How Forest Hills-Regent Square Residents Make Ends Meet

Are you still heading out the door to work each day? Comfortably retired? Or stretching public assistance dollars, Social Security checks or Supplemental Security Income?

Below is a glimpse at how residents in Forest Hills, Swissvale, Edgewood and Regent Square make their ends meet.

The figures are the mean (average) income as reported in the U.S. Census Bureau's most recent American Community Survey covering the five-year period from 2007-2011. There is a margin of error ranging up to 2.5 percent.

Keep in mind that some households receive their income from more than one source.

FOREST HILLS BOROUGH

• The borough's estimated 3,003 households have a mean income of $70,399.
• An estimated 74 percent of households have earned income. For those 2,221 households, the mean earnings are $72,321.
  
• An estimated 35.9 percent of households rely on Social Security money. For those 1,077 households, the mean income from Social Security is $17,714.
• An estimated 22.4 percent of households rely on retirement income. For those 673 households, the mean income is $20,273.
• An estimated 2.4 percent of households rely on Supplemental Security Income (disability). For those 72 households, the mean SSI income is $12,244.
• An estimated 1.2 percent of households rely on public cash assistance income. For those 35 households, the mean public assistance income is $11,849.
• According to the survey estimate, 3.4 percent households (total 101) received Food Stamp/SNAP benefits in the last 12 months.

• The borough's estimated 4,591 households have a mean income of $52,313.
• An estimated 74.8 percent of households have earned income. For those 3,434 households, the mean earnings are $53,672.
  
• An estimated 31.7 percent of households rely on Social Security money. For those 1,455 households, the mean income from Social Security is $15,268.
• An estimated 18.6 percent of households rely on retirement income. For those 853 households, the mean income is $14,392.
• An estimated 8.1 percent of households rely on Supplemental Security Income (disability). For those 373 households, the mean SSI income is $7,584.
• An estimated 5 percent of households rely on public cash assistance income. For those 230 households, the mean public assistance income is $3,323.
• According to the survey estimate, 15.7 percent of households (total 720) received Food Stamp/SNAP benefits in the last 12 months.

• The borough's estimated 1,494 households have a mean income of $82,293.
• An estimated 81.4 percent of households have earned income. For those 1,216 households, the mean earnings are $85,802.
  
• An estimated 24.8 percent of households rely on Social Security money. For those 370 households, the mean income from Social Security is $18,885.
• An estimated 15.9 percent of households rely on retirement income. For those 238 households, the mean income is $15,039.
• An estimated 3.7 percent of households rely on Supplemental Security Income (disability). For those 55 households, the mean SSI income is $10,071.
• The survey estimates that no households rely on public cash assistance income. 
• According to the survey estimate, .3 percent of households (total five) received Food Stamp/SNAP benefits in the last 12 months.

• The city's estimated 134,001 households have a mean income of $56,479.
• An estimated 74 percent of households have earned income. For those 99,136 households, the mean earnings are $60,368.
• An estimated 28.3 percent of households rely on Social Security money. For those 37,912 households, the mean income from Social Security is $14,629.
• An estimated 15.7 percent of households rely on retirement income. For those 21,079 households, the mean income is $17,330.
• An estimated 6.3 percent of households rely on Supplemental Security Income (disability). For those 8,404 households, the mean SSI income is $8,224.
• An estimated 4.8 percent of households rely on public cash assistance income. For those 6,443 households, the mean public assistance income is $2,810.
• An estimated 15.6 percent of households (20,853 total) received Food Stamp/SNAP benefits in the last 12 months.