Table 3850. Consumer units with reference person age 65 and over by region of residence: Average annual 

expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2018-2019

Item 

Total 

65 and 

over 

Northeast Midwest South West 

Number of consumer units (in thousands) .................................................... 33,764 6,495 7,385 12,963 6,921 

Consumer unit characteristics: 

 Income before taxes ................................................................................... $53,684 $57,169 $55,004 $49,015 $57,752 

 Income after taxes ...................................................................................... 48,233 51,383 49,378 44,190 51,629 

 Age of reference person ............................................................................. 74.5 74.9 74.7 74.2 74.4 

 Average number in consumer unit: 

 People ..................................................................................................... 1.8 1.7 1.7 1.8 1.8 

 Children under 18 .................................................................................... .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 

 Adults 65 and older ................................................................................. 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 

 Earners .................................................................................................... .5 .5 .6 .5 .6 

 Vehicles ................................................................................................... 1.7 1.4 1.8 1.8 1.9 

Percent distribution: 

 Reference person: 

 Men .......................................................................................................... 45 44 44 45 49 

 Women .................................................................................................... 55 56 56 55 51 

 Housing tenure: 

 Homeowner ............................................................................................. 80 71 82 83 78 

 With mortgage ...................................................................................... 24 21 24 23 30 

 Without mortgage ................................................................................. 55 51 58 60 48 

 Renter ...................................................................................................... 20 29 18 17 22 

 Race of reference person: 

 Black or African-American ....................................................................... 10 9 7 16 3 

 White, Asian, and all other races ............................................................ 90 91 93 84 97 

 Hispanic or Latino origin of reference person: 

 Hispanic or Latino .................................................................................... 6 5 2 7 10 

 Not Hispanic or Latino ............................................................................. 94 95 98 93 90 

 Education of reference person: 

 Elementary (1-8)...................................................................................... 4 3 2 5 4 

 High school (9-12) ................................................................................... 36 41 40 38 23 

 College .................................................................................................... 60 56 58 57 71 

 Never attended and other ....................................................................... ( 1 ) 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 1 

 At least one vehicle owned or leased ......................................................... 87 78 91 90 88 

Average annual expenditures ........................................................................ $50,637 $52,654 $47,694 $47,059 $58,457 

 Food ............................................................................................................ 6,602 7,197 5,971 6,342 7,168 

 Food at home .......................................................................................... 4,036 4,468 3,721 3,878 4,247 

 Cereals and bakery products ............................................................... 524 638 488 479 537 

 Cereals and cereal products ............................................................. 139 167 122 128 149 

 Bakery products ................................................................................ 385 471 366 350 388 

 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .............................................................. 841 963 757 833 835 

 Beef ................................................................................................... 222 256 211 206 229 

 Pork ................................................................................................... 170 141 174 185 167 

 Other meats ...................................................................................... 115 144 114 110 100 

 Poultry ............................................................................................... 139 162 113 147 130 

 Fish and seafood .............................................................................. 143 207 104 134 143 

 Eggs .................................................................................................. 53 53 40 51 67 

 Dairy products ...................................................................................... 416 466 389 379 464 

 Fresh milk and cream ....................................................................... 125 144 109 114 141 

 Other dairy products ......................................................................... 292 322 279 265 323 

 Fruits and vegetables ........................................................................... 800 928 684 742 901 

 Fresh fruits ........................................................................................ 305 350 260 278 357 

 Fresh vegetables .............................................................................. 257 315 206 223 314 

 Processed fruits ................................................................................ 109 124 94 106 114 

 Processed vegetables ...................................................................... 129 138 125 135 117 

 Other food at home .............................................................................. 1,455 1,474 1,402 1,445 1,510 

 Sugar and other sweets .................................................................... 153 144 169 146 159 

 Fats and oils ...................................................................................... 105 107 95 108 110 

 Miscellaneous foods ......................................................................... 756 752 743 736 806 

 Nonalcoholic beverages ................................................................... 388 419 342 410 371 

See footnotes at end of table. 
Table 3850. Consumer units with reference person age 65 and over by region of residence: Average annual 

expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2018-2019 — Continued 

Item 

Total 

65 and 

over 

Northeast Midwest South West 

 Food prepared by consumer unit on out-of-town trips ..................... 52 52 54 45 65 

 Food away from home............................................................................. 2,566 2,728 2,250 2,464 2,921 

 Alcoholic beverages ................................................................................... 474 465 446 422 597 

 Housing ....................................................................................................... 17,212 19,645 16,119 15,130 19,971 

 Shelter ..................................................................................................... 9,562 12,177 8,831 7,659 11,454 

 Owned dwellings .................................................................................. 6,077 7,178 5,795 5,232 6,926 

 Mortgage interest and charges ......................................................... 1,366 1,049 1,197 1,201 2,153 

 Property taxes ................................................................................... 2,309 3,823 2,253 1,577 2,318 

 Maintenance, repairs, insurance, other expenses ........................... 2,402 2,305 2,345 2,454 2,454 

 Rented dwellings .................................................................................. 2,578 4,021 2,069 1,665 3,476 

 Other lodging ........................................................................................ 908 978 966 763 1,052 

 Utilities, fuels, and public services .......................................................... 3,808 3,931 3,714 3,805 3,800 

 Natural gas ........................................................................................... 431 581 616 282 371 

 Electricity .............................................................................................. 1,452 1,272 1,333 1,683 1,318 

 Fuel oil and other fuels ......................................................................... 168 463 138 89 69 

 Telephone services .............................................................................. 1,106 1,106 1,051 1,105 1,168 

 Residential phone service, VOIP, and phone cards ......................... 360 428 357 354 310 

 Cellular phone service ...................................................................... 747 678 694 751 859 

 Water and other public services .......................................................... 651 509 575 646 873 

 Household operations ............................................................................. 1,390 1,316 1,293 1,288 1,757 

 Personal services ................................................................................. 193 2140 2283 111 2300 

 Other household expenses .................................................................. 1,198 1,175 1,010 1,177 1,457 

 Housekeeping supplies ........................................................................... 790 741 739 853 778 

 Laundry and cleaning supplies ............................................................ 172 151 164 182 183 

 Other household products .................................................................... 469 444 443 535 406 

 Postage and stationery ........................................................................ 149 147 132 136 189 

 Household furnishings and equipment .................................................... 1,661 1,480 1,543 1,525 2,182 

 Household textiles ................................................................................ 112 105 106 120 112 

 Furniture ............................................................................................... 341 292 434 269 425 

 Floor coverings ..................................................................................... 24 27 18 20 35 

 Major appliances .................................................................................. 277 192 271 289 340 

 Small appliances, miscellaneous housewares .................................... 110 124 100 95 136 

 Miscellaneous household equipment ................................................... 795 740 614 731 1,134 

 Apparel and services .................................................................................. 1,259 1,607 1,228 1,046 1,350 

 Men and boys .......................................................................................... 259 281 176 265 310 

 Men, 16 and over ................................................................................. 237 243 154 248 295 

 Boys, 2 to 15 ........................................................................................ 22 38 22 17 15 

 Women and girls ..................................................................................... 543 675 588 431 571 

 Women, 16 and over ............................................................................ 516 640 558 415 539 

 Girls, 2 to 15 ......................................................................................... 26 35 30 16 33 

 Children under 2 ...................................................................................... 26 215 222 30 33 

 Footwear .................................................................................................. 263 428 278 176 252 

 Other apparel products and services ...................................................... 169 208 164 144 184 

 Transportation ............................................................................................ 7,486 6,920 6,881 7,668 8,314 

 Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ................................................................ 2,731 2,379 2,318 3,067 2,871 

 Cars and trucks, new ........................................................................... 1,605 1,540 1,316 1,921 1,383 

 Cars and trucks, used .......................................................................... 1,083 839 992 1,053 1,467 

 Other vehicles ...................................................................................... 42 ( 3 ) 210 293 222 

 Gasoline, other fuels, and motor oil ........................................................ 1,412 1,160 1,383 1,440 1,626 

 Other vehicle expenses ........................................................................... 2,654 2,646 2,654 2,549 2,856 

 Vehicle finance charges ....................................................................... 126 107 122 147 109 

 Maintenance and repairs ..................................................................... 774 651 756 778 900 

 Vehicle rental, leases, licenses, and other charges ............................ 591 802 689 394 657 

 Vehicle insurance ................................................................................. 1,163 1,086 1,086 1,231 1,191 

 Public and other transportation ............................................................... 689 735 526 612 962 

 Healthcare .................................................................................................. 6,818 6,594 7,050 6,540 7,292 

 Health insurance ..................................................................................... 4,762 4,608 4,924 4,656 4,931 

 Medical services ...................................................................................... 1,027 960 1,014 906 1,329 

 Drugs ....................................................................................................... 752 644 869 745 736 

 Medical supplies ...................................................................................... 277 382 243 233 297 

 Entertainment ............................................................................................. 2,663 2,548 2,920 2,228 3,292 

 Fees and admissions .............................................................................. 495 507 476 415 651 

 Audio and visual equipment and services............................................... 1,021 1,033 1,017 1,007 1,040 

 Pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment ..................................... 678 754 569 582 887 

 Pets ...................................................................................................... 581 671 461 514 743 

See footnotes at end of table. 
Table 3850. Consumer units with reference person age 65 and over by region of residence: Average annual 

expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2018-2019 — Continued 

Item 

Total 

65 and 

over 

Northeast Midwest South West 

 Toys, hobbies, and playground equipment .......................................... 96 83 108 68 144 

 Other entertainment supplies, equipment, and services ........................ 470 254 858 224 714 

 Personal care products and services ......................................................... 698 709 616 682 803 

 Reading ...................................................................................................... 151 192 177 111 160 

 Education .................................................................................................... 362 538 155 394 357 

 Tobacco products and smoking supplies ................................................... 208 205 236 231 134 

 Miscellaneous ............................................................................................. 919 911 849 902 1,030 

 Cash contributions ...................................................................................... 2,594 1,848 2,306 2,450 3,870 

 Personal insurance and pensions .............................................................. 3,192 3,276 2,741 2,911 4,118 

 Life and other personal insurance ........................................................... 518 542 514 576 389 

 Pensions and Social Security.................................................................. 2,674 2,734 2,227 2,335 3,729 

Sources of income and personal taxes: 

 Money income before taxes ....................................................................... $53,684 $57,169 $55,004 $49,015 $57,752 

 Wages and salaries ................................................................................. 18,082 21,552 17,466 15,781 19,791 

 Self-employment income ......................................................................... 4,334 4,842 3,701 5,138 3,027 

 Social Security, private and government retirement ............................... 26,201 26,542 26,059 24,947 28,381 

 Interest, dividends, rental income, other property income ...................... 4,116 3,312 6,805 2,395 5,223 

 Public assistance, Supplemental Security Income, Supplementary 

 Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) ................................................. 251 401 195 216 236 

 Unemployment and workers' compensation, veterans' benefits, 

 and regular contributions for support ................................................... 456 305 422 430 681 

 Other income ........................................................................................... 246 214 357 108 413 

 Personal taxes (contains some imputed values) ....................................... 5,451 5,786 5,626 4,826 6,123 

 Federal income taxes .............................................................................. 4,448 4,575 4,684 4,048 4,827 

 State and local income taxes .................................................................. 952 1,143 874 719 1,291 

 Other taxes .............................................................................................. 52 67 69 59 24 

 Income after taxes ...................................................................................... 48,233 51,383 49,378 44,190 51,629 

Addenda: 

 Net change in total assets and liabilities .................................................... $14,557 $15,740 $9,622 $13,689 $20,337 

 Net change in total assets ....................................................................... 17,173 17,401 12,507 15,581 24,921 

 Net change in total liabilities .................................................................... 2,616 1,662 2,885 1,892 4,583 

 Other financial information: 

 Other money receipts .............................................................................. 1,194 308 953 1,008 2,633 

 Mortgage principal paid on owned property ............................................ -1,571 -1,384 -1,590 -1,285 -2,262 

 Estimated market value of owned home ................................................. 237,141 229,468 161,435 195,985 402,196 

 Estimated monthly rental value of owned home ..................................... 1,272 1,317 1,021 1,181 1,666 

 Gifts of goods and services, total ............................................................... 1,148 1,413 1,066 980 1,298 

 Food ........................................................................................................ 82 105 72 57 111 

 Alcoholic beverages ................................................................................ 15 26 10 12 14 

 Housing ................................................................................................... 271 328 222 218 370 

 Housekeeping supplies ........................................................................ 39 40 39 31 51 

 Household textiles ................................................................................ 13 214 212 212 215 

 Appliances and miscellaneous housewares ........................................ 35 261 23 21 47 

 Major appliances ............................................................................... 9 24 10 10 10 

 Small appliances and miscellaneous housewares ........................... 25 256 13 210 37 

 Miscellaneous household equipment ................................................... 57 88 53 53 42 

 Other housing ....................................................................................... 128 125 95 102 213 

 Apparel and services ............................................................................... 190 275 206 132 198 

 Males, 2 and over ................................................................................. 56 97 47 41 55 

 Females, 2 and over ............................................................................ 78 100 103 55 73 

 Children under 2 ................................................................................... 18 213 219 14 30 

 Other apparel products and services ................................................... 37 65 36 23 40 

 Jewelry and watches ........................................................................ 5 26 24 3 10 

 All other apparel products and services ........................................... 32 259 32 20 30 

 Transportation ......................................................................................... 131 108 101 119 207 

 Healthcare ............................................................................................... 28 231 50 237 2

-14 

See footnotes at end of table. 
Table 3850. Consumer units with reference person age 65 and over by region of residence: Average annual 

expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2018-2019 — Continued 

Item 

Total 

65 and 

over 

Northeast Midwest South West 

 Entertainment .......................................................................................... 93 115 104 71 103 

 Toys, games, arts and crafts, and tricycles ......................................... 29 234 57 214 23 

 Other entertainment ............................................................................. 64 81 47 57 81 

 Personal care products and services ...................................................... 25 34 22 22 25 

 Reading ................................................................................................... 5 21 11 4 3 

 Education ................................................................................................. 161 284 49 190 113 

 All other gifts ............................................................................................ 147 104 218 118 167 

1

 Value is too small to display. 

2

 Data are likely to have large sampling errors. 

3

 No data reported. 

Source: Consumer Expenditure Survey, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, September, 2020