Where We Live: Making Sense Of The Census

The census numbers are in… but what are they saying about the state of Connecticut? 

We know that the US has seen the lowest population growth since the great depression… but what about Connecticut?  Sandwiched between two states who lost  congressional seats – we managed to grow by 4.9% in the last decade and keep all our House seats in Washington. 

Today, we’ll talk about what the census data says about reapportionment – and about state demograpics.  We’ve mnaged to emerge from the “great recession” better than other states – with unemployment rates below the national average, and incomes still the highest in the country.  

But it’s not all rosy.  Poverty rates are increasing. In 2009, 21% of state residents lived below twice the poverty threshold. The state has the 4th hightest long-term unemployment rate in the country – because of slow job creation and an aging workforce.