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

expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2017-2018

Item 

Total 

65 and 

over 

Northeast Midwest South West 

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ................................................................32,378 6,248 7,130 12,322 6,678 

Consumer unit characteristics: 

 Income before taxes ................................................................................................ $50,385 $54,153 $47,279 $44,997 $60,120 

 Income after taxes ................................................................................................ 45,550 49,024 43,884 41,621 51,325 

 Age of reference person ................................................................................................ 74.3 74.9 74.2 74.3 74.0 

 Average number in consumer unit: 

 People ................................................................................................................................ 1.8 1.8 1.7 1.7 1.9 

 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 .5 .5 .6 

 Vehicles ................................................................................................................................ 1.8 1.4 1.8 1.8 2.0 

Percent distribution: 

 Reference person: 

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

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

 Housing tenure: 

 Homeowner ................................................................................................ 80 71 81 84 80 

 With mortgage ................................................................................................ 24 17 25 23 31 

 Without mortgage ................................................................................................ 56 54 57 61 49 

 Renter ................................................................................................................................ 20 29 19 16 20 

 Race of reference person: 

 Black or African-American ................................................................................................ 10 10 8 15 2 

 White, Asian, and all other races ................................................................ 90 90 92 85 98 

 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 4 3 6 5 

 High school (9-12) ................................................................................................ 35 39 40 38 21 

 College ................................................................................................................................ 60 57 57 57 73 

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

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

Average annual expenditures ................................................................................................ $50,165 $51,825 $47,580 $45,984 $59,160 

 Food ................................................................................................................................ 6,468 7,239 5,961 5,985 7,221 

 Food at home ................................................................................................ 3,913 4,430 3,646 3,644 4,239 

 Cereals and bakery products ................................................................................................ 519 649 474 466 549 

 Cereals and cereal products ................................................................ 138 158 130 128 150 

 Bakery products ................................................................................................ 381 491 345 339 398 

 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ................................................................ 815 928 727 804 827 

 Beef ................................................................................................................................ 218 253 208 213 207 

 Pork ................................................................................................................................ 167 145 170 183 154 

 Other meats ................................................................................................ 114 151 107 103 111 

 Poultry ................................................................................................................................ 131 145 112 131 139 

 Fish and seafood ................................................................................................135 185 93 124 156 

 Eggs ................................................................................................................................ 49 49 38 50 60 

 Dairy products ................................................................................................ 414 478 407 360 465 

 Fresh milk and cream ................................................................................................ 127 147 117 116 140 

 Other dairy products ................................................................................................ 287 331 290 244 325 

 Fruits and vegetables ................................................................................................ 773 915 681 701 879 

 Fresh fruits ................................................................................................ 295 350 266 254 352 

 Fresh vegetables ................................................................................................249 322 211 212 292 

 Processed fruits ................................................................................................ 106 119 89 103 118 

 Processed vegetables ................................................................................................ 124 124 115 133 117 

 Other food at home ................................................................................................ 1,392 1,460 1,356 1,313 1,520 

 Sugar and other sweets ................................................................................................ 149 168 164 136 138 

 Fats and oils ................................................................................................ 108 114 105 107 105 

 Miscellaneous foods ................................................................................................ 699 722 680 633 824 

 Nonalcoholic beverages ................................................................................................ 381 399 342 394 379 

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, 2017-2018 — Continued 

Item 

Total 

65 and 

over 

Northeast Midwest South West 

 Food prepared by consumer unit on out-of-town trips ................................ 56 57 64 42 73 

 Food away from home................................................................................................ 2,555 2,809 2,316 2,340 2,982 

 Alcoholic beverages ................................................................................................ 452 507 429 386 554 

 Housing ................................................................................................................................ 16,787 19,821 15,356 14,567 19,581 

 Shelter ................................................................................................................................ 9,296 11,882 8,431 7,409 11,279 

 Owned dwellings ................................................................................................5,915 6,941 5,455 5,033 7,073 

 Mortgage interest and charges ................................................................ 1,451 1,105 1,275 1,303 2,236 

 Property taxes ................................................................................................ 2,299 3,832 2,251 1,537 2,322 

 Maintenance, repairs, insurance, other expenses ................................ 2,165 2,005 1,929 2,194 2,515 

 Rented dwellings ................................................................................................2,557 3,854 2,233 1,748 3,184 

 Other lodging ................................................................................................ 823 1,087 743 628 1,023 

 Utilities, fuels, and public services ................................................................ 3,690 3,852 3,539 3,632 3,808 

 Natural gas ................................................................................................ 407 556 587 260 344 

 Electricity ................................................................................................ 1,431 1,307 1,272 1,638 1,336 

 Fuel oil and other fuels ................................................................................................ 159 453 141 70 68 

 Telephone services ................................................................................................ 1,086 1,086 1,025 1,071 1,178 

 Residential phone service, VOIP, and phone cards ................................ 382 461 368 376 336 

 Cellular phone service ................................................................................................ 704 625 658 695 843 

 Water and other public services ................................................................ 608 451 513 593 882 

 Household operations ................................................................................................ 1,299 1,376 1,174 1,187 1,567 

 Personal services ................................................................................................ 141 2209 2173 97 2125 

 Other household expenses ................................................................................................ 1,158 1,167 1,000 1,090 1,442 

 Housekeeping supplies ................................................................................................ 810 867 675 801 915 

 Laundry and cleaning supplies ................................................................ 162 146 139 183 164 

 Other household products ................................................................................................ 471 506 396 453 551 

 Postage and stationery ................................................................................................ 176 215 140 165 200 

 Household furnishings and equipment ................................................................ 1,693 1,845 1,537 1,537 2,012 

 Household textiles ................................................................................................ 120 126 94 140 105 

 Furniture ................................................................................................................................ 384 418 417 336 408 

 Floor coverings ................................................................................................ 19 20 15 12 35 

 Major appliances ................................................................................................ 261 215 242 280 292 

 Small appliances, miscellaneous housewares ................................................................ 118 144 96 105 140 

 Miscellaneous household equipment ................................................................ 790 921 673 664 1,032 

 Apparel and services ................................................................................................1,200 1,560 1,122 986 1,360 

 Men and boys ................................................................................................ 252 359 197 204 304 

 Men, 16 and over ................................................................................................ 230 319 175 186 290 

 Boys, 2 to 15 ................................................................................................ 22 40 22 18 14 

 Women and girls ................................................................................................ 502 574 509 422 583 

 Women, 16 and over ................................................................................................ 478 540 480 407 556 

 Girls, 2 to 15 ................................................................................................ 24 34 29 15 26 

 Children under 2 ................................................................................................ 26 223 235 222 25 

 Footwear ................................................................................................................................ 241 354 256 179 242 

 Other apparel products and services ................................................................ 179 250 125 159 206 

 Transportation ................................................................................................ 7,390 6,392 7,228 7,673 7,967 

 Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ................................................................................................ 2,759 2,035 2,207 3,261 3,101 

 Cars and trucks, new ................................................................................................ 1,610 1,353 1,394 1,852 1,633 

 Cars and trucks, used ................................................................................................ 1,109 682 808 1,353 1,377 

 Other vehicles ................................................................................................ 41 ( 3 ) 25 256 291 

 Gasoline, other fuels, and motor oil ................................................................ 1,367 1,161 1,342 1,368 1,587 

 Other vehicle expenses ................................................................................................ 2,610 2,431 3,150 2,525 2,346 

 Vehicle finance charges ................................................................................................ 113 85 110 128 116 

 Maintenance and repairs ................................................................................................ 929 669 1,460 770 913 

 Vehicle insurance ................................................................................................ 970 871 790 1,256 703 

 Vehicle rental, leases, licenses, and other charges ................................ 598 806 791 371 615 

 Public and other transportation ................................................................................................ 654 764 529 518 933 

 Healthcare ................................................................................................................................ 6,684 6,650 6,856 6,332 7,183 

 Health insurance ................................................................................................ 4,716 4,733 4,796 4,548 4,922 

 Medical services ................................................................................................ 955 949 1,000 806 1,189 

 Drugs ................................................................................................................................ 776 704 828 773 793 

 Medical supplies ................................................................................................ 237 263 232 205 279 

 Entertainment ................................................................................................ 2,800 2,513 3,080 2,463 3,397 

 Fees and admissions ................................................................................................530 559 517 474 618 

 Audio and visual equipment and services................................................................991 1,017 978 957 1,046 

 Pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment ................................................................ 669 707 579 576 905 

 Pets ................................................................................................................................ 575 591 493 513 766 

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, 2017-2018 — Continued 

Item 

Total 

65 and 

over 

Northeast Midwest South West 

 Toys, hobbies, and playground equipment ................................................................ 94 116 85 64 139 

 Other entertainment supplies, equipment, and services ................................ 611 230 1,006 456 828 

 Personal care products and services ................................................................ 676 728 600 628 800 

 Reading ................................................................................................................................ 156 228 161 106 182 

 Education ................................................................................................................................ 381 624 236 356 358 

 Tobacco products and smoking supplies ................................................................ 207 218 232 217 153 

 Miscellaneous ................................................................................................ 1,037 789 948 987 1,461 

 Cash contributions ................................................................................................ 2,529 1,734 2,373 2,318 3,830 

 Personal insurance and pensions ................................................................ 3,395 2,824 2,998 2,982 5,115 

 Life and other personal insurance ................................................................ 489 467 508 538 398 

 Pensions and Social Security................................................................................................ 2,906 2,356 2,490 2,444 4,717 

Sources of income and personal taxes: 

 Money income before taxes ................................................................................................ $50,385 $54,153 $47,279 $44,997 $60,120 

 Wages and salaries ................................................................................................ 17,349 19,226 14,234 15,939 21,519 

 Self-employment income ................................................................................................ 3,057 3,748 2,833 2,197 4,239 

 Social Security, private and government retirement ................................................................ 25,370 26,679 25,649 23,970 26,431 

 Interest, dividends, rental income, other property income ................................ 3,639 3,345 3,807 2,163 6,456 

 Public assistance, Supplemental Security Income, Supplementary 

 Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) ................................................................ 254 431 170 220 240 

 Unemployment and workers' compensation, veterans' benefits, 

 and regular contributions for support ................................................................ 506 445 433 376 882 

 Other income ................................................................................................ 210 278 152 131 353 

 Personal taxes (contains some imputed values) ................................................................ 4,836 5,129 3,395 3,375 8,795 

 Federal income taxes ................................................................................................ 3,946 4,050 2,866 2,835 7,054 

 State and local income taxes ................................................................................................ 838 1,014 457 485 1,734 

 Other taxes ................................................................................................ 51 65 71 56 27 

 Income after taxes ................................................................................................ 45,550 49,024 43,884 41,621 51,325 

Addenda: 

 Net change in total assets and liabilities ................................................................$14,763 $16,599 $10,608 $16,177 $14,873 

 Net change in total assets ................................................................................................ 17,536 19,614 11,925 17,693 21,292 

 Net change in total liabilities ................................................................................................ 2,773 3,015 1,317 1,516 6,418 

 Other financial information: 

 Other money receipts ................................................................................................ 1,703 795 1,013 712 5,118 

 Mortgage principal paid on owned property ................................................................ -1,322 -1,165 -1,339 -1,192 -1,690 

 Estimated market value of owned home ................................................................ 231,756 223,793 155,081 184,064 409,058 

 Estimated monthly rental value of owned home ................................................................ 1,237 1,263 1,001 1,124 1,673 

 Gifts of goods and services, total ................................................................................................ 1,109 1,527 1,069 919 1,135 

 Food ................................................................................................................................ 77 119 72 54 88 

 Alcoholic beverages ................................................................................................ 8 24 7 3 5 

 Housing ................................................................................................................................ 273 367 220 219 343 

 Housekeeping supplies ................................................................................................ 36 49 30 27 45 

 Household textiles ................................................................................................ 6 25 25 24 212 

 Appliances and miscellaneous housewares ................................................................ 32 263 22 21 35 

 Major appliances ................................................................................................ 8 25 10 9 5 

 Small appliances and miscellaneous housewares ................................ 24 258 213 12 30 

 Miscellaneous household equipment ................................................................ 61 91 60 53 49 

 Other housing ................................................................................................ 138 158 102 114 202 

 Apparel and services ................................................................................................178 306 190 116 168 

 Males, 2 and over ................................................................................................ 51 84 54 37 42 

 Females, 2 and over ................................................................................................69 115 86 40 67 

 Children under 2 ................................................................................................ 21 220 33 214 22 

 Other apparel products and services ................................................................ 37 87 16 24 37 

 Jewelry and watches ................................................................................................ 7 220 23 24 23 

 All other apparel products and services ................................................................30 267 213 20 35 

 Transportation ................................................................................................ 116 79 72 172 94 

 Healthcare ................................................................................................................................ 28 237 60 25 2

-9 

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, 2017-2018 — Continued 

Item 

Total 

65 and 

over 

Northeast Midwest South West 

 Entertainment ................................................................................................ 94 109 122 66 104 

 Toys, games, arts and crafts, and tricycles ................................................................ 33 258 40 18 33 

 Other entertainment ................................................................................................61 51 82 48 71 

 Personal care products and services ................................................................ 17 17 16 16 22 

 Reading ................................................................................................................................ 4 4 10 2 2 

 Education ................................................................................................................................ 180 350 126 168 102 

 All other gifts ................................................................................................ 133 116 173 76 215 

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, 2019