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

characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2018-2019

Item 

All 

consumer 

units in the 

Northeast 

New York Philadelphia Boston 

Number of consumer units (in thousands).............................................. 23,300 7,308 1,895 1,918 

Consumer unit characteristics: 

 Income before taxes ............................................................................ $90,625 $103,011 $98,206 $104,623 

 Age of reference person ...................................................................... 52.8 52.1 53.3 52.3 

 Average number in consumer unit: 

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

 Children under 18 ............................................................................. .5 .5 .6 .4 

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

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

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

 Percent homeowner............................................................................. 61 49 65 56 

Average annual expenditures ................................................................. $67,668 $73,806 $72,460 $83,297 

 Food ..................................................................................................... 8,683 9,843 8,813 9,979 

 Food at home ................................................................................... 5,018 5,352 4,786 5,858 

 Cereals and bakery products ........................................................ 681 710 679 841 

 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ....................................................... 1,108 1,323 996 1,086 

 Dairy products ............................................................................... 515 539 483 552 

 Fruits and vegetables .................................................................... 997 1,145 928 1,231 

 Other food at home ....................................................................... 1,716 1,635 1,701 2,148 

 Food away from home ...................................................................... 3,665 4,491 4,026 4,121 

 Alcoholic beverages............................................................................. 653 670 756 925 

 Housing ................................................................................................ 23,586 28,040 25,569 30,043 

 Shelter .............................................................................................. 14,587 19,344 15,015 19,188 

 Owned dwellings ........................................................................... 8,302 9,868 8,482 10,081 

 Rented dwellings ........................................................................... 5,243 8,443 4,925 7,967 

 Other lodging ................................................................................. 1,042 1,033 1,608 1,140 

 Utilities, fuels, and public services ................................................... 4,249 4,110 4,392 4,480 

 Household operations ...................................................................... 1,672 1,771 2,324 2,399 

 Housekeeping supplies .................................................................... 771 776 1,010 905 

 Household furnishings and equipment ............................................. 2,307 2,039 2,829 3,070 

 Apparel and services ........................................................................... 2,211 2,801 2,908 2,128 

 Transportation ...................................................................................... 10,141 9,255 11,136 11,779 

 Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ......................................................... 3,638 2,219 4,037 4,941 

 Gasoline, other fuels, and motor oil ................................................. 1,817 1,521 1,908 1,857 

 Other vehicle expenses .................................................................... 3,608 3,641 3,911 3,584 

 Public and other transportation ........................................................ 1,077 1,874 1,280 1,398 

 Healthcare............................................................................................ 5,100 4,728 5,609 6,470 

 Entertainment ...................................................................................... 3,146 3,005 3,403 3,768 

 Personal care products and services .................................................. 823 913 1,014 911 

 Reading ................................................................................................ 114 86 97 227 

 Education ............................................................................................. 2,370 2,711 1,618 4,681 

 Tobacco products and smoking supplies ............................................ 327 213 248 218 

 Miscellaneous ...................................................................................... 1,107 1,200 1,098 1,404 

 Cash contributions ............................................................................... 1,613 1,685 2,025 2,057 

 Personal insurance and pensions ....................................................... 7,792 8,658 8,168 8,707 

 Life and other personal insurance .................................................... 570 635 610 487 

 Pensions and Social Security ........................................................... 7,222 8,023 7,558 8,220 

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