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

characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2016-2017

Item 

All 

consumer 

units in the 

Northeast 

New York Philadelphia Boston 

Number of consumer units (in thousands)................................................................ 23,437 7,493 2,437 1,986 

Consumer unit characteristics: 

 Income before taxes ................................................................................................ $80,741 $88,313 $88,974 $95,276 

 Age of reference person ................................................................................................ 52.5 52.2 53.3 49.6 

 Average number in consumer unit: 

 People ................................................................................................................................ 2.4 2.5 2.4 2.2 

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

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

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

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

 Percent homeowner................................................................................................60 49 70 55 

Average annual expenditures ................................................................................................ $62,391 $67,782 $65,436 $74,316 

 Food ................................................................................................................................ 7,611 7,689 8,203 8,264 

 Food at home ................................................................................................4,418 4,285 4,857 5,108 

 Cereals and bakery products ................................................................ 594 572 696 712 

 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ................................................................ 977 984 997 1,033 

 Dairy products ................................................................................................468 456 495 519 

 Fruits and vegetables ................................................................................................ 891 910 1,033 1,080 

 Other food at home ................................................................................................ 1,489 1,364 1,637 1,764 

 Food away from home ................................................................................................ 3,193 3,404 3,345 3,156 

 Alcoholic beverages................................................................................................560 499 492 823 

 Housing ................................................................................................................................ 22,063 26,113 20,932 29,015 

 Shelter ................................................................................................ 14,006 18,174 12,413 18,887 

 Owned dwellings ................................................................................................ 8,123 9,299 8,383 11,069 

 Rented dwellings ................................................................................................ 4,820 7,807 2,905 6,230 

 Other lodging ................................................................................................1,063 1,068 1,124 1,588 

 Utilities, fuels, and public services ................................................................3,999 4,000 4,380 4,125 

 Household operations ................................................................................................ 1,507 1,697 1,584 2,217 

 Housekeeping supplies ................................................................................................ 683 661 781 629 

 Household furnishings and equipment ................................................................ 1,867 1,582 1,775 3,157 

 Apparel and services ................................................................................................ 1,951 2,291 2,125 2,134 

 Transportation ................................................................................................ 8,494 7,907 9,505 8,463 

 Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ................................................................ 2,951 1,777 3,617 2,961 

 Gasoline, other fuels, and motor oil ................................................................1,665 1,378 1,843 1,746 

 Other vehicle expenses ................................................................................................ 2,914 3,167 3,245 2,678 

 Public and other transportation ................................................................ 964 1,586 801 1,077 

 Healthcare................................................................................................ 4,889 4,681 5,540 5,261 

 Entertainment ................................................................................................ 2,952 2,672 2,821 3,844 

 Personal care products and services ................................................................ 729 791 765 741 

 Reading ................................................................................................................................ 107 105 157 96 

 Education ................................................................................................ 2,144 2,733 2,702 3,101 

 Tobacco products and smoking supplies ................................................................ 362 245 401 344 

 Miscellaneous ................................................................................................ 1,088 999 1,581 1,251 

 Cash contributions ................................................................................................ 2,187 3,329 1,560 2,665 

 Personal insurance and pensions ................................................................ 7,254 7,727 8,653 8,314 

 Life and other personal insurance ................................................................ 429 465 482 332 

 Pensions and Social Security ................................................................ 6,825 7,262 8,171 7,982 

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