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

expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Surveys, 2020-2021

Item 

Total 

65 and 

over 

Northeast Midwest South West 

Number of consumer units (in thousands)1................................................... 35,605 6,718 7,568 13,413 7,906 

Consumer unit characteristics: 

 Income before taxes ................................................................................... $53,830 $57,804 $51,015 $48,822 $61,646 

 Income after taxes ...................................................................................... 51,659 54,742 49,553 47,547 58,030 

 Age of reference person ............................................................................. 74.2 74.2 74.5 74.1 74.2 

 Average number in consumer unit: 

 People ..................................................................................................... 1.7 1.7 1.6 1.8 1.8 

 Children under 18 .................................................................................... .1 .1 ( 2 ) .1 .1 

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

 Earners .................................................................................................... .5 .5 .5 .5 .5 

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

Percent distribution: 

 Reference person: 

 Men.......................................................................................................... 45 44 42 46 46 

 Women .................................................................................................... 55 56 58 54 54 

 Housing tenure: 

 Homeowner ............................................................................................. 79 72 80 82 78 

 With mortgage ...................................................................................... 25 19 28 23 31 

 Without mortgage ................................................................................. 54 53 52 59 46 

 Renter ...................................................................................................... 21 28 20 18 22 

 Race of reference person: 

 Black or African-American ....................................................................... 11 12 9 15 4 

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

 African-American .................................................................................. 89 88 91 85 96 

 Hispanic or Latino origin of reference person: 

 Hispanic or Latino .................................................................................... 7 5 2 8 9 

 Not Hispanic or Latino ............................................................................. 93 95 98 92 91 

 Education of reference person: 

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

 High school (9-12) ................................................................................... 33 38 36 36 22 

 College .................................................................................................... 63 58 62 60 74 

 Never attended and other ....................................................................... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 1 

 At least one vehicle owned or leased ......................................................... 88 80 91 89 90 

Average annual expenditures ........................................................................ $49,872 $51,921 $48,223 $46,125 $56,099 

 Food ............................................................................................................ 6,096 6,560 5,525 5,833 6,713 

 Food at home .......................................................................................... 4,351 4,793 3,908 4,141 4,773 

 Cereals and bakery products ............................................................... 572 666 521 550 580 

 Cereals and cereal products ............................................................. 165 195 148 156 175 

 Bakery products ................................................................................ 406 471 372 395 405 

 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .............................................................. 918 1,057 790 912 936 

 Beef ................................................................................................... 237 247 189 249 254 

 Pork ................................................................................................... 204 200 194 228 177 

 Other meats ...................................................................................... 125 173 114 111 121 

 Poultry ............................................................................................... 144 187 121 138 140 

 Fish and seafood .............................................................................. 153 194 126 135 178 

 Eggs .................................................................................................. 54 56 46 52 66 

 Dairy products ...................................................................................... 440 497 390 406 498 

 Fresh milk and cream ....................................................................... 132 154 113 122 148 

 Other dairy products ......................................................................... 308 344 276 284 350 

 Fruits and vegetables ........................................................................... 875 1,012 758 794 1,014 

 Fresh fruits ........................................................................................ 320 376 283 275 388 

 Fresh vegetables .............................................................................. 276 338 228 236 342 

 Processed fruits ................................................................................ 114 120 110 109 122 

 Processed vegetables ...................................................................... 165 178 138 175 162 

 Other food at home .............................................................................. 1,547 1,561 1,450 1,478 1,746 

 Sugar and other sweets .................................................................... 160 154 164 149 180 

 Fats and oils ...................................................................................... 118 118 105 122 122 

 Miscellaneous foods ......................................................................... 813 805 761 768 946 

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 Surveys, 2020-2021 — Continued 

Item 

Total 

65 and 

over 

Northeast Midwest South West 

 Nonalcoholic beverages ................................................................... 411 422 374 412 436 

 Food prepared by consumer unit on out of town trips ...................... 45 62 45 27 63 

 Food away from home............................................................................. 1,745 1,767 1,617 1,692 1,940 

 Alcoholic beverages ................................................................................... 401 447 418 375 392 

 Housing ....................................................................................................... 18,150 20,311 17,525 15,620 21,215 

 Shelter ..................................................................................................... 10,153 12,161 9,413 8,190 12,488 

 Owned dwellings .................................................................................. 6,760 7,630 6,339 5,865 7,943 

 Mortgage interest and charges ......................................................... 1,411 1,036 1,210 1,207 2,268 

 Property taxes ................................................................................... 2,510 3,909 2,512 1,810 2,506 

 Maintenance, repairs, insurance, and other expenses .................... 2,840 2,684 2,618 2,849 3,169 

 Rented dwellings .................................................................................. 2,696 3,568 2,425 1,773 3,779 

 Other lodging ........................................................................................ 697 964 648 551 765 

 Utilities, fuels, and public services .......................................................... 3,856 4,030 3,690 3,815 3,937 

 Natural gas ........................................................................................... 443 603 613 294 397 

 Electricity .............................................................................................. 1,456 1,308 1,271 1,682 1,377 

 Fuel oil and other fuels ......................................................................... 148 440 95 74 75 

 Telephone services .............................................................................. 1,126 1,180 1,088 1,111 1,140 

 Residential phone service, VOIP, and phone cards ......................... 313 415 313 292 263 

 Cellular phone service ...................................................................... 812 765 775 820 876 

 Water and other public services .......................................................... 683 500 622 653 948 

 Household operations ............................................................................. 1,342 1,353 1,206 1,200 1,704 

 Personal services ................................................................................. 96 3129 3147 357 384 

 Other household expenses .................................................................. 1,246 1,224 1,059 1,144 1,620 

 Housekeeping supplies ........................................................................... 803 794 785 721 970 

 Laundry and cleaning supplies ............................................................ 158 128 169 150 188 

 Other household products .................................................................... 511 514 484 461 620 

 Postage and stationery ........................................................................ 134 152 132 109 163 

 Household furnishings and equipment .................................................... 1,996 1,973 2,432 1,695 2,117 

 Household textiles ................................................................................ 100 91 110 88 120 

 Furniture ............................................................................................... 390 380 390 344 475 

 Floor coverings ..................................................................................... 27 28 28 28 25 

 Major appliances .................................................................................. 346 335 317 341 392 

 Small appliances and miscellaneous housewares .............................. 114 127 107 95 143 

 Miscellaneous household equipment ................................................... 1,018 1,012 1,481 798 961 

 Apparel and services .................................................................................. 906 1,112 971 759 928 

 Men and boys .......................................................................................... 196 288 204 158 180 

 Men, 16 and over ................................................................................. 175 241 190 145 158 

 Boys, 2 to 15 ........................................................................................ 21 347 14 12 22 

 Women and girls ..................................................................................... 375 425 362 337 413 

 Women, 16 and over ............................................................................ 354 388 341 323 390 

 Girls, 2 to 15 ......................................................................................... 22 338 320 14 23 

 Children under 2 ...................................................................................... 19 336 315 317 310 

 Footwear .................................................................................................. 165 222 192 130 153 

 Other apparel products and services ...................................................... 151 142 198 117 171 

 Transportation ............................................................................................ 6,696 5,872 6,354 6,909 7,361 

 Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ................................................................ 2,621 1,998 2,318 3,071 2,678 

 Cars and trucks, new ........................................................................... 1,350 1,137 780 1,893 1,157 

 Cars and trucks, used .......................................................................... 1,260 861 1,538 1,176 1,474 

 Other vehicles ...................................................................................... 

311 ( 4

 ) ( 4 ) 31 348 

 Gasoline, other fuels, and motor oil ........................................................ 1,195 969 1,175 1,230 1,347 

 Other vehicle expenses ........................................................................... 2,656 2,619 2,642 2,482 2,995 

 Vehicle finance charges ....................................................................... 125 103 122 134 132 

 Maintenance and repairs ..................................................................... 745 635 713 663 1,009 

 Vehicle rental, leases, licenses, and other charges ............................ 612 804 736 439 624 

 Vehicle insurance ................................................................................. 1,174 1,077 1,071 1,246 1,230 

 Public and other transportation ............................................................... 223 286 218 126 340 

 Healthcare .................................................................................................. 6,851 6,648 7,041 6,653 7,172 

 Health insurance ..................................................................................... 4,915 4,702 5,071 4,850 5,055 

 Medical services ...................................................................................... 958 1,082 958 799 1,119 

 Drugs ....................................................................................................... 726 609 722 788 720 

 Medical supplies ...................................................................................... 252 254 289 215 277 

 Entertainment ............................................................................................. 2,593 2,344 2,518 2,310 3,353 

 Fees and admissions .............................................................................. 334 314 323 313 398 

 Audio and visual equipment and services............................................... 1,024 1,081 1,052 979 1,025 

 Pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment ..................................... 739 579 652 703 1,016 

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 Surveys, 2020-2021 — Continued 

Item 

Total 

65 and 

over 

Northeast Midwest South West 

 Pets ...................................................................................................... 614 484 515 593 851 

 Toys, hobbies, and playground equipment .......................................... 125 95 137 110 166 

 Other entertainment supplies, equipment, and services ........................ 496 370 492 315 914 

 Personal care products and services ......................................................... 567 565 582 526 624 

 Reading ...................................................................................................... 147 184 147 115 174 

 Education .................................................................................................... 364 694 227 299 325 

 Tobacco products and smoking supplies ................................................... 213 202 228 228 184 

 Miscellaneous ............................................................................................. 869 1,011 787 803 941 

 Cash contributions ...................................................................................... 3,231 2,610 3,564 3,245 3,418 

 Personal insurance and pensions .............................................................. 2,786 3,361 2,337 2,451 3,298 

 Life and other personal insurance ........................................................... 496 581 483 517 401 

 Pensions and Social Security.................................................................. 2,291 2,780 1,854 1,934 2,897 

Sources of income and personal taxes: 

 Income before taxes ................................................................................... $53,830 $57,804 $51,015 $48,822 $61,646 

 Wages and salaries ................................................................................. 18,486 21,869 15,960 16,686 21,086 

 Self-employment income ......................................................................... 2,945 3,333 2,007 2,118 4,916 

 Social Security, private and government retirement ............................... 27,807 27,950 27,978 26,431 29,855 

 Interest, dividends, rental income, and other property income ............... 3,313 3,371 4,015 2,313 4,290 

 Public assistance, Supplemental Security Income, Supplementary 

 Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) ................................................. 329 427 243 315 354 

 Unemployment and workers' compensation, veterans' benefits, 

 and regular contributions for support ................................................... 756 593 583 811 966 

 Other income ........................................................................................... 194 262 228 148 179 

 Personal taxes (contains some imputed values) ....................................... 2,172 3,062 1,461 1,275 3,615 

 Federal income taxes .............................................................................. 3,252 3,792 2,753 2,606 4,369 

 Stimulus payment (new UCC Q20202)# ................................................. -1,913 -1,831 -1,926 -1,926 -1,947 

 State and local income taxes .................................................................. 779 1,034 553 541 1,185 

 Other taxes .............................................................................................. 53 68 81 55 38 

 Income after taxes ...................................................................................... 51,659 54,742 49,553 47,547 58,030 

Addenda: 

 Net change in total assets and liabilities .................................................... $14,135 $16,938 $23,826 $8,119 $12,685 

 Net change in total assets ....................................................................... 20,095 25,088 29,119 11,775 21,328 

 Net change in total liabilities .................................................................... 5,959 8,150 5,292 3,656 8,643 

 Other financial information: 

 Other money receipts .............................................................................. 685 589 1,092 345 956 

 Mortgage principal paid on owned property ............................................ -1,688 -1,483 -1,559 -1,514 -2,280 

 Estimated market value of owned home ................................................. 273,925 258,904 193,252 218,216 458,431 

 Estimated monthly rental value of owned home ..................................... 1,393 1,395 1,140 1,297 1,798 

1

 Data are rounded to the nearest thousands. 

2

 Value is too small to display. 

3

 Data are likely to have large sampling errors. 

4

 No data reported. 

# 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