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

characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2017-2018

Item 

All 

consumer 

units in the 

Northeast 

New York Philadelphia Boston 

Number of consumer units (in thousands)................................................................ 23,336 7,329 2,185 1,961 

Consumer unit characteristics: 

 Income before taxes ................................................................................................ $87,793 $100,911 $93,210 $99,908 

 Age of reference person ................................................................................................ 52.6 51.7 54.1 51.2 

 Average number in consumer unit: 

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

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

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

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

 Vehicles ................................................................................................ 1.6 1.2 1.7 1.7 

 Percent homeowner................................................................................................61 49 69 57 

Average annual expenditures ................................................................................................ $64,955 $70,875 $70,813 $79,747 

 Food ................................................................................................................................ 8,230 8,706 8,919 9,667 

 Food at home ................................................................................................4,775 4,821 5,085 5,870 

 Cereals and bakery products ................................................................ 646 638 708 827 

 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ................................................................ 1,045 1,166 1,055 1,110 

 Dairy products ................................................................................................502 492 512 571 

 Fruits and vegetables ................................................................................................ 969 1,025 1,070 1,268 

 Other food at home ................................................................................................ 1,613 1,500 1,740 2,094 

 Food away from home ................................................................................................ 3,454 3,885 3,835 3,797 

 Alcoholic beverages................................................................................................600 603 598 913 

 Housing ................................................................................................................................ 23,122 27,626 23,225 29,871 

 Shelter ................................................................................................ 14,486 19,298 13,592 18,805 

 Owned dwellings ................................................................................................ 8,470 10,083 8,550 10,644 

 Rented dwellings ................................................................................................ 4,968 8,121 3,663 7,007 

 Other lodging ................................................................................................1,048 1,094 1,379 1,154 

 Utilities, fuels, and public services ................................................................4,128 4,109 4,403 4,354 

 Household operations ................................................................................................ 1,591 1,798 1,987 2,006 

 Housekeeping supplies ................................................................................................ 748 680 965 987 

 Household furnishings and equipment ................................................................ 2,168 1,742 2,278 3,719 

 Apparel and services ................................................................................................ 2,044 2,574 2,435 2,629 

 Transportation ................................................................................................ 9,095 8,494 11,065 9,571 

 Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ................................................................ 3,204 2,015 4,034 3,538 

 Gasoline, other fuels, and motor oil ................................................................1,797 1,514 1,972 1,820 

 Other vehicle expenses ................................................................................................ 3,011 3,149 3,939 2,886 

 Public and other transportation ................................................................ 1,083 1,815 1,120 1,327 

 Healthcare................................................................................................ 5,004 4,787 5,669 5,703 

 Entertainment ................................................................................................ 3,125 3,154 3,221 3,942 

 Personal care products and services ................................................................ 759 858 838 817 

 Reading ................................................................................................................................ 131 110 173 189 

 Education ................................................................................................ 2,222 3,007 2,649 4,144 

 Tobacco products and smoking supplies ................................................................ 351 257 349 285 

 Miscellaneous ................................................................................................ 1,131 1,112 1,675 1,228 

 Cash contributions ................................................................................................ 1,555 1,508 2,013 1,848 

 Personal insurance and pensions ................................................................ 7,586 8,079 7,984 8,940 

 Life and other personal insurance ................................................................ 507 577 627 363 

 Pensions and Social Security ................................................................ 7,079 7,502 7,357 8,578 

Source: Consumer Expenditure Survey, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, September, 2019