Table 3004. Selected northeastern metropolitan statistical areas: Average annual expenditures and 

characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Surveys, 2020-2021

Item 

All consumer 

units in the 

Northeast 

New York Philadelphia Boston 

Number of consumer units (in thousands)1........................................... 23,059 7,710 2,103 1,761 

Consumer unit characteristics: 

 Income before taxes ........................................................................... $97,726 $107,878 $111,479 $120,333 

 Age of reference person ..................................................................... 53.3 51.5 53.6 52.5 

 Average number in consumer unit: 

 People .............................................................................................. 2.4 2.5 2.4 2.3 

 Children under 18 ............................................................................ .5 .6 .5 .5 

 Adults 65 and older .......................................................................... .4 .4 .5 .4 

 Earners ............................................................................................ 1.3 1.4 1.3 1.2 

 Vehicles ........................................................................................... 1.6 1.2 1.6 1.6 

 Percent homeowner ............................................................................ 62 49 73 62 

Average annual expenditures ................................................................ $70,681 $77,204 $81,188 $90,723 

 Food .................................................................................................... 8,814 9,393 9,415 11,156 

 Food at home ................................................................................... 5,966 6,334 5,800 7,416 

 Cereals and bakery products ....................................................... 818 798 754 1,077 

 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ...................................................... 1,285 1,475 1,137 1,509 

 Dairy products .............................................................................. 585 635 568 655 

 Fruits and vegetables ................................................................... 1,245 1,433 1,111 1,602 

 Other food at home....................................................................... 2,032 1,994 2,230 2,573 

 Food away from home ..................................................................... 2,848 3,060 3,615 3,740 

 Alcoholic beverages ............................................................................ 624 626 692 874 

 Housing ............................................................................................... 25,402 30,560 27,813 30,999 

 Shelter .............................................................................................. 15,534 19,990 16,449 20,190 

 Owned dwellings .......................................................................... 8,911 9,879 10,863 11,300 

 Rented dwellings .......................................................................... 5,468 8,928 3,851 6,852 

 Other lodging ................................................................................ 1,155 1,182 1,736 2,038 

 Utilities, fuels, and public services ................................................... 4,470 4,340 4,971 4,762 

 Household operations ...................................................................... 1,698 1,764 2,120 2,241 

 Housekeeping supplies ................................................................... 883 937 1,000 976 

 Household furnishings and equipment ............................................ 2,816 3,530 3,274 2,830 

 Apparel and services .......................................................................... 1,943 2,403 3,051 1,985 

 Transportation ..................................................................................... 9,478 9,014 9,405 9,611 

 Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ........................................................ 3,667 3,029 3,332 3,828 

 Gasoline, other fuels, and motor oil ................................................. 1,595 1,294 1,776 1,500 

 Other vehicle expenses ................................................................... 3,697 3,738 3,830 3,695 

 Public and other transportation ....................................................... 519 953 467 587 

 Healthcare ........................................................................................... 5,385 4,834 6,454 6,922 

 Entertainment ...................................................................................... 3,303 3,346 4,160 4,148 

 Personal care products and services ................................................. 740 803 881 936 

 Reading ............................................................................................... 129 123 243 186 

 Education ............................................................................................ 2,103 2,748 3,340 2,975 

 Tobacco products and smoking supplies ........................................... 318 166 349 206 

 Miscellaneous ..................................................................................... 1,110 966 1,474 1,275 

 Cash contributions .............................................................................. 2,545 2,687 3,212 7,696 

 Personal insurance and pensions ...................................................... 8,790 9,536 10,699 11,752 

 Life and other personal insurance ................................................... 583 645 846 659 

 Pensions and Social Security .......................................................... 8,206 8,891 9,852 11,093 

1

 Data are rounded to the nearest thousands. 

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