Snapshot: householders over age 50 in Wisconsin and the nation

Here’s a new report on housing in various states from the AARP Public Policy Institute, State Housing Profiles: A Special Analysis of the Census Bureau's American Community Survey, by Andrew Kochera.

A few details about householders (heads of households) over age 50 from the report:

• Wisconsin ranks 18 among states with number of households headed by those over age 50.

• Twenty percent rent, 38% own with mortgages, and 43% own without mortgages (over 100% because of rounding.)

• Nationally, the number of households headed by someone age 50 or older increased by about 25% between 1990 and 2004.

• Of those, 16% were racial minorities in 2004, compared with 5% in Wisconsin.

• About 4% of householders over age 50 have a grandchild living in their households. In Wisconsin, it’s 2%.

• Nearly 40% of households with heads over age 50 have at least one person with a disability, most commonly physical limits related to walking, climbing, reaching, lifting, or carrying. In Wisconsin, it’s 35% (but 51% for renters).

• A few more 50+ Wisconsinites own their homes free and clear than the nation as a whole,(43% vs. 40%,) but that’s down from 53% in 1990.

• Only 5% live in condos in Wisconsin, compared with 7% in the US, but we’re catching up: in 1990, only 2% did.