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

expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2016-2017

Item 

Total 

65 and 

over 

Northeast Midwest South West 

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ................................................................ 31,476 6,191 6,921 11,975 6,390 

Consumer unit characteristics: 

 Income before taxes ................................................................................................ $48,570 $51,744 $44,976 $42,559 $60,651 

 Income after taxes ................................................................................................ 44,033 47,233 42,041 39,548 51,497 

 Age of reference person ................................................................................................ 74.3 74.6 74.5 74.2 73.8 

 Average number in consumer unit: 

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

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

 Adults 65 and older ................................................................................................ 14 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 

 Earners ................................................................................................ .5 .5 .5 .4 .6 

 Vehicles ................................................................................................ 1.7 1.5 1.8 1.7 1.9 

Percent distribution: 

 Reference person: 

 Men ................................................................................................................................ 45 47 42 45 46 

 Women ................................................................................................ 55 53 58 55 54 

 Housing tenure: 

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

 With mortgage ................................................................................................ 23 17 24 22 29 

 Without mortgage................................................................................................ 56 55 55 60 50 

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

 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 6 2 6 10 

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

 Education of reference person: 

 Elementary (1-8) ................................................................................................ 5 5 3 6 4 

 High school (9-12) ................................................................................................37 40 42 39 23 

 College ................................................................................................ 58 54 55 55 73 

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

 At least one vehicle owned or leased ................................................................ 86 78 89 87 89 

Average annual expenditures................................................................................................ $47,665 $49,255 $45,120 $43,675 $56,284 

 Food ................................................................................................................................ 6,070 6,487 5,550 5,748 6,795 

 Food at home ................................................................................................ 3,696 3,949 3,399 3,528 4,063 

 Cereals and bakery products ................................................................ 490 553 447 460 530 

 Cereals and cereal products ................................................................ 139 141 126 127 172 

 Bakery products ................................................................................................ 351 412 321 334 358 

 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ................................................................ 788 861 700 780 824 

 Beef ................................................................................................ 225 235 229 226 208 

 Pork ................................................................................................ 160 153 154 175 144 

 Other meats ................................................................................................105 139 97 91 109 

 Poultry ................................................................................................ 129 143 105 128 143 

 Fish and seafood ................................................................................................ 123 146 80 111 164 

 Eggs ................................................................................................ 46 46 35 48 55 

 Dairy products ................................................................................................384 427 364 345 437 

 Fresh milk and cream ................................................................................................ 121 129 108 117 131 

 Other dairy products ................................................................................................ 264 298 255 228 305 

 Fruits and vegetables ................................................................................................ 730 815 652 683 815 

 Fresh fruits ................................................................................................ 275 294 251 253 319 

 Fresh vegetables ................................................................................................ 238 294 208 208 273 

 Processed fruits ................................................................................................ 98 110 83 95 110 

 Processed vegetables ................................................................................................ 119 118 110 127 113 

 Other food at home ................................................................................................ 1,303 1,293 1,235 1,260 1,459 

 Sugar and other sweets ................................................................ 146 149 172 138 134 

 Fats and oils ................................................................................................102 103 93 104 105 

 Miscellaneous foods ................................................................................................ 645 619 602 602 789 

 Nonalcoholic beverages ................................................................ 359 367 319 376 360 

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, 2016-2017 — Continued 

Item 

Total 

65 and 

over 

Northeast Midwest South West 

 Food prepared by consumer unit on out-of-town trips ................................ 51 55 49 41 71 

 Food away from home ................................................................................................ 2,374 2,537 2,152 2,220 2,732 

 Alcoholic beverages ................................................................................................ 415 475 369 352 524 

 Housing ................................................................................................................................ 16,285 18,930 14,695 14,264 19,213 

 Shelter ................................................................................................................................ 9,046 11,420 8,103 7,295 11,050 

 Owned dwellings ................................................................................................ 5,686 6,829 5,042 4,819 6,904 

 Mortgage interest and charges ................................................................1,479 1,150 1,292 1,340 2,262 

 Property taxes ................................................................................................ 2,233 3,850 2,138 1,466 2,206 

 Maintenance, repairs, insurance, other expenses ................................ 1,975 1,829 1,613 2,013 2,436 

 Rented dwellings................................................................................................ 2,556 3,410 2,369 1,863 3,232 

 Other lodging ................................................................................................ 804 1,182 693 614 914 

 Utilities, fuels, and public services ................................................................ 3,560 3,757 3,361 3,505 3,688 

 Natural gas ................................................................................................ 374 524 529 229 332 

 Electricity ................................................................................................ 1,389 1,310 1,211 1,598 1,264 

 Fuel oil and other fuels ................................................................................................ 128 345 99 63 71 

 Telephone services ................................................................................................ 1,096 1,132 1,032 1,064 1,190 

 Residential phone service, VOIP, and phone cards ................................ 435 530 417 422 384 

 Cellular phone service ................................................................................................ 661 602 615 642 805 

 Water and other public services ................................................................ 574 446 490 551 832 

 Household operations ................................................................................................ 1,257 1,258 1,030 1,260 1,496 

 Personal services................................................................................................ 176 212 289 245 2107 

 Other household expenses ................................................................ 1,081 1,046 941 1,015 1,389 

 Housekeeping supplies ................................................................................................ 781 799 704 745 903 

 Laundry and cleaning supplies ................................................................ 163 142 158 172 171 

 Other household products ................................................................ 437 450 395 403 528 

 Postage and stationery ................................................................................................ 180 206 151 170 204 

 Household furnishings and equipment ................................................................ 1,641 1,696 1,496 1,458 2,076 

 Household textiles................................................................................................ 103 100 86 117 98 

 Furniture ................................................................................................ 393 414 319 367 501 

 Floor coverings ................................................................................................16 20 17 9 23 

 Major appliances ................................................................................................ 257 255 234 245 304 

 Small appliances, miscellaneous housewares ................................ 107 105 87 98 146 

 Miscellaneous household equipment ................................................................ 765 803 753 622 1,004 

 Apparel and services ................................................................................................ 1,132 1,315 933 1,074 1,269 

 Men and boys ................................................................................................ 229 296 196 206 248 

 Men, 16 and over ................................................................................................ 202 262 174 178 219 

 Boys, 2 to 15 ................................................................................................ 28 34 22 28 28 

 Women and girls ................................................................................................476 475 408 459 574 

 Women, 16 and over ................................................................................................ 445 436 379 429 548 

 Girls, 2 to 15 ................................................................................................ 31 38 29 30 27 

 Children under 2 ................................................................................................ 25 219 235 23 26 

 Footwear ................................................................................................ 211 277 151 209 215 

 Other apparel products and services ................................................................190 249 143 178 206 

 Transportation ................................................................................................ 7,168 6,323 6,982 7,316 7,936 

 Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ................................................................ 2,741 2,084 2,246 3,135 3,174 

 Cars and trucks, new ................................................................................................ 1,641 1,234 1,154 1,876 2,123 

 Cars and trucks, used ................................................................................................ 1,058 819 1,088 1,208 979 

 Other vehicles ................................................................................................ 41 231 25 251 272 

 Gasoline, other fuels, and motor oil ................................................................1,277 1,105 1,226 1,277 1,499 

 Other vehicle expenses ................................................................................................ 2,605 2,506 3,084 2,443 2,512 

 Vehicle finance charges ................................................................................................ 115 78 101 138 122 

 Maintenance and repairs ................................................................................................ 888 661 1,416 684 954 

 Vehicle insurance................................................................................................ 1,050 976 850 1,279 900 

 Vehicle rental, leases, licenses, and other charges ................................ 552 791 718 342 536 

 Public and other transportation ................................................................ 545 627 425 461 751 

 Healthcare ................................................................................................ 6,310 6,373 6,526 5,919 6,745 

 Health insurance ................................................................................................ 4,438 4,413 4,585 4,218 4,714 

 Medical services ................................................................................................912 1,048 940 741 1,069 

 Drugs ................................................................................................................................ 750 711 815 758 704 

 Medical supplies ................................................................................................210 200 185 202 259 

 Entertainment ................................................................................................ 2,495 2,298 2,273 2,444 2,994 

 Fees and admissions ................................................................................................ 517 600 455 435 657 

 Audio and visual equipment and services ................................................................ 979 978 960 959 1,038 

 Pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment................................................................ 620 560 489 610 819 

 Pets ................................................................................................................................ 521 438 419 516 707 

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, 2016-2017 — Continued 

Item 

Total 

65 and 

over 

Northeast Midwest South West 

 Toys, hobbies, and playground equipment ................................................................ 98 121 71 94 112 

 Other entertainment supplies, equipment, and services ................................ 379 161 369 440 480 

 Personal care products and services ................................................................ 652 674 594 607 772 

 Reading ................................................................................................................................ 158 178 135 114 247 

 Education................................................................................................ 369 388 260 320 563 

 Tobacco products and smoking supplies ................................................................ 209 221 217 215 176 

 Miscellaneous ................................................................................................ 936 803 924 795 1,346 

 Cash contributions................................................................................................ 2,430 2,068 2,930 2,016 3,014 

 Personal insurance and pensions ................................................................ 3,036 2,722 2,734 2,491 4,691 

 Life and other personal insurance ................................................................ 405 412 400 446 328 

 Pensions and Social Security ................................................................ 2,631 2,310 2,334 2,045 4,363 

Sources of income and personal taxes: 

 Money income before taxes ................................................................................................ $48,570 $51,744 $44,976 $42,559 $60,651 

 Wages and salaries................................................................................................ 16,981 19,136 13,761 14,964 22,162 

 Self-employment income ................................................................................................ 2,810 2,212 2,467 2,333 4,655 

 Social Security, private and government retirement ................................ 24,333 25,674 25,032 22,481 25,748 

 Interest, dividends, rental income, other property income ................................ 3,464 3,535 2,887 1,991 6,781 

 Public assistance, Supplemental Security Income, 

 Supplementary Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) ................................ 286 465 188 253 279 

 Unemployment and workers' compensation, veterans' 

 benefits, and regular contributions for support ................................ 507 493 487 383 773 

 Other income ................................................................................................ 189 229 153 153 254 

 Personal taxes (contains some imputed values) ................................................................ 4,537 4,511 2,936 3,012 9,155 

 Federal income taxes ................................................................................................ 3,687 3,509 2,522 2,546 7,258 

 State and local income taxes ................................................................ 805 961 362 424 1,850 

 Other taxes ................................................................................................ 45 41 52 42 247 

 Income after taxes ................................................................................................ 44,033 47,233 42,041 39,548 51,497 

Addenda: 

 Net change in total assets and liabilities ................................................................ $10,945 $11,061 $11,937 $9,420 $12,616 

 Net change in total assets ................................................................................................ 13,565 13,721 12,930 11,122 18,678 

 Net change in total liabilities ................................................................ 2,620 2,660 993 1,702 6,062 

 Other financial information: 

 Other money receipts ................................................................................................ 1,701 838 711 700 5,487 

 Mortgage principal paid on owned property ................................................................ -1,441 -1,120 -1,133 -1,272 -2,399 

 Estimated market value of owned home................................................................ 218,179 235,258 144,978 169,613 371,929 

 Estimated monthly rental value of owned home ................................................................ 1,181 1,271 951 1,058 1,572 

 Gifts of goods and services, total ................................................................ 1,069 938 924 1,077 1,340 

 Food ................................................................................................................................ 70 57 84 56 94 

 Alcoholic beverages ................................................................................................7 11 4 4 13 

 Housing ................................................................................................ 236 214 197 254 266 

 Housekeeping supplies ................................................................................................ 30 42 33 22 33 

 Household textiles................................................................................................6 27 22 26 10 

 Appliances and miscellaneous housewares ................................................................ 20 210 21 20 27 

 Major appliances................................................................................................ 10 25 8 12 11 

 Small appliances and miscellaneous housewares ................................ 10 25 13 8 16 

 Miscellaneous household equipment ................................................................47 55 55 46 35 

 Other housing ................................................................................................133 101 85 161 161 

 Apparel and services ................................................................................................ 184 215 185 158 202 

 Males, 2 and over ................................................................................................ 50 53 54 44 52 

 Females, 2 and over ................................................................................................ 69 89 63 59 72 

 Children under 2 ................................................................................................23 218 34 18 25 

 Other apparel products and services................................................................43 55 33 37 52 

 Jewelry and watches ................................................................................................ 13 227 218 6 29 

 All other apparel products and services ................................................................ 30 228 216 31 43 

 Transportation ................................................................................................ 108 84 60 165 78 

 Healthcare ................................................................................................ 44 228 229 61 247 

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, 2016-2017 — Continued 

Item 

Total 

65 and 

over 

Northeast Midwest South West 

 Entertainment ................................................................................................ 97 109 103 83 104 

 Toys, games, arts and crafts, and tricycles ................................................................ 38 259 230 35 34 

 Other entertainment ................................................................................................ 59 50 74 49 70 

 Personal care products and services ................................................................ 15 10 24 16 10 

 Reading ................................................................................................ 5 6 8 4 4 

 Education ................................................................................................ 193 132 152 185 313 

 All other gifts ................................................................................................ 109 72 79 91 210 

1

 Value is too small to display. 

2

 Data are likely to have large sampling errors. 

Source: Consumer Expenditure Survey, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, September, 2018