How much money does it take to provide the basics for a family of four in Mecklenburg County -- and why does it cost more than $5,400 less than in, say, Wake County, the state Capital? According to a new online calculator made available by the folks at the N.C. Budget & Tax Center in Raleigh, it costs a family of four $46,402 a year just to pay for the basic level of housing, food childcare, health care, transportation, other necessities and taxes in Mecklenburg County.
In Wake County, by comparison, it costs $51,856 a year -- primarily because housing costs, child care costs and taxes are significantly higher.
The online calculator, available here and an accompanying explanation of the center's research on a living income standard for low-income citizens -- "Making Ends Meet on Low Wages," by John Quinterno with Meg Gray and Jack Schofield, linked here constitute a fascinating look at what's happening to working families in this state. About one-third of them earn low incomes, the center reports.
The living income calculator provides information on the cost of basic living expenses for all 100 counties, and for families sizes from one parent and one child to two parents and up to three children.
The calculator also notes what a worker needs to earn to provide the basics. For a family of four in Mecklenburg, it's $22.31 per hour. In Wake, it's $24.93.
The calculator and report are sure to stir up conversation and debate -- exactly the sort of thing the Center aims to do in its work on a host of social issues. It's worth a look, and some thought.
Monday, July 28, 2008
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12 comments:
If you get some sort of college degree, which you should, you should have no problem making enough money here or in Wake County.
wow really, i am sure if you had given everyone that pearl of wisdom years ago no one would have any problems. Things are not always that easy.
And guess which counties have the higher paying jobs in the state.
You pay more in Wake because the educational system is better (K-12 and higher), crime is lower, and the economy is stronger/more diverse.
Jack this is so true about Charlotte , Ashville and Raleigh; The cost of housing was skyrocketed by deceiption and artificial inflation; As more People from New England and California arrive here with 'fists full of dollars' they throw it at realtors. They think they are getting a deal until they try to sell the house. Thats when reality sinks in that they paid %40 percent more for the house than its land value. Lets face it houses are not based on wages and if they were houses would be cheap and they are not. Lets face it the average house in Charlotte artificially rose on speculation of People coming from other States not the pay scale.
It makes me silloy when People find housing here cheaper than Manhattan or Boston but People used to make great money up there ; The South is non-Union to say the least and wages are lower but the supply of People coming is making the demand fly upwards.The big boom is coming because People in the North cant sell their houses. I have relatives in Florida who say, "real estate has died and no one can sell". Waht happenes next 'Great Depression' who knows but housing cant keep going up or we will all be out in the woods.To bad Clinton had the right idea that Mortgage interest should top at %2 percent and everybody could afford a two hundred thousand dollar house for about $500 a month.
Jack you should see some of the apartment rent they are trying to hang People with in Charlotte; While they have 8000 thousand units empty according to the North Carolina Apartment Assoc. the rents are climbing because People are getting foreclosed on. Think about all the crime and suffering we are putting everybody through in North Carolina with this. Is this moral ?
Jack with all the job loss you would think things would be going down in price but they are going up ; Some sort of hyperinflation . Charlotte wasnt designed for this type of pricing and the common folks are suffering; Crime is rising with the temperature and drugs are moving in to replace low pay and misery. Police are running all over Charlotte to answer murder calls and shootings; The once East side of town is getting worse than all of it combined. Eastland Mall was just foreclosed on by Glichmer Reality because they have had enough. Just six years ago it was safe and now your a statistic going there. I see in Raleigh they had a young gang fight , Jack what happened to little league and kids soccer or tennis for kids?
It's amazing how much stock we put in having a college degree. I have 2 degrees and am unable to find work in my field sufficient enought to support my family. A degree is nothing more than an acknowledgement of the ability to carry out a task from start to finish.
Why does the "3 person family" consist of 1 adult and 2 kids instead of 2 adults and 1 kid? Does political correctness even have to rule our calculators now!?!
The cost of housing in N.C. has been artificially manipulated by supply and demand. Builders wont build anything under $200,000 thousand raising the bar for everyone. Its hyper inflation on a reaction of the Carolinas is the greatest thing next to a milky way bar.
listen my spouse makes $70,000 a year and we cant buy a house on charlotte unless you buy a dump in a neighborhood that you need an oozy.
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