Table 3254. Consumer units with reference person age 65 and over by income before taxes: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, 

Consumer Expenditure Surveys, 2020-2021

Item 

Total 

65 years 

and older 

Less 

than 

$15,000 

$15,000 

to

$29,999 

$30,000 

to

$39,999 

$40,000 

to

$49,999 

$50,000 

to

$69,999 

$70,000 

to

$99,999 

$100,000 

and

more 

Number of consumer units (in thousands)1................................................... 35,605 4,664 10,263 4,786 3,471 4,328 3,606 4,487 

Consumer unit characteristics: 

 Income before taxes ................................................................................... $53,830 $9,040 $21,867 $34,786 $44,804 $58,711 $83,127 $172,527 

 Income after taxes ...................................................................................... 51,659 10,575 23,616 36,891 46,128 59,083 79,744 148,792 

 Age of reference person ............................................................................. 74.2 75.5 76.2 74.2 74.1 73.0 72.2 71.3 

 Average number in consumer unit: 

 People ..................................................................................................... 1.7 1.3 1.4 1.8 1.9 2.0 2.2 2.3 

 Children under 18.................................................................................... .1 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) .1 .1 .1 .1 

 Adults 65 and older ................................................................................. 1.4 1.1 1.2 1.5 1.5 1.6 1.5 1.6 

 Earners .................................................................................................... .5 .1 .2 .3 .5 .7 1.0 1.3 

 Vehicles ................................................................................................... 1.7 .9 1.2 1.8 1.9 2.1 2.4 2.6 

Percent distribution: 

 Reference person: 

 Men ......................................................................................................... 45 31 35 46 49 52 53 61 

 Women .................................................................................................... 55 69 65 54 51 48 47 39 

 Housing tenure: 

 Homeowner ............................................................................................. 79 55 71 85 84 89 90 93 

 With mortgage ...................................................................................... 25 12 18 22 27 31 37 41 

 Without mortgage................................................................................. 54 43 53 62 57 58 53 52 

 Renter ...................................................................................................... 21 45 29 15 16 11 10 7 

 Race of reference person: 

 Black or African-American ...................................................................... 11 21 10 7 9 10 12 6 

 White, Asian, and all other races, not including Black or 

 African-American ................................................................................. 89 79 90 93 91 90 88 94 

 Hispanic or Latino origin of reference person: 

 Hispanic or Latino ................................................................................... 7 11 6 6 7 5 6 4 

 Not Hispanic or Latino ............................................................................. 93 89 94 94 93 95 94 96 

 Education of reference person: 

 Elementary (1-8) ..................................................................................... 3 10 4 2 1 2 1 ( 2 ) 

 High school (9-12) ................................................................................... 33 43 43 37 33 26 23 11 

 College .................................................................................................... 63 46 52 60 65 72 75 88 

 Never attended and other ....................................................................... ( 2 ) 1 ( 2 ) 1 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 

 At least one vehicle owned or leased ........................................................ 88 62 84 93 95 96 97 98 

Average annual expenditures........................................................................ $49,872 $26,354 $32,973 $43,543 $47,682 $55,171 $65,864 $100,829 

 Food ........................................................................................................... 6,096 3,834 4,095 5,416 6,084 6,536 7,652 10,805 

 Food at home .......................................................................................... 4,351 3,146 3,072 3,793 4,586 4,564 5,216 7,240 

 Cereals and bakery products ............................................................... 572 424 411 521 582 574 694 935 

 Cereals and cereal products ............................................................ 165 123 112 153 173 159 211 277 

 Bakery products ................................................................................ 406 302 299 368 409 414 483 658 

 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .............................................................. 918 660 624 806 1,013 950 1,081 1,560 

 Beef ................................................................................................... 237 158 168 202 249 281 262 397 

 Pork ................................................................................................... 204 141 140 198 238 198 258 324 

 Other meats ...................................................................................... 125 85 80 109 127 134 146 230 

 Poultry ............................................................................................... 144 118 109 109 164 140 167 233 

 Fish and seafood .............................................................................. 153 118 87 134 179 144 190 287 

 Eggs .................................................................................................. 54 41 40 55 55 52 58 89 

 Dairy products ...................................................................................... 440 306 317 394 460 485 521 704 

 Fresh milk and cream ....................................................................... 132 114 96 120 130 132 165 199 

 Other dairy products ......................................................................... 308 192 220 274 330 353 356 505 

 Fruits and vegetables .......................................................................... 875 660 595 772 914 907 1,055 1,477 

 Fresh fruits ........................................................................................ 320 234 207 275 322 320 439 550 

 Fresh vegetables .............................................................................. 276 212 185 243 288 293 314 479 

 Processed fruits ................................................................................ 114 84 78 117 120 114 132 181 

 Processed vegetables ...................................................................... 165 130 124 136 184 179 169 267 

 Other food at home .............................................................................. 1,547 1,096 1,126 1,300 1,618 1,650 1,866 2,565 

 Sugar and other sweets .................................................................... 160 121 126 129 151 180 197 243 

 Fats and oils ..................................................................................... 118 110 87 121 119 115 118 180 

 Miscellaneous foods ......................................................................... 813 547 599 659 842 880 958 1,377 

See footnotes at end of table. 
Table 3254. Consumer units with reference person age 65 and over by income before taxes: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, 

Consumer Expenditure Surveys, 2020-2021 — Continued 

Item 

Total 

65 years 

and older 

Less 

than 

$15,000 

$15,000 

to

$29,999 

$30,000 

to

$39,999 

$40,000 

to

$49,999 

$50,000 

to

$69,999 

$70,000 

to

$99,999 

$100,000 

and

more 

 Nonalcoholic beverages ................................................................... 411 310 300 364 474 422 507 617 

 Food prepared by consumer unit on out of town trips ...................... 45 36 13 28 32 53 85 148 

 Food away from home ............................................................................ 1,745 688 1,023 1,623 1,498 1,971 2,436 3,564 

 Alcoholic beverages ................................................................................... 401 112 213 274 332 398 455 1,120 

 Housing ...................................................................................................... 18,150 10,944 13,623 15,986 18,159 19,378 23,948 31,908 

 Shelter ..................................................................................................... 10,153 6,564 8,066 8,361 10,162 10,340 12,543 18,462 

 Owned dwellings .................................................................................. 6,760 2,920 4,298 5,874 6,916 7,848 9,169 14,224 

 Mortgage interest and charges ......................................................... 1,411 540 817 1,192 1,394 1,747 2,091 3,048 

 Property taxes ................................................................................... 2,510 1,138 1,569 2,248 2,650 2,989 3,375 5,099 

 Maintenance, repairs, insurance, and other expenses .................... 2,840 1,241 1,911 2,433 2,873 3,112 3,702 6,078 

 Rented dwellings.................................................................................. 2,696 3,467 3,508 2,082 2,589 1,805 2,301 1,951 

 Other lodging ....................................................................................... 697 177 261 404 657 687 1,073 2,287 

 Utilities, fuels, and public services .......................................................... 3,856 2,526 3,041 3,833 4,013 4,462 4,872 5,603 

 Natural gas ........................................................................................... 443 281 347 413 451 527 574 673 

 Electricity .............................................................................................. 1,456 1,100 1,243 1,476 1,495 1,613 1,703 1,913 

 Fuel oil and other fuels ........................................................................ 148 52 118 170 135 191 163 248 

 Telephone services .............................................................................. 1,126 689 801 1,088 1,189 1,340 1,568 1,752 

 Residential phone service, VOIP, and phone cards ........................ 313 230 290 300 349 340 357 378 

 Cellular phone service ...................................................................... 812 459 511 788 840 1,000 1,211 1,374 

 Water and other public services .......................................................... 683 404 533 686 742 792 865 1,017 

 Household operations ............................................................................. 1,342 523 984 1,419 1,424 1,496 1,663 2,453 

 Personal services................................................................................. 96 39 3122 3124 3133 335 396 3123 

 Other household expenses .................................................................. 1,246 514 862 1,295 1,291 1,462 1,567 2,330 

 Housekeeping supplies ........................................................................... 803 408 583 603 744 999 1,085 1,361 

 Laundry and cleaning supplies ............................................................ 158 99 137 151 154 177 169 230 

 Other household products ................................................................... 511 253 350 324 437 695 702 928 

 Postage and stationery ........................................................................ 134 56 96 128 152 126 214 203 

 Household furnishings and equipment ................................................... 1,996 923 947 1,770 1,816 2,081 3,784 4,029 

 Household textiles................................................................................ 100 52 58 82 97 148 165 148 

 Furniture ............................................................................................... 390 157 242 292 438 357 496 980 

 Floor coverings .................................................................................... 27 9 17 36 41 35 18 50 

 Major appliances .................................................................................. 346 142 197 373 335 429 326 812 

 Small appliances and miscellaneous housewares .............................. 114 53 76 100 126 131 158 201 

 Miscellaneous household equipment .................................................. 1,018 511 358 887 779 981 2,621 1,838 

 Apparel and services .................................................................................. 906 655 595 681 740 764 1,107 2,005 

 Men and boys .......................................................................................... 196 67 102 117 145 136 306 552 

 Men, 16 and over ................................................................................. 175 65 87 96 133 134 288 480 

 Boys, 2 to 15 ........................................................................................ 21 32 316 321 311 33 18 72 

 Women and girls ..................................................................................... 375 306 303 279 296 330 377 740 

 Women, 16 and over ........................................................................... 354 301 279 270 279 307 355 698 

 Girls, 2 to 15 ......................................................................................... 22 35 324 39 317 323 322 42 

 Children under 2 ...................................................................................... 19 33 315 319 333 37 310 345 

 Footwear ................................................................................................. 165 104 94 165 138 154 170 370 

 Other apparel products and services ...................................................... 151 176 81 101 128 137 244 297 

 Transportation ............................................................................................ 6,696 3,039 4,196 6,507 5,933 8,902 9,273 12,770 

 Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ............................................................... 2,621 1,169 1,545 2,653 1,548 3,866 3,680 5,337 

 Cars and trucks, new ........................................................................... 1,350 3225 708 1,283 3670 2,228 2,007 3,214 

 Cars and trucks, used .......................................................................... 1,260 944 837 1,370 874 1,634 1,590 2,108 

 Other vehicles ...................................................................................... 

311 ( 4

 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) 33 34 383 315 

 Gasoline, other fuels, and motor oil ........................................................ 1,195 583 791 1,216 1,344 1,530 1,681 1,903 

 Other vehicle expenses .......................................................................... 2,656 1,202 1,768 2,518 2,893 3,309 3,672 4,682 

 Vehicle finance charges ....................................................................... 125 58 64 114 160 146 203 236 

 Maintenance and repairs ..................................................................... 745 310 477 719 845 873 1,034 1,374 

 Vehicle rental, leases, licenses, and other charges ............................ 612 210 330 520 709 873 863 1,244 

 Vehicle insurance................................................................................. 1,174 623 897 1,165 1,179 1,417 1,572 1,828 

 Public and other transportation ............................................................... 223 85 91 119 148 197 240 849 

 Healthcare .................................................................................................. 6,851 4,020 5,264 7,142 7,391 7,748 8,399 10,518 

 Health insurance ..................................................................................... 4,915 3,076 3,799 5,144 5,404 5,784 5,847 7,168 

 Medical services ...................................................................................... 958 433 694 960 921 1,020 1,260 1,824 

 Drugs ....................................................................................................... 726 406 605 746 741 778 827 1,126 

 Medical supplies ...................................................................................... 252 105 166 292 325 167 465 400 

 Entertainment ............................................................................................. 2,593 1,231 1,682 2,082 2,619 2,676 3,988 5,222 

 Fees and admissions .............................................................................. 334 79 150 189 280 377 415 1,089 

 Audio and visual equipment and services .............................................. 1,024 597 836 988 1,126 1,235 1,230 1,482 

 Pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment..................................... 739 402 444 646 784 677 1,303 1,277 

See footnotes at end of table. 
Table 3254. Consumer units with reference person age 65 and over by income before taxes: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, 

Consumer Expenditure Surveys, 2020-2021 — Continued 

Item 

Total 

65 years 

and older 

Less 

than 

$15,000 

$15,000 

to

$29,999 

$30,000 

to

$39,999 

$40,000 

to

$49,999 

$50,000 

to

$69,999 

$70,000 

to

$99,999 

$100,000 

and

more 

 Pets ...................................................................................................... 614 370 360 540 648 571 1,081 1,042 

 Toys, hobbies, and playground equipment ......................................... 125 332 84 106 135 106 223 235 

 Other entertainment supplies, equipment, and services ........................ 496 154 251 258 430 388 1,041 1,373 

 Personal care products and services ......................................................... 567 308 388 533 565 622 732 1,045 

 Reading ...................................................................................................... 147 46 134 112 146 153 188 268 

 Education.................................................................................................... 364 78 141 183 334 475 348 1,281 

 Tobacco products and smoking supplies ................................................... 213 168 185 247 254 242 227 218 

 Miscellaneous ............................................................................................. 869 381 570 589 681 871 1,320 2,110 

 Cash contributions...................................................................................... 3,231 1,214 1,399 2,810 2,853 3,824 3,752 9,272 

 Personal insurance and pensions .............................................................. 2,786 323 489 981 1,592 2,584 4,476 12,289 

 Life and other personal insurance .......................................................... 496 198 285 474 556 448 752 1,105 

 Pensions and Social Security ................................................................. 2,291 125 204 507 1,036 2,135 3,724 11,183 

Sources of income and personal taxes: 

 Income before taxes ................................................................................... $53,830 $9,040 $21,867 $34,786 $44,804 $58,711 $83,127 $172,527 

 Wages and salaries................................................................................. 18,486 459 1,546 4,626 9,286 17,072 34,007 86,758 

 Self-employment income ........................................................................ 2,945 3

-190 130 325 796 2,044 3,046 17,886 

 Social Security, private and government retirement ............................... 27,807 7,432 19,197 27,852 31,635 35,451 39,298 49,056 

 Interest, dividends, rental income, and other property income .............. 3,313 220 397 1,169 2,027 2,725 4,566 16,041 

 Public assistance, Supplemental Security Income, Supplementary 

 Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) ................................................. 329 813 337 220 271 274 223 111 

 Unemployment and workers' compensation, veterans' benefits, 

 and regular contributions for support ................................................... 756 59 191 545 693 1,041 1,881 1,864 

 Other income ........................................................................................... 194 247 69 349 396 104 3106 810 

 Personal taxes (contains some imputed values) ....................................... 2,172 -1,535 -1,748 -2,105 -1,324 -372 3,384 23,735 

 Federal income taxes .............................................................................. 3,252 -30 -9 167 556 1,324 4,310 20,509 

 Stimulus payment (new UCC Q20202)# ................................................ -1,913 -1,464 -1,688 -2,335 -2,071 -2,198 -2,286 -1,745 

 State and local income taxes .................................................................. 779 -71 -74 9 152 424 1,260 4,880 

 Other taxes .............................................................................................. 53 330 23 54 339 78 100 91 

 Income after taxes ...................................................................................... 51,659 10,575 23,616 36,891 46,128 59,083 79,744 148,792 

Addenda: 

 Net change in total assets and liabilities .................................................... $14,135 $2,457 $4,058 $7,488 $10,437 $9,920 $7,147 $68,950 

 Net change in total assets ....................................................................... 20,095 3,869 6,181 11,106 14,314 19,164 23,900 80,677 

 Net change in total liabilities ................................................................... 5,959 1,412 2,122 3,618 3,877 9,245 16,753 11,727 

 Other financial information: 

 Other money receipts .............................................................................. 685 3201 559 829 779 818 607 1,188 

 Mortgage principal paid on owned property ........................................... -1,688 -564 -869 -1,112 -1,619 -1,673 -2,895 -4,439 

 Estimated market value of owned home................................................. 273,925 135,561 178,367 253,945 274,525 345,451 360,914 518,235 

 Estimated monthly rental value of owned home ..................................... 1,393 773 1,021 1,330 1,437 1,673 1,772 2,347 

1

 Data are rounded to the nearest thousands. 

2

 Value is too small to display. 

3

 Data are likely to have large sampling errors. 

4

 No data reported. 

# Data collection for this item began in June 2020. Stimulus payments delivered to respondents interviewed in April and May of 2020 were not included in estimation. 

Source: Consumer Expenditure Surveys, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, September, 2022