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Montgomery County 1997 Census Update Survey Summary Report

The complete Montgomery County '97 Census Update Survey Summary Report document is represented by the index below.

Table of contents menu

Cover, front matter and credits
Introduction
Summary
Population trends
Household trends
Residents aged 65 and older
Residency and mobility
Race and hispanic origin
Employment characteristics of residents
Household income
Appendix
List of tables
Table of figures
Table of maps

Cover, front matter & credits

Introduction

Summary of results
Most populous jurisdiction in Maryland on track to 1 million mark
Continuing trend of racial diversity
Gateway Montgomery: most new households are from outside the region
Foreign-born immigration spurs County’s growth and cosmopolitan milieu
New residents contribute to County’s high level of educational attainment
Maturing County is aging in place
Senior population increased by one-third since 1987
Average household size drops a person since 1960
Increased labor force participation by women
White-collar defines the resident workforce

  • County’s median household income is nearly twice the nation’s
  • 1997 population and housing snapshot by structure type
  • Demographic profiles of combined Planning Areas

Population trends
State’s most populous jurisdiction since 1989
Population growth fueled by record level births and new residents influx
Foreign immigration spurs County’s growth & cosmopolitan milieu
Profile of households with a foreign-born head or spouse
Population growth follows the County’s General Plan
Baby boomers leave their thumbprint on the population
Rising median age
New residents contribute to County’s high level of educational attainment

Household trends
Household percentage growth matches population’s
I-270 is the County’s high growth corridor
Average household size drops a person since 1960
Slide in single-family and multi-family household size
Life stages and associated household size
Average household size differentiates combined planning areas
County households are headed by increasingly older individuals
Typical suburban household types
Homeownership exceeds national rate
Owner vs. renter household differences
Homeowners enjoy substantial income and housing cost advantages
Rents vary by structure type and location
Younger households pay the highest monthly housing costs
Lowest income households bear the highest proportional housing cost burdens
Rental households hardest hit
Fewer owners bear excessive housing cost burdens
Widespread computer ownership
Neighborhood and local parks attract nearby families
Residents plan to retire in the County

Residents aged 65 and older
Growing senior population
Many of the elderly are economically housed
Mobility and migration among the elderly
Senior income lowest of all age groups
Young seniors are working at home
Computers, cars, and parks

Resident and mobility
Residents are staying put longer
Damascus and Poolesville residents stay put
Three out of seven households recently moved
Most new residents are from outside the region
Most minority households moved 5 years prior to the survey
Age differences of non-mover and mover households
Movers pay more for housing than non-movers
Almost half of renters are new County residents
Young in-movers have lower incomes
In-movers attracted to General Plan’s Urban Ring and I-270 Corridor
Profile by Mobility Status

  • Non-mover households
  • Intra-county movers
  • In-movers

Race and hispanic origin
Continuing trend of racial diversity
Nonwhite and white in-migration
Nonwhite average household size remains larger than white’s
Nonwhite tenure status shifts to renters
Housing costs stretch a higher percentage of nonwhite households
Better educated and wealthier

Employment characteristics of residents
Three out of four adults are employed
Modest resident job growth since 1991 recession
Gains in resident employment attributed to women’s increased participation
Baby boomers are the backbone of the resident workforce
One out of three resident workers is foreign-born
New residents are young professionals
Most employed residents live and work in the County
Dramatic growth of resident employment outside the beltway ebbed
Workers linked to jobs close to home
One out of four employed residents commutes to D.C.
Most work in the private sector
White-collar defines the resident workforce
Sex, age, race, and occupation reflected in wages
The 30 minute commute
Traffic congestion is not enough to change commuting habits  
More people are working at home at least one day a week

Household income
County’s median household income is nearly twice the Nation’s
Income upturn after the decade of almost running in place
Who won? Who lost?
County median disguises underlying diversity
Race & Hispanic monetary split
Rural fringes attract the affluent

Appendix
Methodology of the 1997 Census Update Survey

  • Sample design
  • Response rates
  • Survey mailing list
  • Census Update Survey form
  • Confidentiality of reports
  • Estimating procedure

Definitions of survey data items
Questionnaire used in the 1997 Census Update Survey

List of Tables

  1. Profile of Montgomery County
  2. Profile of Bethesda/Chevy Chase Combined Planning Area
  3. Profile of Colesville Combined Planning Area
  4. Profile Damascus Combined Planning Area
  5. Profile of I-270 Corridor Combined Planning Area
  6. Profile of Kensington/Wheaton Combined Planning Area
  7. Profile of Olney Combined Planning Area
  8. Profile of Poolesville Combined Planning Area
  9. Profile of Potomac Combined Planning Area
  10. Profile of Rockville/North Bethesda Combined Planning Area
  11. Profile of Silver Spring/Takoma Park Combined Planning Area
  12. Annual Population Growth Rate 1970-1997
  13. Household Income by Foreign-Born Status
  14. Profile of Foreign-Born Head or Spouse Households
  15. Residential Population by Combined Planning Areas 1987 and 1997
  16. Residential Population 1987 and 1997
  17. Household Population by Age and Sex
  18. Montgomery County Population Growth 1970-1997
  19. Educational Attainment by Age and Sex
  20. Educational Attainment by Race and Hispanic Origin
  21. Households by Combined Planning Area 1987 and 1997
  22. Average Household Size 1977-2025
  23. Age of Householder by Average Household Size
  24. Average Household Size by Combined Planning Area
  25. Median Age of Householder by Structure Type
  26. Householder Age by Structure Type
  27. Household Types by Structure Type 1987 and 1997
  28. Tenure by Structure Type 1987and 1997
  29. Household Income by Tenure and Householder Age
  30. Tenure and Average Household Size by Race and Structure Type
  31. Household Income by Tenure
  32. Profile of Owner Occupied Households
  33. Profile of Renter Occupied Households
  34. Characteristics of Households Owning Computers
  35. Park Usage by Selected Household Types
  36. Elderly Age Groups 1987-2025
  37. Household Population by Age and Sex
  38. Income Spent on Housing Costs by Tenure and Head Age
  39. Income of Householders Age 65+ by Household Size
  40. Years in Present Dwelling by Structure Type
  41. Years in Residence by Tenure and Structure Type
  42. 1997 Place of Residence by Previous Place of Residence
  43. Previous Place of Residence by Structure Type 1987 and 1997
  44. Previous Place of Residence
  45. Mobility of Householders by Age and Structure Type
  46. Tenure by Previous Place of Residence
  47. Household Income by Previous Place of Residence
  48. Previous Place of Residence by Combined Planning Area
  49. Profile by Mobility Status
  50. Previous Place of Residence by Race
  51. Average Household Size by Tenure and Race
  52. Structure Type and Length of Residence by Tenure and Race
  53. Educational Attainment by Race and Hispanic Origin
  54. Profile by Race and Hispanic Origin
  55. Employment Status of Residents Age 16+
  56. Resident Employment Growth
  57. Resident Employment Growth by Sex 1977-1997
  58. Employment by Age and Sex 1977-1997
  59. Employment Characteristics of New Residents
  60. Work Location by Sex and Age of Employed Residents
  61. Work Location of Employed Residents
  62. Employed Residents by Place of Residence and Work Location
  63. Employed Residents by Employer
  64. Employed Residents by Occupational Types
  65. Average Wages by Employment Characteristics and Sex
  66. Principal Mode of Transportation to Work
  67. Worker’s Transportation to Metrorail
  68. Household Income by Householder Age
  69. Median Household Income Changes 1987 and 1997
  70. Household Income by Structure Type
  71. Household Income by Household Type
  72. Household Income by Household Size
  73. Household Income by Householder’s Race or Hispanic Origin
  74. Household Income by Combined Planning Areas

Table of Figures

  1. County Growth Trends 1950-2020
  2. Annual Population Growth Rate and Minority Share of Growth
  3. Previous Location of New Residents
  4. Percentage of Maryland’s Foreign-Born Residing in the County
  5. Educational Attainment in 1990 and 1997
  6. Average Household Size 1950-1997
  7. Labor Force Participation of Women 1950-1997
  8. 1996 Median Household Incomes of the County and the Nation
  9. Annual Birth Rate 1960-2010
  10. Legal Immigration into County 1991-1998
  11. Top 15 Countries of Origin for Legal Immigrants
  12. Average Age of Foreign-Born and Native-Born Population
  13. Households with Children by Foreign-Born Status
  14. Median Age of Population 1970-1997
  15. Educational Attainment by Foreign-Born Status
  16. County Growth Trends 1950-2020
  17. Average Household Size 1950-1997
  18. Age of Householder by Structure Type
  19. 1996 Household Income by Tenure
  20. Computer Ownership 1994 and 1997
  21. Park Usage by Types of Parks
  22. Percentage Share of Population Age 65+
  23. 1996 Median Monthly Housing Cost
  24. Median Household Income by Age of Elderly Householder
  25. Employment by Age of Elderly
  26. Mover Status by Householder’s Race or Hispanic Origin
  27. Previous Place of Residence by Householder’s Race or Hispanic Origin
  28. In-Mover’s Choice of Structure Type Varies by Race and Hispanic Origin
  29. Race and Hispanic Origin of In-Mover and All Householders
  30. Annual Population Growth Rate and Minority Share of Growth
  31. Change in Race and Hispanic Origin Population 1990 and 1997
  32. Median Household Income by Race and Hispanic Origin
  33. Labor Force Participation of Women 1950-1997
  34. Employment by Sex 1977-1997
  35. Age of Employed Females 1977-1997
  36. Employed Residents Living and Working in the County
  37. Employment Location of Residents
  38. Commuting Times of Employed Residents
  39. 1996 Median Incomes of the County and the Nation
  40. Median Household Income by Race and Hispanic Origin

Table of Maps

  1. Combined Planning Areas
  2. Percent of Population Foreign-Born
  3. Asian and Pacific Islander Percent of Population
  4. Black Percent of Population
  5. Hispanic Origin Percent of Population
  6. 1996 Median Household Income