Nation, state got bigger raises in ‘07 than O.C.

August 26th, 2008, 8:29 am · 3 Comments · posted by Ronald Campbell

Orange County’s median household income rose to $73, 263 in 2007, the U.S. Census Bureau reported today.

That was a 4.3 percent increase from 2006, unadjusted for inflation. Not bad for a year marked by cratering home prices and the collapse of the born-in-O.C. subprime loan business.

But California and the nation did better enjoying 5.8 percent and 4.7 percent increases, respectively, in median household income. The state median hit $59,948 while the national median topped $50,000 for the first time: $50,740.

This chart shows the trend in median household income. The 1999 figure is from the 2000 census, when respondents were asked to list their income for the prior year. The later numbers all come from the American Community Survey, which asks people their income in the preceding 12 months.