls, 2 to 15 ......................................................................................... 99 110 137 70 78 

 Children under 2 ...................................................................................... 71 63 77 42 88 

 Footwear .................................................................................................. 269 275 316 214 256 

 Other apparel products and services ...................................................... 162 176 186 162 136 

 Transportation ............................................................................................ 10,483 11,964 14,254 9,068 7,454 

 Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ................................................................ 5,087 5,971 7,322 4,264 3,281 

 Cars and trucks, new ........................................................................... 2,450 3,080 3,908 2,034 1,161 

 Cars and trucks, used .......................................................................... 2,589 2,845 3,354 2,202 2,065 

 Other vehicles ...................................................................................... 48 46 60 328 354 

 Gasoline, other fuels, and motor oil ........................................................ 1,869 2,054 2,324 1,712 1,491 

 Other vehicle expenses ........................................................................... 3,280 3,657 4,284 2,864 2,509 

 Vehicle finance charges ....................................................................... 285 321 445 165 210 

 Maintenance and repairs ..................................................................... 846 960 1,096 785 613 

 Vehicle rental, leases, licenses, and other charges ............................ 528 585 702 437 410 

 Vehicle insurance ................................................................................. 1,622 1,791 2,040 1,477 1,276 

 Public and other transportation ............................................................... 247 282 324 228 174 

 Healthcare .................................................................................................. 5,103 6,213 6,252 6,164 2,832 

 Health insurance ..................................................................................... 3,654 4,468 4,454 4,486 1,991 

 Medical services ...................................................................................... 811 981 1,091 842 462 

 Drugs ....................................................................................................... 494 590 554 636 296 

 Medical supplies ...................................................................................... 144 173 154 199 84 

See footnotes at end of table. 
Table 3320. South region by housing tenure: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer 

Expenditure Surveys, 2020-2021 — Continued 

Homeowner 

Item 

All 

consumer 

units in 

the South 

Total 

Homeowner 

with 

mortgage 

Homeowner 

without 

mortgage 

Renter 

 Entertainment ............................................................................................. 2,763 3,355 3,976 2,560 1,547 

 Fees and admissions .............................................................................. 427 549 661 408 179 

 Audio and visual equipment and services............................................... 968 1,089 1,144 1,018 723 

 Pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment ..................................... 753 924 1,003 818 398 

 Pets ...................................................................................................... 601 745 776 709 303 

 Toys, hobbies, and playground equipment .......................................... 151 179 226 109 95 

 Other entertainment supplies, equipment, and services ........................ 615 794 1,168 316 248 

 Personal care products and services ......................................................... 623 688 764 589 490 

 Reading ...................................................................................................... 97 114 117 111 61 

 Education .................................................................................................... 1,051 1,245 1,642 740 652 

 Tobacco products and smoking supplies ................................................... 341 323 313 336 377 

 Miscellaneous ............................................................................................. 833 1,019 1,134 865 454 

 Cash contributions ...................................................................................... 2,174 2,814 2,560 3,136 865 

 Personal insurance and pensions .............................................................. 6,735 8,020 10,725 4,603 4,108 

 Life and other personal insurance ........................................................... 463 588 673 480 207 

 Pensions and Social Security.................................................................. 6,272 7,432 10,052 4,123 3,902 

Sources of income and personal taxes: 

 Income before taxes ................................................................................... $78,620 $93,180 $114,300 $66,501 $48,858 

 Wages and salaries ................................................................................. 61,062 71,422 97,103 38,980 39,886 

 Self-employment income ......................................................................... 5,414 6,646 8,005 4,928 2,898 

 Social Security, private and government retirement ............................... 9,155 11,789 6,346 18,665 3,770 

 Interest, dividends, rental income, and other property income ............... 1,432 1,998 1,420 2,727 277 

 Public assistance, Supplemental Security Income, Supplementary 

 Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) ................................................. 457 293 248 351 791 

 Unemployment and workers' compensation, veterans' benefits, 

 and regular contributions for support ................................................... 831 863 1,060 614 767 

 Other income ........................................................................................... 268 170 118 236 469 

 Personal taxes (contains some imputed values) ....................................... 7,702 10,586 13,000 7,537 1,806 

 Federal income taxes .............................................................................. 8,010 10,559 12,443 8,179 2,800 

 Stimulus payment (new UCC Q20202)# ................................................. -2,226 -2,353 -2,526 -2,133 -1,967 

 State and local income taxes .................................................................. 1,789 2,203 2,971 1,233 944 

 Other taxes .............................................................................................. 128 177 113 258 29 

 Income after taxes ...................................................................................... 70,918 82,594 101,299 58,964 47,052 

Addenda: 

 Net change in total assets and liabilities .................................................... $13,920 $19,241 $531 $42,875 $3,043 

 Net change in total assets ....................................................................... 30,837 43,665 43,752 43,554 4,615 

 Net change in total liabilities .................................................................... 16,917 24,424 43,221 679 1,572 

 Other financial information: 

 Other money receipts .............................................................................. 2,454 2,992 404 6,261 1,354 

 Mortgage principal paid on owned property ............................................ -2,174 -3,228 -5,534 -315 3

-20 

 Estimated market value of owned home ................................................. 192,098 286,072 314,268 250,454 33 

 Estimated monthly rental value of owned home ..................................... 1,127 1,678 1,814 1,507 31 

1

 Data are rounded to the nearest thousands. 

2

 Value is too small to display. 

3

 Data are likely to have large sampling errors. 

n.a. Not applicable. 

# Data collection for this item began in June 2020. Stimulus payments delivered to respondents interviewed in April and May of 2020 were not included in estimation. 

Source: Consumer Expenditure Surveys, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, September, 2022