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UNITED STATES D EPARTM EN T OF LABO R
Frances P erk in s, Secretary
B U R E A U O F L A B O R S T A T IS T IC S
Isador L u b in , Commissioner
in co o p e ra tio n w i t h
W O R K S PR O G R E SS A D M IN IS T R A T IO N
+
Fam ily Income and Expenditure
in Chicago, 1935-36
VOLUM E I
Fam ily Income
+
Prepared by
A.
D. H. K A P L A N
and
F A IT H M . WILLIAMS
assisted by
E R IK A H. WULFF
Bulletin
N o.
642
A p r il 1938
U N IT E D S T A T E S
G O V E R N M E N T P R I N T I N G O FFICE
W A S H I N G T O N : 1939
STU D Y OF CONSUMER PURCHASES: U R B A N SERIES
F o r sale b y t h e S u p erin ten d en t o f D ocu m en ts, W ash in g ton , D . C.
-
-
P rice 25 cen ts
CONTENTS
Page
P reface _________________________________________________________________
C hapter I.— Family income in Chicago________________________________
C hapter II.— Family income by occupational group___________________
C hapter III.— Family income by family composition__________________
C hapter IV.— Sources of family income________________________________
C hapter V.— Home tenure as related to income________________________
C hapter VI.— Housing expenditures in relation to income_____________
C hapter VII.— Summary______________________________________________
T abular Summary____________________________________________________
Section A.— All families: Tables 1 -5_________________________________
Section B.— Native white families including both husband and wife:
Tables 1-19_____________________________________________________
Section C.— Incomplete native white, foreign born white, Negro, and
families of other color: Tables 1-7_________________________________
A ppendix A.— Scope and character of samples taken in the study of con
sumer purchases_______________________________________________________
A ppendix B.— Chicago sampling procedure_______________________________
A ppendix C.— Schedule forms and glossary_______________________________
A ppendix D.— Note on earlier studies of family income and expenditure__
vii
1
15
37
47
76
93
104
108
109
114
161
173
177
187
208
L is t o f T e x t T a b le s
C hapter I
T able 1.— Estimated percentage of families with less than and with more
than specified amounts of family income__________________
2. — Distribution by income of families of specified color and
nativity_________________________________________________
3. — Native and foreign born white and Negro families, by income.
4. — Complete and incomplete families of specified color and nativ
ity, by income___________________________________________
5. — Percentage of families reporting less than and more than speci
fied amounts of family income____________________________
6. — Percentage of families and of family income in specified income
classes___________________________________________________
4
6
8
10
12
12
C hapter I I
T able 7.— Occupational distribution of families of specified color and
nativity_________________________________________________
8. — Families of different income levels distributed by occupational
group____________________________________________________
9. — Median incomes of families of specified color and nativity by
occupational group______________________________________
a. All families.
b. Nonrelief families only.
hi
20
22
24
CONTENTS
IV
£age
T
able
10.— Median incomes in different occupational groups of native
and foreign born white families, complete and incom plete-_
11. — Distribution of families in different occupational groups, by
color and nativity_____________________________________________
12. — Families of the wage-earner group distributed by income,
average total income, and earnings and weeks of employ
ment of principal earners______________________________________
13. — Families of the clerical group distributed by income, aver
age total income, and earnings and weeks of employment of
principal earners_______________________________________________
14. — Families of the business and professional groups distributed
by income, average total income, and earnings and weeks of
employment of principal earners______________________________
15. — Families of the independent business group distributed by
income, average total income, and earnings and weeks of
employment of principal earners_____________________________
16. — Families of the salaried professional group distributed by
income, average total income, and earnings and weeks of
employment of principal earners______________________________
17. — Families of the salaried business group distributed by income,
average total income, and earnings and weeks of employ
ment of principal earners______________________________________
18. — Families of the independent professional group distributed by
income, average total income, and earnings and weeks of
employment of principal earners______________________________
19. — Income distribution, by occupational group_________________
25
26
28
30
31
32
33
34
35
35
C hapter I I I
T
able
20.— Average size and composition of economic families, by income.
21. — Average number of persons under and over age 16, in addi
tion to husband and wife, by occupational group____________
22. — Income characteristics of family types_______________________
23. — Distribution of family types at specified income levels, by
occupational group____________________________________________
a. All incomes.
b. Under $1,000.
c. Over $5,000.
24. — Families of different occupational groups, by family typ e_
25. — Family type composition among families of specified color and
nativity_________________________________________________________
38
39
41
43
45
46
Chapter I V
T
able
26.— Aggregate family income, by sources, for families of specified
color and nativity_____________________________________________
27. — Distribution of families by number of earners for families of
specified color and nativity___________________________________
a. Relief and nonrelief families combined.
b. Nonrelief families.
28. — Median incomes by number of earners, for families of specified
color and nativity_____________________________________________
29. — Total money earnings distributed according to source, by
family type_____________________________________________________
48
51
53
53
CONTENTS
V
Page
T able 30.— Average number of earners and average income from earnings
of individuals, per family with earners, by income_________
31. — Average earnings of principal earners and of individual supple
mentary earners, by income__________________________________
32. — Average number of earners per family with earners, by occu
pational group--------------------------------------------------------------------------33. — Average earnings of principal earners and individual supple
mentary earners, by occupational group_____________________
34. — Males and females as principal earners in specified income
classes__________________________________________________________
a. All families and families of specified color and nativity.
b. Native white families, complete and incomplete.
35a.— Husbands and wives as earners, principal and supplementary,
distributed by age groups_____________________________________
35b.— Principal and supplementary earners and nonearners among
husbands and wives in specified age groups_________________
36. — Average earnings of earners by age group: Husbands and
wives_________________________
a. Principal earners.
b. Supplementary earners.
37. — Average number of weeks in which principal earner was em
ployed in families of specified color and nativity____________
38. — Principal earners: Average earnings per week when employed
and average weeks of employment, by income______________
39. — Families receiving income from roomers and boarders, by color,
nativity, and incom e______ ___________________________________
40. — Percentage of families receiving nonearned money income
from specified sources and average annual amount per family
having each source of income_________________________________
41. — Percentage of families having and proportion of nonearned
money income at specified income levels_____________________
42. — Percentage of nonearned money income reported by families
at specified income levels, by occupational group__________
55
56
57
58
60
63
63
64
66
67
69
72
74
75
Chapter V
T able 43.— Average amount of net imputed income from owned home re
ceived by home owners in specified occupational groups, by
income__________________________________________________________
44. — Percentage of renting and owning families at specified income
levels___________________________________________________________
a. Families of specified color and nativity, by income.
b. Complete and incomplete native white families, by
income.
45. — Nativity and racial composition of home-owning families at
specified income levels_________________________________________
46. — Home owners: Percentage in specified occupational groups,
by income______________________________________________________
47. — Home-owning families at specified income levels classified by
occupational group____________________________________________
48. — Renters and owners distributed by age of head of family, at
specified income levels_________________________________________
a. Renters.
b. Owners.
78
80
82
84
85
86
VI
CONTENTS
Page
T
a b l e
49.— Percentage of renters and owners among family heads of
specified ages_____________________________________
50. —Percentage of owners among family heads of specified ages,
by income classes__________________________________
51. —Renting and owning families distributed by income levels_
a. Families of specified color and nativity.
b. Native white families, complete and incomplete.
52. —Owning and renting families in different occupational groups,
by income________________________________________
53. —Proportion of occupants of specified types of dwellings who
were home owners, by income________________________
54. —Renters and owners in specified types of dwellings, distributed
by income________________________________________
86
87
88
89
91
92
C hapter V I
T able 55.—Average monthly rent paid by families of specified color and
nativity__________________________________________
56. —Rent as a percentage of income for families of specified color
and nativity______________________________________
57. —Average monthly rent, and relation of annual rental rate to
annual income in specified occupational groups, by income.
58. —Average rents, by family type_______________________
59. —Average monthly rental value of owned home among families
of specified color and nativity________________________
60. —Average monthly rental value of owned home and relation of
annual rental value to annual income, in specified occupa
tional groups, by income____________________________
93
95
98
99
101
101
List o f Figures
Figure I.—Distribution of families and of aggregate income, by income
classes___________________________________________
II.—Distribution by income of families of specified color and
nativity__________________________________________
III. —Distribution by income of native white families including both
husband and wife__________________________________
IV. —Distribution of families of specified color and nativity, by
occupational groups________________________________
V.—Distribution of relief families and of nonrelief families at
specified income levels,byoccupational groups___________
VI.—Distribution by income of families of specified occupational
groups----------------------------------------------------------------VII.—Family types for income study_________________________
VIII.—Distribution by income offamilies of specified types_______
IX.—Sources of income of relief families and of nonrelief families at
specified income levels______________________________
X.—Distribution by income of families having the designated
number of earners__________________________________
XI.—Supplementary earners classified by amount of annual earn
ings--------------------------------------------------------------------XII.—Distribution by income of families with husbands at given age
levels____________________________________________
5
7
13
18
19
23
40
42
50
54
59
65
PREFACE
T h e present bulletin is the first of a series o f reports on annual in
com es and expenditures o f urban fam ilies in the U n ited States.
They
are based on data secured from a survey conducted in 1936 b y the
U n ited States B u reau o f L ab o r Statistics in 32 cities varyin g in size
and representing different sections o f the country.
T h e U rb a n S tu d y
o f C on su m er Purchases is paralleled b y a su rvey o f sm all city , village^
and farm fam ilies conducted b y the B ureau of H o m e E con om ics o f the
U n ited
States
D e p a rtm e n t
of
Agriculture.
B o th
surveys,
which
together constitute the S tu d y of C on sum er Purchases, were adm in
istered under a grant of funds from th e W o r k s Progress A d m in istra
tion.
T h e N a tio n a l R esources C o m m ittee and the C en tral S tatistical
B o a rd b oth cooperated in the N a tio n -w id e stu d y .
T h e plans for the
project were developed and the adm inistration w as coordinated b y a
T echnical C o m m ittee com posed o f representatives o f th e follow ing
agencies: N a tio n a l
R esources
C o m m itte e ,
H ildegarde
K n e e la n d ,
ch airm an ; B u reau o f L a b o r Statistics, F a ith M . W illia m s ; B u reau o f
H om e
E con om ics,
D ay
M on roe; W orks
Progress A d m in istra tio n ,
M ilto n F orster; and C en tral S tatistical B o a rd , Sam uel J. D en n is.
T h e general purpose o f the in vestigation was to throw ligh t on the
p atterns o f consum ption prevailing am on g fam ilies o f different incom e
levels,
occupations, and
fa m ily
types.
The
in form ation
w ill
be
presented in a n um ber of special studies dealing w ith the econom ic
distribution o f fam ilies in the co m m u n ity , and w ith the consum ption
o f specific com m odities and services.
T h e tw o agencies engaged in the conduct o f the surveys are pre
paring separate reports on the distribution o f incom e and fa m ily
disbursem ents in the com m un ities or areas w hich their respective
surveys
h ave
covered.
The
N a tio n a l
Resources
C o m m ittee
is
utilizing the results in the preparation o f estim ates o f nation al con
su m ption , as related to the social-econom ic distribution o f the A m e ri
can p opu lation .
A general report on the scope and m e th od o lo g y of
the project and a final su m m ary report in volvin g a com prehensive
analysis o f the separate bureau publications are to be prepared jo in tly
b y the tw o operating bureaus and the consum ption research staff of
the N a tio n a l Resources C o m m ittee.
The
S tu d y
of
C onsum er
tw o related objectives.
Purchases
has
been
fam ilies according to incom e, occupation, and
directed
tow ard
T h e first is to ascertain the distribution o f
fa m ily com position.
vn
VIII
PREFACE
T he second is to leam how families of different incomes, occupations
and family types apportion their expenditures among specific goods
and services in different parts of the country.
In selecting the data to be secured and the analyses to be made,
consideration has been given to the different interests which m ay be
served by a study of consumer purchases. Scientific groups as well
as legislative bodies and administrative agencies of the Government
regularly need analyses of fam ily incomes and expenditures to aid
them in the study of such social and economic problems as taxation,
social security, consumer protection, and wage adjustments.
Simultaneous studies of rural and urban family incomes, and the
manner of their disbursement, can shed light on the relative abilities
of farm and city to absorb each other’s products, and on the manner
in which that capacity changes as rural and urban incomes change.
Welfare agencies are concerned with data bearing on the budgetary
requirements of families in the maintenance of minimum standards
of subsistence. Manufacturers and distributors will utilize the in
formation on income distribution and consumer preferences in the
planning of their production and sales programs. Finally, there is
general interest in knowing how actual levels of living differ from
commonly accepted standards of living.
Obviously, any economic program m ust have, as one fundamental
prerequisite, a definite knowledge of the distribution of families by
incomes and of the choices made by families in the disbursement of
their incomes. Heretofore we have not lacked impressive statistics
of national production, bank clearings, and factory pay rolls. B u t
with respect to the individual choices of the consumer— whose willing
ness and ability to absorb the offerings of the market go far to deter
mine the smoothness with which the economic order functions— we
have had to content ourselves with theories which changed with the
current fashion in psychology, with guesses derived from data on popu
lation, total sales, and general price movements. W e have not known
at what income level a fam ily of a given type is likely to enter the
market for recreational equipment, electrical appliances, or other
luxury goods. Even with respect to staple articles we are in doubt as
to what proportion of the population m ust find them beyond economic
reach. Moreover, the variation in purchasing habits of the popula
tion in different regions of the country, or of families living in cities of
different size, has yet to be shown in terms which would measure
the influence of these factors upon actual quantities purchased and
prices paid.
In recent years specific demands for such information have been
partially m et by the development of research agencies within trade
associations and large business units. T hey have devoted substantial
portions of their annual budgets to the study of consumer preference
PEEFACE
IX
for their own particular commodities. Charity organizations have
made special studies bearing on the minimum requirements of in
digent families under their care. Employee groups have occasionally
submitted family budgets for examination in connection with the
establishment of pension funds, determination of rentals in company
housing, or wage discussions. I t has been obviously impossible,
however, for any comprehensive outline of American consumption,
with all of its important implications, to be put together from such
scattered studies, specialized in character, each gathered with a
different purpose in mind.
The closest approach to date to a general study of family con
sumption of goods and services was provided by the series of surveys
among families of wage earners and clerical workers conducted by
the Bureau o f Labor Statistics for the United States Department of
Labor in 1918-19, which furnished the basis for the present cost of
living index. Aside from the fact that this study was limited in
scope, it is becoming obsolete for current purposes, inasmuch as the
pattern o f consumer purchases has materially altered since 1919.
N ot only does the price structure o f today differ significantly from
that of 1919, but we have to reckon with numerous new goods and
services that have entered the market, often at the expense of former
staples which are declining in use or disappearing entirely.
In response to the increasingly apparent need for bringing its data
on consumer buying habits more nearly up to date, the Cost of Living
Division of the Bureau of Labor Statistics was engaged from 1934 to
1936 upon new studies of expenditures among the families of wage
earners and low-salaried clerical workers in 55 cities.1 These have
already brought into statistical relief certain characteristics of the
changing pattern of consumer purchases. They have indicated, for
example, that transportation, heavily weighted with automobile
expense, now vies with clothing as a major item of expenditure in the
family budget; that changing relationships among retail prices, and
changing consumption habits, have resulted in somewhat lower ex
penditures for food and clothing and increases in the money spent for
transportation, recreation, and miscellaneous items of personal serv
ice. But these recent surveys, which cover only wage earner and
clerical families, while valuable in giving greater current accuracy to
the cost of living index, and in supplying purchasing information
regarding two important occupational groups, still left room for the
larger objectives o f a comprehensive study showing the distribution
of income for the whole population, and the pattern of expenditures
at a wider range of economic levels.
T he present study of consumer purchases differs from those pre
viously undertaken in that it is designed to cover a large enough
1 A list of these cities will be found in appendix A.
X
PREFACE
number o f families to allow for comparison, not only between different
sections o f the country, between urban and rural communities, and
between cities o f different size, but also between families at different
income levels, and, within any given income level, between families of
different composition and occupational groups. Eighteen income
classes are differentiated, ranging from families having less than $250
in current income per annum to those with $10,000 a year and more.
In addition to the wage earner, clerical, and farm groups which have
been the subject of previous investigations, the present study includes
professional and business categories, both salaried and self-employed,
as well as families whose incomes are not dependent upon current
employment. The classification by composition of the family dis
tinguishes five distinct types in all communities, and in certain
communities as many as eight, varying from single individuals and
families which contain only the husband and wife, to families o f seven
or eight persons, classified so as to take into account the age of family
members other than husband and wife. The desire to classify the
information on consumer purchases by these m ajor factors has
determined both the number and types of families interviewed.
The combined study o f consumer purchases for urban and rural
families covers 2 metropolitan communities; 6 large cities averaging
300,000 inhabitants; 14 middle-sized cities of 30,000 to 75,000; 29
smaller cities of from 10,000 to 20,000; 140 villages; and 64 farm
counties. A list of the cities and a description of the techniques of the
general investigations will be found in appendixes A and B.
A c k n o w le d g m e n ts .— In addition to the agencies mentioned as
participants, and the supervisory staff listed on page 2 of the cover,
the Urban Study has had the benefit of cordial cooperation and
advice from a number of other units within the Government. The
Bureau of Labor Statistics wishes also to acknowledge the assist
ance it has received from interested individuals and civic bodies out
side the Government, too numerous to be mentioned here by name.
In particular, the collaboration o f two groups must be recognized as
having made the studies possible: The W . P. A. workers, who per
formed the field collection and office tabulation of the data, often
under unfavorable conditions, on a high plane of professional respon
sibility; and the householders, more especially the housewives, who
laid aside their household tasks long enough to furnish answers to the
detailed questions in the schedules.
Volume I of this bulletin on Chicago families is concerned with the
distribution of families in the community by income, occupation, and
family type. Volume I I will consider the summary of expenditures
by main categories of the family budget.
I sador L
A p r il 1938.
t j b in ,
C o m m issio n e r o j L a b o r S ta tistics.
Bulletin
7S[o.
642 ( V 61.
I ) o f th e
United States Bureau o f Labor Statistics
Fam ily Income in Chicago, 1935-36
Chapter I
Family Income in Chicago
Family income, determining the limits within which* consumer
purchases may be made over an extended period, is the primary
control for the analysis of the data secured in the present study.
Apart from its significance for the study of individual family expend
itures, information on the distribution of family incomes is intrinsically
valuable as a guide in estimating consumer capacity and appraising
the economic well-being o f the community.
P o p u la tio n distribu tion b y in c o m e .— The median annual income for
the Chicago community of approximately 823,000 families in 1935-36
is estimated to have been $1,412. This is to say that about 400,000
of Chicago’s families received an average of $27 per week or less in
current income. Among them are included the families, roughly
equivalent to 13.7 percent of the population, which obtained relief at
some time during the schedule year.1 If we confined the estimate
solely to nonrelief families, the median family income would be
$1,579 per annum or $30 per week.
Approximately one-third of all Chicago families (including most of
those which received relief during the year) were in the income
brackets below $1,000. The incomes between $1,000 and $2,000
included another 40 percent of the population, leaving 28 percent of
the families with incomes of $2,000 or more. Table 1 gives the
cumulative percentages for all families (relief and nonrelief combined)
at successive income levels.
1 Families were classified as having been on relief if they were granted direct relief at any time during the
year by a public or private agency, or if any member of the family was employed during the year on a work
relief project (not including C. C. C., if no member of the family received direct relief or work relief, or
payments from F. E. R. A. or N . Y . A. to a member of the family to enable him to complete his education).
Earnings from work-relief projects were included with other income of the family; no attempt was made
to ascertain the amount of direct relief, in cash or goods, received by the family during the year.
1
2
FAM ILY INCOME IN
CHICAGO
Some idea o f what the distribution of families by income may mean
in terms o f their consumer purchasing power is obtained by aggregat
ing the actual incomes estimated for families in the successive income
classes. For Chicago the total income available for fam ily disburse
ment in the com m unity in 1935-36 was distributed as indicated in
figure I. W ithin the technique of a field survey it is impossible
to secure complete reports as to the net amount of income received
from all sources in the high income groups.2 The proportion of returns
showing fam ily incomes o f more than $5,000 appears to be approxi
mately correct, but the aggregate of income reported falls short.
Thus the highest income reported in this study did not exceed
$50,000— obviously an understatement of peak income available
for fam ily spending in Chicago. However, the understatement
2
The analysis of income in terms of its distribution among families is very different from an analysis of
the total national income, and the concept of income as used in the Study of Consumer Purchases is corre
spondingly different. The study was interested in that part of the national income which flows through
family exchequers during the course of a year, and thus becomes available for the purchase of consumer
good's and services. Its data refer to the years 1935-36, when many family incomes, whether drawn from
wages, salaries* profits, or investments, were still abnormally low, despite the improvement over the 3
years immediately preceding, and when many families, unable to remain self-supporting, received assistance
in the form of relief.
From the point of view of estimating the degree of economic well-being of the community, it is obviously
desirable to include all families, those which remained completely self-supporting and those which received
relief either in the form of direct grants or through employment on work-relief projects. Accordingly, the
figures given in this chapter on distribution of families by income include the relief group. From other
points of view, however, it may be desirable to consider only that group of families whose incomes were
drawn from economic activity of one sort or another, setting apart those families whose incomes for the year
depended at least in part upon established need. This is especially true since no attempt was made in the
present study to determine the amounts received by families in the form of direct relief, either in cash or in
goods. In many tables, therefore, in the present study, the income distribution shown is limited to the
families which were self-dependent throughout the year. In the analysis of consumption expenditures,
which will be presented in later bulletins, only nonrelief families were included, since only their consump
tion patterns could be assumed to be based upon free choices between different consumers’ goods and
services.
Family income, as the term is used in this study, includes the sums received by the family from the
following sources:
1. M o n e y e a r n i n g s , including wages and salaries of all members of the economic family (after the deduction
of occupational expenses); net money incomes of independent business and professional earners insofar as
these were withdrawn for family use; and estimated net income accruing from roomers and boarders and
from casual work done in the home.
2. M o n e y i n c o m e o th e r t h a n e a r n i n g s , including dividends and interest received in cash from stocks and
bonds; net rent (after deduction of maintenance expense) from real estate other than the home; profits
actually received by the family from businesses owned but not operated by members of the family; amounts
paid on pensions and annuities; money gifts for current use received from those other than members of the
economic family, along with miscellaneous items such as alimony and gambling gains; such amounts re
ceived from inheritances or the soldiers’ bonus as were used for current expenditures. (See p. 196.)
3. N o n m o n e y i n c o m e f r o m h o u s i n g , including the estimated rental value of living quarters received in
payment for services (such as might be received by a minister, a resident manager, or a janitor); and imputed
income from owned homes, amounting to the difference between the total rental value of the home and
money expenses for interest on mortgages and estimated money outlay for taxes and repairs.
The implications of these reported sources of income are considered in ch. IV.
FAM ILY INCOME IN
3
CHICAGO
of income at the upper limits does not confuse the broad outlines of
the distribution, for the aggregate family income of the community.3
3
The income tax returns made to the Federal Bureau of Internal Revenue include forms of income which
do not come within the meaning of “ family income" as defined in the Urban Study. But the income tax
data may serve to suggest limits of error to which our field survey of family income is subject, in the case of
the higher income families. The only available report which presents the tax returns by income levels for
the city of Chicago is an unpublished analysis made by the Treasury Department for the year 1934, which
it has generously made accessible to the Urban Study for detailed examination. These income tax returns
compare, in number of families and aggregate amounts, with the estimates calculated from the schedules
obtained in the Study of Consumer Purchases, in Chicago, as follows:
Chicago, 1934 United States
income tax reports
Chicago, 1935-36 Urban
Study
Income group
Number of
returns
Aggregate net
income
Number of
families
Aggregate net
income
Total_________________________________________
178,489
$663, 226, 563
823, 230
$1, 327, 489, 000
Under $2,000__________________________________
$2,000-$2,999__________________________________
$3,000-$3,999__________________________________
$4,000-$4,999__________________________________
$5,000-$7,499__________________________________
$7,500 and over________________________________
87, 697
38, 818
23, 589
9,643
8,926
9,816
142, 846, 536
310,863, 807
91, 316,128
49, 345, 834
63, 712, 454
205,141, 804
591, 840
149, 610
49, 320
16, 690
11,950
3,820
618,984,000
357, 983, 000
166,801, 000
73,220, 000
68, 705, 000
41, 796, 000
Among the income tax returns filed with the Chicago office of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, and hence
tabulated as Chicago returns, are those of families residing outside of Chicago, but earning their incomes in
Chicago. (The metropolitan area of Chicago, according to the 1930 census, had a population of 4,634,755, as
compared with 3,376,000 for Chicago proper.) The extent of this representation of individuals not resident
within the corporate limits of Chicago can only be guessed. A comparison of rentals and owned-home
values in suburban Cook County indicates that the county is substantially higher in per capita family in
come than is the city proper (Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930, vol. 6, Families). The likelihood
thus is that suburban returns run to the higher income brackets more than proportionately. The excess of
families obtained by the Urban Study over the number shown in the income tax returns, at all income levels
between $3,000 and $7,500, undoubtedly means that a substantial total of family income which the Urban
Study assigns to lower income brackets belongs to families which are picked up in the income tax returns at
higher income levels. But here again the extent to which the excess of Urban Study income below $5,000
matches income tax returns above $5,000 is a matter of conjecture. Even if the number of tax returns coin
cided with the number of families estimated on the basis of the Urban Study schedules, we must still reckon
with the fact that family income in the Urban Study does not include capital gains and other forms of busi
ness income which are not immediately available for the family budget.
The problem of balancing the various elements that make for discrepancies between income tax returns
and the Urban Study data is a complex one. On the basis of available evidence from the Treasury analysis
of 1934 income tax reports, and after allowing for differences in definition, estimates made of the underrepre
sentation of the Urban Study, insofar as family consumer income is concerned, lie between an upper limit
of 8 percent and a lower limit of 3 percent of the total consumer income of Chicago families as herein reported.
At the present writing, an analysis of the income tax returns for 1935 is available only by States. The
aggregate net income shown for Illinois by the tax returns of 1935 was $1,171,834,000, as against $1,006,928,000
for 1934. This increase of about one-sixth of 1935 over 1934 would require a stepping up of the estimate of
underrepresentation in the Urban Study for the highest income families. But just how the ratio of income
in the highest brackets to the total community income would be affected by this step-up will not be deter
minable until a break-down of 1935 income tax returns for Chicago by income brackets has been made,
FAM ILY INCOME IN
4
T
able
.
1 — E stim a ted
CHICAGO
'percentage o f f a m ilie s w ith less than and w ith m ore than
specified a m ou n ts o f f a m i l y i n c o m e 1
[All families]
Income
Less than $250
_
- - _____
Less than $500
- ____ __
Less than $750
_ - __ Less than $1,000
__ __
_ _ _ .
Less than $1,250
______ __
_
Less than $1,500__ ___ _ _ ____
Less than $1,750 ________ _ _ ___
__
Less than $2,000 _______ _______ - - Less than $2,250 _ _______ __
___
Less than $2,500 _______________ __ _
Less than $3,000 _ _ _ _ __________
Less than $3,500 ________ _____
___
Less than $4,000 _ ____ _________ _
Less than $4,500__
___ ________ ___
Less than $5,000 __
______________
Less than $7,500__ __ _ ____________
Less than $10,000__ _______ _________
Percentage
of all
families
7.0
13. 7
22.1
32.1
43.4
53. 6
63.3
71.9
78. 6
83.7
90.1
93.8
96. 1
97.4
98. 1
99. 6
99.8
Income
$10,000 and over_________
___
$7,500 and over________ ______ ____ _
$5,000 and over____ __
__________
$4,500 and over____________ ________
$4,000 and over_____________ ____ __ _
$3,500 and over_______ ____ __
_
$3,000 and over______ ____
_ __ _
$2,500 and over._ __ _______ __ _ _
$2,250 and over._________ __ . _ _
$2,000 and over___ _____ ________
$1,750 and over____ _________ _ _
$1,500 and over_____________ __ _ _
$1,250 and over.________
________
$1,000 and over_________ ______
$750 and over_________ ______
_ _
$500 and over___ _____ _____ _
$250 and over________ _______
_
None______________________
_______
Percentage
of all
families
0. 2
.
1. 9
2. 6
3. 9
6. 2
9.9
16. 3
21. 4
28.1
36. 7
46. 4
56. 6
67.9
77. 9
86. 3
93.0
100.0
4
i Based on reports from 36,223 families chosen by a random sampling method to give a representative
cross-section of the entire city. For details of sampling procedure, see appendix B.
Included in income are nonrelief and W . P. A. earnings of families which had been on relief during the
year, but not amounts secured in the form of direct relief, either in cash or in kind. This means that the
incomes as reported for relief families were somewhat less than the aggregate gross incomes which may have
been available to them. It is also possible that families which had been on relief tended to understate some
what their nonrelief incomes.
The figures on income also include net imputed income from owned homes.
Total family income in Chicago in 1935-36, on the basis of the
sample secured in this study, was $1,327,489,000. It will be seen from
figure I that while one-third of the families in Chicago were either
on relief at some time during the year or received incomes of less than
$1,000, they received as a group less than one-ninth o f aggregate
family income. M ore than one-fifth of the families had incomes of
$1,000 to $1,500 and received somewhat less than one-sixth of the
aggregate family income. In other words, that half of the Chicago
families with the lower incomes received less than one-fourth of the
aggregate family income. The middle group, with incomes of $1,500
to $3,000, included 36.5 percent of the families and received almost
half the income. On the other hand, about one-tenth of the families,
with incomes from $3,000 up, received substantially more than onefourth of the family income of the community, and probably had
more than one-third. It is in connection with incomes of more than
$5,000 that the aggregate income figures derived from this survey
appear to be seriously in error. This group of families, which con
stituted approximately 2 percent o f the families in Chicago, reported
one-twelfth of the aggregate family income, while income tax returns
indicate that their share of the aggregate for Chicago families may
be as much as one-sixth.4
*
See footnote 3, on income tax returns in Cook County.
5
FAM ILY INCOME IN CHICAGO
Fig. I
DISTRIBUTION OF FAMILIES AND OF AGGREGATE INCOME
BY INCOME CLASSES
CHICAGO 1935-1936
(ALL FAM ILIES)
u
. . , _
H u n d red s o f Thousands
o f. D o lla rs
400
- 360
-3 2 0
260
- 2 40
-2 0 0
160
120
0 TO 499
5 0 0 to
999
1,000 TO IJ500 TO 2,000 to
1,499
1,999
2J999
I ncome in D ollars
*
U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
3,000 to
4,999
5,000 a
Over
E stim ated Incom e os R eported in Incom e Tox R eturns jn Excess
o f th a t R e p o rte d in U rban S tu d y o f Consum er P u rch ases
6
FAM ILY INCOME IN
CHICAGO
The dominant group, so far as consumer purchasing is concerned,
would seem to consist of those families whose incomes lie between
$1,500 and $3,000. Nearly one-half of the aggregate family income
of the community appeared to be concentrated in that 36 percent of
the families whose family incomes came within this range. One-fourth
of the aggregate family income went to the income groups below $1,500,
and at least a fourth to those above $3,000.
These figures for the entire composite Chicago community are built
up from samples covering native white, foreign bom white, and Negro
families; including families which differ as to occupation, size and
composition, home tenure, and sources of earnings. It is a function
of this study to consider these groups separately, to see what place
each occupies within the conglomerate economic pattern.
For the native whites the median family income was $1,580, for
the foreign b om w hites5 $1,369, and for the Negroes $726. Excluding
families which obtamed relief during the year, the median incomes o f
the three groups were respectively, $1,709, $1,496, and $1,031.
Conversely, the proportion of families obtaining relief at some time
during the year was 10.6 percent for the native white, 12.2 percent for
the foreign b om white, and 46 percent for the Negro families (see fig.
II). Grouped at the $1,000 and $2,000 levels family incomes showed
the distribution as presented in table 2.
T
able
2 . — D istr ib u tio n b y in co m e o f fa m ilie s o f specifiea coior a nd n a tiv ity
Income class
Under $1,0001______________________________________________
_____ __ __ _ ____________
Relief families__________
Nonrelief families__ _ _______ _________ _____
__ _
$1,000-$1,999_________________________________________________
$2,000 and over______________ _____________ _ _ _ _ _
Native white
Foreign born
white
Negro
P ercen t
P ercen t
P ercen t
27.4
34.0
71.7
1 0 .6
1 6 .8
1 2 .2
2 1 .8
4 6 .0
2 5 .7
39.0
33.6
40.7
25.3
23.0
5.3
100.0
100.0
100.0
1 Not all families who received relief during the year had incomes of less than $1,000.
with incomes of more than $1,000 constituted only 1.2 percent of the entire sample.
But those on relief
5 In the present study the classification “ foreign born,, was applied to white families in which either the
husband or the wife (or both) was not born in the United States. The Negro group, while predominantly
native, included some families (0.6 percent of the Negroes in Chicago in 1930) born outside of the country—
for the most part natives of the West Indies.
Fig. II
74021°— 39-
DISTRIBUTION BY INCOME OF FAMILIES OF S PE C IFIE D COLOR AND NATIVITY
CHICAGO 1 9 3 5 -1 9 3 6
( ALL FAMILIES )
ALL FAMILIES
FA M ILY
INCOME
( In Dollars )
P e rc e n t
0
10
20
3 0 __
NATIVE WHITE FAMILIES
FOREIGN BORN WHITE FAMILIES
P e rc e n t
40 0
10
20
NEGRO FAMILIES
P e rc e n t
30
40 0
10
20
30
40 0
P e rc e n t
tO
20
30
FAM ILY INCOME IN
CHICAGO
NO N-R ELIEF
U .S . BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
RELIEF
8
FAM ILY INCOME IN
CHICAGO
A more detailed break-down showing the percentage distribution
by income bands is presented in table 3. It is apparent that while the
income distribution o f the native white families is more favorable than
that o f the foreign b om , the margin is not nearly so wide as that
between the white and the Negro populations.
T able 3. —
N a tive and fo r e ig n born white and N eg ro fa m i li e s , b y in co m e 1
[All families]
White
All families
Income class
P ercen t
Negro
Native
Foreign born
P ercen t
P ercen t
P ercen t
______________
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
Relief_____ ______ ____ __ __ ________________
Nonrelief______ . ________
_ _ ______ .
13.7
86.3
10.6
89.4
12.2
87.8
46.0
54.0
2.1
3.4
5.5
8.6
10.6
9.9
9.6
8.6
6.6
5.1
6.4
3.7
2.3
1.3
.7
1.5
.2
.2
2.0
2.6
4.9
7.3
10.1
*9.4
10.0
9.5
7.8
6.1
7.2
4.5
2.6
1.6
1.0
2.1
.3
.4
2.3
4.0
6.0
9.5
11.2
11.1
9.9
8.5
6.0
4.5
6.4
3,4
2.2
1.2
.5
.9
.1
.1
1.7
5.4
7.8
10.8
10.2
5.8
3.9
3.1
2.1
1.4
.8
.6
.1
.2
.1
Total________________________
Under $250________________________________
$250-$499__________________________________
$500-$749__________________________________
$750-$999__________________________________
$1,000-$1,249_______________________________
$1,250-$1,499_______________________________
$1,500-$1,749______________________________
$1,750-$1,999_______________________________
$2,000-$2,249_______________________________
$2,250-$2,499_______________________________
$2,500-$2,999_____ ____ ____________________
$3,000-$3,499_______________________________
$3,500-$3,999_______________________________
$4,000-$4,499_______________________________
$4,500-$4,999_______________________________
$5,000-$7,499_______________________________
$7,500-$9,999_______________________________
$10,000 and over. _____________________ _ _
1 For a separate distribution of nonrelief families only, by income, see tabular summary, sec. A, table 1,
p. 110. When relief families are allocated to their respective income bands, the distribution of all families is
as follows:
White
All families
Income class
P ercen t
--------
100.0
________
Under $250_______________________
$250-$499______________________________________
$500-$749______________________________________
$750-$999______________________________________
$1,000-$1,249___________________________________
$1,250-$1,499___________________________________
$1,500-$1,749___________________________________
$1,750-$1,999___________________________________
$2,000-$2,249__________________________________
$2,250-$2,499___________________________________
$2,500 and over. __ _________ _________________
7.0
6.7
8.4
Total---------------------------------------------------
10.0
Negro
Native
Foreign born
P ercen t
P ercen t
100.0
6.2
5.8
6.5
11.3
8.2
10.6
9.7
10.1
10.2
8.6
6.7
5.1
16.3
9.5
9.5
7.8
6.1
19.7
100.0
5.9
7.2
8.7
10.9
11.9
11.5
P ercen t
100.0
8.5
20.4
10.5
20.9
16.1
11.7
6.9
4.1
3.2
4.5
14.8
2.2
10.1
6.0
2.6
1.4
The incomes of relief families as reported do not include amounts received as direct relief, either in cash
or in kind.
O ccu pa tion a n d in c o m e .— Variations in family income levels are so
intimately associated with the type o f occupation in which the
breadwinners are engaged that we may expect to find significant
differences in the occupational patterns within the nativity and race
groups which we have here distinguished. The relation between
FAM ILY INCOME IN
CHICAGO
9
occupation and income forms the subject of the following chapter,
but for our immediate purpose it may be noted that among the native
white nonrelief families approximately 43 percent were in the wageearner occupations, as compared with 56.9 percent of the foreign b om
families and 68 percent of the Negro families.6 On the other hand,
12 percent of the native white families were in the usually more
remunerative professional and salaried business occupations, as
contrasted with 4.7 percent among the foreign bom and 3.9 percent
among the Negro families.7
N ot only is the occupational distribution of the foreign b om and
Negro families different from that of the native white families, but
among families of a given occupational group the incomes show a
considerable spread. Among the wage earners (including both the
relief and nonrelief families), for example, the median family income
for the composite white sample was $1,339 and for the Negro, $804.
The median income received by the foreign born families ($1,319) of
this occupational group was less than that of the native bom white
families ($1,369),8 although the discrepancy is so small as to suggest
that most of the foreign b om have been here long enough to minimize
the difference in earning capacity between them and the native whites.
F a m i ly c o m p o sitio n in relation to in c o m e .— While the occupational
composition of the nativity and racial groups is of primary impor
tance in determining its income pattern, that pattern is further modi
fied b y the composition of the income-earning unit— the family. In
grouping families of similar size and composition for the analysis of
family expenditures, it was desirable first to segregate complete
families, i. e., those containing both husband and wife, from broken
families and other households whose membership did not include a
married couple.9 In each of the nativity and racial groups, it was
found that the complete families were on a higher average income level
than the families which did not contain both husband and wife.
Certain comparisons of the complete with the incomplete families are
made in the accompanying table 4.
It will be noted that, while the foreign born families of all types
were concentrated at lower income levels than were the native white,
their economic position as a group was superior to that of the incom
plete native white families. In other words, the income level of the
family seems to be more directly related to the presence or absence of
« See table 7, ch. II, Occupational Distribution of Families of Specified Color and Nativity.
7 The occupational distribution is somewhat affected by the inclusion of relief families (see discussion in
ch. II), since the major proportion of the positions occupied by the employees on work-relief projects came
in the “ wage earner” category. It should be noted also’ that all the families studied In the present
investigation were grouped according to the work which supplied the greater part of their earnings in the
year covered by the schedule, without regard to the type of work which they may have pursued earlier.
8 See table 9, ch. II, Median Incomes of Families of Specified Color and Nativity, by Occupational Group.
9 The term “ family,” as used in the Urban Study of Consumer Purchases, refers to the economic family—
a group of persons belonging to the same household and dependent upon a common income (see glossary in
appendix C). Incomplete families in all cases include single individuals.
10
F A M IL Y
IN C O M E
IN
C H IC A G O
b oth h usband and wife in the fa m ily th an it is to n a tiv ity .
T h e cause-
and-effect relationship betw een the tw o factors is p ro b a b ly in b oth
directions— incom plete fam ilies find it m ore difficult to atta in the
higher in com e levels, and fam ilies a t the low er incom e levels h ave
less stab ility and higher rates o f desertion and separation.
T
able
4 . — C om p lete and in co m p lete fa m ilie s o f sp ecified color and n a tiv ity , by
in co m e
[All families]
White
Income class
All
fami
lies
Native born
Total
white
P et.
P et.
All incomes___________
100.0
100.0
Under $1,000__________
$1,000-$1,999....... ...........
$2,000-$2,999___________
$3,000-$4,999_......... .........
$5,000 and over________
32.1
39.8
18.2
8.0
1.9
29.4
40.7
19.2
8.6
2.1
First quartile point___
$822
Median.. _ __________ 1,412
Third quartile point___ 2,116
All
Com
plete
P et.
P et.
100.0 100.0
$882 $951 $1,073
1,473 1,580 1,687
2,169 2, 283 2, 361
Foreign born
In
com
plete
All
P et.
P et.
Com
plete
In
com
plete
All
Com
plete
In
com
plete
P el.
P et.
P et.
P et.
P et.
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
32.7
42.0
16.9
7.3
1.1
29.2
44.2
17.6
7.7
1.3
48.4
31.8
13.8
5.3
.7
67.9
25.9
5.0
1.2
59.5
32.6
6.4
1. 5
85.9
11.8
2.3
$587 $825
1,181 1,369
1,920 2, 015
$904
1, 429
2,062
$501
1,038
1,736
$357
726
1,148
$588
875
1,284
$136
317
737
100.0 100.0
22.0
41.3
23.2
10.4
3.1
26.7
39.7
21.1
9.7
2.8
Negro
41.7
35.2
14.0
7.2
1.9
A m o n g the N egro group, as a whole, low incom es were p redo m in a n t;
this w as particularly
true
am ong the incom plete
N egro
fam ilies.
H ere again there is probab ly a definite relationship betw een the low er
econom ic level o f the N egro group and the fa ct th a t in com plete fa m i
lies were one and one-half
tim es as frequent there as am on g
the
white fam ilies, as will be seen from the follow ing figures: 10
Percentage o f to ta l fam ilies w hich were in com plete:
A l l fa m ilie s
21. 6
T o ta l w h ite
N a t i v e w h ite
20. 9
23. 3
F o r e i g n b o rn w h ite
1& 3
N egro
32. 5
T h e relationship betw een incom plete fam ilies and inadequate in
com es show s up in the relatively high percentages o f incom plete and
broken fam ilies on relief.
H ere again the differences betw een the
n ative and the foreign born are n o t nearly so great as the differences
betw een the com plete and incom plete fam ilies.
T h e proportion of
unbroken foreign b o m fam ilies on relief was sm aller than th a t of
incom plete n ative born fam ilies.
Complete native white fam ilies .— A m u ch m ore su bstan tial ran d om
sam ple w as tak en o f the n a tiv e w hite fam ilies containing h usband and
w ife th an o f the other groups w ith w hich w e h av e been com paring
th em , since expenditure schedules were to be taken o n ly fro m the
n a tiv e w h ite com p lete fam ilies.
W it h the era of m ass im m igration
10
A high rate of desertion and nonsupport has been consistently noted in studies of Negro families, as a
phase in the process of adjustment to the urban environment. Cf. E. Franklin Frazier,. The Negro Family
in Chicago (1932), cb, VIII, “ Desertion and Nonsupport.”
F A M IL Y
IN C O M E
IN
11
C H IC A G O
com in g to a close, the n ative w hite sam ple is likely to prove m ore
serviceable for com parison w ith fu tu re con su m p tion studies o f the
A m erican p op u lation th an one w hich includes th e heterogeneous
foreign groups.
A m ore clear-cu t com parison, m oreover, is fou n d to
be possible as betw een different cities w hich h av e been su rveyed in
the present stu d y , w hen these com parisons are confined to a h o m o
geneous group such as the n ative w hite p opu lation .
A few su m m ary incom e figures and com m ents bearing on the n ative
w hite sam ple o f com plete fam ilies are therefore m ad e a t this p oint.
T h e m edian annual incom e o f the unbroken n ative w hite fam ilies in
Chicago in 1 9 3 5 -3 6 w as found to be $ l ,6 8 7 .u
T h is is a high average,
n ot on ly as com pared w ith the other elem ents o f the C hicago co m m u
n ity already considered, b u t also as com pared w ith the corresponding
m edians obtain ed in this stu d y for the n ative w hite fam ilies o f other
northern
cities: Providence,
$ 1 ,4 0 7 ;
C o lu m b u s,
$ 1 ,5 6 1 ; D e n v er, $ 1 ,5 3 5 ; and P ortlan d, $ 1 ,5 0 6 .
$ 1 ,6 2 2 ;
O m a h a,
I t is n ot so high,
how ever, as the m edian figure for n ative w hite com plete fam ilies in
N e w Y o r k C ity — $ 1 ,8 0 7 .12
T h ese high averages reflect in p art the
concentration o f capital and large-scale enterprise in the m etropolitan
co m m u n ity , entailing a large percentage o f w ell-rem unerated m a n
agerial and professional posts, usually m ann ed b y n ative born per
sons.
O u r figure m a y furtherm ore be taken as probab ly u nderstat
ing the m edian for all the n ative w hite fam ilies regarding them selves
as Chicagoans, in asm uch as it does n o t include a num ber o f o u tstan d
ing high incom e fam ilies who derive their incom e from the m etropolis
b u t reside in suburban hom es adjoining th e city .
T h e com plete n ative w hite fam ilies w ith incom es o f less than
$ 1 ,0 0 0 , including those w hich h ad received relief a t som e tim e during
th e y ear, com prised less than one-fourth (22 percent) o f the total.
T h o se w ith incom es o f $ 1 ,0 0 0 to $ 2 ,0 0 0 accounted for the n ext tw o fifths (41.3 percent).
A n o th er 15.6 percent cam e w ithin the group
o f $ 2 ,0 0 0 to $ 2 ,5 0 0 .
I t m a y be sta ted , therefore, th a t unbroken
fam ilies w ith incom es o f $ 2 ,5 0 0 or m ore were roughly in the upper
fifth o f n ative w hite fam ilies and th at those w ith $ 4 ,0 0 0 or m ore were
in the to p seven teen th.
T h e percentages at successive incom e levels
are cum ulated in table 5.
O f the 2 ,7 1 3 relief fam ilies drawn in the n ative w hite sam ple in
C h icago, 3 7 2 , or abou t 14 percent, obtained no earnings w h atever
11
The mean annual income per family from all sources was about $1,892. It is a less desirable figure than
the median, partly because it is less accurate, because more distorted by the incompleteness of the data in
the higher income classes, and partly because the arithmetic average is in any case a less representative
figure for the entire community since it is much affected by the large incomes of the few families in the highest
income classes. The range of actual current incomes reported extended up to $50,000. The percentage of
families in the $10,000 to $15,000 income bracket was 0.28; in the $15,000 to $20,000 bracket, 0.64; in the $20,000
to $50,000 bracket, 0.05. There were, on the other hand, 14 cases, constituting 0.05 percent of the families
studied, in which there were negative incomes (losses exceeding incomes), ranging from $7 to $1,523, and
averaging $558, in 1935-36. These families are omitted from all the discussion which follows.
** Preliminary figure.
12
F A M IL Y
IN C O M E
IN
C H IC A G O
fro m an occupation during the schedule y ear, and o f th em all b u t 28
reported no m o n e y in com e for the year.
W it h the relief fam ilies o m itted from the co u n t,13 the m edian incom e
am on g unbroken n ative w h ite fam ilies w as $ 1 ,7 9 8 .
(C orresponding
figures for the cities cited above are: P rovidence, $ 1 ,5 5 4 ; C o lu m b u s,
$ 1 ,7 5 1 ; O m a h a , $ 1 ,7 3 3 ; D e n v er, $ 1 ,7 0 5 ; P ortlan d, $ 1 ,6 5 4 ; N e w Y o r k
C ity , $ 2 ,0 2 3 .14)
A p p ro xim ately one-seven th
(1 4 .8 percent) o f this
to ta lly self-depen den t group received fa m ily incom es o f less than
$ 1 ,0 0 0 .
T h e in com e bracket $ 1 ,7 5 0 to $ 2 ,0 0 0 w as the m o st frequent
for nonrelief fam ilies, a b o u t one-nin th (1 1 .6 percent) o f the fam ilies
h avin g incom es w ithin this range.
T able 5. —
P ercen tag e o f f a m ilie s rep o rtin g less than a nd m ore than sp ecified a m ou n ts
o f f a m i l y in co m e
[All white families including husband and wife, both native born]
Percentage
of all
families
Income 1
Less than $250________
__ ___ __
Less than $500______________________ Less than $750 ____ ___ _______ ____
Less than $1,000_______ _______________
Less than $1,250_______________________
Less than $1,500_________ ___ _______ __
Less than $1,750_________________ _____
Less than $2,000_______ ___________ ___
Less than $2,250_________ ____________
Less than $2,500 ______________________
Less than $3,000_________ _____ - ___ __
Less than $3,500____ __________________
Less than $4,000__ ____ _____________ Less than $4,500___ _________ _________
Less than $5,000__ ________ ___________
Less than $7,500_
- __ ___
Less than $10,000_________ ____- _ __
2 4.0
9.0
14.5
22.0
32.4
42.2
52.7
63.3
72.1
78.9
86.5
91.2
94.2
95.9
96.9
99.2
99.6
Income 1
$10,000 and over._____ __
$7,500 and over............. .........
.... ...
$5,000 and over____ __________ ___ _
$4,500 and over____ ________________
$4,000 and over__________________ __
$3,500 and over_____________ ______ __
$3,000 and over__________________ ___
$2,500 and over__________ _________ _
$2,250 and over_____ ________________
$2,000 and over__________________ ___
$1,750 and over_________ __________ _
$1,500 and over_____ ______________ __
$1,250 and over______ _____ _________
$1,000 and over_____ _______ ________
$750 and over____ __________ _____ _
$500 and over. __ ________
$250 and over_______________________
None________________ _______________
Percentage
of all
families
0.4
.8
3.1
4.1
5.8
8. 8
13. 5
21.1
27.9
36. 7
47.3
57. 8
67. 6
78.0
85.5
91. 0
96.0
100.0
2
i
The incomes of families which had been on relief have been distributed to their proper income brackets
in spite of their probable unreliability (see table 1, footnote 1). This makes very little difference in the
cumulative percentages in the income levels above $1,000 and no difference above the $2,000 income level.
a Approximately 30 percent of this group (less than $250) consisted of relief families which had no earnings
from an occupation andivhich, in addition, reported no money income for the year.
T able 6 . —
P ercen ta g e o f fa m ilie s i n sp ecified in co m e classes
[All white families including husband and wife, both native born]
Income class
Under$500._ ___ __
.
............... .
__ ___________________ ____ _ _
$500-$999. __________________________ __________ _______________________________________ .
$1,000-$1,499________ ________________________________________________ _____________________
$1,500-$1,999______________________________________________________________________________
$2,000-$2,999______________________________________________________________________________
$3,000-$4,999
-- - $5,000 and over________________ ________________ _______ __
__________ _____________ _ _
Percentage
of all
families
9.0
13.0
20.2
21.1
23.2
10.4
3.1
is Among complete native white relief families, the median income— from both nonrelief sources and
W . P. A. earnings—was $395, and the mean, $461. Only 9 percent reported incomes of $1,000 or more. These
figures must, however, be accepted with caution as representing a probable understatement. Although
each family was assured that the information it gave would be treated with the strictest confidence, the
temptation to understate income would be peculiarly great among relief families, since the obtaining of relief
involved a form of means test,
n Preliminary figure.
F A M IL Y
IN C O M E
IN
13
C H IC A G O
The income distribution of native white families (relief and non
relief) containing husband and wife is summarized in table 6, and is
graphically presented in figure III.
This distribution of families by “ disbursement income” must be
understood to represent not all the community income allocable to
the native white complete families of Chicago, but only that part of
their income reported as available for family spending. As noted in
Fig. Ill
DISTRIBUTION BY INCOME OF NATIVE WHITE FAMILIES
INCLUDING BOTH HUSBAND AND WIFE
CHICAGO 1935-1936
Fa m il y In co m e ,
( In Dollars )
Pe r c e n t
to
of
Income
15
U .S . B U R EAU OF LABO R STATISTICS
the estim ate o f the total fam ily incom e o f the co m m u n ity (see pp.
4 - 6 ) , th a t portion o f the total reported b y the fam ilies w ith incom es
o f $ 5 ,0 0 0 and over is particularly su bject in a n y field su rvey to an
underestim ation o f the total individual incom es.
C on sum er purchasing in this group is also concentrated chiefly
am ong th e fam ilies h avin g betw een $ 1 ,5 0 0 and $ 3 ,0 0 0 .
T h is group
am ong the n ative w hite com plete fam ilies included 4 4 percent o f the
fam ilies and reported abo u t h a lf o f the aggregate incom e available for
14
F A M IL Y
IN C O M E
IN
C H IC A G O
family spending. (In the community as a whole, it will be remem
bered, this group included only 36.5 percent of the families.)15
E v e n a m on g this relatively w ell-favored group o f n a tiv e w h ite
fam ilies, econom ic w ell-being show ed m arked variations.
T h e n ex t
ch apter is d evo ted to variations in in com e as related to occupation.
is See p. 4.
Chapter II
Family Income by Occupational Group
N o rm s o f com pensation for given lines of em p lo ym en t are estab
lished under the com bined influence o f a n um ber o f factors: C o m p e ti
tion, cu stom , labor organization, and trade agreem ents.
T h e occu
pational differences in average earnings w hich thus arise are o f great
significance in determ ining fa m ily incom e, particularly since, as we
shall see in the later chapter on sources o f incom e, m ore than 80 per
cent o f fa m ily earnings are attribu table to the principal earner.
I t is
outside the scope o f the present analysis to describe in detail the pre
vailing w ages for individual trades or callings.
O u r purpose is, rather,
to exam ine the distribution o f fa m ily incom es w ithin the broadest
occupational
classifications w hich
are likely
to
reveal significant
differences betw een the m a jo r social and econom ic segm ents o f the
population.
T o this end, seven occupational groups h av e been dis
tinguished in the present stu d y :
(1) W a g e earner; (2) clerical and
kindred pu rsu its; (3) independent business; (4) independent profes
sion al; (5) salaried business; (6) salaried professional; (7) fam ilies
w ith no gainfully em ployed m em bers, i. e., those whose incom e w as n ot
derived from an occupation.1
Fam ilies were classified according to the occupation w hich accounted
for the m a jo r part o f the fa m ily earnings.
T h u s, for exam ple, if the
proprietor o f a store (independent business) h ad a n et incom e of
$ 2 ,0 0 0 , while his tw o daughters w ho lived a t h om e and pooled their
incom es w ith the fa m ily were school teachers (salaried professional)
each earning $ 1 ,6 0 0 per annum — com bined incom e from teaching,
$ 3 ,2 0 0 — the fa m ily w ould be classed as salaried professional even
1 A description of the specific occupations included within each of these seven categories will be found in
the glossary, appendix C. The occupational classes used in the present study are based upon the Works
Progress Administration’s ‘ ‘Manual of Work Division Procedure,” sec. 2, Occupational Classification
(June 1935), and “ Index of Occupations,” circular No. 2A (September 1935). In general, the wage-earner
category included all types of skilled, semiskilled, and unskilled manual jobs which are usually paid by the
hour, day, or week rather than on a monthly or annual salary basis. In the clerical classification were
grouped store clerks and salesmen working for others, as well as office workers. Professional, semiprofessional,
and technical workers were included in the independent professional group when employed on their own
account, and in the salaried professional group when they were employed by others on a salary basis. Per
sons classified in the independent business groups were entrepreneurs owning and operating businesses of
any type. Also classified in the independent business group were families which derived their chief incomes
from roomers and boarders. The salaried business category consisted mainly of salaried managers and
officials; chief officers of corporations drawing salaries, as well as minor executives, are thus classified in the
salaried business rather than the independent business groups. The seventh category consisted of families
which had no earnings from an occupation, whether due to retirement, receipt of a pension, nonemployment,
or other causes; in the Chicago tables the number shown in this group also includes seven farmers drawn in
the sample for which it was not deemed desirable to set up a separate occupational classification.
15
16
F A M IL Y
IN C O M E
IN
C H IC A G O
th ou gh the head o f the fa m ily and principal earner cam e w ithin the
independent business category.
B u t in general, w e shall see as the
analysis proceeds, the occupational classification of the fa m ily coin
cided w ith th a t o f the principal earner.
Distribution o f occupational groups .— E m p lo y in g the seven broad
occupational classes indicated a bove, w e find th a t, on the basis of the
sam ple studied, the fam ilies o f C h icago were distributed during the
year 1 9 3 5 -3 6 in the follow ing proportions:
P ercen t
Wage earner________________________________
50. 8
Clerical_____________________________________________ 22. 6
Independent business________________________________ 10. 5
Independent professional_____________________________ 1. 2
Salaried business____________________________________ 2. 8
Salaried professional_________________________________ 4. 2
No gainfully employed members______________________
7. 9
A s a m etropolitan center, Chicago m a y be expected to h ave a co m
paratively high percentage o f service enterprises, w ith a broad range
o f cultural activities catering to a large surrounding area.
B u t the
above distribution reveals th a t the w age-earner fam ilies predom in ate
nevertheless, in the m etropolis as well as in the fa cto ry tow n , and th at
the independent professional fam ilies constitute the sm allest o f the
seven occupational groups.
W a ge-ea rn er and clerical occupations are
the m a in su pport o f th ree-fourths of C hicago fam ilies, while the tw o
occupational groups w hich are as a rule the highest paid— the salaried
business and independent professional— together account for a scant
4 percent o f the to ta l (see figure I V ) .
I t should be n oted , in show ing
this occupational distribution for the year 1 9 3 5 -3 6 , th a t occupational
readju stm en ts were im posed u pon m a n y fam ilies b y the econom ic
conditions of the period im m ed iately preceding the stu d y .
I n the above percentage distribution, fam ilies h avin g received relief
a t a n y tim e during the year, as w ell as the nonrelief fam ilies, h av e been
allocated to occupational g roups.2
T h e 7 .9 percent of the fam ilies
2
Some pertinent questions may properly be raised as to how the assimilation of relief families affects the
occupational distribution and, indeed, on what basis an occupational classification of relief families can be
made. To facilitate the explanation, let us first separate the occupational distribution into nonrelief and
relief families, as given below:
Occupations
Wage earner _
____ ________________________________________________
___ ______ - Clerical______ ______ ________________ __________________
Independent business ___ _______
_________________________ ________ ___
Independent professional __________________ _______ __________
- __ - . .
Salaried business_________________________________ ____ ___________
_____
Salaried professional__ ____________________________________________ -No gainfully employed members___ ____ ________________ __________________
Nonrelief
Relief
P ercen t
P ercen t
49.2
24.8
11.6
1.4
3.2
4.5
5.3
100.0
60.9
8.8
3.4
(“)
.1
2.4
24.4
100.0
° Less than 0.05 percent of all relief families.
The column headed “ relief” tells us, first, that of the families which were on relief at any time during the
year all but 24.4 percent received some income from earnings on private or public work. As a matter of fact,
F A M IL Y
IN C O M E
BY
O C C U P A T IO N A L
GROUP
17
listed in the seven th category, “ N o gainfully em ployed m em b ers,”
includes n o t only those which were entirely supported from savings,
rents, interest, dividends, and pensions, b u t also those relief fam ilies
which had received no incom e from the earnings of an y m em ber,
whether from W . P . A . or regular em p loym en t.
There
were
appreciable
differences in
occupational
distribution
betw een the n ative and foreign born am ong the w hite fam ilies and
betw een the w hite and N egro fam ilies.
C ou n tin g all fam ilies, relief
as well as nonrelief, on ly 4 2 .8 percent of the n ative w hites were in
the wage-earner classification, while 57 percent of the foreign b o m
whites were classified as wage earners.
A m o n g the N egro fam ilies,
m ore than tw o-thirds were in the w age-earner group (see table 7 ).
T h e on ly other occupation in w hich the percentage o f the foreign b o m
w hites was greater than the percentage of the n ative whites was the
in dependent business.
T h e proportion of clerical workers, on the
other h an d, w as alm ost twice as large am on g the n ative b o m as am ong
the foreign b o m .
In the case of the N egroes, the percentage classified
as in depen den t business (7.2 percent) w as greater than th at in the
clerical group (5 percent).
T h e salaried business and professional
classes, in which 12 percent of the n ative w hite fam ilies were included,
accounted for less th an 5 percent of the foreign born fam ilies and less
than 4 percent of the N egro fam ilies.
we have found, in a special analysis of native white families containing husband and wife, that even for the
families receiving relief in Chicago during the schedule year 1936-36, the principal earner had on the average
some employment in each of 29 weeks (including the time spent on W . P. A. projects). (See Tabular
Summary, sec. B, table 4, p.132.)
The relief as well as the nonrelief families were classified according to the occupation which accounted for
the greater part of the earnings received by the family. Often the head of the family interviewed would
take occasion to note that he had been trained for, and had formerly been employed in, a profession or occu
pation different from the one in which he was compelled to accept employment during the current year
But in the interest of statistical consistency, the family was classified according to the occupation which
actually provided the family funds in the year covered by the schedule.
Before we proceed to any generalizations regarding the occupational distribution of the relief group, we
must recognize that, with only rare exceptions, work on relief projects fell into one of three of the occupational
categories differentiated in this study—wage earner, clerical, or salaried professional. This means that those
families which received their principal earnings from work-relief projects were necessarily classified in one
of these three categories. The families in the salaried business, independent business, and independent pro
fessional groups which were listed as relief families were on relief only a part of the year, their earnings in
their normal occupations exceeding what was received from work on relief projects. The percentage dis
tribution of relief families by occupation should not, therefore, be interpreted as necessarily indicative of
the relative ability of families in the different occupational groups to remain self-supporting.
The large percentage of the relief families in the wage-earner group reflects the influence of two factors:
(1) Low earnings and relative instability of employment in this occupational group, which prevent the
accumulation of financial reserves to tide the family over periods of business depression; (2) the predomi
nance, in work-relief projects, of types of employment classified as wage-earning occupations. Thus, al
though less than half the families not on relief were in the wage-earner group, more than three-fifths of the
relief families were classified as wage earners. One-fourth of the nonrelief families fell into the clerical group;
less than one-tenth of the relief families were classified as clerical, although most of the relief jobs which were
not in the wage-earner category fell into the clerical class. The proportion of relief families classified as
salaried professional, although small, does show the influence of Works Progress Administration (W . P. A.)
projects employing school teachers, nurses, and members of the artist professions. The high percentage of
relief families in the group labeled “ No gainfully employed members” is self-explanatory; it reflects depres
sion losses of property, reduced income from investments or pensions, and unemployability or failure to
obtain any gainful employment.
IS
F A M IL Y IN C O M E IN
CHICAGO
Fig. IV
DISTRIBUTION OF FAMILIES OF SPECIFIED COLOR
AND NATIVITY, BY OCCUPATIONAL GROUPS
CHICAGO 1935-1936
(ALL FAMILIES)
ALL FAMILIES
NATIVE WHITE FOREIGN BORN
NEGRO
FAMILIES
WHITE FAMIUES FAMIUES
DISTRIBUTION OF ALL FAMILIES
: 1 f a m il ie s w ith n o g ainfully
EMPLOTED MEMBERS
\ y / / / / / / / A SALARIED PROFESSIONAL GROUP
SALARIED BUSINESS GROUP
INDEPENDENT PROFESSIONAL GROUP
i j E f t f f i f f i INDEPENDENT BUSINESS GROUP
fls g g j s s g CLERICAL GROUP
■ ■ ■ ■
WAGE EARNER GROUP
.........
NATIVE WHITE
FAM IU ES
FOREIGN BORN
WHITE FAMIUES
NEGRO
FAMILIES
10
20
30
40
90
* Including 0.4% o f Fam ilies o f tyther Color"
U. S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
19
FAM ILY INCOME BY OCCUPATIONAL GROUP
Fig. V
DISTRIBUTION OF RELIEF FAMILIES AND OF
NON-RELIEF FAMILIES AT SPECIFIED INCOME LEVELS
BY OCCUPATIONAL GROUPS
CHICAGO 1935-1936
(ALL FAMILIES)
PERCENT
PERCENT
UNDER
RELIEF
$1,000
$1,000 TO
$1,999
non-
f a m il ie s
2E3
F A M IL IE S
R
$2,000 TO
$2£99
e lie f
Fa m i l i e s
W ITH N O G A IN FU LLY EMPLOYED M EM B ER S
S A L A R IE D PRO FESSIO NAL GROUP
V /////////A
S A L A R IE D B U S IN E S S GRO UP
IN D E P E N D E N T P R O F E S S IO N A L GROUP
IN D E P E N D E N T B U S IN E S S GROUP
C LER IC A L
GROUP
W AGE E A R N E R GROUP
U. S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
$3,000 TO
$4,999
$5,000 a
OVER
20
FAM ILY INCOME IN
CHICAGO
Among the foreign born as well as the Negro families, the independ
ent business class consisted mainly of small-scale proprietors. Ob
viously the language barrier is not so serious for the foreign bom in
the wage earner and independent business occupations as it is in the
white-collar positions. The small business establishments among
the foreign born often cater to fellow nationals, thus capitalizing
on the problem of language. The small percentage of salaried busi
ness and professional families in the Negro population reflects the
limited clientele available to them and the expensive training required
to enter the better paid professions.
T
able
7. — Occupational distribution of fam ilies of specified color and nativity
[All families]
White
Occupational group
All families
P ercen t
All occupational groups_______________________
100.0
Wage earner----------------------------------------------------Clerical_______________________________________
Independent business_________ ______ _____
Independent professional— __________ _____ _
Salaried business____ ____ ____________________
Salaried professional------------------------------ ------No gainfully employed members______________
50.8
Negro
Native
Foreign born
P ercen t
P ercen t
100.0
22.6
10.5
1.2
2.8
4.2
7.9
100.0
42.8
29.5
8.7
1.7
4.6
5.8
6.9
P ercen t
100.0
68.0
56.9
17.6
12.9
5.0
7.2
.5
.5
2.9
15.9
.8
1.2
2.7
7.9
Occupational differentials in income.— T h e inverse relationship co m
m o n ly observed, betw een the frequency o f an occupational group and
the level o f earnings w hich prevail therein, appears clearly in the figures
for m edian fa m ily incom es:
All
families«
All occupational groups__________________________ $1, 412
Wage earner_______________________________________
Clerical____________________________________________
Independent business_____________________________
Independent professional_________________________
Salaried business__________________________________
Salaried professional______________________________
No gainfully employed members________________
1,
1,
1,
2,
2,
2,
Nonrelief
families
$1, 579
278
784
386
763
838
169
219
« None of the incomes in this column include income in cash or kind received as direct relief.
particularly the income shown for families with no gainfully employed members.
The
1,436
1,843
1,442
2,772
2,847
2,269
494
This affects
wage-earner group, which included half of all the fam ilies
(relief and nonrelief co m bin ed ), h ad a m edian fa m ily incom e of $ 1 ,2 7 8 .
T h is w as less than h alf the corresponding averages for the salaried
business and independent professional groups, w hich together c o m
prised only 4 percent of all fam ilies.
E v e n w ithin the nonrelief group,
the m edian incom e for fam ilies of wage earners w as on ly a b o u t half
th at for the two rarest occupational groups.
F A M IL Y
IN C O M E
B Y
O C C U P A T IO N A L
GROUP
21
The families of clerical workers, although more numerous than the
independent business group, had a median income almost $400 higher
($1,784 as compared with $1,386). This difference in favor of the
clerical families offers an interesting sidelight on the place of the
independent business group in the total scheme. W ith the wide
spread incorporation of the larger and more modern business units,
this occupational group is composed largely of small-scale traders
and craftsmen, whose social and economic position is akin to that of
the wage-earner group, their median incomes being not widely different.
It should be noted, however, that the relatively low money income of
the independent business group does not take fully into account the
supplies of clothing or food which many small storekeepers provide
for their families without keeping adequate account of these con
tributions.
While the wage-earner classification, as shown in table 8, included
half of all families, it comprised only two-fifths of those with incomes
of $2,000 to $3,000, and less than 30 percent of those having incomes
of $3,000 to $5,000. Thanks to the presence of supplementary earners,
there were families in this occupational classification showing family
incomes of $5,000 and over. But at this income level, wage-earner
families amounted to only one-tenth of the total.
The families with no gainfully employed members comprised less
than 8 percent of all families, but more than 20 percent of the families
with incomes under $1,000. These families are to be found, however,
at all income levels, and actually constituted a larger percentage of
total families at the $5,000 and over income level than of families with
incomes between $2,000 and $5,000.
The independent professional and salaried business groups, which
had the highest median incomes, constituted only 0.5 percent of the
families with incomes of less than $1,000, but more than one-third of
all the families with incomes of $5,000 and over. The independent
business group, while it comprised 10 percent of the families with
incomes under $1,000, was even more heavily represented among those
having incomes of $5,000 and over. The clerical group, like the
independent business group, was well represented at all income levels,
being most heavily concentrated among the families having incomes
between $2,000 and $5,000.3
The ra ce-n a tivity fa c to r .— The relative income positions of the
native, foreign born, and Negro families within any given occupational
group may be illustrated by a comparison of their median incomes.
This occupational comparison is made for all families, including those
on relief, in the accompanying table 9a, and for nonrelief families only
s Some of the families listed as clerical in the highest income bands either had several earners or were in
occupations on the salaried professional-salaried business border line. For discussion of the kinds of clerical
families which account for large family incomes in that group, see the section on clerical families on pp.
29-30.
22
F A M IL Y
in table 9 b .
IN C O M E
IN
C H IC A G O
Reference to these figures shows th a t the n ative w hite
fam ilies enjoyed a relatively favorable incom e position in each occu
pational group.
T
able
8 .— F a m ilies at different in com e levels distributed b y occu p a tion a l g ro u p
[All families]
Percentage distribution of families
Occupational group
All fam Under
$1,000
ilies
$1,000- $2,000- $3,000$1,999 $2,999 $4,999
$5,000
and
over
________ _
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
Wage earner_____ _______ _______ ___ ______ __
Clerical __ . __
_____________ _______ _____ __
Independent business__________ ___ ______________ _
Independent professional_________________ _____ __ Salaried business— __________ _ _____________ _ ___
Salaried professional_____________ ___________ _ _ _
No gainfully employed members.. . _______________
50.8
22.6
10.5
1.2
2.8
4. 2
7.9
55.8
10.5
10.5
.3
.2
1.9
20.8
56.8
25.5
10.2
.7
1.6
3.1
2.1
42.5
33. 5
9.6
1.8
4.6
6.8
1.2
29.5
31. 6
11.9
3.9
10. 8
11.1
1.2
10.0
23. 7
15. 7
12.1
22.9
14.1
1.5
All occupational groups...... ..........
__
_
In comparing the two tables, it will be seen that the inclusion of the
relief families in the picture tends to reduce the median income in the
case of the Negroes more drastically than among either the native
white or foreign born white families, because of the large percentage
o f Negro families which received relief. B y the same token, it is in
respect to the wage-earner and no-occupation groups that the table
for nonrelief families alone differs most markedly from the one which
includes the families that received relief.
The most significant occupational divisions for drawing comparisons
between the median incomes of the three race-nativity groups are the
wage earner and independent business. These are the tWo in which
the foreign born and Negro families together comprise a m ajority of
the total number in the occupation (see table 11). The spread between
the median incomes o f the native white and foreign bom in the wageearner group— about $50 per annum for all families and $86 for non
relief families only— m ay be explained by the fact that the foreign
born are more heavily represented in the unskilled lines of employ
ment. On the other hand, analysis of the data for other large cities,
as well as for Chicago, tends to impress one with the closeness of the
wage levels of the foreign born to those of their native white coworkers,
rather than with the discrepancies between them. The differences in
wage levels that do exist are attributable to differences in the oppor
tunities to enter various lines of employment rather than to differences
in rates of pay for similar work. Twenty years of restricted immi
gration have left us, among the foreign born, a large percentage of
workers who arrived in this country as minors and are less subject
than were their elders to handicaps resulting from nativity. On
given jobs, their rates of pay do not seem to differ appreciably from
those of their native born co workers.
F A M IL Y
IN C O M E
B Y
O C C U P A T IO N A L
23
GROUP
Fig. VI
DISTRIBUTION BY INCOME OF FAMILIES
OF SPECIFIED OCCUPATIONAL GROUPS
CHICAGO 1935-1936
(ALL FAMILIES)
PERCENT
IOO
INDEPENDENT INDEPENDENT
BUSINESS
PROFESSIONAL
GROUP
GROUP
NON-RELIEF FAMIUES
E
□ $5,000 AND OVER
$3,000 TO $4,999
W ffiZ TZZZA $2,000 TO $2,999
KSgg&aaaa $ /,o o o m $ 1,999
K s m m m i u n d e r $ 1,000
RELIEF FAMILIES
FAMILIES ON REUEF
AT ANY TIME DURING THE YEAR
■
■
■
■
SALARIED
FAMIUES WITH
PROFESSIONAL NO GAINFULLY
GROUP
EMPLOYED
M EM BERS
DISTRIBUTION OF ALL FAMILIES
WAGE EARNER GROUP
C L E R IC A L
GROUP
r
INDEPENDENT BUSINESS GRO UP!
INDEPENDENT PROFESSIONAL GROUP |
SALARIED BUSINESS GROUP
SALARIED PROFESSIONAL GROUP P
FAMIUES WITH NO GAINFULLY
EMPLOYED MEMBERS
N ,
-L_
PERCENT
U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
74021 °— 39
-3
FAMILY INCOME IN CHICAGO
24
T a b l e 9 . — M e d ia n in co m es o f fa m ilie s o f specified color and n a tivity b y occup ation al
group
a. ALL FAM ILIES
White
All fami
lies 1
Occupational group
Negro
Native
Foreign
born
_ __ .
$1,412
$1, 580
$1,369
$726
Wage earner________ _______ ___________
______________
Clerical_____________ ____ _ __________ ____________________
Independent business_
_ - ________ _________________ ___
Independent professional____ _ __ ________ ________________
Salaried business________ _________
-- ________ _________
Salaried professional______________ __________
___________ _
No gainfully employed members______________________________
1,278
1,784
1,386
2, 763
2,838
2,169
219
1,369
1,797
1,459
2,821
2,913
2,320
241
1,319
1,772
1,408
2,750
2,500
2,016
242
804
1,464
721
(2)
(2)
(2)
137
All occupational groups--
-
b. N O N R ELIEF FAM ILIES ONLY
All occupational groups_________
$1, 579
$1, 709
$1,496
$1,031
Wage earner------- ----------------------Clerical.____ ___________________
Independent business----------------Independent professional________
Salaried business_______________
Salaried professional____________
No gainfully employed members.
1,436
1,843
1,442
2,772
2,847
2,269
494
1,520
1,845
1,518
2,837
2,922
2,382
746
1,434
1,848
1,454
2, 750
2,500
2,125
405
1,033
1,600
799
(2)
396
i
These medians are based on total families, including those of “ other color,” which constituted 0.4 percent
of the total.
3
Median subject to high variability due to small number of cases and lack of concentration in the dis
tribution.
In the case of Negro wage earners, the median income is substan
tially affected by two factors: First, the employments which support
the bulk o f Negro families normally carry the wage levels of unskilled
occupations; second, the sources of earnings reported in the schedules
of the Negro families— and this has been emphasized by the de
pression years— reflect a disproportionately heavy dependence upon
odd jobs rather than on stable lines of employment.
The same general ranking of the three nativity-race, groups applies
to the independent business classification, in which the foreign born
families constituted more than half of the total group. Here again
the difference in income between the native white and foreign born
families was only slightly more than $50. Both of these groups had
a median income nearly double that of the independent business
families among the Negroes.
Concerning the other occupational groups, in which the foreign
born and Negroes are less well represented, a few points are worthy
of attention. It is notable that, among the clerical families, the
foreign born attained an income level about equal to that of the native
white families, indicating that to all economic intents and purposes
the foreign born group here (which constituted one-third of the total
clerical families) is largely assimilated with the native born whites.
F A M IL Y
IN C O M E
B Y
O C C U P A T IO N A L
25
GROUP
The .Negro clerical families (with a median income of $1,464 for all
families, $1,600 for nonrelief families) form an upper income group
within that race, constituting only 5 percent of all Negro families
and less than 1.5 percent of the clerical families in the entire population.
In the salaried business and the two professional groups, the
difference between the income status of the foreign born and the native
white families is greater than in the other occupational groups. The
Negro population is poorly represented here, but the few families
that were classified as salaried business and independent professional
attained relatively high income levels.
These general observations on the income status of the various
occupational groups are to be supplemented by a more detailed con
sideration of the characteristics of each occupational group. For
this purpose we shall use as our basic model for discussion the rela
tively homogeneous sample of native white nonrelief families con
taining both husband and wife. Before we enter upon our discussion,
however, it is essential that we ascertain the relative position of this
selected sample within the total population of the different occu
pational groups.
It has already been mentioned that native white families enjoyed
the highest median incomes of any nativity-race group. The figures
in table 10 show further that, among the native white families, those
containing both husband and wife had in most occupational groups
median incomes several hundred dollars above those of the incomplete
families. In most cases, the foreign born had median incomes some
what below those of the complete native white families, but above
those of the incomplete native whites. Negro families as a whole
(table 9b) in all except the clerical group, had median incomes below
those of the incomplete native white families.
T
able
10. — M e d ia n in co m es in different occu p ation a l grou p s o f native a nd fo r eig n
born white fa m ilie s , com plete and incom p lete
[Nonrelief families only]
Native white
Foreign born white
Occupational group
All
Complete
Incom
plete
All
Complete
Incom
plete
All occupational groups____________
$1, 709
$1, 798
$1, 362
$1, 496
$1, 538
$1,231
Wage earner______________ ______
Clerical____________________________
Independent business___ ________ Independent professional- _______
Salaried business_______ _________
Salaried professional___ _________
No gainfully employed members___
1, 520
1,845
1, 518
2,837
2, 922
2, 382
746
1, 557
1,934
1, 793
3,014
2,917
2, 515
732
1,240
1,546
1,059
1, 583
0)
2,021
750
1, 434
1,848
1, 454
2, 750
2,500
2,125
405
1,447
1,899
1,563
2,857
2,475
2,094
433
1,317
1,674
867
2,375
(0
2, 219
368
1 Median subject to high variability due to small number of cases and lack of concentration in the dis
tribution.
26
F A M IL Y
IN C O M E
IN
C H IC A G O
The generally favorable income position of the native white com
plete families is thus incontestable. Another question o f equal
importance refers to their relative frequency in the various occupa
tional groups. For this purpose the percentages for native and
foreign born white families have been broken down in table 11 to
show the proportions in each group of complete and incomplete
families.
T
able
11 . — D istr ib u tio n o f f a m ilie s i n different occu p a tion a l g ro u p s, b y color
a nd n a tiv ity
[All nonrelief families]
Color and nativity
All families..-........ .
Native white----------Complete_______
Incomplete-------Foreign born white. _
Complete_______
Incomplete-------Negro..........................
Other color_______
All
occupa
tional
groups
Wage
earner
Clerical
P ercen t
P ercen t
P ercen t
Independ Independ
ent
Salaried
ent
profes
business
business
sional
P ercen t
P ercen t
P ercen t
Salaried
profes
sional
No gain
fully em
ployed
members
P ercen t
P ercen t
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
1C0.0
100.0
50.8
42.4
41.1
68.5
80.1
69.3
46.3
3 9 .4
3 6 .4
6 .0
64.6
48.4
2 9 .0
4 8 .9
1 2 .1
5 5 .4
1 3 .1
7 2 .7
1 6 .2
7 .4
2 0 .4
1 5 .1
3 1 .2
1 1 .4
44.9
51.2
33.9
54.7
28.9
18.6
3 7 .4
7 .5
4 4 -7
6 .5
2 6 .1
7 .8
4 6 .2
8 .5
2 5 .0
3 .9
4.0
.3
5.9
.5
3.9
.3
2.6
1.4
.1
27.8
51.5
1 7 .1
1 .5
2 1 .8
6 .0
3 1 .4
2 0 .1
1.1
.2
2.6
.3
2.2
I t is o bviou s fro m the figures in table 11 th a t the group o f fam ilies
selected for m ore in tensive analysis form ed v ery different proportions
o f th e to ta l in the various occupational groups.
In the first place,
exam ination o f these figures goes far to explain the relatively low
m edian in com e o f the in depen den t business group, to w hich a tten
tion
has
already
been
called.
N a tiv e
w h ite
fam ilies
containing
b o th h usband and w ife, w hich in this occupational group h ad a m e d
ian in com e a b o u t $ 7 3 5 a b o v e th a t o f the in com plete n a tiv e w hite
fam ilies and considerably a b o v e all foreign born fam ilies, constituted
less th an 30 percent o f th e to ta l in depen den t business group— a
sm aller proportion th an in a n y other occupational group save the h eter
ogeneous one labelled “ N o gain fu lly em p loyed m e m b e rs.”
Among the incomplete families (which were, relative to total native
and total foreign b o m families, more numerous in this than in most
occupational groups), the independent business sample was replete
with very low income families, such as those of widows who do dress
making, take in laundry, sell flowers, or keep roomers and boarders.
Of the broken families, approximately three-fifths of those listed in
the independent business category had female principal earners. A
m ajority o f those would have shown smaller family incomes than they
actually did, had it not been for annuities, pensions, or subven
tions from relatives which supplemented earnings from the “ inde
pendent” business. In the case of the native white incomplete
F A M IL Y
IN C O M E
B Y
O C C U P A T IO N A L
GROUP
27
families, the independent business group was so heavily weighted
with the poorly remunerated types of self-employed persons that
their median income was only $1,059. Combining the complete and
incomplete native white families thus produced a median income of
$1,518, which is actually lower than the median for native white wage
earners.
Among the foreign born, the independent business class included
peddlers, ragmen, and miscellaneous venders operating on a mini
mum of capital. The incomplete families in this group also had a
very low median income— $867 as against $1,563 for the complete
foreign bom families. But, since the foreign born had relatively
fewer incomplete families than did the native whites, the median
income for the whole foreign born group was close to that of the
complete families, and somewhat higher for the independent business
than for the wage-earner families.
Among the Negroes, the independent business group represented
chiefly low income enterprises such as home laundries, bootblack
stands, barber shops, beauty parlors, and various huckster activities.
The fact that their median income was below that of even the incom
plete foreign born white families (compare tables 9b and 10) reflects
the absence, among Negro families, of any very remunerative enter
prises to offset these typically small-scale undertakings.
In the wage-earner group the native white families containing hus
band and wife formed slightly more than one-third of all families
classified in that occupation, being outnumbered by the foreign born
wage-earning families. It is notable that in both the native white
and foreign born families of wage earners the incomplete families
formed one-seventh or less of the total for the occupation; many
broken families were apparently eliminated from the wage-earner
class by the loss of the male head of the family.
In the white-collar occupational divisions the complete native white
families predominated. Among the clerical families, the native whites
formed almost two-thirds of the total, the complete native white
families alone constituted roughly one-half of all clerical families.
In the salaried business and professional groups, the predominance
of the native white families was even more striking. About one-half
of the professional group and almost three-fourths of those in the
salaried business classification consisted of native white families con
taining husband and wife. These figures may be taken as indicative
of the relative opportunities open to the various racial and nativity
groups to enter the different types of occupations.
From this point on, the analysis by occupations will be confined to
the relatively homogeneous sample of nonrelief native white families
containing both husband and wife.
28
FAM ILY INCOME IN
CHICAGO
Wage earners.— Our random sample of native white wage-earner
families containing both husband and wife received a median family
income of $1,557 for the schedule year 1935-36. Since this sample is
limited to nonrelief families, it represents the income of the wageearner households in which there is comparatively regular employ
ment. In excluding the incomplete native white families, foreign
bom, Negro, and other nonwhite groups, the sample eliminates ele
ments in the wage-earner population in which incomes are often
lowered because of social handicaps.
T
able
1 2 , — Families of the wage-earner group distributed by incom e , average total
incom e , and earnings and weeks o f employment o f principal earners 1
[White nonrelief families including husband and wife, both native born]
Principal earnei•s
Income class
Percentage of
all families
Average
total
family
income
Average earnings
Amount
All families___________________ -
100.0
2 $1, 557
$1,430
Under $600_____________________
$500-$749________ ______________
$750-$999____ __________________
$1,000-$1,249____________________
$1,250-$1,499____________________
$1,500-$1,749____________________
$1,750-$1,999____________________
$2,000-$2,499____________________
$2,500-$2,999____________________
$3,000-$4,999____________________
$5,000 and over_____________ _ .
3.5
5.4
10.6
13.9
13.6
13.2
12.3
15.1
6.4
5.6
.4
330
632
874
1,116
1,357
1, 603
1,859
2,224
2, 704
3. 581
5,864
291
577
812
1,037
1,252
1,468
1, 677
1, 958
2,144
2,497
3,706
Percentage of
total family
income
Average num
ber of weeks
in which
employed
48.0
88.2
91.3
92.9
92.9
92.3
91.6
90.2
88.0
79.3
69.7
63.2
23.8
38.6
45.2
47.9
49.1
50.2
50.7
51.2
51.1
51.5
51.8
1 Percentage of families in the wage-earner group which received relief at some time during the schedule
year, 13.23.
2 Median income.
Yet even within this selected group, the income pattern is one of
wide variation, with no single income band including as much as onesixth of the total families. The income brackets ($250 intervals)
between $1,000 and $1,750 together account for more than two-fifths
of the total number. Approximately one-fifth of the families had
incomes of less than $1,000. More than one-half (53 percent) were
found in the income brackets $1,000 and under $2,000. A little
more than one-fifth (21.5 percent) had from $2,000 to $3,000, leaving
6 percent of the Wage earners with family incomes of $3,000 or more.
There are factors other than different scales of wages which deter
mine the incomes of the wage-earner family. If we compare the
income of the family with the earnings of the chief earner (column 5
of table 12), we see that the wages of the principal earner account
for nearly all of the family income until we reach the level of $2,500,
at which point the presence of additional earners begins to have a
marked influence upon the income level of the family. This is borne
F A M IL Y
IN C O M E
B Y
O C C U P A T IO N A L
GROUP
29
out by the fact that while the average number of earners per family is
between 1.1 and 1.2 in the income bands under $1,000, this average
thereafter climbs consistently until we get an average of 2.29 earners
for the families having incomes of $5,000 or more.4
A decisive factor in determining the size of the family income for
families in the lower income brackets was the steadiness of employ
ment. In the families with less than $500 of annual family income,
the principal earner averaged only 24 weeks of employment and $291
in annual earnings during the schedule year; while in the family in
come band between $1,000 and $1,250 the principal earner averaged
48 weeks of employment to attain average earnings of $1,037 per
year.6 In the [under $500 income group, averaging $330 of annual
family income, the principal earner’s wages averaged $12.25 per week,
in weeks when he worked. In the $1,000 to $1,250 income bracket,
where the family income averaged $1,116 per annum, the principal
earner’s average per week was $21.65. In other words, an increase of
240 percent in annual family income was accompanied by an increase
of only 77 percent in the average weekly earnings of the principal
earner, the remainder of the difference being attributable to increased
regularity of employment and to earnings of supplementary workers.
Moreover, the average wages of the principal earner amounted to only
$1,430 per annum, for the wage-earner group as a whole, even though
that sum represented an average of 48 weeks of employment for the
principal earner of the family.
Clerical fam ilies .—It has been noted earlier in the chapter that more
than one-fifth of the families in Chicago are classified within the
clerical occupations. If we consider only the native white complete
families which were entirely self-supporting, the proportion is even
higher, with 30.5 percent of all families in that group dependent mainly
upon clerical occupations for support. Unlike the wage earners, the
clerical families of Chicago are predominantly in the native white
group, which accounts for nearly two-thirds of the clerical total.
As reflected in the median of $1,934, the clerical group among the
native white complete families had an income level which is about
one-fourth higher than that of the corresponding sample of wageearner families. The relative proportions which had been on relief
during the schedule year—4.6 percent of the clerical families, 13.2 per
cent of the wage earner— also suggest the better economic position of
the clerical group, although again it must be pointed out that, if a
family secured its principal earnings from work on relief projects, the
likelihood predominated that it was classified in the wage-earner
group, regardless of what its normal occupational classification would
have been.
* For a fuller discussion of the component parts of the family income, see ch. IV, Sources of Family Income.
* A week of employment was credited to a wage earner if he was employed at all during that week. The
credited working week may therefore include from H to 7 days of employment.
30
T
able
F A M IL Y
IN C O M E
IN
C H IC A G O
Families o f the clerical group distributed by incom e, average total incom e ,
and earnings and weeks o f employment o f principal earners 1
13.—
[White nonrelief families including husband and wife, both native born]
Principal earners
Income class
Percentage
of all
families
Average
total family
income
Average earnings
Amount
All families, ___________________
1 0 0 .0
a $ 1 ,9 3 4
$ 1 ,7 9 2
Under $ 5 0 0 ____________________________
1 .0
2 .6
5 .0
9 .1
9 .9
1 2 .5
1 3 .5
2 2 .0
9 .7
1 2 .5
2 .2
321
6 28
879
1 ,1 2 0
1 ,3 5 3
1 ,5 9 8
1 ,8 5 2
2 ,2 2 2
2, 686
3, 646
6 ,0 3 4
280
559
822
1 ,0 4 9
1 ,2 2 3
1 ,4 4 9
1, 685
2 ,0 0 7
2 ,2 3 4
2 ,7 9 2
4 ,6 2 9
$ 5 0 0 -$ 7 4 9 _______________________________
$ 7 5 0 -$ 9 9 9 _______________________________
$ 1 ,0 0 0 -$ 1 ,2 4 9 _______________ ______
$ 1 ,2 5 0 -$ 1 ,4 9 9 ___________________________
$ 1 ,5 0 0 -$ 1 ,7 4 9 ___________________________
$ 1 ,7 5 0 -$ 1 ,9 9 9 ___________________________
$ 2 ,0 0 0 -$ 2 ,4 9 9 ___________________________
$ 2 ,5 0 0 -$ 2 ,9 9 9 ___________________________
$ 3 ,0 0 0 -$ 4 ,9 9 9 ___________________________
$ 5 ,0 0 0 and over_________________
Percentage
of total
family in
come
Average
number of
weeks em
ployed
5 0 .6
8 7 .2
8 9 .0
9 3 .5
9 3 .7
9 0 .4
9 0 .7
9 1 .0
9 0 .3
8 3 .2
7 6 .6
7 6 .7
2 5 .0
3 8 .9
4 8 .0
5 0 .2
5 0 .6
5 1 .2
5 1 .4
5 1 .7
5 1 .8
5 1 .7
5 1 .7
i Percentage of families in the clerical group which received relief at some time during the schedule year,
4 .6 0 .
a Median income.
It will be noted from table 13 that the clerical families grouped them
selves roughly into quarters which divide successively at $1,500,
$2,000, and $2,500. An examination of the individual schedules for
the cases with family incomes of $4,000 and over has shown that al
though the occupations are classed as “ clerical” they are on the border
line of salaried professional and salaried business employments. They
include auditors; clerical executives in banks, insurance companies,
and similar service organizations; salesmen in the more remunerative
fields, and the like.
A marked feature of the income picture for the clerical families is the
relative steadiness of employment. Only 3.6 percent of the sample
shown in table 13 were in the income bands under $750 and these were
the only income bands in which the average of employment for the
principal earner was less than 48 weeks. There was a more consistent
correlation between family income and the average earnings of the
principal earner among clerical than among wage-earner families; for
all incomes above $1,750, the correlation was higher than in the wageearner group. There was, nevertheless, a dependence upon supple
mentary earners which increased with the income level. Thus the
average number of earners in the family income bracket $1,250 to
$1,500 was 1.2; at $2,500 to $3,000, it was 1.4; while at $5,000 and over,
it was 1.84.
F A M IL Y
T
IN C O M E
B Y
O C C U P A T IO N A L
GROUP
31
14 ,—Families of the business and professional groups distributed by income ,
average total incom e , and earnings and weeks of employment o f principal earners 1
a b l e
[W h ite nonrelief families in clu d in g husband and wife, bo th native bo rn ]
Principal earners5
Income class
Percentage
of all
families
Average
total family
income
Average earnings
Amount
All families_______ _____________
100. 0
2$2,377
$2,569
Under $ 5 0 0 . ________ _________
$500-$749_________ _____ _______
$750-$999............ ..............................
$1,000-$1,249____ _______________
$1,250-$1,499________ ___________
$1,500-11,749____________________
$1,750-$1,999______ _____________
$2,000-$2,499_____ ______________
$2,500-$2,999........... ........................
$3,000-$4,999____________________
$5,000 and over................. ...........
2.2
3.2
4.0
7.4
5.8
7.0
8.2
16.2
11.3
23.1
11.6
321
612
862
1,120
1,352
1,588
1,854
2,240
2,685
3,692
7,506
294
532
762
1,015
1, 218
1, 442
1,708
2,043
2, 378
3, 215
6,463
Percentage
of total
family in
come
Average
number of
weeks em
ployed
50.5
91.6
86.9
88.4
90.6
90.1
90.8
92.1
91.2
88.6
87.1
86.1
34.5
42. 1
45.0
49.1
50.3
50.6
51.3
51.4
51.4
51.7
51.9
1 Percentage of families in the business and professional groups which received relief at some time during
the schedule year, 3.02.
* M e d ia n income.
Business and professional occupations.— Taken together, the four
business and professional classifications made up approximately 22
percent of the native white families containing both husband and wife
and not on relief. Their median income was $2,377 and more than
one-third of the group had family incomes of $3,000 and over.
In general, the relationship between total family income and the
average earnings of the principal earner was much closer among
business and professional families than among wage earner or clerical
families, even at the upper income levels. Among families with in
comes of $5,000 and over, the earnings of the principal earner amounted
to 86 percent of the total income. As will be pointed out later, a con
siderable part of the remaining 14 percent came, not from supplemen
tary earners, but from income other than earnings. The distribution
of complete native white families by income, as shown in table 14, is
in line with the general impression that the business and professional
group as a whole represents an income level which is above that of
wage-earner and clerical families. In the present study, however, the
composite business and professional groups included families that
would hardly recognize themselves as part of an economic “ upper
crust.” The salaried professional, salaried business, and independent
professional families definitely concentrated in the income bands
above $2,000. The independent business group, on the other hand,
was remarkable for its heterogeneity.
32
F A M IL Y
IN C O M E
IN
C H IC A G O
A t one extreme the classification “ independent business” included,
the partners of leading financial houses and proprietors of enterprises
which were large even though unincorporated. A t the other extreme
our independent business group included self-employed persons who
were cobblers, taxi drivers, barbers, tailors, or grocers, operating on
the verge of bankruptcy, with incomes close to the subsistence level.
T
able
15. — F a m ilies o f the in dep en den t bu sin ess gro u p d istributed b y in co m e, aver
age total in co m e , and earnings a nd weeks o f em p lo ym en t o f p rin cip a l earners 1
[White nonrelief families including husband and wife, both native born]
Principal earners
Income class
Percentage
of all
families
Average
total family
income
Average earnings
Amount
All families. ___________________
100.0
2 $1, 793
$2,008
Under $500________ ________ __
$500-$749_______________________
$750-$999_______________________
$1,000-$1,249____________________
$1,250-$1,499____________________
$1,500-$1,749____________________
$1,750-$l,999____________________
$2,000-$2,499____________________
$2,500-$2,999____________________
$3,000-$4,999____________________
$5,000 and over______ _______ __
4. 5
6.2
7.4
13.4
8.6
8.4
8.8
13.5
8.6
14.1
6.5
324
615
865
1,119
1,347
1, 584
1,846
2, 230
2, 674
3, 678
7,902
302
525
753
1,009
1,172
1,401
1, 612
1,965
2, 244
3,110
6,933
Percentage
of total fam
ily income
Average
number of
weeks in
which em
ployed
50.0
93.2
85.4
87.1
90.2
87.0
88.4
87.3
88.1
83.9
84.6
87.7
36.0
44.6
47.3
49.6
50.4
50.8
51.5
51.8
51.4
51.8
52.0
1 Percentage of families in the independent business group which received relief at some time during the
schedule year, 3.38.
2 Median income.
In the select sample of native white families containing husband and
wife, the median income of $1,793 for the independent business group
was above that of the corresponding wage-earner sample, even though
40 percent of the independent business sample were in the income
bands under $1,500 (see table 15).
Only 3.4 percent of the families in this group had been on relief
during the schedule year, though this low percentage is due in no
small part to the fact that an individual did not remain in the inde
pendent business category while he was employed on relief projects.
The data on rents and other expenditures reveal that a number of
independent business families showing low current incomes were eating
into their capital to cover current expenses. Some of these families
probably came into this occupational category because, in the face of
unemployment, they began to take in roomers and boarders. There
was a larger proportion of families of the independent business group
in the highest income brackets than in the case of either wage-earner
or clerical families. In proportion to their total number, the inde
pendent business group did not have so large a representation in the
upper income brackets as did the salaried business or professional
classes; yet in actual numbers, if we combine foreign with native white
F A M IL Y
IN C O M E
BY
O CC U PA T IO N A L
33
GROUP
families, there were more cases above $5,000 in the independent busi
ness classification than in either of the professional categories. Even
for the native white families containing husband and wife (table 15),
the pattern of the independent business families is thus a very diversi
fied one, with heavy representation at both extremes of the income
range.
Although they may be grouped with the salaried business and inde
pendent professional classifications as belonging to the upper income
strata of the population, the salaried professional families occupy an
economic position below the other two. The median income of the
salaried professional group in the native white sample of complete
families was $2,515—if we exclude the families that received relief
during the schedule year (see table 16). This figure was higher than
the median for the corresponding wage-earner, clerical, and independ
ent business samples. On the other hand, the salaried professional
families had a higher percentage on relief (5.65 percent) than did either
the salaried business or independent professional groups. One reason
for this higher percentage on relief may be found in the fact that workrelief opportunities were made available under the W. P. A. to actors,
musicians, painters, and other artists, as well as to teachers and
nurses, in a substantial number of professional projects. Such relief
work permitted them to be classified as professional; only 0.5 percent
of the native white complete families which had been on relief during
the year were classified as salaried business or independent professional.
Of the salaried professional families, 9.3 percent were classified at an
income level of $5,000 or above— a proportion considerably below that
of the salaried business and independent professional occupations.
T
able
16. — F a m ilies o f the salaried 'professional gro u p d istributed b y in co m e , aver
age total in co m e , and earnings and weeks o f em p lo ym en t o f p rin cip a l earners 1
[White nonrelief families including husband and wife, both native born]
Principal earner•s
Income class
Percentage
of all
families
Average
total family
income
Average earnings
Amount
All families____ - ____
Under $500__________________ __
$500-$749_______________________
$750-$999_______________________
$1,000-11,249____________________
$1,250-$1,499____________________
$1,500-$1,749____________________
$1,750-$1,999____________________
$2,000-$2,499____________________
$2,500-$2,999__ _____ ___________
$3,000-$4,999____________________
$5,000 and over____ _______ _ _. „
100.0
1.0
1.9
2.8
3.9
5.8
7.2
7.6
19.5
13.9
27.1
9.3
2
$2, 515
$2,485
286
608
862
1,102
1,366
1, 591
1,857
2, 244
2, 694
3,684
6, 932
248
535
812
1,018
1, 277
1,464
1,766
2,035
2, 433
3,108
5, 540
Percentage
of total fam
ily income
Average
number of
weeks in
which em
ployed
50.0
86.7
88.0
94.2
92.4
93.5
92.0
95.1
90.7
90.3
84.4
79.9
29.4
35.4
38.1
48.2
50.2
50.1
50.4
50.8
50.8
51.4
51.7
1 Percentage of families in the salaried professional group which received relief at some time during the
schedule year, 5.65.
2Median income.
34
F A M IL Y
IN C O M E
IN
C H IC A G O
Of the salaried business and independent professional occupations,
there is room for debate as to which held the better economic position.
It will be seen from table 19 that the first quartile point for the salaried
business families (including the relief group) was $2,093, as against
$1,944 for the independent professional. This was to be expected,
inasmuch as the salaried business class, by definition, includes those
in managerial or executive business posts. But at the median, the
independent professional forge ahead of the salaried business families
by an average of about $100; the third quartile point for the inde
pendent professional, $4,500, is $350 above the corresponding figure
for the salaried business families. In the income bands of $5,000 and
over, the independent professional group are represented by 21.9 per
cent of their total number as against 17.5 percent for the salaried
business. Of the total number of families having incomes of $5,000
and over, however, the salaried business group comprised more than
twice as large a proportion as did the independent professional (30.4
as compared with 12.9 percent).
The group labeled “ No gainfully employed members” is a very
mixed one, including those who have retired in comfort from choice;
those living on pensions; the unemployed and the unemployable, with
out private resources, who were on relief at some time during the sched
ule year. Of the families in this occupational group, 41.8 percent
had been on relief. Only a little more than 3 percent of the native
white families with husband and wife belonged to this group, yet it
accounted for 14 percent of all the complete native white families
on relief. Among the nonrelief families of this group, the median
income from all sources was $732, the first quartile point was $225,
and only 1.2 percent of their number had family incomes of as much
as $5,000.
T
able
17. — F a m ilies o f the salaried b u sin ess gro u p d istributed b y incom et average
total incom et and ea rn in g s and w eek s o f em p lo ym en t o f p rin cip a l earners 1
[White nonrelief families including husband and wife, both native born]
I 'rincipal earners
Income class
All families______ ______________
Under $500_____________________
$500-$749_______________________
$750-$999_______________________
$1,000-$1,249____________________
$1,250-$1,499____________________
$1,500-$l,749____________________
$1,750-$1,999____________________
$2,000-$2,499____________________
$2,500-$2,999____________________
$3,000-$4,999____________________
$5,000 and over_________________
Percentage
of all
families
100.0
.3
.5
.9
2.5
2.9
5.7
8.6
18.4
12.3
30.3
17.6
Average
total
family
income
2 $2,917
330
652
859
1,138
1,352
1,598
1,862
2,250
2,692
3,699
7,662
Average earnings
Amount
$3,171
267
623
730
1,032
1,277
1,484
1,777
2,121
2,421
3,348
6,574
Percentage of
total
family
income
Average
number
of weeks
in which
employed
51.2
80.9
95.6
85.0
90.7
94.5
92.9
95.4
94.3
89.9
90.5
85.8
17.0
33.3
37.7
45.7
50.4
50.4
51.9
51.5
51.8
51.8
52.0
1Percentage of families in the salaried business group which received relief at some time during the schedule
year, 0.58.
2 Median income.
F A M IL Y
T
able
IN C O M E
BY
O C C U P A T IO N A L
GROUP
3 5
18. — F a m ilies o f the in dep en den t p rofessio n a l gro u p d istributed b y in co m e ,
average total in c o m e , and earnings and w eeks o f e m p lo ym en t o f p rin cip a l earners 1
[White nonrelief families including husband and wife, both native born]
I 'rincipal earners
Percentage
of all
families
Income class
Average
total
family
income
Average earnings
Amount
All families_____________________
100.0
2 $3,014
$2,904
Under $500_____________________
$500-$749_______________________
$750-$999_______________________
$1,000-$1,249____________________
$1,250-$1,499____________________
$1,500-$1,749____________________
$1,750-$1,999____________________
$2,000-$2,499____________________
$2,500-$2,999____________________
$3,000-$4,999____________________
$5,000 and over---------------------------
1.3
2.3
2.9
5.4
2.9
4.8
6.0
11.8
12.3
28.1
22.2
348
557
836
1,142
1,337
1,578
1,858
2,227
2,668
3, 725
7,323
319
532
743
1,040
1,258
1,486
1,746
2,044
2,466
3,299
6,447
Percentage of
total
family
income
Average
number
of weeks
in which
employed
51.3
91.7
95.5
88.9
91.1
94.1
94.2
94.0
91.8
92.4
88.6
88.0
41.6
40.3
47.1
50.9
49.7
51.8
51.2
52.0
52.0
52.0
52.0
i
Percentage of families in the independent professional group which received relief at some time during
the schedule year, 0.95.
3 Median income.
T
able
19.— In c o m e d istribu tion , b y occup ation al group
[All white families including husband and wife, both native born]
Occupational group
Wage earner------------------- ----------------------------Clerical---------- ---------------------------------------------Independent business------------------- ----------------Independent professional---------------------------------Salaried business________________________ _____
Salaried professional------- --------------------------------No gainfully employed members______________
First
quartile
$899
1,350
1,083
1,944
2,093
1,689
112
Median
$1,422
1,890
1,743
2,992
2,905
2,437
225
Third
quartile
$1,976
2,451
2,695
4,500
4,146
3,418
974
Percentage
in income
bands of
$5,000 and
over
0.3
2.1
6.2
21.9
17.5
8.8
.6
Some of the conclusions drawn from the discussion of income by
occupation in this chapter may now be summarized:
(1) Half of all the families in Chicago were primarily dependent
upon the wage-earner occupations for income. Among the foreign
born and Negro families the proportion was even higher, which served
to offset the fact that only about two-fifths of the native white families
were in this occupational group. The least numerous of the occupa
tional groups was the independent professional, which accounted for
about 2 percent of the native white families and less than 1.5 percent
of all families in Chicago.
(2) In the professional and salaried business groups, more than
two-thirds of the families were native white. In the independent
business group, the majority of the families were foreign bom.
36
F A M IL Y
IN C O M E
IN
C H IC A G O
(3) Of all the families studied, the lowest average incomes and the
highest percentage of families on relief were found among the group
labeled “ No gainfully employed members.” This might be expected,
since the group included unemployed and unemployable, as well as
retired family heads. Of the six occupational groups, the lowest in
income level were the wage-earner and the independent business
families. In the case of the wage earners, the relatively low median
was due chiefly to a concentration of families in the income bands
between $1,000 and $2,000. The native white complete families had
higher incomes in the independent business occupation than in the
wage-earner group, but this high level was offset by the large repre
sentation of broken families and of foreign bom families which carried
on small-scale, low-income enterprises, so that the median for all
independent business families was little higher than that of the entire
wage-earning group.
(4) In the three occupational groups in which the foreign born
families were most heavily represented (wage earner, clerical, and
independent business) the differences between the median incomes of
native and foreign born white families (relief and nonrelief) were
slight, ranging from $25 to $50.
(5) Among native white complete families which had not been on
relief during the year, the families of wage earners had a median in
come between 13 and 20 percent lower than did families of clerical
workers and independent business operators. Their median incomes
were 23 to 29 percent below that of salaried professional workers,
which was, in turn, about 15 percent below that of independent
professional and salaried business workers. The last two groups were
at about the same general income level, the main difference being that
the families of independent professional workers were more widely
distributed in the income bands below $2,000 as well as in those above
$5,000.
Chapter III
Family Income by Family Composition
The composition of the family— the number, ages, and family
relationships of its members— has a bearing not only on the manner
in which the family income will be spent, but also on the capacity of the
family for producing income. This has already been observed in the
previous chapter, when the incomes of incomplete families were found
to be generally lower than the incomes of families containing both
husband and wife.
Size of fam ily .— The complete native white families covered in the
sample had an average size of 3.6 persons per family. For the group
on relief, the average was 4.3 persons per family, while for the nonrelief
families it was 3.5. This means that at any given low income large
families are more likely to receive relief than small ones. It does not
mean that larger families had a poorer income record than did smaller
families.
If we follow average number per family in nonrelief families from
the lower to the higher income ranges we find that the average size of
family consistently increases as we move up the income scale to $5,000
(see table 20). For nonrelief families with incomes under $500 the
average was 3.1 persons per family; at $1,500-$1,749 the average had
risen to 3.5; at $2,500-$2,999 it was 3.8; and at $4,500-$4,999 the
average number of persons per family was 4.2, or almost exactly the
same average as for relief families. With size alone as the criterion,
it might therefore be said that the large families were divided between
the relief group and the high income groups.
There was, however, a marked difference in composition between the
large families which had been on relief and the large families in the
higher income brackets. The crux of that difference may be found in
the relative number of minors and adults. The families on relief
averaged, in addition to the parents, 0.57 persons 16 and over per
family, as against 1.71 persons under 16; but in the higher income
group, the average of 4.2 persons is made up of 1.35 adults, in addition
to husband and wife, and only 0.83 persons under 16. Thus the relief
families contained, in addition to the married couple, three times as
many persons under 16 as those of 16 and over; while among the
families at $4,500 there were, aside from the married couple, 60 percent
more adults than youngsters. For all income classes under $3,000
37
38
F A M IL Y
IN C O M E
IN
C H IC A G O
there were more young children than adults, in addition to the married
couple; for all income bands above $3,000 there were more adults than
young children.
T
able
20. — A v era g e siz e and c o m p o sitio n o f econ om ic fa m i li e s , b y in co m e
[All white families including husband and wife, both native born: All occupational groups combined]
Income class
Percentage
of all
families
Average
number of
persons
per family
Average number of persons1
in addition to husband
and wife
16 years
and over
Under
16 years
Total_________________________________________
100.0
3.6
0.58
1.03
Total relief___ ________ __ _ _ _ ______ _________
Total nonrelief________ ______ _______ ______
9.5
90.5
4.3
3.5
.57
.58
1. 71
.96
1.1
1.8
3.8
6.7
9.9
9.6
10.4
10. 5
8.8
6.8
7.6
4.7
3.0
1.7
1.0
2.3
.4
.4
3.0
3.1
3.2
3.2
3.4
3.5
3.5
3.5
3.6
3.6
3.8
3.8
3.9
4.0
4.2
3.9
3.8
3.9
.40
.40
.34
.34
.39
.42
.49
.52
.55
.64
.83
.95
1.02
1.13
1.35
1.02
.96
.99
.64
. 69
.86
.91
.98
1.06
1.03
1.00
1.06
.98
.98
.86
.86
.87
.83
.86
.89
.92
Under $250______________ ________________
$250-$499_____ ____ ____________________ _
$500-$749_____ _____ ______________________
$750-$999__________________________________
$1,000-$1,249_______________________________
$1,250-$1,499.____ _________________________
$1,500-$1,749_______________________________
$1,750-$1,999_______________________________
$2,000-$2,249_______________________________
$2,250-$2,499____ _____ __________________
$2,500-$2,999____ __________________________
$3,000-$3,499_______________________________
$3,500-$3,999_______________________________
$4,000-$4,499__________ __________________
$4,500-$4,999_______________________________
$5,000-$7,499______________________________
$7,500-$9,999______________________________
$10,000 and over..................................... .
1 Full-time persons equivalent to 1 member for 52 weeks of schedule year.
The contrast in incomes between the families in which young
children predominated, and those more heavily weighted with adults,
was most significant among the wage-earner and clerical families (see
table 21). The nonrelief wage-earner families with less than $2,000
in family income averaged 0.4 persons 16 and over (in addition to the
parents) for every one under 16; at $3,000 to $5,000, the number of
extra persons 16 and over rose to an average of 1.63, while those under
16, averaged only 0.8 per family. At $5,000 and over the number of
adults other than husband and wife exceeded 1.9 per family, while the
number of children under 16 averaged 0.67 per family. The same
general tendency may be seen, but to a less striking degree, in, the case
of the clerical group, where the number of adults other than the hus
band and wife rose to a peak of 1.47 at $5,000 and over, as against
0.86 for those under 16.
In the salaried professional class the average number of adults also
tended to increase as the family income level rose, though by no
means so consistently as in the case of the wage earner and clerical
families. In the other occupational categories— salaried business,
independent professional, and independent business— the average
number of adults per family (in addition to husband and wife) was
F A M IL Y
IN C O M E
BY
F A M IL Y
39
C O M P O S IT IO N
smaller at all income levels than the number of children, indicating
that the earning capacity of the head of the family was more signifi
cant in determining the economic level of the family than was the
number of potential earners.
T
able
21*— A v era g e n u m ber o f p erso n s u nder and over age 1 6 , i n a dd ition to husba nd
and w ife , b y occu p ation al grou p
[Native white nonrelief families]
Wage earner
Income class
Clerical
Independent
business
Independent
professional
Salaried
business
Salaried
professional
16
16
16
16
16
16
years Under years Under years Under years Under years Under years Under
16
16
16
16
16
16
and
and
and
and
and
and
years
years
over
over
over years over years over years over years
All incomes—
0.59
1.05
0.61
0.92
0.55
0.92
0.56
0.81
0. 55
0.97
0.50
0.82
Under $1,000—
$1,000-$1,999__
$2,000-$2,999..
$3,000-$4,999_ _
$ 5 ,0 0 0 and
over.............
.34
.48
.82
1.63
.95
1.10
1.07
.80
.37
.45
. 64
1.11
.75
.93
.99
.82
.30
.51
.59
.76
.74
.92
1.00
.97
.47
.30
.54
.59
.68
.76
.71
.94
.23
.26
.48
.69
1.04
1.02
.97
1.00
.46
.30
.37
.71
.60
.76
.91
.84
1.90
.67
1.47
.86
.79
1.08
.81
.84
.82
.85
.90
.72
Family types .— The classification of families in the present study
was made with due concern for age as well as number of members
composing the family. Attention is directed to the eight family
types pictorially represented in figure VII. It will be seen from the
chart that, aside from family type I, which contains only husband and
wife, the other family types fall into two general groups. Family
types II, III, and V I contain, in addition to the parents, only chil
dren under 16; the other types in general include adults other than the
husband and wife. It will be obvious that from the standpoint of
the number of earners which a family can provide, we should expect
the family types IV, V, and VIII, with more adult members, to rank
relatively high as income producers, particularly for wage-earning
and clerical families. By the same token, family type VI, with its
three or four young children, is the most dependent upon a single
earner. Family type V II included families of seven or eight persons
in which there was at least one child under 16; it was a rather mixed
group, but so infrequent as to make further refinement unwarranted.1
As far as frequency of these types is concerned, the four types each
containing four members or less constituted 77.7 percent of all com
plete families. The most common family type was the first, con
taining only the husband and wife; more than one-fourth of all the
complete native white families came within that class. Families of
seven or more, in contrast, accounted for only 4.5 percent of the
native white families in Chicago containing husband and wife. The
1 Only 3.3 percent of the total native white complete families belonged to this type.
74021°— 39-------4
40
F A M IL Y IN C O M E IN
CHICAGO
Co. VII
FAMILY TYPES FOR INCOME STU D Y
© C © © ©
I <5 ;
r\ vI
Rnfl
•ini!
TYPE VI
TYPE VII
MEMBERS REQUIRED FOR TYRE
II ■ ■ ■ §
TYPE VIII
MEMBER REQUIRED FOR TYPE,
BUT AGE ALTERNATIVE
MEMBER OPTIONAL FOR TYPE
U. S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
AGE ALTERNATIVE
F A M IL Y
IN C O M E
BY
F A M IL Y
41
C O M P O S IT IO N
distribution of the family types in the random sample of complete
native white families in Chicago was as shown in the following
tabulation:
Family type
All
types
All families:
Number________________ 28,515
Percent_____ _____ _____ 100.0
Relief families_______________ 100.0
Nonrelief families___________ 100.0
T
able
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
7,229
25.4
17.7
26.2
5,412
19.0
15.2
19.4
3, 738
13.1
15.8
12.8
5,772
20.2
12.7
21.1
2,559
9.0
12.2
8.6
1,847
6.5
13.6
5.7
VII
954
3.3
8.1
2.8
VIII
667
2.3
1.3
2.5
Other
337
1.2
3.4
.9
2 2 .— I n c o m e characteristics o f f a m i l y ty p e s
[All white families including husband and wife, both native born]
Family type
I ______________ _____ __________
I I ______________________________
II I________ ____ _______________
IV ___________ _________________
V __________________ ___________
V I_________________ ___________
V II____________________________
V III____________ ______________
Other____ ________ _____ ______
Median
income 1
$1,561
1,591
1,606
1,907
1,905
1,472
1,745
2,435
1, 766
Third
quartile
point1
$2,187
2,179
2, 203
2,609
2,690
2,084
2,709
3,575
2,796
Percentage of families which
had incomes of—
Percentage
on relief
Under $1,000
(nonrelief)
6.6
7.6
11.5
6.0
13.0
20.0
23.1
5.2
27.3
18.6
15.3
12.4
11.3
8.1
11.5
5.1
5.4
4.2
$5,000 and
over
2.4
1.9
2.9
4.5
3.7
2.1
4.2
8.7
4.8
i Including families which had been on relief during the year.
Income by fa m ily type .— In table 22, and in figure V III, the family
types are compared according to their relative economic position.
Judged on the basis of income criteria alone, type V III, large families
composed entirely of adults, is in unquestionably the best position.
A t the bottom of the income scale come families of type V I, with
three or four young children and a high degree of dependence on a
single earner. The two-person families are near the bottom of the
income scale, which is not surprising, since many of these are either
young couples which have not yet achieved peak earnings, or older
families in which the children have grown up and left the economic
family, while the head has passed the peak of his earning capacity.
These are followed by II and III, which have one to four children and
no adults in addition to the parents. Types IV and V , which have
at least one additional adult, occupy a position near the top.
It is thus apparent that the income status of the family depends to
a considerable extent on the number of potential earners, and that
the age of the family head is also an important factor. But income
status does not tell the whole story, since it does not take into ac
count the number of persons who have to be supported by the given
42
F A M IL Y
IN C O M E
IN
C H IC A G O
Fig. viii
DISTRIBUTION BY INCOME OF FAMILIES
OF SPECIFIED TYPES
CHICAGO 1935-1936
(NATIVE WHITE FAMILIES. INCLUDING BOTH HUSBAND AND WIFE)
PERCENT
PERCENT
IOO
IV
V
VI
FAMILY TYPES
VII
VIII
OTHER
NON-RELIEF FAMILIES
l S 5,000
$ 3 ,0 0 0
V///////7A S 2,000
K sa s sg a $ 1,000
!••••
A N D O VER
TO $ 4,999
TO S 2,999
TO $ /,999
U N D ER $ 1,000
RELIEF FAMILIES
■■■
U. S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
FAM ILIES ON R E LIEF AT ANY TIM E DURING THE YEAR
43
FAM ILY INCOME BY FAM ILY COMPOSITION
income. The importance of family composition in determining the
economic welfare of the family is evident if we examine the percent
ages of the different family types which had been on relief at some
time during the schedule year. The position of type V II is partic
ularly striking. It comprises families of seven or eight persons, from
one to five of which are under 16 years of age. On the basis of income
criteria alone, this family type occupies a favorable position, but it
also has the highest proportion on relief (23.1 percent), except for
the “ Other” group. When most of the family members, in addition
to husband and wife, were adults, the average income of this family
type was high; when it included four to six children, its economic
position was poor.
T a b l e 2 3 . — Distribution o f fa m ily types at specified income levels, by occupational
group
[All white families including husband and wife, both native born]
a. ALL INCOMES
Nonrelief families
Family type
All complete families
I_____________________
II____________________
III..L_________________
IV ___________________
V ____ ________________
V I___________________
VII____ ______________
V I I I ....______________
Other_________________
All occu
pational
groups
Wage
earner
Clerical
Inde
pendent
business
and pro
fessional
Salaried
business
and pro
fessional
No gain
fully em
ployed
members
Percent
Percent
Percent
Percent
Percent
Percent
100.0
26.2
19.4
12.8
21.1
8.6
5.7
2.8
2.5
.9
100.0
24.3
19.3
13.6
20.0
9.2
6.7
3.4
2.3
1.2
100.0
24.9
20.7
12.5
22.2
8.2
5.1
2.5
3.0
.9
100.0
100.0
29.0
17.1
12.9
22.2
8.9
5.0
2.5
1.8
.6
Relief
families
Percent
100.0
100.0
28.6
20.3
12.6
20.8
8.0
4.8
2.1
2.3
.5
57.6
8.5
2.7
23.3
3.9
1.3
.8
.8
1.1
17.7
15.2
15.8
12.7
12.2
13.6
8.1
1.3
3.4
b. UNDER $1,000
All complete families___
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
I_______ ______________
II_________ ____ ______
III___________________
IV _____ ______________
V ____ ________________
V I_____ ______________
VII___________________
VIII__________________
Other________________
35.5
21.7
12.2
17.0
5.5
5.5
1.3
.9
.4
31.1
23.9
14.4
15.4
6.0
6.3
1.5
1.0
.4
34.3
23.6
10.5
20.8
3.3
5.2
1.0
1.2
.1
44.4
14.1
11.1
16.9
6.9
5.6
.5
.5
43.0
21.5
6.5
16.8
5.6
1.9
2.8
1.0
.9
56.0
11.0
3.6
21.0
4.0
1.7
1.0
.3
1.4
18.7
15.9
16.4
12.3
10.9
14.2
7.5
1.1
3.0
c. OVER $5,000
All complete families___
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
I ___________ ______
II____________________
III___________________
IV ___________________
V ____________________
V I____ _______________
VII__________________
VIII____ _____________
Other________________
20.1
11. 2
11.8
29.1
10. 7
4.2
4.6
6.5
1.8
10.4
6.2
2.1
35.4
12. 5
12. 9
10. 5
8.8
28.1
12.3
4.1
5.8
11.7
5.8
19.4
12.8
16.6
27.9
8.5
4.7
4.7
4.2
1.2
24.8
11. 3
11. 3
29.3
10.8
4.4
2.9
4.7
.5
16.7
14.6
16.7
2.1
50.0
33.3
44
FAM ILY INCOME IN
CHICAGO
N ext to V I I in proportion on relief came V I , with three or four
children and no additional adults. Then came V , with one to three
children and one additional adult, in some cases an earner, often an
additional dependent. The families with the smallest proportion on
relief were in type V I I I , with three or four additional adults and no
children; I V , with three or more potential earners and not more than
one child; and I, the husband-and-wife families.
Another approach to the comparison of family type with income is
offered in table 23, which shows, by occupational groupings, the distri
bution of family types among all native white complete families,
among those with incomes of less than $1,000, and among those with
incomes of $5,000 and over. Attention has already been drawn to
the fact that the two-person family (type I) was the most common
one; it represented 24 percent or more of the total in each occupational
group, when all incomes are lumped together. Among the families
with incomes under $1,000, family type I predominated even more
heavily, forming from about one-third to one-half of the total in each
occupational group. Among the families with incomes of $5,000 and
over, however, family type IV, containing at least three adults, was
the dominant one.
Here again we note that the significance of family type was most
striking for the wage-earner group, where the opportunity to achieve
an income as high, as $5,000 depended almost entirely upon the
presence of two or more earners in the family. To a lesser, but
nevertheless an appreciable extent, the clerical and salaried profes
sional families were more often at the higher income levels when they
belonged to family type IV, with an extra adult, than when they
belonged to family types II, III, and VI, which had only children
under 16.
One factor that must not be ignored here is that, in the families
with one or more children under 16, the head is usually younger than
in the families with only adults, and may not yet have reached his
top earnings. Furthermore, in families with young children there is
less possibility of the wife being an earner. Insofar as family types
with young children were represented in the lower income bands
among business and independent professional families, the low in
comes reflected, not so much the absence of additional earners, but
rather the youth of the head of the family. This finding is in line
with what was pointed out in chapter III (p. 31), that the incomes of
families in these occupational groups were determined chiefly by the
earning capacity of the principal earner.
F a m ily si2e and occupation .— I t is commonly assumed that wageearner families tend to be larger than those of professional and salaried
executive persons. Our random sample of native white families for
Chicago does not distinguish the wage-earner group markedly in this
45
FAM ILY INCOME BY FAM ILY COMPOSITION
respect if the general average is taken for nonrelief families only, as
shown below:
Wage earner___________________ 3. 6 Salaried business________________ 3. 5
Clerical_______________________ 3. 5 Salaried professional_____________ 3. 3
Independent business____________3. 5 No gainfully employed members-. 2. 7
Independent professional________3. 4
All families________________ 3. 5
It has already been noted, however, that of the relief families,
averaging 4.3 persons, more than three-fifths were in the wage-earner
classification. Even if we compare the occupational groups among
nonrelief families only, we find that the wage earners had more than
their proportionate share of families with more than four persons
(types V, VI, VII, VIII, and other). These larger family types
accounted for 23 percent of the wage-earner group of native white
complete families, as against about 18 percent for the salaried business
and professional families (see table 23). Combining the native white,
foreign born, and colored, we find that of the complete families 30
percent in the wage-earner occupations were in the large family types,
while among the salaried business and professional families only 17
to 21 percent were in the larger family types (see table 24).3
T able 24.— Fam ilies o f different occupational groups , by fa m ily type
[All families including both husband and wife]
Nonrelief
Family type
All oc
cupa
tional
groups
Wage
earner
No gain Relief
Inde
Inde
fully em families
Salaried Salaried
Clerical pendent pendent
profes ployed
business
profes
business sional
sional
mem
bers
Percent
Percent
Percent
Percent
100.0
Percent
All family types.. .
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
I________________
II_______________
III______________
IV_______________
V________________
VI_______________
VII______________
VIII and other _ .
23.1
14.7
11.0
24.7
10.4
5.3
4.3
6.5
20.8
14.1
11.4
23.8
11.8
6.1
5.5
6.5
20.3
16.9
10.7
27.3
8.9
4.5
2.9
8.5
25.1
12.4
11.5
26.1
10.8
4.9
3.7
5.5
28.8
16.6
13.9
24.0
8.3
2.4
2.7
3.3
Percent
100.0
23.7
19.9
14.5
20.7
9.0
5.3
3.2
3.7
Percent
Percent
27.5
18.0
9.9
24.0
7.7
4.2
2.9
5.8
66.9
4.7
2.0
20.4
2.8
1.6
.2
1.4
100.0
100.0
Percent
100.0
20.4
11.2
10.9
15.8
13.2
10.1
10.7
7.7
The analysis of family type has been confined to families containing
both husband and wife, since the major part of the expenditure data
secured in the entire investigation apply to this group. The numerical
importance of the incomplete families as a total, both among native
white and foreign as well as among Negro families, is evident from the
data in table 25. It will be seen that nearly one-third of the Negro
2
The fact that children in wage-earner families become self-supporting and leave home at an earlier age
than children in other occupational groups may have reduced the differences in average size.
The analysis of size of family was a byproduct of the study. Original tabulations were not made by
occupation for relief families because of the questionable character of the occupational designation of relief
families. Combining relief and nonrelief families we estimate would raise the average size of wage-earner
and clerical families by 0.1 members. The others would not be changed.
46
FAM ILY INCOME IN
CHICAGO
families and nearly one-fourth of the native white families were classed
as incomplete, while only 18.3 percent of the foreign born families
fell into this group.
It will be observed also that family type I (husband and wife only)
is less frequent among the foreign born than among the native, and
strikingly more frequent among the Negro families than among the
white. The foreign born have much smaller percentages in family
types II and III (one and two children under 16, respectively) than
do the native white, but a relatively higher proportion in the adult
family types IV, V, and V III.3 The effect of this prevalence of addi
tional adult members among the foreign born families is to give us,
for the whole Chicago community, a larger number of families in
family type IV (three or four adults) than in family type I. The
exclusively adult families (types I and V III), when combined, account
for about one-fourth of all the complete families in the city.
T a b l e 25*— F a m ily type com position among fam ilies o f specified color and nativity
White
All families
Family type
Percent
Negro
Total white
Native
Foreign born
Percent
Percent
Percent
100.0
Complete families_________ ___
78.4
79.1
76.7
81.7
67.5
I_________________________
II ______________________
III _ __________________
IV _____________________
V
_____________________
v i ____________________
VII ....................................
VIII and other____________
17.8
11.2
8.6
18.6
8.4
4.6
4.0
6.2
17.4
11.5
8.9
18.9
8.7
4.6
3.9
6.2
19.4
14.6
10.0
15.5
6.9
5.0
2.6
2.7
15.2
8.0
7.7
22.7
10.6
4.2
5.3
8.0
24.1
7.3
3.8
13.8
5. 2
3.5
5.4
4.4
21.6
20.9
23.3
18.3
32.5
Incomplete familifis
100.0
100.0
Percent
__
Ail family types__________
100.0
100.0
* T h i s m ig h t be expected, since a long period of im m igratio n restriction has left us w ith a foreign born
group h e a vily weighted w ith m em bers m iddle-aged or older.
Chapter IV
Sources o f Family Income
For the study of the economic family as a consumer group, it is
desirable that all factors entering into the total income and purchasing
power of the family be taken into consideration. Fam ily earnings
include the contributions of secondary earners as well as of the prin
cipal earner, and joint as well as individual earnings. Other money
income includes receipts from rents, interest, dividends, annuities,
pensions, cash gifts, and similar sources of current family income.1
Certain measurable forms of nonmoney income m ust also be recog
nized as part of the family income picture, in order that the income
level b y which families are classified m ay reflect their real purchasing
power. Nonm oney income is of primary importance in comparing
the levels of living of home owners with those of renters. T o place
the home owners at their proper income levels in relation to renters,
the full rental value of their homes has been treated as housing
expenditure. After deduction of mortgage interest, taxes, insurance,
and repairs, the remainder has been treated as imputed income from
the investment in the home, and added to the net money income to
give total family income. Another item of nonmoney income is the
free occupancy of a family dwelling received in payment for services,
as in the case of the resident manager of an apartment house.
N o estimate was secured from families on the value of public relief
received in cash or in kind, except that wages from work on relief
projects were included in money earnings.
The conditions under which income is produced m ay enter into the
determination of a fam ily’s plane of living, even as does the total
income of the family. If the wife is an earner, the family m ay spend
a part of its income on servants, where otherwise the care of children
and other domestic duties would be performed b y the housewife. T he
size of the fam ily’s transportation bill and the amount spent for
eating out m ay be affected by the number of members who are earners.
The pattern of expenditures for recreation, the relative importance of
medical care and personal care in the family budget— these too m ay
be affected by the manner in which the family income is built up.
A discussion of the sources of family income will be presented under
three general heads, namely: (1) M oney earnings; (2) other sources
i See p. 1 for concept of income as used in this study.
47
FAM ILY INCOME IN
48
CHICAGO
of money income; (3) nonmoney income from housing. The relative
significance of each of these sources of income is shown in table 26,
which sets forth the component elements of recorded family income
in terms of the percentage reported from each source.
In the case of native white families containing husband and wife,
our present study attributed nearly 94 percent of aggregate family
income to individual earnings; for incomplete families, approximately
80 percent of aggregate family income was derived from individual
earnings. These high percentages for earned income would seem to
place income from other sources appreciably below the estimates of
income from property made in previous studies attempting to allocate
the shares in the national income. One element of apparent dis
crepancy between our distribution of family income data and that of
other related studies concerns the subject of profits of entrepreneurs
and represents a difference in definition. In the present study the net
income made available to the family by an entrepreneur ffom the
operation of his business or profession was treated as “ earnings,” and
was thus put on the same basis as the earnings from wages, salaries,
fees, or commissions.2 Profits retained in the business, and therefore
not available as family income, did not get into our family income
picture. In the same way gains from investments, which remained
in corporate hands and were not released to members of the family,
did not come within our purview of family income.
T a b l e 2 6 .— Aggregate fa m ily incom e , by sources , fo r fam ilies o f specified color and
nativity 1
Sources of income
Total income------ -------------------------------------------------
All
fami
lies
Native white
All
Com
plete
Incom
plete
Foreign
born Negro
white
Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
Money income------------------------ -------------------------
96.5
96.8
97.3
94.9
95.9
98.1
Earnings:
Individual earnings---------------------- ------------Roomers and boarders and work in home______
Money income other than earnings_________________
90.7
1.1
4.7
91.2
1.0
4.6
93.9
.7
2.7
79.9
2.2
12.8
90.1
1.0
4.8
89.4
4.0
4.7
Nonmoney income from housing2----------------------------
3.5
3.2
2.7
5.1
4.1
1.9
1 Includes nonrelief income and W. P. A. earnings of families receiving relief.
2 Nonmoney income from housing was reported from 2 sources—from owned homes and from rent received
as pay.
In contrast with individual income returns, a reported family
income of $5,000 or more may represent the contributions of several
breadwinners in the family, no one of whom, possibly, earns more
2
Losses sustained by the family, either in business operated by a family member, or on real estate or
other property owned by family members, were deducted from income, so that the figures used were for
net incomes of the families.
SOURCES O f FAM ILY INCOME
49
than $2,000. Finally, the technique of field interviews must be
expected to result in an underrepresentation of certain extremely
high income families, and perhaps especially of that substantial part
of their income from sources other than earnings. Thus the dis
tribution of income by sources as discussed in the present chapter
must be taken to portray the situation for the bulk of families, and
for the bulk of income that can reasonably be expected to enter into
the mass consumption pattern of the families of the resident com
munity in Chicago. None the less, the data collected in the com
posite sample of the present study built up the aggregate estimated
income for all families in Chicago to the respectable figure of $1,327,000,000 for the schedule year 1935-36.
Pattern o f aggregate income by sources .— In the percentage distribu
tion of aggregate income for Chicago, as given in table 26, the most
noteworthy variance is that between complete and incomplete
families. Among the native white families, those containing husband
and wife reported only 6 percent of aggregate income as coining from
sources other than individual money earnings. The broken families,
on the other hand, derived more than 20 percent of aggregate family
income from sources other than individual earnings. * The frequent
absence of a male head of the family among the incomplete families
was a major reason for the difference; this was corroborated by the
preponderance of widows over widowers, and by the receipts from
life insurance annuities or inheritances, as well as by the frequent
resort to roomers and boarders as a source of income, among families
which did not contain husband and wife. Among the Negro families,
the income from roomers and boarders stood out; 4 percent of aggre
gate family income in the Negro group was derived from roomers and
boarders,3 as compared with 1 percent obtained from this source by
the white families, foreign as well as native. This greater frequency
of roomers and boarders was due in part to the larger percentage of
incomplete families found among the Negroes; in part to the concen
tration of housing facilities for Negro families within limited areas
and the high cost of independent housing relative to their total income.
It may be noted here that the families which derive income from room
ers and boarders are predominantly in the low income groups, so that
the earnings from roomers and boarders, even though small, tend to
form a high percentage of total income.
The analysis of the sources of income will reveal three general
patterns (see also fig. IX ):
(1)
Earned incomes constituted the highest percentage of total
family income in the middle income brackets, with relatively greater
supplementation from other sources in the extremely low and ex
tremely high income classes.
3 A small part of this income was derived from irregular work in the home.
50
F A M IL Y IN C O M E IN
CHICAGO
Fig. IX
SOURCES OF INCOME OF RELIEF FAMILIES
AND OF NO N -R ELIEF FAMILIES
AT SPECIFIED INCOME LEVELS
CHICAGO 1935-1936
(N A T IV E W HITE FAM ILIES INCLUDING BOTH HUSBAND AND W IF E )
PERCENT
PERCENT
UNDER
RELIEF
$1,000
$1,000 TO
$1,999
Fa m il ie s
No n -
non
- m o n e y in c o m e f r o m
-earned
roomers
supplem entary
■
P R IN C IP A L E A R N E R
U. S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
money
£& & & & !
■
r e l ie f
no n
ta ra ftg fl
■
$2,000 TO
$2,999
and
$3,000 TO
$4,999
F a m il ie s
h o u s in g
in c o m e
boarders a nd casual
earner
w o r k in h o m e
$5,000
OVER
a
51
SOURCES OF FAM ILY INCOME
(2)
and the im puted income fr o m
both accounted for a relatively high percentage of total
incomes which were under $1,000; the percentage gradually decreases
as we move up the family income scale.
(3) Nonearned m on ey incomes were relatively important in the
extremely low and the extremely high income brackets and relatively
unimportant in the middle income brackets. In the low income
brackets, the other sources of income were represented mainly by
pensions or annuities, and gifts; in the high income brackets, they
consisted mainly of interest, dividends, and rents from property.
Distribution o f earners.— All but 7 percent of the nonrelief families
scheduled in Chicago reported incomes from individual earnings.
Only 3 families out of 10 had more than 1 earner; and but 1 in 12
had more than 2 earners (table 27). Among the native white families,
the percentage with no earners was nearly eight times as high among
the broken families as among those containing husband and wife.
Supplementary earners were also relatively more frequent among the
incomplete families than among the husband-and-wife families.
Slightly over half the incomplete families were supported by one
earner alone, while among the complete families, more than threefourths derived their income from a single earner (table 27).
Incom e fr o m roomers and boarders
housing
T
able
2 7 .— Distribution of fam ilies by number o f earners for fam ilies of specified
color and nativity
a. RELIEF AND NONRELIEF FAMILIES COMBINED
Native white families
Number of earners
All families
All
P ercen t
P ercen t
All foreign
born white
Complete Incomplete families
P ercen t
P ercen t
P ercen t
All Negro
families
P ercen t
---
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
1.000
No earner________________ 1 earner-----------------------------2 earners--------- ---------------3 earners------------- -------------4 or more earners____________
9.3
63.5
19.4
5.7
2.1
8.4
71.3
16.3
3.1
.9
3.6
77.3
15.5
2.9
23.9
51.3
19.3
3.9
1.6
9.0
55.7
22.8
8.9
3.6
18.2
58.7
18.7
3.0
1.4
Total___________ __
7
•
b. NONRELIEF FAMILIES
T o t a l __________________________
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
No earner----------------------------------------
6.6
64.4
20.5
6.2
2.3
6.3
72.0
17.3
3.4
1.0
2.5
77.5
16.1
3.1
19.5
52.7
21.4
4.5
1.9
7.1
55.5
23.8
9.7
3.9
5.9
65.5
23.7
3.2
1.7
1 earner-------- ----------------------- ----------2 earners_______________________
3 earners______________
--4 or m ore ea rners............ ...........
.8
The foreign bom white families had about the same proportion of
no-earner families as did the native white, but a conspicuously large
proportion (more than 37 percent) had supplementary earners. Of
the Negro families which did not receive any relief during the year,
less than 6 percent had no earners. Their proportion of two-eamer
52
F A M IL Y
IN C O M E
IN
CHICAGO
fam ilies w as the sam e as th a t of the foreign b o m (2 3 .7 p ercen t), b u t
the proportion o f N egro fam ilies w ith three or m ore earners w a s
considerably less th an h alf th a t am on g the foreign b o m .
I n term s
o f nonrelief fam ilies w ith earnings, w e m a y sa y th a t 8 o u t o f 10 w ere
sole-earner fam ilies am on g the n ative w h ite, 7 o u t o f 10 am on g the
N e g ro , and 6 o u t o f 10 am on g the foreign born fam ilies.
Principal and supplementary earners.— T h e principal earners pro
vided the b u lk o f fa m ily earnings.4
T h is is particularly true o f the
n ative w hite nonrelief fam ilies containing h usband and wife.
In
th a t group, o u t o f approxim ately $ 5 1 0 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 o f aggregate fa m ily
earnings, $ 4 6 3 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0
were a ttribu table to
the principal earners.
O n ly in the w age-earner and clerical groups did supplem en tary earnings
accou n t for as m u ch as 9 percent o f aggregate fa m ily earnings.
In
the case o f the clerical fam ilies, m ore th an h alf o f the su pplem en tary
earnings w en t to fam ilies in the incom e ban ds o f $ 3 ,0 0 0 and o ver.
I n the case o f the w age-earner fam ilies, m ore th an h alf the aggregate
o f su pplem en tary earnings w en t to fam ilies in the in com e brackets
from $ 2 ,5 0 0 u p .6
F o r b o th o f these occupational classifications, the
presence o f su pplem en tary earners w as significantly related to fa m ily
earnings in all incom e ban ds above $ 1 ,5 0 0 .
F o r w age-earner fam ilies
w ith incom es o f $ 3 ,0 0 0 and over, the fam ilies w ith su pplem en tary
earners actually exceeded in n um ber the sole-earner fam ilies.
In the
clerical group for the in com e brackets $ 3 ,0 0 0 and a b o v e, fam ilies
w ith su pplem en tary earners were a lm o st as frequen t as the soleearner fam ilies.
S u pplem en tary earners were generally in frequen t in
the business and professional classifications, alth ough the salaried
professional fam ilies h ad relatively m ore su pplem en tary earners than
did those in the business and independent professional groups.
The
m edian incom es o f sole-earner and m ultiple-earner fam ilies b y occu
pational groups were as follow s for n ative w hite com plete fam ilies:
Families with—
Occupational group
Any earner
All occupations___________ _____ ________
_____________
Wageearner__ _________
_________ ____ __________ _ ___
Clerical_______________ _______ ___ _ __ _ _ _____________
Business and professional_________
____ ______ _________
1 earner only More than 1
earner
$1,818
$1,735
$2,256
1,557
1,934
2,407
1,469
1,867
2,314
1,995
2,319
2,932
A lth o u g h the principal earner dom inates the to ta l incom e p attern ,
and the influence o f su pplem en tary earners is concentrated in the
w age-earner and clerical fam ilies, the effect o f su pplem en tary earnings
is nevertheless appreciable in raising the general incom e lev el am on g
all C h icago fam ilies.
U tilizin g the d ata in table 2 8 , it m a y be show n
th a t for fam ilies n o t on relief, the m edian incom e for tw o-earner fa m i4
In this discussion sole earners are treated, together with the chief earners in multiple-earner families, as
principal earners.
c Tabular summary, sec. B, table 6A, pp. 141-142.
SOURCES
OF F A M IL Y
53
IN C O M E
lies is 23 percent above th a t of sole-earner fam ilies; for fam ilies w ith
three earners,
38
percent above
th a t of tw o-earner fam ilies; for
fam ilies of four or m ore earners, 25 percent above th a t of three-earner
fa m ilie s6 (see also fig. X ) .
T a b l e 2 8 .— M ed ia n incomes by number o f earners, fo r fam ilies o f specified color
and navitity
[Nonrelief families]
1 earner
No earner
2 earners
4 or more
earners
3 earners
_______
$543
$1,480
$1,818
$2, 512
$3,127
Native white____
_______
Foreign white_______________
Negro________________________
738
437
471
1,658
1,334
979
2,032
1, 738
1, 203
2, 777
2,461
1,938
4,023
3,017
1,875
All families_________
F a m ily ty p e also played a significant role in determ ining the sources
from w hich fa m ily earnings were drawn (see table 2 9 ).
O v er 98 per
cent o f to ta l earnings cam e fro m the principal earner in ty p es I I and
I I I , a sca n t 85 percent in ty p es I V and V .
T h e role o f the husband
as principal earner w as m u ch less im p o rta n t in typ es I V and V than
i t w as in the tw o-person fam ilies, or in typ es I I and I I I , w ith only
you n g
children.
S upplem en tary
earners
contributed
about
one-
seven th o f to ta l earnings am ong fam ilies of types I V and V , and over
one-third in the group labeled “ o ther”
V I I I , th e large fam ilies o f a du lts).
(consisting chiefly o f typ e
M o s t of these supplem entary
earnings, as m ig h t be expected, cam e from m em bers of the fam ily
other than the h usband and w ife.7
T a b l e 2 9 .— Total m oney earnings distributed according to source , by fa m ily type
[White nonrelief families including husband and wife, both native born]
Source of earnings
All earnings___
______
_________
Families of
all types
I
II and
III
IV and
V
VI and
VII
Other
Percent
Percent
Percent
Percent
Percent
Percent
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
Principal earners-------------------------------Husband____________ _________
Wife____________________________
Other_____________
___ ____
90.7
85.9
1.4
3.4
94.1
91.1
3.0
98.3
97.4
.9
84.8
76.2
1.1
7.5
91.7
87.9
.3
3.5
65.1
49.5
.8
14.8
Supplementary earners...........................
Husband_____
___________
Wife_____________________________
Other____________ _____ _ _ ..
8.6
1.5
1.8
5. 3
4.7
1.1
3.6
1.3
.3
1.0
14.5
2.6
1.5
10.4
7.8
1.4
.5
5.9
34.4
4.6
1.0
28.8
Roomers and boarders and work in
home____ ______ _ _____ _________
.7
1.2
.4
.7
.5
.5
6 Another way of estimating the influence of supplementary earners upon the income level is to cumulate
groups of families according to the number of earners. Thus if we start with the median income of $543
for no-earner families, the addition of one-earner families raises the median to $1,408; adding two-earner
families raises the median to $1,504; the inclusion of three-earner families steps up th median to $1,557;
and with the absorption of families containing four or more earners into the aggregate, he median for the
total sample is raised to $1,579.
7 It is likely that, among the larger families (the “ other” group, and, to a less extent, families of type VII).
a considerable number were made up of “ doubled” households, which had joined forces due to economic
pressure. In such families, as might be expected, both the principal and supplementary earners other than
husband and wife contributed significant fractions of the total family income.
Fig. X
DISTRIBUTION BY INCOME OF FAMILIES HAVING THE DESIGNATED NUMBER OF EARNERS
CHICAGO
(ALL
Percent
1935-1936
N O N -R E L IE F F A M IL IE S )
P ercent
FAMILY INCOME IN CHICAGO
0
U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
2J500
$000
I ncome in Dollars
7,500
10,000 a OVER
SOURCES OF FAMILY INCOME
55
T h e relationship betw een incom e level and the n u m ber o f earners,
am on g fam ilies w ith earners, is m ore m arked for the foreign born
and N eg ro fam ilies th an it is for the n ative w hite.
A s will be seen
b y reference to table 3 0 , the contrast is n o t striking for the incom e
brackets below $ 7 5 0 , p robab ly because the n u m b er o f w eeks o f em
p lo y m en t is low er for the n ative w hite than for the others, offsetting
differences in rates o f p a y .8
B u t fro m $ 7 5 0 to $ 5 ,0 0 0 it is true for
all incom e in tervals, alm ost w ith o u t exception, th a t m ore earners are
required to produce a given fa m ily incom e a m on g the foreign born
than am on g the n ative w hites, and in m a n y cases, m ore am ong the
N egroes than am ong the foreign b o m .
A s in com e for the n a tiv e
w h ite fam ilies increases from $ 750 to $ 5 ,0 0 0 , the n um ber o f earners
rises from 1.11 to 1.92 per fa m ily.
F o r th e foreign born over th e
sam e span o f incom es, the increase in the n u m b er o f earners is from
1.23 to 2 .9 2 earners per fa m ily .
A n average o f tw o or m ore earners
w as present in all foreign born fam ilies in all incom e ban ds betw een
$ 2 ,2 5 0 and $ 7 ,5 0 0 .
A b o v e $ 7 ,5 0 0 , the large incom e o f the principal
earners in business or professional activities, rather th an the frequency
of supplem en tary earners, accounted for the higher incom es o f the
foreign born as w ell as o f n ative fam ilies.
T h e N egro fam ilies, w ith
1.23 earners a t $ 7 5 0 , h ad an average of 2 .5 7 earners per fa m ily in the
$ 3 ,0 0 0 to $ 3 ,5 0 0 incom e band.
T
able
30 .— A v era g e n u m ber o f earners and average in co m e f r o m ea rn in gs o f in d i
vid u als, p er f a m i l y with earners, b y in co m e
[Nonrelief families of specified color and nativity]
All families
Average
number
of earn
ers
Average
income
from in
dividual
earnings
__
1. 43
Under $250_________
$250-$499___________
$500-$749___________
$750-$999___________
$1,000-$1,249________
$1,250-$1,499________
$1,500-$1,749________
$1,750-$1,999________
$2,000-$2,249________
$2,250-$2,499________
$2,500-$2,999________
$3,000-$3,499________
$3,500-$3,999________
$4,000-$4,499________
$4,500-$4,999________
$5,000-$7,499
$7,500-$9,999 ______
$10,000 and over____
1.14
1.16
1.16
1.18
1. 21
1.31
1. 37
1. 38
1. 42
1. 62
1. 80
1. 87
1.98
2. 27
2.22
1.98
1. 67
1. 61
Income class
All families--------
Native white
Foreign born white
Negro
Average
number
of earn
ers
Average
income
from in
dividual
earnings
Average
number
of earn
ers
Average
income
from in
dividual
earnings
$1, 745
1.29
$1,901
1.60
$1, 634
1.38
$1,059
157
340
547
801
1,041
1,263
1, 502
1, 751
1,991
2,246
2, 520
2,964
3, 526
3, 953
4, 451
5,424
7, 062
12,091
1.17
1.15
1.09
1.11
1.16
1.21
1.22
1. 25
1.23
1. 32
1. 49
1. 54
1.60
1.90
1. 92
1.67
1.66
1. 62
154
343
550
800
1,059
1,276
1,520
1, 776
2,017
2,253
2,525
2, 973
3,504
3,978
4, 473
5,421
7, 573
12,425
1.12
1.18
1.19
1.23
1. 26
1. 39
1.52
1. 54
1. 66
2.04
2.19
2. 31
2.49
2. 81
2. 92
2. 74
1.71
1. 60
162
334
536
801
1,025
1, 254
1,485
1, 726
1,956
2,244
2, 516
2,953
3, 548
3,943
4.404
5, 436
5, 610
10, 356
1.00
1.11
1.26
1.23
1. 29
1. 44
1.58
1. 47
1.88
1.83
1.90
2. 57
(*)
(*)
(*)
154
353
583
804
1,018
1,240
1, 456
1, 650
1, 976
2,066
2,332
2, 828
(*)
(*)
(*)
Average
number
of earn
ers
Average
income
from in
dividual
earnings
* Averages not computed for fewer than 3 cases.
8
It may even be said that the Negro families required fewer earners to produce family incomes around
$500 because this bracket included regular full-time Negro workers with earnings not exceeding $12 per week,
while among the whites, the $500 income band was heavily weighted with both principal and supplementary
earners whose employment was sporadic, even though their hourly or weekly wages were higher than those
of the Negroes.
7 40 2 1 °— 39-
5
FAMILY INCOME IN CHICAGO
56
T h e increasing im portance o f su pplem en tary earners as w e go
fro m low er to higher incom e brackets is due n o t m erely to the presence
o f m ore supplem en tary earners per fa m ily ; it is also due to the fa c t
th a t the average earnings per su pplem en tary earner were higher in
the upper th an in the lower incom e bands.
F o r exam ple, in the
$ 1 ,0 0 0 to $ 1 ,2 4 9 incom e bracket, where the principal earners (n ative
w hite)
show ed
averaged $ 2 7 3 .
an average o f $ 1 ,0 1 7 ,
the su pplem en tary
earners
I n the incom e ban d $ 2 ,2 5 0 to $ 2 ,4 9 9 , where the
principal earners averaged $ 2 ,0 3 9 , the su pplem en tary earners averaged
$672.
At
the
$ 4 ,0 0 0
incom e
level,
where
the
principal
earners
averaged $ 3 ,0 8 2 , w e g et an average o f $ 9 9 2 per su pplem en tary earner.
T a b le 3 1 , fro m w hich these exam ples are taken, indicates a sim ilar
trend for the foreign b o m .
I n the case o f the N eg ro fam ilies, the
average earnings per su pplem en tary earner varied less w idely fro m
incom e bracket to incom e b rack et, th e dependence for increased fa m ily
incom e being m a in ly upon an increase in the n um ber o f earners per
fa m ily .9
T a b l e 3 1 .— Average earnings o f principal earners and o f individual supplementary
earners , by income
INonrelief families of specified color and nativity]
All families
Income class
Native white
Foreign born white
Negro
Supple Principal Supple Principal Supple Principal Supple
Principal mentary
mentary
mentary
mentary
earner
earner
earner
earner
earner
earner
earner
earner
All families_________
$1,483
$605
$1,698
$691
$1,292
$572
$915
Under $250.............
$250-$499___________
$500-$749___________
$750-$999___________
$1,000-$1,249________
$1,250-$1,499________
$1,500-$1,749________
$1,750-$1,999________
$2,000-$2,249________
$2,250-$2,499________
$2,500- $2,999________
$3,000-$3,499________
$3,500-$3,999________
$4,000-$4,499________
$4,500-$4,999.... ..........
$5,000-$7,499________
$7,500-$9,999________
$10,000 and over____
150
327
522
767
987
1,158
1,342
1,564
1,757
1,871
1,965
2,286
2,638
2,841
3,149
4,207
6,059
10,638
57
86
157
191
252
338
435
487
562
608
691
780
902
878
1,064
1,242
1,497
2,368
144
329
536
779
1,017
1,206
1,426
1,650
1,884
2,039
2,177
2,495
2,918
3,082
3,398
4,551
6,493
10,913
61
94
150
200
273
333
424
502
586
672
715
877
983
992
1,168
1,300
1,638
2,458
156
319
506
757
964
1,120
1,257
1,466
1,589
1,637
1,705
1,999
2,268
2,504
2,543
3,367
4,823
9,200
51
81
152
190
238
340
443
477
553
580
680
730
861
796
969
1,186
1,101
1,927
154
344
535
757
936
1,080
1,205
1,410
1,506
1,589
1,845
1,937
(*)
(*)
(*)
$380
78
187
199
281
359
429
506
531
571
541
567
(*)
(*)
(*)
* Averages not computed for fewer than 3 cases.
Supplementary earners as related to occupation.— T h e earlier dis
cussion (ch. I l l ) o f occupation as an influence on earnings included
m en tion o f the fa c t th a t w age earners and clerical w orkers co m m o n ly
required su pplem en tary earnings to build up fa m ily in com e to levels
o f $ 3 ,0 0 0 or above.
T a b le 32 show s h ow m u ch m ore dependent the
9
Since the income brackets above $3,500 included less than 1 percent of the Negro families, it is difficult
to determine the trend for their supplementary earners in the upper incomes.
57
SOURCES OF FAMILY INCOME
w age-earner fam ilies were upon their supplem en tary earners, to atta in
higher in com es, th an were the business and professional fam ilies.
T h e n ative w hite nonrelief wage-earner fam ilies, averaging 1.1 earners
per fa m ily a t $ 7 5 0 , show ed an increase to 1.55 earners per fa m ily
a t the $ 2 ,5 0 0 level o f fa m ily incom e and 2 .3 earners per fa m ily a t the
$ 5 ,0 0 0 level.
O n the other h an d , the business and professional groups,
beginning w ith 1.1 earners a t the $ 7 5 0 level— the sam e as for the
w age earners— attain ed a p eak average o f o n ly 1 .34 earners per fa m ily
a t the level o f $ 5 ,0 0 0 and over.
T h e fam ilies o f clerical workers
occupied an interm ediate position, w ith a peak o f 1.84 earners per
fa m ily a t the $ 5 ,0 0 0 fa m ily incom e level.
F o r fam ilies o f all o ccu
pations a t the $ 5 ,0 0 0 and over incom e lev el, the n um ber o f earners
was b u t 1.49— nearer to the business and professional average th an
to the w age earners.
T h a t w as due, o f course, to the relative infre
quency o f w age earners in the incom e bands above $ 3 ,0 0 0 .
T a b l e 3 2 .— Average number o f earners per fa m ily with earners , by occupational
group
[White nonrelief families including husband and wife, both native born]
All occupa
tional groups Wage earner
Income class
Clerical
Business and
professional
All families______ ____________________ _______
1.25
1.25
1.28
1. 21
Under $500___ ________________________ _______
$500-$749_______________ ____ —_ . _________
$750-$999______________________________________
$1,000-$1,249____________ _____ ________________
$1,250-$1,499__________________________________
$1,500-$1,749__________________________________
$1,750-$1,999___________________________________
$2,000-$2,499__________________________________
$2,500-$2,999___________________________________
$3,000-$4,999 ______________ _________________
$5,000 and over________________________________
1.11
1.12
1.11
1.13
1.18
1.18
1.20
1.24
1. 42
1.56
1.49
1.12
1.12
1.11
1.13
1.17
1.19
1.23
1.30
1. 55
1.94
2.29
1.12
1.12
1.12
1.15
1. 21
1.20
1.19
1. 21
1.44
1.66
1.84
1.05
1.12
1.12
1.15
1.14
1.12
1.14
1.17
1.25
1.30
1.34
I t w ould follow , fro m the above, th a t w ithin the higher fa m ily incom e brackets, th e average earnings o f principal earners show ed
appreciable occupational differences.
T h u s, for fa m ily in com es o f
$ 3 ,0 0 0 to $ 4 ,9 9 9 , th e chief breadwinners in the w age-earner fam ilies
h ad average earnings o f $ 2 ,4 9 7 , while in the sam e incom e ban d the
business and professional group show ed an average of $ 3 ,2 1 5 for
principal earners (table 3 3 ).
F o r fa m ily incom es o f $ 5 ,0 0 0 and o ver,
the average o f th e principal earners w as $ 3 ,7 0 6 in the w age-earner
fam ilies, as com pared w ith $ 6 ,4 6 3 in the business and professional
group.
N o such m arked occupational difference in average earnings
exists am ong th e corresponding supplem en tary earners in these tw o
incom e bands.
T h e average earnings o f a su pplem en tary earner in
the wage-earner fam ilies in the $ 3 ,0 0 0 to $ 4 ,9 9 9 bracket w as $ 8 9 6 ,
as com pared w ith $ 9 8 8 per supplem en tary earner in the business and
professional group, and $99 0 for the clerical fam ilies.
I t is n otable
FAM ILY INCOME IN
58
th at
am ong the
clerical fam ilies
CHICAGO
the su pplem entary
earners con
sisten tly averaged m ore per individual earner th an th ey did in either
the w age earner or the business
and professional groups.
Even
am on g the fam ilies o f w age earners, in a considerable proportion o f
the in com e brackets, the earnings per su pplem en tary earner (for the
n ative w hite com plete fam ilies, show n in table 3 3) were higher th an
the earnings o f su pplem en tary earners o f the business and professional
groups.
I t seem s, th en, th a t n o t on ly are there m ore su pp lem en tary
earners in the w age-earner fam ilies than in the business and professional
ranks, b u t the su pplem en tary earners o f the wage-earner and clerical
fam ilies are m ore largely responsibile for building up
incom e
th an
are
those
who
belong
to
the
business
the fa m ily
and
profes
sional fam ilies.
T
able
33. — A verage earnings o f p r in c ip a l earners a nd in d ivid u a l su p p lem en ta ry
ea rn ers , b y occu p ation al grou p
[White nonrelief families including husband and wife, both native born]
Income class
Principal
earner
Under $500____ ________ ____
$500-$749_____________________
$750-$999_____________________
$1,000-$1.249_________________
$1,250-$1,499_________________
$1,500-$1,749_________________
$1,750-$1,999_________________
$2,000-$2,499_ ________________
$2,500-$2,999_________________
$3,000-$4,999_________________
$5,000 and over_____________
$291
577
812
1,037
1, 252
1,468
1, 677
1, 958
2,144
2,497
3, 706
Business and profes
sional
Clerical
Wage earner
Supple
mentary
earner
$79
140
186
258
321
412
504
562
698
896
1,298
Principal
earner
Supple
mentary
earner
$280
559
822
1,049
1, 223
1, 449
1,685
2,007
2, 234
2,792
4, 629
$96
170
188
250
341
456
541
617
697
990
1,312
Principal
earner
$294
532
762
1,015
1,218
1, 442
1, 708
2,043
2, 378
3, 215
6, 463
Supple
mentary
earner
$114
114
246
248
317
377
472
615
697
988
1,451
Distribution oj individual supplementary earnings.— T h u s far we
h ave related the earnings o f su pplem en tary earners to fa m ily incom e
and to incom e o f principal earners.
I t m a y n ow be o f interest to
see h ow the su pplem en tary earners distribute them selves as in d ivid
uals, regardless o f the fa m ily incom es.
Such a distribution is available
for the ran d om sam ple o f n ative w hite nonrelief fam ilies w ith h usband
and wife and is given in figure X I . 10
T h e general pattern is seen to be
th a t o f descending frequencies as the su pplem en tary incom es increase.
B u t there is a n otew orth y break in the sequence at the colu m n for $ 7 5 0
per ann u m .
A p p a ren tly $1 4 to $15 per w eek is the m o d al incom e
level for our sam ple o f su pplem en tary earners.
M o re o v e r, the evi
dence fro m the schedules show s th a t this $ 700 to $799 colum n is
h eavily w eighted w ith fem ale workers— salesgirls, cashiers, ty p ists,
and the general run o f unskilled or sem iskilled fem ale clerical workers.
10 For supporting data see tabular summary, sec. B, table 7, p. 146.
SOURCES
OF
F A M IL Y
59
IN C O M E
H o w the average earnings of the in dividu al supplem entary earners
com pared w ith those of the principal earners (in the n ative w hite
sam ple of com plete fam ilies) is seen in the follow ing figures:
P rin c ip a l
S u p p le m e n ta r y
ea rn ers
ea rn ers
Total_____________________________________ $1, 684
<$644
Relief families______________________________
464
Nonrelief families___________________________ 1, 796
220
667
Since su pplem en tary earners b y definition were those who earned
less th an the principal earner in a n y given fa m ily, it is n o t surprising
to find th a t their average earnings were less than 4 0 percent of the
average for the principal earners.
Earners by sex .— W o m e n were principal earners in 14 percent o f all
Chicago fam ilies (table 3 4 a ).
A m o n g N egro fam ilies, the proportion
(16.6 percent) w as greater than am ong the n ative born w hite (1 3 .9
percent), w ho in turn were slightly higher than the foreign b o m (13.1
percent) in the frequency of fem ale principal earners.
T h e ranking
60
FAM ILY INCOME IN
CHICAGO
for these three groups corresponds to the relative frequency o f in com
plete fam ilies am ong th em .
I t will be recalled th a t there w as a higher
percentage o f incom plete fam ilies am ong the N egroes th an am on g the
w hites, and a higher percentage am on g the n ative w hite th an am on g
the foreign born fam ilies.
T h e breakdow n o f principal earners b y
com plete and in com plete fam ilies (table 34 b ) indicates th a t in the
n ative w hite fam ilies w hich did n o t h ave b oth husband and wife,
w om en constituted m ore th an h alf (54.1 percent) of the principal
earners.
O f all w om en principal earners am ong the n ative w hite
fam ilies, three-quarters were in those fam ilies which did n o t contain
b o th husband and wife.
T able 34,—
M a le s and fem a le s as p r in c ip a l earners i n sp ecified in co m e classes
a. A LL FAM ILIES A N D FAM ILIES OF SPECIFIED COLOR A N D N A T IV IT Y
[The total of male plus female earners equals 100 percent in each color-nativity group]
All families
Foreign born
white
Native white
Negro
Income class
Male
Female
Male
P ercen t
P ercen t
_
----------
86.3
13.7
86.1
Relief____________________
N onrelief-.____________
______
________
87.5
12.5
13.8
88.1
Under $500_____________________
$500-$999_______________________
$1,000-$1,999____________________
$2,000 and over----- --------- ___ .
69.8
78.4
87.2
90.0
30.2
All families___________
86.2
P ercen t
21.6
12.8
10.0
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
P ercen t
P ercen t
P ercen t
P ercen t
13.9
86.9
13.1
83.4
16.6
87.6
85.9
11.9
14.1
86.8
12.4
13.2
85.3
82.3
14.7
17.7
69.7
76.1
85.6
90.6
30.3
23.9
14.4
9.4
74.0
80.8
88.5
26.0
19.2
11.5
53.7
75.7
91.1
95.4
46.3
24.3
8.9
4.6
88.8
11.2
P ercen t
b. N A T IV E W H IT E FAM ILIES, CO M PLETE A N D IN C O M P L E T E
[The total of male plus female earners equals 100 percent in each family group]
Total
Complete families
Incomplete families
Income class
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
P ercen t
P ercen t
P ercen t
P ercen t
P ercen t
P ercen t
_______
86.1
13.9
95.7
4.3
45.9
54.1
------------telief-------------- ---------'lonrelief___________ . . ________ -- _ --
88.1
85.9
11.9
14.1
95.9
95.7
4.1
4.3
58.0
44.6
42.0
55.4
Under $250_________ ____
_________
$250-$499_____________________________
$500-$749_____________________________
$750-$999_____________________________
$1,000-$1,249_________________________
$1,250-$1,499_________________________
$1,500-$1,749_________________________
$1,750-$1,999_________________________
$2,000-$2,249_________________________
$2,250-$2,499_________________________
$2,500-$2,999_________________________
$3,000-$3,499_________________________
$3,500-$3,999_________________________
$4,000-$4,999_________________________
$5,000 and over------- ---------------------------
59.6
74.3
71.5
78.9
81.7
83.8
87.5
89.3
91.7
90.2
88.4
90.2
93.0
89.4
94.0
40.4
25.7
28.5
21.1
18.3
16.2
12.5
10.7
8.3
9.8
11.6
9.8
7.0
10.6
6.0
88.2
91.4
91.3
93.8
94.7
95.1
95.9
96.7
97.1
96.5
96.1
96.8
97.4
95.8
98.0
11.8
8.6
8.7
6.2
5.3
4.9
4.1
3.3
2.9
3.5
3.9
3.2
2.6
4.2
2.0
33.3
40.0
32.8
33.3
34.1
40.7
53.1
43.6
53.7
45.2
52.8
59.4
61.5
61.9
72.2
66.7
60.0
67.2
66.7
65.9
59.3
46.9
56.4
46.3
54.8
47.2
40.6
38.5
38.1
27.8
ill families____________________
61
SOURCES OF FAM ILY INCOME
In contrast, on ly abo u t o n e-ten th o f the m ale principal earners were
in the broken fam ilies, as show n below :
Principal earners
Sex
All families
Complete
families
Incomplete
families
P ercen t
P ercen t
P ercen t
Male____ _____ __ __
_ ____ ____ _____ ______ _
_____
_ _ __ ____________________ __ ___ _
Female__ _________
100.0
100.0
89.7
25.0
10.3
75.0
W o m e n had a greater influence on the to ta l incom e picture as
su pplem en tary earners th an as principal earners, in spite o f the fa c t
th a t as principal earners their average earnings were m ore th an h alf
again as high as those o f fem ale su pplem en tary earners (table 3 6 ).
In
the case o f the n ative w hite fam ilies w ith h usband and w ife, o n ly 27
percent o f all the fem ale earners were principal earners; 73 percent,
su pp lem en tary.
A m o n g the n ative w hite com plete fam ilies, the proportions o f m ales
and fem ales for principal and for supplem entary
earners were as
follow s:
Principal earners
Supplementary earners
Sex
All
families
Relief
Nonrelief
All
families
Relief
Nonrelief
--
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
Male
_____
-------- --- _
Female__________________ __
95.7
4.3
95.9
4.1
95.7
4.3
52.5
47.5
66.4
33.6
51.8
48.2
T o t a l .____ __
-----
Since the earnings of the w om en were generally lower than those o f
the m en , it is in the low incom e ban ds th a t the fem ale principal earners
p redom in ate; as w e m o v e up the incom e scale, w e find the proportion
of fem ales am ong principal earners declining (table 3 4 ).
T h e m edian
incom e for the n ative w h ite com plete nonrelief fam ilies in which
w om en were principal earners w as $ 1 ,5 2 4 , as com pared w ith a m edian
of $ 1 ,8 3 0 for fam ilies in w hich m en were principal earners.
N ev erth e
less, the percentage of fam ilies w ith w ives as principal earners in the
group receiving relief (6 percent) w as sligh tly sm aller th an the cor
responding percentage for fam ilies w ith husbands as principal earners
(8 p ercen t).11
T h is is in line w ith the facts observed below regarding
the relatively greater steadiness of em p loym en t am ong fem ale earners
than am ong the m ales.
11 See tabular summary, sec. B, tables 8 and 9, pp. 147-148.
62
FAM ILY INCOME IN
CHICAGO
Occupational classification by sex .— A n occupational distribution
o f m ale and fem ale principal earners for the nonrelief n ative w hite
fam ilies containing husband and wife shows the follow ing relationships:
M a le
F e m a le
T o ta l________________________________________________
100. 0
100. 0
Families classified as:
Wage earner___________________________________
Clerical________________________________________
Business and professional_____________________
47. 4
30. 2
22. 4
25.8
55.1
19.1
I t is apparent th at the fem ale principal earners concentrated in
clerical fields, while the m ales were m ore co m m on ly engaged in the
w age-earner occupations.
T h e fem ale principal earners o f com plete
fam ilies in the business and professional classifications were m ain ly
salaried professional fem ale em ployees— school teachers, librarians,
nurses, social workers.
I f w e m ak e the sex com parison in term s o f
actu al n um bers engaged, w e find th a t am ong the clerical principal
earners, 1 in every 13 w as fe m a le ; am ong the w age earners, the pro
portion o f fem ale principal earners w as 1 in 4 0 ; while am ong the bu si
ness and professional, it w as 1 in 30.
W h eth e r the su pplem en tary earner of a fa m ily w as m ore likely to
be m ale or fem ale did n o t seem to depend upon the occupational group
to w hich the fa m ily belonged.
T h u s 4 5 .5 percent o f the m en and 4 7 .5
percent o f the w om en w ho were supplem en tary earners were in w a g eearner fa m ilies; 36 percent and 3 3 .5 percent, respectively, were in the
clerical fam ilies; 18.4 percent and
1 8 .9, respectively, were in the
business and professional fam ilies.
O f all su pplem en tary earners in
w age-earner fam ilies, 4 9 .3 percent were w o m e n ; in clerical fam ilies,
4 6 .4 percent were w o m e n ; in business and professional fam ilies, 4 8 .9
percent were w om en .
Age and sex of earners.— T h e distribution b y age, w hich is available
for the husbands and w ives o f the com plete n a tiv e w h ite fam ilies,
points to significant differences in the age trends as betw een principal
and supplem en tary earners (table 3 5 ).
A m o n g the husbands who
were principal earners, m ore th an one-third were under 35 years o f age,
while less th an one-fifth were 50 or older.
A m o n g the su pp lem en tary-
earner husband s, on the other h an d , 4 0 percent were 50 years o f age
or older, and o n ly 25 percent were in the age in tervals under 35 years.
T h e m edian age o f the principal-earner husbands w as 39 years, while
for the supplem en tary-earn er husbands it w as 4 6 years.
C om parin g
these tw o age distribu tions, we can see a tendency for the husbands
a t m ore advanced ages to step o u t o f the role of principal earner and
becom e su pplem en tary earners.
63
SOUECES OF FAM ILY INCOME
T
able
35a. — H u sb a n d s and wives as ea rn ers , p rin cip a l and su p p lem en ta ry ,
distributed b y age grou ps
[All white families including husband and wife, both native born]
Husbands
Wives
Age group
All ages.-
Principal
Supplemen
tary
P ercen t
P ercen t
100.0
____________ __________________
Under 20 years _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
20-24 years________________________________
25-29 years. _________ __________________
30-34 years------------------------------------------------35-39 years________________________________
40-44 years______________________ ________
45-49 years_____
______________________
50-54 years. _ ___ ______________________
55-59 years. _ _ _ _ _
_ __
60-64 years_____ __ _____________________
65 years and over_______________________ __
Median age (years)______________
T
able
_______
Supplemen
tary
Principal
P ercen t
P ercen t
100.0
100.0
100.0
2.7
13.3
17.7
18.8
16.8
12.6
8.5
4. 6
3.0
2.0
3.8
11.5
10.0
10.1
10.6
14.1
13.7
10.0
7.9
8.3
.4
5.9
23.1
18.6
17.3
12.9
9.7
5.9
4.2
1.0
1.0
.3
14.5
26.0
20.4
15.5
12.1
6.2
3.6
39
46
36
32
.7
.3
.4
35b. — P r in c ip a l and su p p lem en ta ry earners and n on ea rn ers a m on g husbands
and w ives in specified age grou p s
[All white families including husband and wife, both native born]
Husbands
Age group
All ages.
_______
Wives
All
hus
bands
Prin
cipal
earner
Supple
mentary
earner
Non
earner
All
wives
Prin
cipal
earner
Supple
mentary
earner
Non
earner
P ercen t
P ercen t
P ercen t
P ercen t
P ercen t
P ercen t
P ercen t
P ercen t
100.0
88.7
4.2
7.1
100.0
2.4
5.0
92.6
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
94.0
95.3
91.7
81.7
67.2
41.3
1.8
2.2
4.7
11.3
24.3
50.6
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
2. 3
2.7
2.6
2.3
2.2
1.0
1.0
3 1
7.8
5.3
3.8
2.0
.5
.7
94.6
89.5
92.1
93.9
95.8
98.5
98.3
_____ __
Under 20 years. _____ __
20-29 years_________________
30-39 ye a rs___ ______ ____
40-49years _____ _._ _
50-59 ye a rs___ ____________
60-64 years________ _ __ _
65 years and over _ _ _ _
4.2
2.5
3.6
7.0
8.5
8.1
A m o n g the w ives who contributed to fa m ily earnings, the m edian age
w as lower for the supplem entary earners— 32 years, as com pared w ith
36 years for the principal-earner w ives.
M o r e than 61 percent o f the
supplem entary earners am ong the w ives were less than 35 years old,
and on ly 5 percent were 50 years o f age or older.
B u t o f the w ives
who were principal earners, 21 percent h ad reached the age o f 4 5 .
A m o n g the w ives, therefore, th e trend, as age increased, w as fro m the
supplem entary to the principal-earner p ositio n ; while am ong th e h us
bands it w as from the principal to the supplem entary statu s as higher
ages were a tta in ed .12
12
In these comparisons it must be remembered that only the husbands and wives of complete families
have been included. It has already been pointed out (p. 60) that among incomplete families a majority of
the principal earners were female.
Furthermore, it is not to be assumed that the husband at more advanced ages is always, or even usually,
replaced by the wife as the principal earner. In many instances it is an adult child that becomes the prin
cipal earner.
64
FAM ILY INCOME IN
CHICAGO
A com parison o f earnings of h usbands and w ives a t successive age
intervals is m ade in tables 36a and 36b (for n ative w hite fam ilies co n
taining husband and w ife).
I t will be seen th a t am ong principal-
earner h usbands in nonrelief fam ilies there is a steady rise in incom e
w ith the increase o f age up to 55 years.
F o r the w ives w ho were
principal earners we get a rise o f incom e as age increases o n ly up to
35 years, after w hich the average incom e varies b u t sligh tly fro m one
age group to another, instead o f increasing w ith age as it did am ong
the husbands.
T h is apparent in ability o f principal-earner w ives to
raise their incom es after the age o f 35 is a partial explanation for the
principal-earner w ives h av in g low er average earnings ($ 1 ,0 5 8 ) than
the husbands
($ 1 ,8 4 6 ).
T h ese distinctions b y
prim arily for nonrelief fam ilies.
age are significant
So far as the fam ilies w hich received
relief are concerned, age seem ed to m ak e little difference in the earn
ings o f the principal earner, w hether h usband or w ife, except th a t in
these fam ilies the earnings of w ives below 25 and over 50 years o f age
were decidedly lower than those o f husbands.
T
able
36 .— A v era g e earnings o f earners b y age g r o u p : H u sb a n d s a nd w ives
[All white families including husband and wife, both native born]
a. PR INCIPAL EARNERS
Husbands
Age group
Total
Relief
families
Wives
Nonrelief
families
All ages______________________
$1, 730
$459
$1,846
Under 20 years......... ..................
20-24 years___ _______________
25-29 years----------------------------30-34 years----------------------------35-39 years----------------------------40-44 years___________________
45-49 years----------------------------50-54 years__________ _____
55-59 years___________________
60-64 years___________________
65 years and over____________
621
1,054
1,385
1,650
1,794
1,869
1,855
1,929
1,877
1,939
1,648
147
428
478
483
469
468
424
454
406
482
390
906
1,153
1,468
1, 751
1,907
2, 001
2,005
2,036
2,002
2,041
1, 773
Total
$1,019
Relief
families
$403
Nonrelief
families
$1,058
503
827
949
1,101
1,039
1,025
1,189.
882
1,076
1,070
885
274
434
346
488
780
436
255
355
325
503
871
969
1,145
1,084
1,031
1,237
969
1,226
1,070
978
$693
$616
$180
$631
637
736
6$0
738
760
663
668
683
667
652
201
514
602
600
671
604
642
948
882
570
646
261
201
180
210
135
156
91
100
b. SU P P L E M E N T A R Y EAR N ER S
All ages______________________
Under 20 years... __ ________
20-24 years--------------- ---------25-29 years___________________
30-34 years___________________
35-39 years___________________
40-44 years_______ ________ .
45-49 years_____ ________ . .
50-54 years___________________
55-59 years___________________
60-64 years.................. .......
65 years and over____ ______
$658
616
701
663
711
707
611
627
635
648
636
$255
165
296
374
334
274
223
246
202
225
115
201
519
615
611
693
630
653
1,002
1,078
570
646
65
SOURCES OF FAMILY INCOME
Fig. XII
DISTRIBUTION BY INCOME OF FAMILIES
WITH HUSBANDS AT GIVEN AGE LEVELS
CHICAGO 1935-1936
/ NATIVE WHITE FAMILIES INCLUDING BOTH HUSBAND AND WIFE
IN WHICH THE HUSBAND WAS THE PRINCIPAL EARNER. )
PERCENT
PERCENT
20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 6 0 6 4 65 and
YEARS
YEARS
YEARS
YEARS
YEARS
YEARS
YEARS
YEARS
YEARS
AGE GROUPS
NON-RELIEF FAMILIES
I
S 5 ,o o o a n d o v e r
V/.V/A $ 3 ,0 0 0 TO $ 4 ,9 9 9
BSSSSSI
$ 2 ,0 0 0 TO
$ 1,000 TO
KBSBB
W//////A
UNDER
$
$ 2 ,9 9 9
$ 1,999
1,000
RELIEF FAMILIES
■ ■ ■ FAM ILIES ON RELIEF AT ANY TIME DURING THE YEAR
U. S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
OVER
66
F A M IL Y
IN C O M E
IN
CHICAGO
W ives who were supplementary earners— and this meant, by and
large, wives not forced into the principal-earner position by the dis
ability or unemployment of the husband— tended to increase their
earnings with advancing age up to 55 years. But among the husbands
who were supplementary earners, the peak earnings were in the age
intervals of 35 to 44 years.
W e e k s o f e m p lo y m en t o f p r in c ip a l ea rn er ,13— The analysis of the
number of weeks in which the earner had employment in relation to
earnings is significant mainly for families with incomes under $1,500
and for the wage-earner families. In the case of salaried workers,
those not on relief were, in the main, employed throughout the year
and reported 52 weeks of employment. In the case of the independent
business and professional groups, the maintenance of an establish
ment during the schedule year was taken to mean that they were em
ployed throughout the year. But inasmuch as the m ajority of Chicago
families were wage earners, and inasmuch as nearly half of them were
in the income bands below $1,500, the weeks of employment have a
place in the analysis of family income for the whole community.
T
able
37 .— A v era g e n u m ber o f w eeks in which 'principal earner w as em p lo ye d in
f a m ilie s o f sp ecified color and na tivity
[All families]
Income class
All families___
_____ _
_ ____
Relief families________________________________
Nonrelief families__________________ _ ____
Under $250_______ _____________________
$250-$499__________________________________
$500-$749_
_______ ____________________
$750-$999_ _ ______________________________
$1,000-$1,249______________________________
$1,250-$1,499_______________________________
$l,500-$2,999______________________________
$3,000 and over. __ ______________ _____
All families
born
Native white Foreign
white
Negro
47.3
47.4
47.3
46.6
34.7
48.9
29.7
49.0
35.7
48.6
41.9
49.5
25.0
33.3
40.0
46.3
48.8
49.8
51.0
51.6
22.6
29.5
39.6
45.5
48.6
49.7
51.1
51.6
26. 2
32.8
38.8
46.2
48.6
49.8
50.9
51.4
31.8
45.7
46.9
50.4
51.3
50.7
51.0
52.0
The average weeks of employment are given in table 37 for the
native white, foreign born white, and Negro families, by family income
brackets. It will be seen that in all income bands below $1,250 the
principal earners in the Negro families averaged employment in more
weeks than did those in either the native white or the foreign born
families. Principal earners in the foreign born families averaged
slightly more weeks of employment than did those in the native
white. This is to say, in effect, that with the predominance of un
skilled workers among the Negroes they required more weeks of em
ploym ent to attain a given income level; and that, to a lesser extent,
the foreign born for the same reason required somewhat more weeks
of employment to achieve a given family income level than did the
*3 A week of employment was credited to a worker if he was employed at all during the week.
SOURCES
OF F A M IL Y
67
IN C O M E
native whites. T o attain the upper income levels the Negro and
foreign b om families were especially dependent upon more supple
mentary earners, rather than upon more weeks of employment for
the principal earner. For the Negro families, one of the interesting
characteristics of the data is the relative steadiness of employment of
the female earners, more of whom were engaged in domestic service
than in any other line of work. Approximately 90 percent of the
Negro principal earners had employment in at least 42 weeks. It will
be recalled, however, that a week o f employment for the Negroes prob
ably meant fewer full days of work than for the whites, due to the
prevalence among the Negroes, particularly in depression years, of
part time, though regular, work.
'T a b l e
38 . — P r in c ip a l ea rn ers: A v era g e ea rn in gs p er w eek w hen e m p lo ye d and
average w eeks o f e m p lo y m e n t , by in co m e
[All families]
Income class
Average
weekly
earnings
Average num
ber of weeks
in which prin
cipal earner was
employed
All families_________
$29. 02
47.3
Relief families______
Nonrelief families__
14.18
30.35
34.7
48.9
Under $250_____
$250-1499_______
$500-$749_______
$750-$999_______
$1,000-$1,249____
$1,250-$1,499____
$1,500-$1,749____
$1,750-$1,999____
$2,000-$2,249____
$2,250-$2,499____
$2,500-$2,999____
$3,000-$3,499____
$3,500-$3,999____
$4,000-$4,499____
$4,500-14,999____
$5,000-$7,499____
$7,500-$9,999____
$10,000 and over.
5. 99
9.82
13.04
16. 56
20. 22
23. 26
26.54
30. 63
34. 27
36.64
38.40
44. 34
51.10
55.11
61. 21
81.58
118.42
203. 62
25.0
33.3
40.0
46.3
48.8
49.8
50.6
51.1
51.3
51.1
51.2
51.6
51.6
51.6
51.4
51.6
51.2
52.0
In chapter III the relationship between weeks of employment and
family income was analyzed for the relatively homogeneous sample of
native white families containing both husband and wife. It was there
pointed out that the number of weeks of employment was more
decisive than the weekly wage in determining the annual incomes for
families in the lower income brackets. When, however, all Chicago
families, complete and incomplete, and native, foreign born, and
Negro, are combined, a fairly definite relationship is observed between
average number of weeks of employment and average weekly earnings
of the principal earner. Thus, beginning at the lowest income level,
an average of 25.0 weeks of employment corresponded with average
weekly earnings of $5.99 when working; an average of 33.3 weeks of
employment, with average weekly earnings of $9.82; average employ
ment of 40 weeks, with $13,04, and so on (table 38). It would seem,
68
FAMILY INCOME IN CHICAGO
therefore, that those families which were engaged in the least skilled
and least remunerative occupations were, at the same time, in the least
stable occupations; while those that were best paid on a wage or
salary rate basis were also most stable in respect to weeks of employ
ment.
R o o m e r s an d boarders an d casu al w ork i n the h o m e .— A small per
centage of aggregate family income was derived from roomers and
boarders and casual work done in the home.14 Of the total families,
6.9 percent depended on roomers and boarders for part or all of their
incom e.15
It has already been noted that while these two sources of earnings
were significant for broken families, they were especially important
for the Negro group as a whole. Alm ost one-seventh (13.9 percent)
of the families deriving income from roomers and boarders were
Negro, although only 6.4 percent of the total families belonged to
that race. The remaining families were divided in almost equal
proportions between the native white and the foreign bom , as will be
seen in the following table:
Distribu tion of—
Color and nativity
All families
Families re
ceiving income
from roomers
and boarders
P ercen t
P ercen t
_ _ _______________ ________________ ______________
100.0
Native white
__ ________ _____ - __________ ____________________
Complete
- _ _ _ _______ ________________ ________ _______
Incomplete _ _ _______ ______ _ ________ __ _ _ _ __ ____________
Foreign born w h ite .___ _______ ____________ _________
_____________
Neero
________ ______ __ -- ________ _____ ___________ _____________
Other c o lo r._____ ___ _______ __ ______________ ______________ _______
49.0
43.6
8 7 .6
2 8 .0
1 5 .6
All families
_
1 1 .4
44.2
6.4
.4
100.0
42.0
13.9
.5
The greater dependence of Negro families on this type of income
is also shown by the fact that 14.9 percent of the Negro families
received income from roomers and boarders, while the corresponding
proportion for foreign born families was 6.5 percent; and for native
white families, 6.1 percent. The larger percentage of nonrelief
families than of relief families which accepted roomers and boarders
appears to bear out the point that many of the families— particularly
the broken families— kept off relief because they were able to secure
14
Roomers and boarders included sons and daughters living at home, if these paid for room and board
but were not members of the economic family. Income from roomers and boarders was net income only:
The amount remaining after deduction of the cost of food served to boarders. These costs were estimated
on the basis of data previously collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics from families of clerical workers
and wage earners (see Glossary, appendix C, p. 199). In cases where the estimated cost of food equaled or
exceeded the income reported from roomers and boarders, so that the family had a zero or negative income
from this source, the family was not co.unted as among those receiving income from roomers and boarders.
I8 This percentage is based on a total of 5,665 families reporting income from roomers and boarders in the
random sample of 82,323 families.
69
SOURCES OF FAMILY INCOME
this type of income. The percentage deriving income from roomers
and boarders within the respective groups that we have been discussing
were as follows:
Native white
Foreign
born white
All
Group
Total
Negro
Complete Incomplete
Total____________________________
6.9
6.1
6.1
9.4
6.5
14.9
Relief____________________________
Nonrelief____ _______ __ ________
4.6
7.3
3.4
6.4
3.1
5.3
4.3
10.3
4.4
6.8
6.7
22.0
Although there were some families in almost all income bands up
to $10,000 which derived income from roomers and boarders, about
three-fifths o f such families among the whites and almost four-fifths
among the Negroes had total family incomes of less than $1,500
(table 39.)16 It will be seen from table 39 that the native white incom
plete families deriving income from roomers and boarders were heavily
concentrated in the lowest income brackets, with more than half of
them having incomes of less than $1,000. The complete families
drawing incomes from roomers and boarders were concentrated in the.
income brackets between $1,000 and $2,000. Two different points
are involved in these respective levels of income at which roomers and
boarders predominate. In the case of the incomplete families, room
ers and boarders constituted a m ajor source of livelihood for the
persons— chiefly female heads of broken families— who were thus
engaged. For the complete families, the income from roomers and
boarders was usually found to be an auxiliary source of income;
often in the case o f younger families helping to maintain the payments
toward ultimate ownership of the hom e; in the case of older families,
securing income from space no longer occupied by children.
T
able
39 . — F a m ilie s receiving in co m e f r o m room ers a nd boarders , b y color , n a tiv ity ,
and in co m e
[All families]
Native white
Income class
All fam
ilies
P ercen t
Total
Complete
P ercen t
P ercen t
Incomplete
P ercen t
Foreign
born
white
Negro
P ercen t
P ercen t
Total________________________
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
Relief________________________
Nonrelief- ----------------------------
9.0
91.0
5.9
94.1
5.7
94.3
6.5
93.5
8.2
91.8
20.7
79.3
Under $500______________
$50O-$999_________________
$1,000-$1,499_____________
$1,500-$1,999_____________
$2,000-$2,499_____________
$2,500-$2,999_____________
$3,000-$4,999_____________
$5,000 and over
_______
8.8
20.8
25.0
16.4
9.4
5.0
5.0
.6
9.5
19.9
20.7
17.8
11.4
7.1
6.5
1.2
3.4
12.4
23.1
20.4
15.4
9.2
8.5
1.9
20.3
33.3
16.2
13.0
4.3
3.2
3.2
7.9
20.6
29.0
16.3
8.8
4.2
4.7
.3
9.3
23.3
26f 6
13.1
5.4
1.1
.5
16 Including families which received relief during the year.
70
EAMIIA INCOME IN CHICAGO
Among the families which were completely self-supporting (native
white families containing both husband and wife), and which received
income from roomers and boarders, almost half (48.8 percent) were
in the wage-earner group, while about one-fourth (23.7 percent) were
in the clerical group, and somewhat over one-fourth (27.4 percent)
belonged to the business and professional group.17 The large per
centage in the latter group is to be explained by the fact that families
deriving their principal income from roomers and boarders were
classified in the independent business category.
A small percentage of Chicago families received income from casual
or irregular work done in the home. They are to be distinguished
from those who maintained establishments in their homes for launder
ing, dressmaking, etc., as a regular source o f income. Of the families
engaging in this type of casual home labor for pay, 63.2 percent were
native w hite; 30.1 foreign b o m ; and 6.7 percent Negro. As in the case
of households with roomers and boarders, the families reporting casual
work in the home were generally incomplete families and were con
centrated in the low income groups.
Other sou rces o f m o n e y in c o m e .— It has already been indicated that
more than 90 percent o f the total reported family incomes in our
Chicago sample consisted of earnings, which we have been discussing
up to this point. In proceeding to the analysis of that remainder of
the total money income for Chicago families which was derived from
sources other than earnings, it must be repeated that the unearned
money income reported for this study does not represent an averaging
of all the noneamed money income of the population, on a per capita
or per family basis. The important omissions must be kept before
us. T o begin with, capital gains are not included in our family presen
tation of noneamed family income. Entrepreneurial profits are treated
as earned income for the family, and were incorporated in the schedule,
insofar as it was possible to secure data on them in a survey, but
what was reinvested in the business was not as a rule reported as
part of available family income. Similarly, large amounts of real
ized gains which found their way into investments, trust holdings or
special estate funds and were not made available for current family
use were not reported as part of the family income. The primary
17 Occupational distribution of nonrelief native white families containing husband and wife:
All families. ________
______________________ _
Families receiving income from roomers and
boarders_____
_
----------------------------------
Total
Wage
earner
Clerical
Business
and pro
fessional
No gainfully
employed
members
P ercen t
P ercen t
P ercen t
P ercen t
P ercen t
100.0
45.4
30.5
22.1
2.0
100.0
48.8
23.7
27,4
.1
SOURCES OE FAMILY INCOME
71
purpose of the Urban Study of Consumer Purchases was to study the
manner in which families spent family incom e; hence what did not
run through the mill o f family disbursements (whether for consumers’
goods or for items like life insurance, additions to homes, and family
savings) is not included in the present discussion.
It is to be expected that the items o f noneamed money income which
loom as most important in the current study are pensions and annui
ties, dividends and interest from securities, rents from investment
property, gifts, and bonuses.18
Among Chicago native white complete families which received
pensions or annuities, the average amount received was $685, or ap
proximately $57 per month (table 40). Among relief families, the
average amount for those who received pensions or annuities was
approximately $25 per month. Among nonrelief families, it was not
quite $60 per m onth.19 The average value o f annuities or pensions
increased in general with total family income; the range was from $9
per month in the lowest income bracket to more than $200 in the highest
income classes.
The average amount received by the families which obtained
annuities and pensions was generally larger, within a given income
bracket, than that received from rents or dividends. But the number
of families receiving pensions or annuities was proportionately less
in a given income bracket than the number of families receiving rent,
or, among families in the income bands from $2,000 up, the propor
tion receiving dividends. In general, the proportion of families re
ceiving annuities and pensions was relatively high in the very low
income brackets, the proportion decreasing as family income went up,
until the $2,250 level of family income was reached; thereafter the
proportion of annuity receivers took an upward turn, and maintained
a fairly consistent though moderate rate o f increase. While pensions
and annuities are lumped in the analyses, it is evident that in the
lower income brackets they represent mainly industrial pensions; m the
upper income brackets this type of income more often represents a
realizing on purchased annuities. The proportion of total income
contributed b y pensions and annuities generally rose as family income
rose, up to the $1,000 to $1,250 bracket. From that point on, while
the average size o f annuity continued to increase, the aggregate of
annuities as part of the aggregate total income tended to decline.20
18 For the distribution of these items within income bands, see tabular summary, sec. B, table 10, p. 149.
19 This figure, it happens, corresponds very closely to the average industrial pension paid in the United
States in 1932, which was almost $60, according to Murray W . Latimer, Industrial Pension Systems (1932),
p. 231.
20 See tabular summary, sec. B, table 10, p. 149.
740 2 1 °— 39-
-6
72
T
FAM ILY INCOME IN
able
CHICAGO
40 . — Percentage o f fam ilies receiving nonearned m oney income fro m specified
sources and average annual amount per fa m ily having each source o f income
[All white families including husband and wife, both native born]
Average annual amount received
from—
Percentage of families receiving—
Income class
Pensions
Pensions
Rent from Dividends and
annui Rent from Dividends and annui
property and interest
property and interest
ties
ties
Total________________________
5.2
2.9
2.3
$276
$419
$685
Total relief______ ___________
Total nonrelief_______________
1.7
5.5
.1
1.5
2.4
127
281
111
297
710
.7
3.1
3.4
2.5
83
160
185
215
193
196
223
194
235
188
267
392
401
445
576
725
845
1,346
112
109
297
438
505
693
655
728
761
694
648
672
981
654
1,295
1,014
976
3,018
2,642
Under $250_______________
$250-$499_________________
$500-$749_________________
$750-$999_________________
$1,000-$1,249_____________
$1,250-$1,499_____________
$1,500-$1,749_____________
$1,750-$1,999_____________
$2,000-$2,249_________ . . . .
$2,250-$2,499_____________
$2,500-$2,999______________
$3,000-$3,499_____________
$3,500-13,999_____________
$4,000-$4,499_____________
$4,500-$4,999_____________
$5,000-$7,499_____________
$7,500-$9,999_____________
$10,000 and over__________
3.2
3.3
2.7
1.7
1.5
1.5
1.3
8.8
5.1
4.1
3.4
4.9
4.8
4.3
5.0
5.9
8.6
9.0
2.7
2.0
1.9
1.9
2.3
2.5
3.0
4.5
5.1
7.8
7.6
8.1
8.0
9.2
7.6
11.4
7.5
2.8
2.6
1.8
1.8
2.1
2.6
2.2
3.0
3.7
11.0
2.0
10.9
24.1
26.1
.9
3.6
421
52
202
125
279
167
176
225
57
189
129
343
418
389
664
784
1,004
3,289
C on tin uing our reference to table 4 0 (native w hite fam ilies contain
in g husband and w ife), it m a y be n oted th a t 1 fa m ily in 2 0 received
som e m o n ey rent from property.
T h e n et am ou n ts received (th a t
is, gross rents less costs o f upkeep o f the p ro perty ), b y the fam ilies
h avin g such property interests, ranged fro m $83 to $ 1 ,3 4 6 or roughly
from $7 to $ 115 per m o n th , the a m o u n t increasing w ith to ta l fa m ily
in com e.
F or fam ilies below the $ 4 ,5 0 0 incom e level, there seem ed to
b e a preference for in v estm en t in real estate rather th an in in terestbearing securities— a t least, if larger am ou n ts h ad been invested in
securities, th ey were n o t reflected in dividends and interest actually
received from th em during the year 1 9 3 5 -3 6 .21
A b o v e $ 5 ,0 0 0 , a larger
proportion o f fam ilies reported in vestm en ts in interest and d iv id en d yielding securities, the n u m ber am oun tin g to m ore than one-fourth of
the to ta l o f fam ilies scheduled a t $ 7 ,5 0 0 and above.
F or
those
fam ilies
w hich
received
dividends
and
interest,
the
average a m ou n t received w as larger th an the sum s realized as rent b y
those fam ilies w hich held in v estm en t property ^particu larly w as this
true am ong fam ilies w ith higher incom es.
B u t since a considerably
larger proportion o f all fam ilies reported ow ning real estate th an
in com e-yielding securities, the proportion o f aggregate incom e con
sisting o f rent from property w as larger— particularly for the incom e
21 It is probable that when the agent was able to interview the wife only, real estate was more completely
accounted for in the reporting of the schedule, than were stocks and bonds—particularly if the security hold
ings did not represent a substantial part of the total family income pattern.
73
SOURCES OF FAM ILY INCOME
brackets up to $ 4 ,5 0 0 — than the proportion derived from interest and
dividends.
M a n y o f the fam ilies reporting sm all n et incom es derived w hat
incom e th ey had in the form o f rents from property.
T h is form of
incom e constituted a decreasing proportion o f to ta l fa m ily incom e
a t succeeding incom e intervals, up to the $ 1 ,2 5 0 le v e l; from there
on to $ 2 ,5 0 0 , the proportion of total incom e obtained in rent from
property increased; thereafter, w ith rising fa m ily in com e, rent from
property again represented a decreasing proportion o f to ta l fa m ily
receipts.
T h e im portance o f receipts from rent at the low est incom e
levels suggests the presence in the lower brackets o f fam ilies whose
incom es had dropped during the depression years.
T h e presence of
fam ilies living in large part on p ast savings is also reflected b y the su b
stantial portion o f to ta l fa m ily incom e obtained through interest and
dividends in the low est incom e levels.
A s w ould be expected, the
significance o f in com e-yielding securities becam e m ore pronounced as
fa m ily incom e rose from $ 5 ,0 0 0 , w ith a n um ber o f the fam ilies above
$ 1 0 ,0 0 0 receiving a large share o f their fa m ily incom e in the form o f
interest and dividen ds.22
In the group of families which received relief, somewhat under 2
percent reported income from pensions or annuities, rent from property
or interest and dividends. Where such sources of income were re
ported among relief families, the average amount was, of course, very
small.23
Certain m inor sources of m on ey incom e were im p ortan t to a n u m ber
of fam ilies.
T h u s gifts loom ed large in the low incom e brackets.
A m o n g the com plete n ative w hite fam ilies w hich had no earnings, b u t
did n o t receive relief, 27 percent depended entirely upon gifts
relatives and friends to provide th em w ith living funds.
from
T h is is apart
from the large n um ber which received gifts in kind.
Distribution of nonearned money income.— I t was to be expected th a t
the bulk o f nonearned m o n ey incom e w ould be concentrated in the
high incom e levels.
E lim in atin g the incom plete fam ilies, which were
n atu rally m ore dependent on nonearned incom e, w e h ave the dis
tribution given in table 41 for com plete n ative w hite fam ilies a t speci
fied incom e levels.
E v e n though m a n y form s o f nonearned m o n ey in
com e, such as partnership earnings left in the business, do n o t form a
part of our fa m ily incom e sto ry , nevertheless the upper 1.1 percent o f
the fam ilies reporting nonearned m on ey incom e accounted for n early 10
percent o f all fa m ily fu nds of this type.
22See tabular summary, sec. B, table 10, p. 149.
23Since the presence of such sources of income was often a decisive factor in the means test, some families
still on relief at the time of interview perhaps underestimated such income.
74
T
FAM ILY INCOME IN CHICAGO
able
41 . — P ercentage o f fa m ilie s having and p rop ortio n o f n on ea rn ed m o n e y in co m e
at specified in co m e levels
[White families including husband and wife, both native born]
Income class
Under $1,0001 ________________________________________________________
Under $2,000 ___________ ______________________________________________
Under$3,000____
__ ____________________
__ _ ____________
Under $4,000___________________________________________________________
Under $5,000 ________ __________ ______ ___________________ _________
Under $10,000__________________________________________________________
$10,000 and over________ ______
_ ______________________________
1
Percentage of
families
Percentage of
nonearned
money income
C u m u la te d
C u m u la te d
11.0
18.7
51.9
39.2
57.7
70.8
79.1
90.2
77 A
88.6
93.5
98.9
100.0
100.0
Including families which received relief during schedule year.
T here is a m arked distinction to be m ade, in the case o f the n on
relief fam ilies, betw een w age earners and other occupational groups
in respect to the im portance o f nonearned m o n ey incom e.
B y refer
ence to table 4 2 we can see th a t in the wage-earner group the fam ilies
in the incom e brackets o f $ 5 ,0 0 0 and over had less than 5 percent o f
the to ta l nonearned m o n ey incom e.
W ith in the business and pro
fessional group, on the other han d, m ore than h alf the aggregate n on
earned m o n ey incom e w as concentrated in the incom e bands o f $ 5 ,0 0 0
and over.
T h e clerical fam ilies occupied a position akin to th a t o f
the w age earners for this ty p e o f m o n ey incom e, w ith less th an 10
percent o f all nonearned m o n ey incom e being accounted for b y fa m i
lies h avin g $ 5 ,0 0 0 and over.
T h e fam ilies w ith no gainfully em ployed m em bers accounted for
nearly one-third o f all the nonearned *m o n ey incom e in the sam ple,
although th ey constituted b u t 2 percent o f the fam ilies.
T h e distri
b u tion of their nonearned incom e b y incom e levels is unique, how ever,
in th a t 4 3 .2 percent o f the aggregate o f nonearned m o n ey incom e for
this group cam e w ithin the incom e bands $ 1 ,0 0 0 to $ 2 ,0 0 0 .
T h e dis
tribution o f aggregate m o n ey incom e from nonearnings b y occupa
tional groups for the nonrelief n ative w hite fam ilies containing h us
b an d and wife was as follow s:
P ercen t
All families___________ .___________________________
100. 0
Wage earner_______________________________________ 19. 1
Clerical___________________________________________ 18. 2
Business and professional____________________________ 30. 4
No gainfully employed members______________________ 32. 3
The most general form of investment among Chicago families to
which income was attributed was the ownership of a home. Among
the native white families containing husband and wife, 21 percent
were credited with imputed income from owned homes. The analysis
75
SOURCES OF FAM ILY INCOME
of fam ily incom e in Chicago will be concluded in the n ext chapters
w ith a discussion o f h om e ownership as a source o f incom e and of
rentals as an index o f incom e levels.
T
able
42 .— Percentage of nonearned m oney income reported by fam ilies at specified
income levels , by occupational group
[White nonrelief families including husband and wife, both native born]
Income class
Total__________________________
Under $1,000____________________
$1,000-$1,999____________________
$2,000-$2,999____________________
$3,000-$4,999____________________
$5,000 and over.. _ _ _____ _
All occupa Wage earner
tional groups
Clerical
gainfully
Business and No
employed
professional
members
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
8.2
10.4
34.0
30.5
20.4
4.7
4.1
26.3
30.5
29.3
9.8
3.1
12.5
14.1
43.2
11.9
19.6
29.1
19.1
22.1
21.5
12.6
21.6
50.2
11.2
Chapter V
H om e T en u re as R elated to Income
T h e analysis of rent data occupies a special position in the stu d y
o f incom e and its distribution.
h ave
obtained
detailed
R ela tiv ely few large-scale studies
inform ation
on
fa m ily
in com e,
not
only
because o f the difficulties and expense in volved in ascertaining the
exact incom es o f fam ilies, b u t also because of the sen sitivity o f fa m i
lies to questioning on fa m ily finances.
R e n t d ata, on the other
h an d, are often a m a tter of public know ledge and h av e frequen tly
been used as the b est ready estim ates of econom ic statu s w hen
detailed incom e data are lacking.
Because o f the relative ease w ith
w hich d ata on rent can be secured, and the im portance of establishing
th e relationship o f rent to in com e, a lim ited a m ou n t o f in form ation
on h om e ownership, rentals, and typ e of dwelling w as taken as part
o f the fa m ily in com e schedule for the random sam ple in the U rb a n
S tu d y o f C on sum er Pu rch ases; it represents the on ly m aterial on
fa m ily consu m ption w hich w as obtained from all fam ilies in terview ed.
T h e details o f housing expense were obtained fro m th e sm aller con
trolled sam ple o n ly, as were all other expenditure item s, and will,
therefore, be discussed in v olu m e I I o f this bulletin.
T h e extent to
w hich rent paid, or rental valu e o f owned quarters, reflects the in com e
level o f the fa m ily will be considered here, as part o f the general
in com e analysis.
T h e need for equating the incom e of owners w ith th a t o f renters,
in order to arrive a t fa m ily incom e for purposes o f the current stu d y ,
has already been pointed ou t.
A d ju stm e n t o f the incom e figures of
h om e owners w as m ad e because, generally speaking, the portion o f a
given m o n ey incom e available to renters after rent has been paid
m a y be less th an th a t available to h om e owners after the expenses of
h om e ownership (taxes, interest, insurance, and repairs) h av e been
tiaet.
T h e incom e o f h om e owners was adjusted b y su btracting, from
the estim ated rental value o f the owned h om e, interest paid on m o r t
gages, together w ith the estim ated expense of h om e ow nership.1 T h e
1 Before entering upon a discussion of rent and rental values, we should have clearly in mind the content
of the rent and rental value data secured in the present study. It is of three types. In the case of renters,
it is the amount payable to the landlord for the occupancy of the dwelling. For owners, it is the rental value
of the premises as estimated by the owners, in the light of amounts paid for rented homes of similar accom
modations in the same neighborhood. The third category included in the rent data is rent received as p a y applicable in the case of a janitor or resident director of an institution, who received his living quarters as
part of wages or salary.
With respect to tenants, the rent figure refers to the amount the tenant contracted to pay, or reported to
the interviewer as the rental rate at the end of the schedule year, and may not be the amount the tenant
76
HOME TENURE AS RELATED TO INCOME
77
difference has been added to the m o n ey incom es o f owners as “ im pu ted
incom e fro m ow ned h o m e .”
I n the case o f fam ilies w hich received
rent as p a y , the value of this rent w as also added to the m o n ey in com e.
T h is chapter will thus com plete the discussion begu n in the preceding
one on sources o f fa m ily in com e, b y analyzin g n on m on ey incom e
received fro m housing.
Nonmoney income jrom housing.— T h e average n et am o u n t of
incom e im p u ted to fam ilies b y virtue o f h om e ownership is show n for
n ative w hite com plete nonrelief fam ilies in table 4 3 .2
I n the incom e
group under $ 1 ,0 0 0 , an average o f $ 1 5 0 w as thus added to the incom es
o f h om e owners.
T h e am ou n t o f im p u ted incom e increased a t succes
sive incom e levels until a t $ 5 ,0 0 0 and over the owners received the
equivalen t o f $53 4 in n et im pu ted incom e fro m ow ned hom es as an
addition to m o n ey incom e.
A n ticipa tin g a later discussion o f occupa
tional differences, som e figures are offered here show ing average
im pu ted incom e b y occupational groups.
O b v io u sly the am o u n t o f
im p u ted incom e bears a relationship to the rental value o f the h om e
and the am ou n t o f the fa m ily ’s in v estm en t in it.
Since w age earners
on the average h av e h om es w ith low er rental values th an do clerical
and professional fam ilies, the incom e im p u ted to th em for h om e
ownership w as in general less th an th a t allocated to the incom e o f the
other occupational groups.
I t is possible also th a t h om es ow ned b y
fam ilies in the w age-earner group were m ore h ea v ily m ortgaged th an
were those of other occupational groups, w hich w ould h ave the effect
of reducing
the incom e im p u ted from
ow nership.3
T h e im p u ted
incom e o f h om e owners in wage-earner fam ilies ranged from $ 119 in
the incom e group under $ 1 ,0 0 0 to $307 in the class $ 5 ,0 0 0 and over.
actually paid during the year. In the lowest income brackets, therefore, the actual ratio of rent to income
is overstated for cases in which the tenant was unable to pay the rent which is compared with his income.
Another disturbing factor is that the rent averages covered houses as well as apartments; in the latter case
varying proportions of families were paying sums for housing which included such facilities as heat, refriger
ation, and sometimes furnishings.
In the case of owners, the relationship of rental value to income is affected by two factors. Home owners
who made very extensive repairs during the year studied incurred expenses higher than the estimate, and
thus actually had less imputed income for this particular year than was attributed to them.
For the purposes of a short schedule to be filled out by all families in an extensive random sample, certain
devices had to be employed for deriving the final figure with the practicable minimum of inconvenience and
delay to the families interviewed. Therefore, while the rental value and the actual amount paid as mortgage
interest were obtained from the family owning the dwelling, other current expense (taxes, insurance, and
repairs) was calculated from the rental value in accordance with an experience table based upon previous
detailed studies of housing by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Preliminary examination of the data from
the expenditure study suggests that actual expenses of home ownership in 1935-36 were in general some
what higher than estimated, probably because, after several years of depression, extraordinary repairs were
undertaken by a number of home-owning families.
At the other extreme, there were undoubtedly some owners, at least in the lowest income brackets, who
did not, during the year, pay the normal expenses of ownership attributed to them, such as taxes, insurance,
and repairs. In these cases, the imputed income from housing for the year covered was actually greater
than the estimated figure. Imputed income also varied with the amount of the owner’s equity in the home,
since this affected the amount of interest which had to be paid.
Of the native white complete families reported as owning homes, 4.42 percent either received no net
income or incurred actual losses during the report year as a result of their home ownership—that is, the
expenses of such ownership equalled or exceeded the rental value of the home.
3 Data on frequency of mortgaged homes have not been tabulated by occupational group.
2
78
F A M IL Y IN C O M E IN
CHICAGO
T h e com parable figures for clerical fam ilies were $131 and $ 4 2 8 , while
fo r business and professional fam ilies th ey were $16 2 and $5 9 4 .
T
able
43 . — A v era g e a m o u n t o f net im p u ted in co m e f r o m ow n ed h o m ey received b y
hom e ow n ers i n specified occup ation al g ro u p s b y i n c o m e 1
[White nonrelief families including husband and wife, both native born 2]
Home-owning families in the—
All home
owning
families 3
Income class
All families:
Under $1,000_____________________________
$1,000-$1,999______________________________
$2,000-$2,999______________________________
$3,000-$4,999______________________________
$5,000 and over____________________________
Business and
Wage-earner
Clerical group professional
group
groups
$150
174
$119
156
203
246
307
221
306
534
$131
170
222
325
428
$162
195
251
336
594
1 These averages were computed by dividing the aggregate net imputed income of each group by the
number of home-owning families in the group.
2 Among relief families, the home owners received an average of $130 in imputed income from owned homes*
3 The imputed income from mortgaged homes (67.1 percent of all owned homes) averaged less ($166) than
that of nonmortgaged homes ($342). (See tabular summary, sec. B, table 11, p. 150, for an analysis of the
costs of home ownership.)
W h en
com putin g
to ta l fa m ily incom e,
the rental value of the
quarters given as p art o f the em p loym en t arrangem ent w as regarded
as part o f the fa m ily incom e.
H o u sin g w as received as p a y m e n t for
services b y on ly 1.4 percent o f all Chicago fam ilies in 1 9 3 5 -3 6 .
The
b ulk o f these fam ilies were in the low er incom e groups, 72.1 percent
h avin g less th an $ 2 ,0 0 0 for the year.
F o r those fam ilies w hich re
ceived rent as p a y , the item w as significant.4
A m o n g such fam ilies
in the sam ple o f n ative w h ite com plete fam ilies w ith incom es under
$ 1 ,0 0 0 , rent as p a y averaged $ 2 1 8 , a t the $ 1 ,0 0 0 to $ 2 ,0 0 0 level it
am ou n ted to $ 3 3 8 , and a t the incom e group o f $ 5 ,0 0 0 and over, it
consisted o f $842 for the year, or abou t $70 per m o n th .
T h ese la st-
m entioned fam ilies belonged exclusively to the business and professional
groups.
Frequency of home ownership.— In C h icago, m ore than one-fourth
(2 8 .4 percent) o f all fam ilies received a part o f their incom es in the
occupancy o f h om es w hich
th ey ow ned during the y ear 1 9 3 5 -3 6 .
T h is com pares w ith the predepression figure o f 3 1 .4 percent in 1930.5
N o figures are available as to the am ou n t o f d eb t on ow ned hom es in
1930.
D a t a fro m the U rb a n S t u d y 6 indicate th at, in 1 9 3 5 -3 6 , am ong
n ative w h ite fam ilies containing b oth h usband and w ife, tw o-thirds of
the ow ned hom es were m ortgaged .
E x c e p t for fam ilies in the low est
incom e ban ds (a m a jo rity o f w hich, as will be pointed o u t later, h ad
p robab ly purchased their h om es at a tim e w hen their incom es were
m ore su b sta n tia l), the proportion o f ow ned hom es carrying a m o r t
gage w as close to 70 percent for all fam ilies w ith incom es up to $ 3 ,0 0 0 .
4See tabular summary, sec. B, tables 2, 2A, and 2B, pp. 121-127.
8Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930, vol. 6, Families.
• See tabular summary, sec. B, table 11, p. 150.
HOME TENURE AS RELATED TO INCOME
79
B ey o n d th a t, the proportion of h om es ow ned free of m ortgage tended
to increase w ith in com e, am oun tin g to 65 percent w ith o u t m ortgage
for those fam ilies w ith incom es o f $ 1 0 ,0 0 0 and over.
F o r those h om es w hich were m ortgaged, d a ta indicate th a t interest
p ay m en ts on the m ortgage averaged fro m one-third to tw o-fifth s o f
the rental value o f the h om e.
F o r all fam ilies w ith incom es below
$ 2 ,0 0 0 , interest averaged 4 0 percent or m ore o f rental v a lu e ; it form ed
a som ew hat decreasing proportion a t higher incom e levels.
K n ow led ge o f the extent o f h om e ownership am on g different social
and econom ic groups in the popu lation serves as a background in th e
interpretation o f the rent and incom e d ata.
T h e trends in h om e
ownership do n o t lend th em selves to a n y one sim ple explanation such
as th a t h om e ownership is m ore frequen tly fou nd a t the higher incom e
levels.
T h e possession o f a house in an urban co m m u n ity like C hicago
m a y be associated w ith a n u m ber o f fa m ily situations.
T h e purchase
o f a h om e presupposes a settled fa m ily life for w hich lo n g-tim e p lan
ning seem s feasible.
T h u s n ew ly established fam ilies m a y b e ex
pected to defer the purchase o f hom es u ntil capital has been a ccu m u
lated and a place established in the co m m u n ity .
O n the other han d,
fam ilies m a y cling to their h om es even w hen the fa m ily incom e h as
been reduced to the subsistence level.
T h e presence o f y ou n g children
in the fa m ily is a factor stim u latin g the tendency tow ard h om e ow ner
ship.
A fa m ily tradition o f h om e ownership m a y affect the proportion
o f h om e owners am ong m igrants from rural areas, n a tiv e as w ell as
foreign born .
Professional people m a y prefer h om e ownership in the
suburbs and be predom in an tly apartm en t dwellers w hen living inside
the c ity lim its; while w age earners, particularly am on g the foreign
born, m a y incline tow ard in vestm en t in a h om e near the place o f w ork.
A m o n g som e occupational groups the purchase o f a h om e takes on the
character o f an occupational enterprise, as in the case o f the real estate
operator, carpenter, or builder.
T h e d octor or law yer, as w ell as the
sm all-scale business proprietor, m a y regard h om e ownership as an
asset in carrying on his profession or business.
I t is thus clear th a t, even though h om e ownership is to be analyzed
in relation to each o f the various factors (incom e, occupation, n a tiv ity ,
age), these factors are in them selves interrelated in their influence
upon h om e ownership.
Ownership is m ore prevalen t am ong the fa m i
lies w ith higher in com es, b u t these fam ilies are a t the sam e tim e a p t
to h ave m atu re fa m ily heads, and to belong to the business and p ro
fessional groups.
H o m e ownership is prevalen t am on g the foreign
born fam ilies, b u t here again the age factor is im p o rta n t, since m a n y
of the foreign born fa m ily heads are m iddle-aged or older.
T h e interrelationship o f the various factors, econom ic and social,
which lead fam ilies to decide for or against h om e ownership is so
intricate as to preclude the isolation o f a n y one factor as dom in an t.
80
FAMILY INCOME IN CHICAGO
Nevertheless, certain definite characteristics are discernible in the
home ownership and rental patterns when the data are analyzed by
income, race and nativity, occupation, and age. An analysis by type
of dwelling is presented at the end of this chapter.
Home ownership in various income groups .— T h e relative frequency
o f h om e owners am ong th e fam ilies studied varied m ark ed ly w ith
differences in incom e levels, b u t the proportion o f h om e owners did
n o t increase consistently w ith each rise in in com e.
In general, fa m
ilies w ith in com es above $ 2 ,0 0 0 averaged higher in the proportion o f
h om e owners th an did the sam ple for all incom e groups com bined
(table 4 4 ) ; y e t fam ilies w ith incom es under $ 500 also exceeded the
average in h om e ow nership.
In fo rm atio n w as n o t obtain ed on the
length o f tim e th e ow ner fam ilies h ad ow ned their h om es, b u t the
internal evidence presented b y the schedules as to the character o f the
earnings, occupation, and age distribution suggests th a t those w ith
low current in com e w hich ow ned hom es in 1 9 3 5 -3 6 were fam ilies w hich
h ad been m ore prosperous in previous years, during w hich the purchase
o f the h om e w as undertaken.
T h e reasons for this generalization w ill
appear in the succeeding sections.
T
able
44 . — P ercen tage o f renting and o w n in g fa m ilie s at specified in co m e levels
[The total for renters plus owners equals 100 percent]
a. FAM ILIES OF SPECIFIED COLOR AN D N A T IV IT Y , B Y IN C O M E
Percentage of renters and owners
Income class
All families
Native white
Foreign born
white
Negro
Renters
Owners
Total__________________ ____
71.6
28.4
77.3
22.7
61.9
38.1
92.4
7.6
Relief
_ _______ ______
Nonrelief-_____
______
88.8
68.8
11.2
31.2
90.3
75.7
9.7
24.3
82.4
59.1
17.6
40.9
97.0
88.6
3.0
11.4
60.9
71.7
73.0
65.6
58.2
61.2
39.1
28.3
27.0
34.4
41.8
38.8
73.2
78.2
80.6
72.5
64.5
64.2
26.8
45.5
62.5
63.4
55.5
49.0
53.1
54.5
37.5
36.6
44.5
51.0
46.9
90.9
89.5
90.8
77.8
45.5
9.1
10.5
9.2
Under $500_____ ________
$500-$999_______________
$1,000-$1,999____________
$2,00C-$2,999____________
$3,000-$4,999____________
$5,000 and over. _ ______
Renters Owners Renters
21.8
19.4
27.5
35.5
35.8
Owners
Renters
Owners
22.2
54.5
b. COM PLETE AN D IN C O M P L E T E N A T IV E W H IT E FAM ILIES, B Y IN C O M E
Native white families
Income class
All
Renters
Complete
Owners
Renters
Incomplete
Owners
Renters
Total___ * ________ ____ _____
77.3
22.7
78.9
21.1
71.8
Relief. _____________________
Nonrelief________________ __
90.3
75.7
9.7
24.3
90.5
77.7
9.5
22.3
90.0
Under $500 . _ ________
$500-$999_________________
$1,000-$1,999_____________
$2,000-$2,999_____________
$3,000-$4,999_____________
$5,000 and over__ ________
73.2
78.2
80.6
72.5
64.5
64.2
26.8
79.2
85.1
82.9
73.0
64.7
63.4
20.8
21.8
19.4
27.5
35.5
35.8
14.9
17.1
27.0
35.3
36.6
Owners
28.2
10.0
68.8
31.2
67.6
64.8
71.8
70.1
63.4
68.4
32.4
35.2
28.2
29.9
36.6
31.6
HOME TENURE AS RELATED TO INCOME
81
A m o n g nonrelief fam ilies, h om e ownership w as least com m on am ong
those w ith incom es betw een $500 and $ 2 ,0 0 0 .
fam ilies and o f n ative and foreign born w hite.
T h is is true o f all
I t should b e recalled
th a t over h alf o f all fam ilies, 51 percent o f n ative and 56 percent of
the foreign born w h ite nonrelief fam ilies, fall in to these incom e classes.7
T h is goes far to explain the fa ct th at less than 30 percent o f all Chicago
fam ilies were found to be h om e owners.
One in 10 families among those receiving relief at some time during
the year were home owners at the date of interview. The small
number of home-owning families in the relief group may be taken to
represent those few that had not used up all resources, including the
investment in the home, before joining the relief ranks. For those
that retained their homes, it may be assumed that normal repairs
and taxes on the home were in many cases not cared for during the
current year. During the period covered by the study, home owners
among the relief cases were assisted by the relief administration in
bearing the expenses of home ownership, provided those expenses of
home ownership did not exceed the maximum rent allowance which
would have been made for the family if it had been occupying rented
quarters.
H o m e ownership w as found to be m o st prevalent in the incom e
brackets betw een $ 3 ,0 0 0 and $ 5 ,0 0 0 , wherein 4 1 .8 percent o f the fa m
ilies occupied their ow n dwellings.
H ere again w e cann ot b e sure
th a t these fam ilies did n o t h av e higher incom es w hen th e h om e w as
purchased.
N everth eless, if w e accept the popular form u la th a t a bou t
twice the current annual incom e represents the usual price o f n ew ly
purchased h om es, it is n o t unlikely th a t sales pressure for the purchase
o f h om es w ould be concentrated upon the fam ilies w ithin these incom e
brackets.8
I f in relating h om e ownership to incom e w e separate the com plete
from the incom plete fam ilies, as in table 4 4 b , w e see th at the in com plete
fam ilies h ad relatively m ore h om e owners than did those w hich con
tained b o th the husband and w ife.
T h e contrast is particularly strik
ing for the low est incom e groups, where there w as on ly one ow ner in
every five to seven am ong the fam ilies containing b o th h usband and
w ife, as com pared w ith one owner in every three in com plete fam ilies.
T h is com parison reflects the presence o f w idow s and others rem aining
in the broken fa m ily group w ho were left w ith the fa m ily h om e b u t
received little in the w ay o f earnings or other current incom e.
I t is
7 See ch. I, table 3.
8See H. A. Bemis, The Evolving Home, 3 vols. (1933-36). It is interesting to note in this connection that,
of all family-dwelling units in one- and two-family dwellings (which together account for 93 percent of all
owned homes in Chicago) for which building permits were issued between 1929 and 1935, over 65 percent
were for structures costing between $5,000 and $9,000 per dwelling unit (Building Permit Survey, 1929 to
1935, Chicago, 111., Bureau of Labor Statistics, U. S. Department of Labor, 1937). These units, with
$1,000 added as the estimated average cost of building sites, would mean dwelling units costing approxi
mately $8,000 to $10,000.
82
FAMILY INCOME IN CHICAGO
o n ly when w e com e to the upper incom e levels, $ 5 ,0 0 0 and over, th a t
the com plete fam ilies had proportion ately m ore owners th an did the
incom plete.
Home ownership by race and nativity.— T h e proportion o f h om e
ownership varied appreciably as betw een the different racial and
n a tiv ity groups, b oth as a to ta l and w ithin given incom e intervals.
O f the h om e-ow nin g fam ilies in Chicago in 1 9 3 5 -3 6 , 59.1 percent were
foreign b o m , 3 9 .2 percent were n ative w hite, and 1,7 percent were
N egro and other color (table 4 5 ).
T h e proportion o f foreign born and
o f N eg ro fam ilies am on g the h om e owners decreased w ith increasing
incom e, while th at o f n a tiv e w hites increased, form ing m ore th an 50
percent o f the to ta l am on g fam ilies w ith incom es o f $ 3 ,0 0 0 and above.
T h ese figures represent, n o t a decreasing proportion o f h om e ow ner
ship am ong foreign b o m and N eg ro fam ilies, b u t rather the increasing
predom inance, a t the higher incom e levels, o f n ative w hite fam ilies.9
T
able
4 5 .— N a tiv ity and racial c o m p o sitio n o f h o m e-o w n in g fa m ilie s at specified
in co m e levels
Income class
Total
Native
white
Foreign
born white
Negro and
other color
P ercen t
P ercen t
P ercen t
P ercen t
-------------------------------
100.0
39.2
59.1
1.7
All relief owners_____________________ _______
All nonrelief owners-----------------------------------------
100.0
100.0
32.7
39.6
61.5
58.9
5.8
1.5
Under $1,000______________________________
$1,000-$ 1,999______________________________
$2,000-$2,999______________________________
$3,000-$4,999______________________________
$5,000 and over_________________ _________
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
31.0
35.6
45.5
50.4
67.2
66.3
63.1
53.4
48.7
32.8
2.7
1.3
1.1
.9
All owners---------------------
T h is la st sta tem en t is corroborated when an analysis is m ad e o f
h om e ownership am ong fam ilies o f different n a tiv ity and racial b ack
grounds.
O f the foreign born fam ilies in C h icago, 3 8.1 percent were
h om e ow n ers; the n ative w hite fam ilies h ad 2 2 .7 percent h om e ow n ers;
while am on g the N egroes, 7 .6 percent of the fam ilies ow ned their
h om es (table 4 4 ).
C om p arin g foreign born fam ilies w ith the n ative
w hite a t successive incom e levels, w e see th a t a t each level the p ro
portion o f h om e owners a m on g the foreign fam ilies exceeded th a t of
the n ative w hites.
In the incom e intervals betw een $ 1 ,5 0 0 and $ 2 ,2 5 0 ,
the foreign born h ad proportion ately twice as m a n y h om e owners as
9
This is shown in the distribution by racial groups at various income levels, which was as follows:
Income class
Total
P ercen t
Native white Foreign born
white
P ercen t
P ercen t
Negro and
other color
P ercen t
All families (home owners and renters)___ ____
100.0
49.0
44.2
6.8
Relief
_____ _ _____ __ . _
___ ______ _
Nonrelief_____________
_____ ____ _ _ _ __
100.0
100.0
37.9
50.8
39.2
44.9
22.9
4.3
Under $1,000______________________________
$1,000-$ 1,999______________________________
$2,000 and over_______ _ _
_ _________
100.0
100.0
100.0
41.9
49.5
58.7
49.0
46.4
40.0
9.1
4.1
1.3
HOME TENURE AS RELATED TO INCOME
did the n ative w hite fam ilies.10
crepancy w as even greater.
§3
A t the low est incom e levels, the dis
A lm o st h alf o f the foreign b o m fam ilies
w ith n et incom es o f less th an $ 2 5 0 during the year were h om e ow ners,
while o n ly on e-sixth o f the n ative w hite fam ilies in this group ow ned
their h om es.
T h is b o tto m incom e group a m on g th e foreign born
w as com posed largely of fam ilies o f independent business persons
whose v ery lo w n et profit for the year 1 9 3 5 -3 6 p ro b a b ly did n o t
represent the norm al situation for such fam ilies over an extended p e r io d ;
the purchase o f the h om e h ad u n d ou b ted ly occurred in m ore prosperous
years.
T h e proportion o f n ative w hite h om e owners varied fro m 9 .7
percent am ong relief fam ilies to 3 5 .8 percent o f the fam ilies w ith
incom es o f $ 5 ,0 0 0 and over.
T h e range for the foreign born extended
fro m 17.6 percent o f the fam ilies in the relief group to 5 1 .0 p ercen t
a t the incom e interval of $ 3 ,0 0 0 to $ 5 ,0 0 0 .
T h e percentage o f N egro
h om e owners ranged fro m 3 .0 percent o f fam ilies in the relief group to
5 4 .5
percent o f fam ilies whose incom es were over $ 3 ,0 0 0
(a higher
percentage th an for either the n ative w hite or the foreign b orn ), while
the m ean proportion w as 7 .6 percent.
T h e prevalence o f h om e owners a m on g the foreign born m a y reflect
in p art the O ld W o r ld tradition of real property ownership as sign ify
ing tangible evidence of econom ic success; in p art, the relatively
large
proportion
of independent
businesses
operated
in
prem ises
also occupied as livin g quarters; in part, the prevalence o f larger
fam ilies, and o f fam ilies of m ature age in the foreign b o m group.
T h e reason for the sm all proportion of owners am on g N egroes has
already been suggested in the fa ct o f their concentration in the lo w
incom e brackets, coupled w ith the lim ited residential areas available
to th em .
A n o th er factor is th at m a n y o f the N egroes are relative
new com ers in the c ity .11
Home ownership by occupation .— In table 4 6 , w hich presents data
for nonrelief n ative w hite fam ilies containing b o th h usband and w ife,
the proportion o f h om e owners is show n b y the m a jo r occupational
groupings.
T here appear to be several n otew orth y
differences, in
respect to h om e ownership, betw een the w age-earner fam ilies and those
in the business and professional groups.
I f we consider the totals
in each occupational group, we find th a t the business and professional
fam ilies are higher th an the w age earners in percentage o f h om e
owners.
Y e t the increase in h om e ownership as incom e p erm its is
m u ch m ore striking for the wage-earner fam ilies.
B egin n ing w ith 12
percent o f h om e owners a t the $75 0 fa m ily incom e level, there is a
continuous rise in the percent of owners as fa m ily incom e in th e w age
earner group increases.
T h e proportion rises to 2 8 .7 percent a t the
See tabular summary, sec. B, table 12, p. 151, and sec. C, table 7, pp. 171-172.
11
The Negro population in Chicago increased between 1920 and 1930 by 113.7 percent (Fifteenth Census
of the United States, 1930, Population, vol. Ill, pt. 1, p. 61). Data collected in the present study indicated
that this increase continued after 1934 (see appendix B on sampling procedure, p. 180).
84
F A M IL Y IN C O M E IN
CHICAGO
$ 2 ,0 0 0 incom e level, and to 50 percent a t $ 3 ,0 0 0 .
O f the sm all n u m
ber o f fam ilies in the wage-earner group whose incom es were $ 5 ,0 0 0
or m ore, m ore th an tw o-thirds were h om e owners.
T h is predom i
nance o f h om e ownership is in large m easure accounted for b y the
large adu lt fam ilies characteristic o f the w age-earner group a t this
incom e level.
F o r the business and professional fam ilies, th e p ercent
age o f h om e owners show s n o such consistent increase w ith in com e,
the p eak being 3 4 .8 percent h om e ownership fo r the business and p ro
fessional fam ilies a t $ 5 ,0 0 0 and over.
T h e fam ilies in th e clerical,
like those in the w age-earner, group increased their proportion
of
h om e owners fro m $ 7 5 0 , a t w hich 7 .4 percent ow ned their h om es, to
$ 5 ,0 0 0 and over, a t w hich level 3 5 .7 percent were h om e owners.
The
increase is n o t so great, how ever, as am ong the w age earners.
T a b l e 46. — H o m e o w n er s: P ercen ta g e in sp ecified o ccu p a tion a l g r o u p s , b y in co m e
[White nonrelief families including husband and wife, both native born]
Income class
All occupa
tional
groups
Wage earner
Clerical
Business and
professional
All families___________________________________
22.3
21.3
20.3
24.8
Under $500.................................... ............................
$600-$749_________________________ ____________
$750-$999______________________________________
$1,000-$1,249 .................................... ___.................
$1,250-$1,499
„
..........................
$1,500-$1,749 _____ ________ ___________________
$1,750-$1,999__________________ _______________
$2,000-$2,499__________________________________
$2,500-$2,999___________________________________
$3,000-$4,999___________________________________
$6,000 and over___________________ ___________
20.8
14.9
13.3
11.9
13.1
15.4
18.3
10.4
15.8
7.4
10. 5
13. 2
15.1
16.2
21. 7
33.0
34.4
35.7
20.8
17.9
13.1
13.7
16.9
18.5
19.2
23.8
33.6
35.3
36.6
21.2
28. 7
38.6
49.6
68.8
25.6
22.1
18.8
27. 2
21.9
18.4
18.0
27.8
28.4
34.8
T h e rise in the proportion o f h om e owners w ith increasing incom e
is n o t v ery consistent am on g the business and professional fam ilies
u ntil w e pass the $ 2 ,0 0 0 incom e bracket.
T h e reasons for the irregu
larity o f the h om e ownership proportions for the business and profes
sional fam ilies below $ 2 ,0 0 0 are several and n o t h ard to find.
The
b ulk o f the business and professional groups are in the incom e ban ds
above $ 2 ,0 0 0 .
B elow th a t level the sam ples were relatively sm all,
hence m ore su bject to ran d om fluctu ation, and sm all-scale enterprisers,
livin g in poor dw elling quarters, outw eigh the salaried business and
professional fam ilies.
W h e n h om e-ow n in g fam ilies are distributed w ithin each incom e
level b y their occupational groupings, as in table 4 7 , w e see th a t h om e
ownership am on g the fam ilies o f w age earners exceeds th a t am on g
other occupational groups in all incom e brackets betw een $ 5 0 0 and
$ 3 ,0 0 0 .
A t the low est incom e level (less th an $ 5 0 0 o f current fa m ily
in co m e), the fam ilies w ith no gainfully em ployed m em bers com prised
4 4 percent o f the to ta l h om e-ow n in g fam ilies.
A b o v e $ 3 ,0 0 0
the
clerical fam ilies were sligh tly m ore num erous th an the w age earners;
85
H O M E TE N U R E AS RELATED TO IN C O M E
b u t neither o f these tw o groups had so m a n y h om e owners as the
business and professional group.
T a b l e 47.— H o m e -o w n in g f a m ilie s at specified in co m e levels classified b y occu p a
tion a l gro u p
[White nonrelief families including husband and wife, both native born]
All occupa Wage earner
tional groups
Income class
Clerical
gainfully
Business and No
employed
professional
members
--
100.0
Percent
45.4
Percent
30.5
All owning families.. _________
100.0
43.5
27.7
24.6
4.2
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
35. 7
43.4
59. 6
55. 3
53.1
51.4
53.2
48. 2
40.1
31.0
10.3
4.8
16.8
11.4
19.5
15.5
24.1
20.4
20.5
19.1
15.9
15.0
15.6
24.5
35.4
71.1
44.0
15.7
Percent
All families____ ___________
Under $500________ __ ___
$500-$749___________________
$750-$999___________________
$1,000-$1,249_______________
$1,250-$1,499_______________
$1,500-$1,749__ __________
$1,750-$1,999________________
$2,000-$2,499_______________
$2,500-$2,999_______________
$3,000-$4,999__ __________
$5,000 and over____________
22.1
27.0
29.7
35.4
34.6
32.3
18.6
Percent
22.1
Percent
2.0
8.6
4.7
5.7
5.7
2.1
.8
.8
1.3
Owners and renters by age.— T here is no phase o f the analysis b y
h om e tenure in which w e find m ore consistent significant differences
betw een h om e owners and renters th an in the classification b y age of
the head o f fa m ily .
I n a random sam plin g o f the schedules for the
com plete n ative w hite fam ilies, relief and nonrelief, in C h icago, the
husbands ow ning their h om es were 10 years older, on the average,
th an the ren ters; their m edian ages were 4 8 and 3 8 , respectively
(table 4 8 ).
W h ile nearly three-fifths o f the renter husbands were
under 4 0 , a b o u t one-fifth o f the owners were less th an 4 0 years old.
T h ese figures do n o t, o f course, take in to accou n t the age a t w hich
purchase o f the h om e w as m a d e, and hence are in a sense cu m u lative—
th at is, the figures on h om e owners a t the older ages include all those
w ho purchased h om es a t earlier ages and h ad n o t in the in terval given
up ownership.
T h e increasing proportion o f owners a t the older ages is in part a
result o f increasing in com e.
T h a t this is n o t a com plete explan ation,
how ever, is indicated b y the fa c t th at, a t each incom e level, these age
differences obtain ed.
H ea d s o f renting fam ilies w ith incom es under
$50 0 h ad a m edian age o f 39 years, while owners averaged 4 8 .8 years
in the sam e incom e group.
I n the highest incom e groups, $ 5 ,0 0 0 and
over, the m edian age for renters was 43 y e a rs; for owners it w as 52
years.
A m o n g renters, the prevailing age group w as 3 0 to 39 years
except for the highest incom e group, in w hich the ages 4 0 to 4 9 oc
curred m o st frequen tly.
A m o n g owner fam ilies the m o st co m m o n
age in terval w as 4 0 to 49 years in all incom e classes up to $ 3 ,0 0 0 , be
yon d which the 5 0 - to 59-y ear-old heads o f fa m ily predom inated.
86
T
able
F A M IL Y IN C O M E IN
CHICAGO
48. — R en ters and ow n ers distributed b y age o f head o f f a m i l y , at specified
in co m e levels 1
[White families including husband and wife, both native born]
a. R EN TE R S
A g e o f h u s b a n d in r e n t in g fa m ilie s
M e d ia n
age
I n c o m e c lass
A l l age s
U n d e r 30
3 0 -3 9
4 0 -4 9
5 0 -5 9
60 a n d
over
P ercen t
P ercen t
P ercen t
P ercen t
P ercen t
P ercen t
A l l f a m ilie s ---------------------------------------
3 7 .8
1 0 0 .0
1 8 .4
4 0 .1
2 5 .8
1 0 .0
5 .7
U n d e r $ 5 0 0 ____ _______ __
___
_
$ 5 0 0 -$ 9 9 9 ____________________________
$ 1 ,0 0 0 -8 1 ,4 9 9 ________________________
$ 1 ,5 0 0 -8 1 ,9 9 9 ________________________
$ 2 ,0 0 0 -8 2 ,9 9 9 ________________________
$ 3 ,0 0 0 -8 4 ,9 9 9 ________________________
$ 5 ,0 0 0 a n d o v e r ____________________
3 9 .4
3 5 .6
3 6 .6
3 6 .3
3 8 .6
4 1 .3
4 3 .0
1 0 0 .0
1 0 0 .0
1 0 0 .0
1 0 0 .0
1 0 0 .0
1 0 0 .0
1 0 0 .0
2 0 .2
2 5 .5
2 5 .6
2 1 .0
1 0 .3
7 .9
2 .7
3 1 .8
3 6 .7
3 5 .0
4 5 .4
4 6 .8
3 7 .4
3 1 .5
3 1 .0
23. 7
2 3 .0
2 1 .4
2 8 .7
3 1 .5
3 7 .0
8. 5
9 .5
8 .9
9 .3
1 0 .0
1 4 .1
1 7 .8
8 .5
4.6
7 .5
2 .9
4.2
9 .1
1 1 .0
b. O W NERS
Age of husband in owning families
Median
age
Income class
All ages
Under 30
30-39
40-49
50-59
60 and
over
P ercen t
P ercen t
P ercen t
P ercen t
P ercen t
P ercen t
All families-----------------------------
47.5
100.0
Under $500___________________
$500-8999_____________________
$1,000-81,499__________________
$1,500-81,999__________________
$2,000-82,999__________________
$3,000-84,999__________________
$5,000 and over_______________
48.8
47.5
47.7
46.0
45.3
50.6
51.9
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
1
3.0
20.1
3.2
16.1
22.5
18. 7
23. 2
23.2
15.1
2.8
7.7
3.6
1.4
3.0
10.8
35.8
27. 7
13.4
38.7
29.6
31.8
34.8
44.9
28.8
29. 7
22.6
19.4
19.7
25.4
29. 7
27.5
20.8
37.9
35.2
12.1
10.9
9.7
15.2
24.3
Based on a sample of 3,541 cases, selected at random from relief and nonrelief families.
L ess th an
5 percent o f the husbands under 30 years o f age were
h om e owners.
W it h each succeeding age in terval the proportion o f
h om e owners increased until the peak of h om e ownership w as reached
at 50 to 54 years, w ith 43 percent o f the fam ilies ow ning their h om es.
A fte r 55 years the proportion of h om e owners rem ained greater than
one-third of all fam ilies (table 4 9 ).
T
able
49. — P ercentage o f renters and ow ners a m o n g f a m i l y heads o f sp ecified ages 1
[White families including husband and wife, both native born]
Percentage of—
Renters
Under 25 years ____________
25-29________________________
30-34________________________
35-39________________________
40-44________________________
Percentage of—
Age of head
Age of head
98.9
95.3
93.4
84.4
77.1
Owners
1.1
4.7
6.6
15.6
22.9
Renters
45-49________________________
50-54____
______________
55-59
____________
60-64 _______________________
65 and over
__ ______ __
i Based on a sample of 3,541 cases, selected at random from relief and nonrelief families.
69.9
57. 0
61.8
63.8
60.9
Owners
30.1
43.0
38.2
36.2
39.1
HOME
TENURE
87
AS RELATED TO IN C O M E
The same general relationship between home ownership and age
is observed at each income level (table 50). Among families with
incomes between $500 and $1,000, only 2 percent o f the husbands
under 30 years of age were home owners, while 45 percent were home
owners in the age groups above 60 years. The husbands under 30
had their highest percentage of home ownership (17.4 percent) in the
income brackets between $3,000 and $5,000; but for the same income
interval, home ownership w^as 59.5 percent for husbands between 50
and 60 years of age.
I n c o m e s o f ow n ers an d ren ters .— In view of what has already been
brought out concerning the increasing proportion of home ownership
at the higher income levels, it is not surprising to find that the median
income of $1,622 for all home owners in Chicago (including those on
relief) was greater than that for renters b y $300. This means first of
all that families do not or cannot undertake purchase of a home
until their incomes have attained a certain minimum. It must be
remembered, too, that the incomes of home owners included certain
sums imputed to that ownership.
T
able
50.— Percentage of owners among fa m ily heads of specified ages, by income
classes 1
[White families including husband and wife, both native born]
Percentage of owners among family heads
Income class
All ages
Under $500 _ _ ____________ .
$500-$999____________________
$1,000-$1,499_________________
$l,50O-$l,999_________________
$2,000-$2,999_________________
$3,000-$4,999_________________
$5,000 and over. ----------- .
11.1
16.2
13.5
17.4
24.7
35.4
33.6
Under 30
years
2.0
2.1
4.5
3.5
4.2
17.4
30-39 years 40-40 years 50-59 years
6.0
10.6
7.7
9.8
14.0
18.2
14.8
13.5
19.4
17.8
25.5
33.9
33.3
28.9
1 Based on a sample of 3,541 cases, selected at random from relief and nonrelief families.
in each income class in any given age group taken as 100.0 percent.
25.0
34.0
34.2
38.4
40.5
59.5
50.0
60 years
and over
22.2
45.2
20.0
44.1
42.9
47.6
52.9
All family heads
Bearing these facts in mind, we may call attention to some com
parisons between incomes of owners and renters among families of
different occupational and race and nativity groups, as shown in
tables 51 and 52. Among the native whites, the median family income
for the home-owning families ($1,852) was $340 higher than for
renters. Am ong the foreign born, the median family income for
home owners ($1,501) was $214 higher than for the renters (table 51).
Am ong the Negroes, the median family income of the home owners
was $961; it is hardly comparable with that of the Negro renters,
half of whom received relief during the year.12 The income difference
13
Confining the data to nonrelief families, the owner and renter medians for the three race-nativity groups
were as follows:
Native white, owners, $1,919; renters, $1,658.
Foreign born, owners, $1,572; renters, $1,457.
Negro, owners, $1,150; renters, $1,020.
740 2 1 °— 39------- 7
88
F A M IL Y
IN C O M E
IN
C H IC A G O
between owners and renters may be appreciated by taking the $2,000
family income as a point of reference. Among the native white
families, 45 percent of the home owners received incomes above this
amount, while but 30.2 percent of the renters had $2,000 or more in
family income. In the case of the foreign born families, the income
brackets from $2,000 up included 31 percent of the home owners, as
compared with 21.9 percent of the renters. The median income
somewhat understates the real difference between the incomes of the
home owners and the tenants, since at both the lower and upper
extremes there are proportionately more owner families than renters.
About 9 percent of the owners among the foreign born received current
incomes of less than $500 (without receiving relief), 4.6 percent of the
foreign born tenant families. In the case of the Negro families, the
spread between the incomes of home owners and renting families was
accentuated b y the fact that nearly half of the Negro families were on
relief during the year; and all but 3 percent of these relief families
were renters.
T
able
51.— Renting and owning fam ilies distributed by income levels
a. FAM ILIES OF SPECIFIED COLOR A N D N A T IV IT Y
Percentage of families in each income class
Income class
Renters
Total----------. --Relief
---------------------------Nonrelief _____________ __
Under $500------- ---------$500-$999_______________
$1,000-$1,999____________
$2,000-$2,999____________
$3,000-$4,999____________
$5,000 and o v e r ..___ _
Median income1. . .
Native white
All families
----------
Owners Renters
Foreign born
white
Owners Renters
Negro
Owners Renters
Owners
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
17.0
83.0
4.7
14. 1
39.5
16.6
6.5
5.4
94.6
7.6
14.0
36.7
21.9
12.4
87.6
4.4
12.3
40.7
19.7
16.2
83.8
4.6
15.6
41. 7
15.2
5.7
18.3
81.7
1.0
5.6
94.4
9.0
15.3
39.1
19.8
9.7
1.5
48.2
51.8
7.0
18. 1
2.4
4.5
95.5
5.4
11.7
33. 4
25.4
15.1
4.5
$1,508
$1,852
$1,287
$1, 501
1.6
11.8
2.6
$1,323
$1, 622
8.1
22.6
3.7
.4
( 2)
8.6
25.8
27.9
12.9
6.5
$961
b. N A T IV E W H IT E FAM ILIES. C O M PLETE A N D IN C O M P L E T E
Percentage of families in each income class
Income class
All native white
Renters
Owners
Complete families
Renters
Owners
Incomplete families
Renters
Owners
Total______ _______ _
____
Relief________________________
Nonrelief___ _ . ___ _ ___
Under $500______________
$500-$999_________________
$1,000-$1,999_____________
$2,000-$2,999_____________
$3,000-$4,999_____________
$5,000 and over__________
100.0
12.4
87.6
4.4
12. 3
40.7
19. 7
8.1
2.4
100.0
4.5
95.5
5.4
11.7
33.4
25.4
15.1
4.5
100.0
10.9
89.1
2.9
11.3
42.3
21. 5
8.6
2.5
100.0
4.3
95.7
2.8
7.4
32.8
29.8
17.5
5.4
100.0
17.8
82.2
9.7
16.1
34.6
13.6
6.4
1.8
100.0
5.0
95.0
11.9
22.3
34.5
14.7
9.4
2.2
Median income1. _ _ _ _ _ _ _
$1, 508
$1, 852
$1,595
$2,075
$1,141
$1,283
1 Including relief families, treating them all as below the median.
2 Median for Negro renters not given, because it is practically a dividing line between relief and non
relief families. For Negro nonrelief renters alone the median is $1,020; for Negro nonrelief home owners the
median is $1,150.
HOME
TENURE
AS
RELATED
TO
89
IN C O M E
In general, home ownership was assumed at a lower level of family
income b y wage-earner than by clerical families; and by clerical
families at lower income levels than those at which business and
professional families usually accept the responsibility of home owner
ship.13 But in any given occupational group the median income for
home owners was, as must be expected, considerably higher than for
renters. This is shown in table 52, which gives the distribution by
occupational group for the complete native white (nonrelief) families.
It will be seen that in each o f the occupational groups the median
income for owners is between $400 and $500 higher than it is for the
renters.
T a b l e 5 2 .— Owning and renting fam ilies in different occupational groups , by income
[White nonrelief families including husband and wife, both native born]
Percentage of families in each income class
Income class
Wage earner
Renters
Business and profes
sional
Clerical
Owners
Renters
Owners
Renters
Owners
T otal_________
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100. 0
100.0
Under $500____
$500-$749_______
$750-$999_______
$1,000-$1,249___.
$l,250-$l,499-._.
$1,500-$1,749._$1,750-$1,999___
$2,000-$2,499___
$2,500-$2,999___
$3,000-$4,999___
$5,000 and over_
3.8
5.9
11.8
15.4
14.6
13.6
12.3
13.7
5.1
3.6
.2
2.4
3.4
5.9
8.5
9.8
11.3
12.2
20.4
11.8
13.0
1.3
1.1
2.8
5.7
10.2
10.8
13.3
14.1
21.7
8.2
10.3
1.8
.5
2.0
1.8
4.7
6.4
9.3
10.7
23.6
15.9
21.3
3.8
2.3
3.2
4.2
8.0
5.5
7.3
8.9
17.6
10.9
21.9
10.2
1.9
3.3
3.6
5.6
6.2
6.2
6.1
11.7
12.7
26.3
16.4
Median income.
$1, 475
$1,928
$1, 858
$2,309
$2, 301
$2, 715
Among wage earners the median income for the owner families was
$1,928, compared with $1,475 for the renters. The renters had rela
tively more families than did the owners in the income bands up to
$2,000. From there up, the owners had larger proportions in each
income bracket than did the renters. Among the families of the
clerical group, the median income of the home owners was $2,809, as
compared with $1,858 for the renters. As in the case of the wageearner group, the most pronounced differences in the distribution
occurred in the upper income groups, where the proportion of owners
was about twice as high as the proportion of renters. Business and
professional families show the same general variations in home tenure
by income as do the other occupational groups, the median income of
home owners being $414 greater than that of renters. The contrast
13
In comparing ownership trends by occupational groupings, it may be recalled that wage-earner families
do not ordinarily get into the upper income class unless the family is large enough to contain several earners.
The cost of renting a modern apartment of the requisite size for a large family might, therefore, encourage
the purchase of a home by the wage earners; whereas in the business or professional family, the earnings of
a single breadwinner may provide superior rented facilities for a smaller family.
90
F A M IL Y
IN C O M E
IN
C H IC A G O
between the proportions of renters and owners at the higher income
levels, however, is not so marked as in the case of wage-earner and
clerical families. Among families o f the business and professional
group, 43 percent o f the renters received incomes over $2,500, as
compared with 55 percent of the owners.
Note on Tenure o f Dwellings o f Different Types
Analysis of home ownership by type of dwelling was made for the complete
native white families. It indicates that, in Chicago, more than 55 percent of
the tenant families lived in multiple-family buildings constructed for three or more
households.14 Among owners, on the other hand, 73 percent occupied one-family
houses.15 Two-family dwellings were second in importance for both tenants (of
whom 28 percent lived in such quarters) and owners (of whom one-fifth were in
two-family dwellings). Distribution of the families (owners and renters) among
the various t>pes was as shown below:
R en ters
O w n ers
All dwellings_________________________________________
100. 0
100.0
One-family house_______________________________
11. 4
72.6
Detached___________________________________
Attached____________________
10. 9
.5
70.9
1 .7
Two-family house______________________________
27. 9
20.4
Side by side________________________________
Two decker________________________________
.4
27. 5
.2
20.2
Apartment building____________________________
56. 6
5.4
Three families_____________________________
Four families______________________________
Five or more families___________________
10. 0
5. 1
41. 5
2.8
.8
1.8
Dwelling unit in business building____________
3. 3
1.5
Other____________________________________________
.8
.1
The cases of owners shown in dwellings for five or more families m ay be assumed
to represent, for the most part, ownership in cooperative apartments.
Only in the case of the one-family dwellings did the home owners predominate;
almost two-thirds of all the families in such dwellings owned their own homes
(table 53). Except for families receiving relief and for those with incomes under
$500, there is a steady increase in the proportion of owners among occupants of
one-family dwellings with each rise in income. A t the $500 to $1,000 level, 51.8
percent of the families in these single-dwelling structures were home owners;
at the $2,000 level, 70.1 percent owned their homes; while among families with
incomes of $5,000 or more 82.8 percent were home owners.
n See tabular summary, sec. B, table 16, p. 157.
i® Tabular summary, sec. B, table 15, p. 156. In contrast with some of the eastern cities, practically all
(97 percent) of the one-family dwellings in Chicago were detached.
91
HOM E TENURE AS RELATED TO INCOME
Similar but not such striking increases in the proportion of owners may be
observed among occupants of two-family dwellings. For all such dwellings, 16.4
percent of the occupants were home owners. But among the families at the
$5,000 level, 39.6 percent owned the two-family dwellings which they occupied.
T
able
53 . — P r o p o r tio n o f o ccu p an ts o f specified ty p e s o f dw ellings w ho were hom e
ownerSj
b y in co m e
[White families including husband and wife, both native born]
Percentage of occupants who were home owners in—
Income class
1-family
All
dwellings dwelling
2-family
dwelling
3-family
dwelling
Dwelling
4 family 5-or-moreunit in
family
dwelling dwelling
business
building
Other
Total______________
21.1
62.9
16.4
7.0
4.0
1.2
11.2
Total relief_________
Total nonrelief_____
9.5
22.3
40.3
64.7
5.4
17.9
1.5
7.9
.6
4.6
1.2
13.4
3.8
20.8
14.9
15.3
18.9
27.0
35.3
36.6
60.1
51.8
52.8
58.7
70.1
78.2
82.8
17.8
12.5
11.7
15.5
23.6
31.6
39.6
15.2
6.6
6.8
5.5
7.8
11.0
11.6
5.7
5.2
1.1
6.3
3.3
12.9
25.0
.9
.9
.6
.5
.9
3.8
5.5
18.4
7.3
13.4
7.2
17.8
36.8
50.0
40.0
Under $500_____
$500-$999_______
$1,000-$1,499____
$1,500-$1,999____
$2,000-$2,999____
$3,000-$4,999____
$5,000 and over_ _
3.2
2.8
5.0
18.2
In c o m e s o f fa m ilie s resid in g in different typ es o f dw elling stru ctu res .— The corre
lation observed between income levels and the type of dwelling occupied holds
generally for both owners and renters. Considering first the renting families,
we find that the median income ranged from $1,126 for tenants living in quarters
located in business buildings to $1,783 for residents in buildings housing five or
more families (table 54). Residents of one-family dwellings had a median income
($1,621) second in size to that of families in large apartment houses. Residents
in two-, three-, and four-family dwellings, as well as in dwellings located in busi
ness buildings, had median incomes lower than those of renting families as a
whole. This suggests that the newer dwelling structures are principally onefamily dwellings and large scale apartments.16
The highest median income for owners, as for renters, was for the 2 percent
who held ownership in structures containing five or more living units. Next to
this group were the owners of one-family dwellings, with a median income of
$2,118, while all others fell below the composite median of $2,075 for all owners
(table 54). Here again the lowest median incomes were found among families
occupying quarters in a structure in which business enterprises were carried on—
the median income being $1,492— almost $600 less than that of owner families
as a whole.
Contrasting the incomes of owners and renters in each type of dwelling, we
note that, as in all other comparisons, owners have median incomes exceeding
those of renters by several hundred dollars. In the case of one-family dwellings,
for example, the median for owners is $497 greater than that of renters. One in
ten tenants of these single-family dwellings received $3,000 or more during the
year, while one in five owners living in this type of dwelling had incomes of that
size. In two-family dwellings also, the higher income families were more than
twice as frequent, proportionately, among owners as among renters.
I6 As a matter of fact, building permit data indicate that of all dwelling units for which permits were
issued in Chicago between 1929 and 1935, almost 65 percent were one-family houses or in structures housing
five or more families without a commercial unit (Building Permit Survey, 1929 to 1935, Chicago, 111., Bureau
of Labor Statistics, U. S. Department of Labor, 1937).
9 2
T
F A M IL Y
able
IN C O M E
IN
C H IC A G O
54 . — R en ters and ow ners in specified typ es o f d w ellin g s, distributed b y in co m e
[White families including husband and wife, both native born
a. R EN TE RS
Type of dwelling quarters
Income class
1-family
All
dwellings dwelling
P ercen t
P ercen t
2-family
dwelling
3-family
dwelling
P ercen t
P ercen t
Dwelling
4-family 5-or-more- unit in
family
dwelling dwelling
business
building
P ercen t
P ercen t
P ercen t
All incomes___________________
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
Total relief____________________
Total nonrelief-------------------------
10.9
89.1
11.5
88.5
13.9
86.1
14.6
85.4
15.9
84.1
6.4
93.6
18.5
81.5
Under $500________________
$500-$999__________________
$1,000-$1,499_______________
$1,500-$1,999_________1____
$2,000-12,999_______________
$3,000-$4,999_______________
$5,000 and over____________
2.9
11.3
20.9
21.4
21.5
8.6
2.5
2.6
10.0
20.4
22.7
22.3
8.5
2.0
3.4
13.0
22.8
20.9
18.9
6.1
1.0
3.0
12.8
19.2
16.2
18.7
11.7
3.8
2.9
16.0
23.3
18.6
18.0
4.8
.5
2.5
8.6
19.6
23.5
25.2
10.5
3.7
4.3
19.2
25.1
17.7
11.5
3.3
.4
$1, 595
$1,621
$1,428
$1,510
$1,306
$1, 783
$1,126
Median income. . .
----------------
b. OW NERS
P ercen t
P ercen t
P ercen t
P ercen t
P ercen t
P ercen t
P ercen t
All incomes___________________
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
Total relief____________ ___ ___
Total nonrelief______ _______
4.3
95.7
4.6
95.4
4.1
95.9
3.0
97.0
2.1
97.9
100.0
100.0
Under $500________________
$500-$999__________________
$1,000-$1,499_______________
$1,500-$1,999_______________
$2,000-$2,999_______________
$3,000-$4,999_______________
$5,000 and over.._ ________
2.8
7.4
14.1
18.7
29.8
17.5
5.4
2.3
6.4
13.4
18.9
30.8
17.9
5.7
3.7
9.5
15.5
19.7
29.9
14.3
3.3
7.2
12.0
18.6
12.6
20.9
19.1
6.6
4.3
21.3
6.4
29.7
14.9
17.0
4.3
1.9
6.5
9.3
10.2
18.5
35.1
18.5
7.7
12.1
30.7
11.0
19.8
15.4
3.3
$2,075
$2,118
$1,939
$1,894
$1,708
$3,105
$1, 492
Median income__ ________ __
Chapter V I
Housing Expenditures in Relation to Income
R e n t as a p r o p o rtio n o f in c o m e .— The rent data bear out the normal
expectation that in general the housing bill increases as income in
creases, and that its burden, measured as a proportion of income,
falls most heavily on the lowest income groups and becomes pro
gressively less with the rise in income scale. But there are variations
from the general pattern which are significant as well as interesting
(tables 55 and 56).
P rev a ilin g r e n ts .— In a metropolis like Chicago there seems to be a
prevailing minimum rental below which it is difficult for renting
families to find living quarters.
T
able
5 5 . — A v era g e m on th ly rent p a id b y fa m ilie s o f sp ecified color a nd n a tiv ity 1
[All renting families]
Average monthly rent
Income class
All families
Native white
Foreign born
white
Negro
Total____________________ ____ _______
$29.14
$32.32
$26. 75
$20.89
Total relief____________________________
Total nonrelief___________
_______
16.83
31. 66
17.40
34.43
16.30
28. 77
16.99
24.52
Under $250-. ___________ ______ __
$250-$499__________________________
$500-$749__________________________
$750-$999__________________________
$1,000-$1,249_______________________
$1,250-$1,499_______________________
$1,5Q0-$1,749_______________________
$1,750-$1,999_______________________
$2,000-$2,249_______________________
$2,250-$2,499_______________________
$2,500-$2,999_______________________
$3,000-$3,499_______________________
$3,500-$3,999_______________________
$4,000-$4,499_______________________
$4,500-$4,999_______________________
$5,000-$7,499_______________________
$7,500-$9,999_______________________
$10,000 and over________ ____ _____
24.03
20.04
21.28
22. 63
25. 70
27. 23
29.72
33. 75
35.95
39.24
40. 01
46.30
49. 36
52. 73
58.79
64. 32
88.24
128. 73
26.34
22.41
22.72
23.43
26.98
28.48
31.53
35.00
37.58
40.87
42. 59
47. 51
52.65
54. 30
62.04
65.62
86. 71
117.53
22.53
19.32
19.77
22. 37
24.04
25.82
26.98
31.60
33.31
36.77
35.95
43.88
43.66
49. 72
45.20
60.08
93.00
183.00
12.47
15.81
20.62
21.29
26.61
28.00
31.91
34.33
32.17
28.92
30.00
48.00
(*)
1 Data on rent were tabulated only for families which had not moved between the end of the schedule
year and the date of interview.
* Averages not computed for fewer than 3 families.
Out of 22,161 returns for native white families including both
husband and wife, it was found that the most common rental was
one of about $35. There were 1,754 properties renting for less than
$15 and 2,713 renting for $15 and less than $20. A $20 rental rep
resents one-quarter or more of an annual income of $1,000 or less.
93
94
F A M IL Y
IN C O M E
IN
C H IC A G O
There were 5,539 families either on relief or receiving less than $1,000
a year. In other words, the 22,000 families occupied properties
among which there were not enough renting at less than $20 to ac
commodate the lowest income families. B ut the lowest income fam
ilies were themselves in competition with those of somewhat higher
income for the low-rent properties. Thus 1,714 families with in*
comes o f $1,000 or more a year occupied properties renting for less
than $20. As a result, 2,736 families on relief, or with incomes of
less than $1,000, more than half of the total of 5,539, occupied prop
erties renting for $20 or more.1
In terms o f average rentals it m ay be noted that nonrelief families
in the income brackets up to $1,000 all averaged between $20 and $24
per month (table 53). In many instances families in the lowest
income brackets were living in quarters at reported rents in excess of
their total income. Obviously they were either drawing on savings,
borrowing, or living in properties with accumulating rent bills. In
deed, we find among white families the anomaly of a somewhat higher
average rental at the $250 than at the $750 income level. This
paradox of decreasing rentals between $250 and $750 reflects not
merely the scarcity of the lowest rent properties but also a general
inertia on the part of families in adjusting housing expenditures to
their reduced incomes, if they can use savings or obtain credit to avoid
moving from accustomed neighborhoods and living quarters. Negro
families, on the other hand, show a regular upward sequence of rents,
beginning at the $250 income level. I t will be recalled that even at
very low incomes Negro families had more continuous employment
than white. It is therefore probable that these families had made a
more complete adjustment to low income as a norm than the white
group, many of whom have regarded such incomes as temporary.
A t the income interval of $1,500 to $1,749, Chicago families paid
an average rental equivalent to the average for the entire community—
approximately $29 per month. Average rent rose to $40 per month
at $2,250 of family incom e; to $49 per month at the $3,500 income
level; to $88 at the $7,500 family level; and to an average of over $125
for families reporting incomes of $10,000 and over.
For families in the income groups below $500, average rents ranged
all the way from one-half to one and one-half times net current income
for the year. For the $1,250 to $1,500 bracket, rent averaged about
one-fourth o f total family income (table 56). From there on the
proportion o f rent to income progressively declined: I t was one-fifth
of the family income at $2,250, one-sixth at $4,000, one-eighth at
1 See tabular summary, sec. B, table 13.
H O U S IN G
C O ST S I N
R E L A T IO N
TO
95
IN C O M E
$7,500, and at $10,000, rent accounted for approximately one-tenth
of the family income.*
Significant differences show up in the rent pattern when the data
are broken down b y race and nativity, and by occupation. These
may now be examined.
T
able
56 .— R e n t as a 'percentage o f in co m e f o r fa m ilie s o f sp ecified color and n a tiv ity
[All renting families]
Income class
All families
Native white
Foreign born
white
Negro
P ercen t
P ercen t
P ercen t
P ercen t
Total__________ ______________________
21.7
21.7
20.8
30.5
Total relief____________________________
Total nonrelief________________________
1 43.5.
21.2
i 51.6
21.2
i 37.8
20.5
i 44.1
26.1
Under $250________________________
$250-$499____ _____________________
$500-$749____ _____________________
$750-$999__________________________
$1,000-$1,249_______________________
$1,250-$1,499_______________________
$1,500-$1,749_______________________
$1,750-$1,999_______________________
$2,000-$2,249_______________________
$2,250-$2,499_______________________
$2,500-$2,999_______________________
$3,000-$3,499_______________________
$3,500-$3,999_______________________
$4,000-$4,499_______________________
$4,500-$4,999_______________________
$5,000-$7,499_______________________
$7,500-$9,999_______________________
$10,000 and over__ ________________
(2)
3 64.0
3 40.9
31.2
27.5
24.1
22.2
21.8
20.4
19.8
17.8
17.5
16.0
15.1
14.9
13.4
12.9
11.3
(2)
3 71.5
3 43.6
32.2
28.9
25.2
23.6
22.6
21.4
20.6
18.9
17.9
17.0
15.6
15.7
13.7
12.7
10.1
(2)
3 61.7
3 37.9
30.7
25.8
22.8
20.2
20.3
18.9
18.6
16.0
16.5
14.1
14.1
11.5
12.5
13. 5
18.4
(2)
3 50.9
3 39.7
29.8
28.8
24.8
23.8
22.4
18.1
14.5
13.6
18.0
14.1
1 Percentages for relief families represent proportion of the rental to the amount of earned or other income
not received as direct relief.
2 Percentage is not given because net current incomes under $250 formed only a fraction of current re
ceipts, which included borrowings, drawing on savings, etc.
2 These high percentages indicate partly that many of the families at these income levels were using
savings or borrowed funds for current living expenses, partly that the rent figures reported to the investi
gator were what the tenant contracted to pay rather than actually did pay for rent.
R e n t b y race a n d n a tiv ity .— The native white families paid an average
monthly rent o f $32.32, whereas the average for the foreign b om was
$26.75 and for the Negroes, $20.89 (table 55). This does not mean
merely that there was a larger proportion of higher incomes among the
native whites. A t almost every given income level the native white
families generally paid a higher rent, and hence a higher proportion
of their incomes for housing, than did the foreign born.3
In accounting for the fact that the native white families paid higher
rents than the foreign bom , several explanations suggest themselves.
2 In comparing the proportion of rent to income at successive income levels due regard must be had for
differences in the total of services included with the rent. Thus for the low income families, fuel and re
frigeration may reflect a charge upon the families in addition to the rents quoted. In the higher grade
apartments of the higher income families, on the other hand, fuel, refrigeration, light, recreational facilities
and various services are often included as part of the rental. Therefore, in terms of total housing facilities,
the tendency is for rent as a percentage of income to be understated for the low income families and over
stated for the high income families.
3 While in general the foreign bom yielded a smaller percentage of their incomes for rent than did either
the native white or the Negroes, the gap between native and foreign born families is reduced as higher
income levels are reached. At $7,500 the foreign born paid on the average even higher rents than did the
native white.
96
FAM ILY INCOME IN
CHICAGO
W e have already seen in the chapter on occupations that the native
whites had a larger representation in the white-collar groups than did
the foreign white families. A s later analyses b y occupation will
show, these white-collar groups pay higher rents than do the wage
earners at the same income levels. A second explanation which
might be offered is that the housing standards generally accepted
among the native white groups include more m odem conveniences
than are inherent in the traditions of the foreign b o m groups from
southeastern Europe. T o a lesser extent than the Negroes, but to an
appreciable degree, the foreign b o m groups m ay meet with resistance
in the effort to m ove to preferred residential districts. Again, the
desire to be with their own nativity groups m ay mean that they remain
voluntarily in older sections of the community in which a particular
race-nativity group is concentrated.
W hile the Negroes as a group had a lower average rent than did the
foreign b o m , the proportion of income which they paid for housing
was in general greater than in the case of the foreign born at income
levels between $500 and $2,000. The general tendency was for
Negroes to pay approximately the same rents in proportion to their
income as did the native whites.4 A t one income level— from $1,500
to $1,750— the rents for the Negroes were not only $5 higher than
they were for the foreign b o m , but even averaged a few cents higher
than the rents of the native whites. T he cases of Negro renters in
Chicago receiving above $3,000 of income were too few to justify any
generalization on the ratio of rent to income, the m ajority of Negroes
at these higher incomes being home owners.
In view o f the nature of the income figure for families receiving
relief during the year, the proportion of rent to income for these
families, as shown in table 56, must be viewed with considerable
caution. The percentage is based upon the amount of earned income
plus nonrelief other income, but excluding receipts in the form of direct
relief. The rental reported for the dwelling, furthermore, m ay not
actually have been paid b y the family. But taking the ratio of the
rentals reported by the relief families to earned and other nonrelief
income, rent constituted slightly more than one-half of income reported
for the native white families, 44 percent o f the Negro income, and 38
percent o f the foreign b o m income. These figures are suggestive, con
firming the tendency o f native white families to seek relatively better
housing at a given income level.
* Contrary to general belief, Negro expenditures for rent in Chicago were not higher than the expenditures
of other groups. This general survey, however, has not analyzed the quality of the housing facilities pur
chased with any given rental payment. It may be that a $25 rent among Negroes is paid for the use of a
poorer property than can be secured for $25 by white families. The interest Negro families have in living
near members of their own race, combined with customary restriction on their choice of dwellings, may force
them to pay monopoly prices.
97
HOUSING COSTS IN RELATION TO INCOME
It may be of interest at this point to have a thumb-nail sketch of
the rents b y race-nativity groups as reported for Chicago in the United
States Census o f 1930, as compared with those prevailing in the
present study.5 The two sets of rent data (for relief and nonrelief
renting families combined) compare as shown below.
Source of data
All
renters
Native
white
•
Urban study: Chicago, May-November 1936:
Mean monthly ren t... ______________________ Median monthly rent______ ___________________
United States census of Chicago, April 1930:
Median monthly rent______ _____ _____________
Foreign
born
white
Negro
$29.14
28.56
$32. 32
32.34
$26.75
25.88
$20.89
19.91
49.57
55.94
42. 31
38.72
Other
color
$15.21
13.51
It will be seen that the general trend of rents for all families during
the 6-year interval was downward.6 Other data for Chicago, as well
as for other cities, indicate that average rents dropped rather sharply
between 1930 and sometime in 1935, when they began an upward
trend. The most marked decline in average rents occurred in the
case o f the Negroes, whose reported rentals in 1936 averaged almost
50 percent lower than those o f 1930.
B e n t s b y occu p a tio n .— For the comparison of average rents by
occupational groups, the data given in table 57 are confined to com
plete native white nonrelief families, eliminating the effect of nativity
and race distinctions. In view of the higher general income level of
the business and professional groups, it is to be expected that their
average m onthly rent ($46.30) substantially exceeds the averages for
the clerical families ($36.60) and for the wage-earner families ($27.60).
But it is also true that within the same income bands, the rents paid
by the business and professional families represented a higher per
centage o f their family income than did the rents of the other occu
pational classes. Wage earners spent a smaller proportion of their
incomes for rent than did the other occupational groups. Rents of
the clerical families occupied an intermediate position at any given
income level, both in respect to amounts paid and the proportion of
income allotted to rent. Thus for families with incomes of $500 to
$750, rents reported represented 39.1 percent of the income o f wageearner families; 49.9 percent for clerical families; and 53.8 percent for
the business and professional families. A t the upper income level,
$5,000 and over, rent took 12.0 percent o f wage-earner family incomes,
as compared with 13.4 percent for both the clerical and the businessprofessional families. This difference is all the more striking in view
5 Fifteenth Census of the United States, Population, vol. VI, Families, p. 358. It should be noted that
in the census the median, not the mean rent, is given; therefore, median rents are also shown for the present
study.
6 The rent index of the Bureau of Labor Statistics for Chicago indicates that average rents in September
1936 were 41 percent lower than in April 1930. This differential practically coincides with the situation
revealed by the figures in the table above.
F A M IL Y
98
IN C O M E
IN
C H IC A G O
of the fact that the average income of families of wage earners at this
upper level was $5,864, as compared with $6,034 for clerical families
and $7,506 for business and professional families.7
T a b l e 57. — A verag e m on th ly rent , and relation o f a n n u a l rental rate to a nnua l
in com e in specified o ccu p ation al g r o u p s , b y in co m e 1
[White nonrelief families including husband and wife, both native born]
Wage earner
Income class
Total
____________________
Under $500_________________
$5CO-$749„
________
$750-$999._. ______________
$1,000-$1,249________________
$1,250-$1,499____________ __
$1,500-$1,749________________
$1,750-$1,999____
________
$2,000-$2,499________________
$2,500-$2,999________________
________
$3,000-$4,999____
$5,000 and over. _
_ __
Amount
per
month
Percent
age of
income
Amount
per
month
21.4
$36.60
39.1
28.3
25.0
23.0
21.3
20.0
18.6
16.5
13.8
12.0
30.00
25.90
25. 60
28.20
30.50
32.40
36.30
39.10
43.30
50.90
66. 30
$27.60
20.60
20.60
20.60
23.20
25.90
28.40
31.00
34.40
37.10
41.00
62. 60
Business a*d
professional
Clerical
0)
Percent
age of
income
Amount
per
month
22.2
$46.30
49.9
34.9
30.2
27.1
24.4
23.6
21.2
19.4
16.9
13.4
28.90
27.10
29.20
32. 40
33.00
35.60
37.90
43. 30
45.60
55.60
82.10
Percent
age of
income
20.3
(2)
53.8
40.8
34.8
29.4
27.0
24.1
23.2
20. 5
18.3
13.4
1 Monthly rent figure multiplied by 12, and divided by the family income figure. Since the rent figures
were for the living quarters occupied at the end of the year, no account is taken of families which moved
during the year into quarters where their rent might be higher or lower.
2 Percentage is not given because net current incomes under $500 formed only a fraction of current receipts,
which included borrowings, drawing on savings, etc.
In examining the amounts paid by the different occupational groups
at successive income levels, it will be noted that the differences be
tween the rents paid by the wage-earner group and those in the other
groups were most marked in the income groups under $1,000. A t the
$500 family income level, the rents of the clerical families were 25.7
percent higher, and those of the business and professional groups were
31.6 percent higher, than the rentals of the wage-earner families. It
is evident that we have here a persistent effort on the part of the
white-collar workers, even at the cost of borrowing, drawing on
savings, or lapsing their bills, to maintain their housing standards.
As we go up the income scale, the discrepancy between the families
of clerical workers and of wage earners becomes relatively less. The
business and professional families, however, maintain rental levels for
parallel income groups which average about one-fourth higher than
those paid by the wage-earner families.8
7 See tabular summary, sec. B, table 14 A, p. 153,
See footnote 2, p. 95,
H O U S IN G
C O ST S I N
R E L A T IO N
TO
99
IN C O M E
B e n t b y j a m i l y t y p e .— It is commonly assumed that family composi
tion has much to do with the rentals paid b y various families. In
order to test the truth of this assumption, rents were analyzed by
family type at different income levels, for native white families with
both husband and wife (see table 58). It will be recalled that family
type V I, with several young children, and I, with husband and wife
only, ranked relatively low in income status. Type IV ranked rela
tively high, while V and Y II had an intermediate position. When
we examine average rents, we find that family type I, consisting of
two adults, paid rents higher than the average at all income levels up
to $3,000. Types II and III, on the other hand, with one or two
children, paid less than the average at all income levels up to $2,000.
Types IY and Y, with three to six members, paid more than the
average up to the $2,000 income level, and again at the top income
level, while types V I and Y II, with five to nine members, at almost
every income level paid less than the average, and for all incomes
combined paid from $2 to $6 less than any other family type.
T a b l e 58. — A verag e rents, by f a m i ly typ e
[White nonrelief families including husband and wife, both native born]
Average rent paid by family type—
Income class
II and
III
IV and
V
VI and
VII
All
I
_____________
$34. 60
$34. 60
$33. 30
$37. 30
$31.00
$37.30
Under $500--------- ---------------$500-$749___________________
$750-$999___________________
$1,000-$1,249________________
$1,250-$1,499________________
$1,500-$1,749________________
$1,750-$1,999________________
$2,000-$2,499________________
$2,500-$2,999________________
$3,000-$4,999________________
$5,000 and over_____________
25. 80
22. 90
22. 70
26.00
28.00
30. 80
34.10
38. 30
42.00
51.60
79. 20
27.20
23.90
24. 30
28.20
30.10
31.90
35. 30
38. 90
43. 70
51.20
75.00
24. 20
21.00
20.30
23.80
27.20
30. 40
34.00
39.40
43.70
55.00
78.90
26.80
24.70
25.80
28.10
28.80
31.60
34.10
37.60
40.80
50.80
84.80
21.30
23.00
20.70
23. 30
23.00
27.30
31.70
34.80
39.20
51.80
67.20
23. 40
24.70
23.20
26.60
30.40
30.40
31.70
34.80
36.00
42.70
78.20
All incomes.
Other
The data presented in table 58 suggest a fairly clear relationship
between family composition and average rentals, although this rela
tionship is somewhat less marked than that between occupational
group and average rent. The larger families in general seem to pay
somewhat lower rents than do the smaller ones. Furthermore, the
families with only children in addition to the husband and wife, at
least in the lower part of the income scale, pay lower average rents
than do the families with additional adults. A t least two factors,
however, not controlled in these figures, must be borne in mind. In
the first place, the husband-and-wife families, and to a less extent
other families composed of adults, are most apt to live in apartment
100
F A M IL Y
IN C O M E
IN
C H IC A G O
houses, where heat and perhaps refrigeration are included in the
rental figure, which is correspondingly high. For another thing,
family type distribution varies rather widely in different occupa
tional groups. T ype I is less prevalent among families of wage
earners, who pay the lowest average rents, than in any other occupa
tional group; it is most prevalent among the independent business
and professional groups. On the other hand, wage earners had more
than their proportionate share of families of types V, V I, and V II,
so that these types might be expected to have somewhat lower average
rentals.
R en ta l valu es o j ow n ed h om es follow much the same pattern as do
rents o f tenant families. The estimated monthly rental value in
creased consistently at each successive rise in income, beginning with
an average of $19.32 for families whose incomes were under $250 and
increasing to $83.78 at the highest income level of $10,000 and over
(table 58). The average rental value for all families was $30.55, or
about $1 greater than the rent of tenant families.
As in the case o f rents, rental values of homes owned by native
white families exceeded those of foreign born and Negro families.
This higher rental value for the native white group applies not only
as between the total populations in each nativity group but also
within each income class.
i t must be remembered, in relating rental value to income for home
owners, that the net imputed income from the owned home was added
to the money incomes of the owner families. This had the effect of
raising the income brackets in which the owners were classified above
the ones in which they would have fallen if only their money incomes
had been included. Yet, if we compare the figures in table 59 with
those in table 57, we find that, for all occupational groups, the ratio
of rental value to total (including imputed) income for home owners
was higher, for all incomes up to $1,750, with one exception, than was
the ratio of rent to income— which meant money income in the case
of the renters.
Caution is required in interpreting these relationships. Rent in
some cases included heat, water, refrigeration, gas, and sometimes
even furnishings. Rental values on owned homes never included
these items. Therefore it seems safe to conclude that, at the income
levels up to $1,750 at least, the home owners at given income levels
were spending more for housing than were the renters at the same
income levels.
101
HOUSING COSTS IN BELATION TO INCOME
T a b l e 59 , — A v era g e m on th ly rental value o f ow n ed hom e a m on g f a m ilie s o f specified
color and n a tiv ity
[All owning families]
Income class
All families
Native white
Foreign born
white
Negro
Total__________ ____________________
$30. 60
$36. 60
$26. 60
$26.60
Total relief__________________________
Total nonrelief_____________________
22. 20
31.00
25. 90
37. 20
20. 30
27.00
22.10
27.60
Under $250__________________________
$250-$499____________________________
$500-$749____________________________
$750-$999____________________________
$1,000-$1,249_________________________
$1,250-$1,499_________________________
$1,500-$1,749_________________________
$1,750-$1,999_________________________
$2,00Q-$2,249_____________________
$2,250-$2,499 _____________________
$2,500-$2,999_________________________
$3,000-$3,499_________________________
$3,500-$3,999_________________________
$4,000-$4,499_________________________
$4,500-$4,999_________________________
$5,000-$7,499 $7,500-$9,999 _______ ______________
$10,000 and over. ________________
19. 30
22. 20
24.80
25. 40
26. 70
27.10
28.60
30. 70
32.30
33. 90
35. 20
38. 40
40.90
40. 50
49. 20
59.60
69.00
83.80
24.10
28. 40
28.60
28. 70
30. 40
31. 80
31. 54
34. 40
36. 40
38. 40
40. 70
42. 70
47. 80
45. 50
54. 00
66. 60
71. 40
94.10
17. 60
19. 60
23.20
23. 40
25.10
24. 40
26. 80
28. 50
29. 20
29. 30
30. 50
34.00
34. 70
34. 50
42.20
47. 70
61.30
19.20
18. 20
21.00
27.50
24.30
19. 30
26.40
28.10
(*)
33.80
40.00
43.30
(*)
(*)
(*)
* Averages not computed for fewer than 3 cases.
T a b l e 60 .— A v era g e m on th ly rental value o f ow n ed hom e and relation o f an n u al
rental value to a n n u a l in c o m e , in specified occu p ation al g r o u p s , b y in co m e
[White nonrelief families including husband and wife, both native born]
Business and
professional
Clerical
Wage earner
Income class *
Amount Percentage Amount Percentage Amount Percentage
per month of income per month of income per month of income
All owning families--------------
$33.00
19.4
$39.80
19.0
$48.40
Under $500_________________
$500-$749___________________
$750-$999___________________
$1,000-$1,249________________
$1,250-$1,499________________
$1,500-$1,749________________
$1,750-$1,999________________
$2,000-$2,499_____________
$2,500-$2,999______ ____ _____
$3,000-$4,999______________
$5,000 and over___ ______ _
24. 30
25.20
27. 40
28. 60
30. 00
30.90
31. 70
34. 50
37.90
39. 20
46.90
(2)
47.8
37.5
30.4
26.1
22.8
20.3
18.5
16.7
13.0
9.9
27.10
30.10
28.10
30. 60
34. 60
33. 80
35.90
37. 50
41. 60
48. 00
61.20
(2)
55.5
38.4
32.6
30.1
24.9
23.1
20.0
18.4
15.5
11.8
26. 50
32.00
32.10
31. 80
34.80
39. 30
39.60
42.70
45.00
51. 30
77.50
17.5
(2)
60.8
44.2
33.5
30.5
29 2
25.3
22.7
19.8
16.1
12.0
iIncomes here include imputed incomes from owned homes. See p. 76.
aPercentage not given, since current net incomes at this level formed only a fraction of current receipts,
which included borrowings, drawing on savings, etc.
102
F A M IL Y
IN C O M E
IN
C H IC A G O
S u m m a r y .— The main points developed in the chapters on housing
may now be summarized.
In respect to home ownership, we have seen that not only does the
proportion o f home-owning families vary with family income, but that
within a given income class there are variations due to differences in
nativity and race, occupation, age of the head of family, and type of
dwelling occupied. Thus home ownership in Chicago is more com
mon among the foreign b om than among the native families, especially
in the lower income brackets. Hom e ownership is more prevalent in
the business and professional groups than among the wage-earner and
clerical families; this may be explained b y differences in their financial
resources. Since more than half of the families studied belonged to
the wage-earner group, however, it is not surprising that the m ajority
o f home owners were in this occupational group, the families of which
generally assume home ownership at lower income levels than do those
in the other occupational groups.
The income classes below $750 have a high ratio of owners to
renters; these lower income classes are heavily weighted with older
families in the retired and no-occupation groups, with incomplete
families and others that are living on resources accumulated in the
past rather than on current income. M oreover, the low income owners
include small-scale enterprisers who combine their business and living
quarters.
Families in the white-collar occupations pay higher rents than do
those in the wage-earner class. That difference is not altogether due
to the higher average incomes among the former, because it is equally
true that even within any given income interval, the rents among the
wage earners average lower than the amounts paid by the clerical or
the business and professional families. The fact that the m ajority of
the families o f white-collar workers are native white explains in part
the higher ratio o f rent to income among native white families than
among the foreign b om . Except for the very lowest income classes,
the Negro families at parallel income levels have rents which are
higher than those o f the foreign b om , and, in the middle income
brackets, are equal to the rents for native white families.
The median income for home-owning families is consistently higher
than for renting families, within any of the categories for which com
parisons have been made— race and nativity, occupation, age of the
family head, or type o f dwelling occupied.
The median age of home owners is higher, by about 9 years, than
that o f renters. This relationship holds for each income class and
within each race-nativity or occupational group. Some o f the ap
parent discrepancies in the correlation between income and home
ownership may be explained b y the frequency of older families in the
HOUSING COSTS IN RELATION TO INCOME
103
very lowest income brackets. The difference in age also helps to
account for the relatively high proportion of home owners among the
foreign born families.
In the comparison b y type o f dwelling (at the end of ch. V ), it has
been found that families living in apartment houses of five or more
living units have a higher median income than those which rent other
types o f dwellings. Renters of single-family homes also average higher
income than do renting families generally, while the lowest median
income is for families which combine their living and business quarters.
Among the home owners, nearly three-fourths of the families are in
single-family houses. The median income of the owners o f single
family dwellings is substantially higher than that o f families owning
two-family and three-family houses, while the lowest median income
for owners is found, as in the case of renters, among families in com
bined business and living quarters.
7 4 0 2 1 °— 39-
-8
Chapter VTI
Summary
In the preceding analysis the survey of Chicago families has been
made over the entire income range with respect to those characteristics
of the sample which have formed the subjects of the successive chap
ters— occupation, family type, sources of income, home ownership, and
rents. In bringing to a close the discussion of family incomes, it may
serve the purpose of a brief review to group the families within particu
lar income strata, summarizing the characteristics which apply to the
given income band. For this treatment the families of Chicago will be
grouped within five income brackets: Under $1,000; $1,000 to $2,000;
$2,000 to $3,000; $3,000 to $5,000; $5,000 and up.
F a m ilie s w ith in c o m e s o f less th an $ 1 ,0 0 0 .— The families having less
than $1,000 of current income for the year 1935-36 made up nearly onethird (32.1 percent) of all families. Their aggregate family income was
roughly one-tenth of the total reported b y Chicago families. Approxi
mately 40 percent received relief at some time during the year.
Three-fourths o f the families receiving relief had some earnings,
whether from regular or W . P. A. employment. The nonrelief families
averaged $633 per annum, while for those receiving relief the average
family income (aside from grants of direct relief) was $376. These
figures reflect the irregularity of employment as well as the low wage
levels prevalent among the families within the income band we are
here considering. A m ajority were in the wage-earner group, engaged
mainly in unskilled occupations; another 11 percent were dependent
upon miscellaneous clerical occupations. Important also at this in
come level was the independent business class, which accounted for
more than one-seventh of the nonrelief families, with incomes of less
than $1,000. They were engaged for the most part in small-scale
shopkeeping, irregular vending, or the keeping of roomers or boarders.
The families with no gainfully employed members made up one-fifth
of the nonrelief and one-fourth of the relief families.
As to family composition we find that nearly one-third of the families
under $1,000 were incomplete or broken— that is, did not contain both
husband and wife. M ore than two-fifths of the incomplete families
were in this income class, the proportion being somewhat lower for the
nonrelief than for the relief families. Of the families which included
104
SUM M ARY
105
both husband and wife, about one-third consisted of husband and wife
only, with a high proportion of older couples who depended upon pen
sions, annuities, or modest returns from past savings. Two-fifths of
these low-income families had one to four children under 16. Promi
nent in the relief group were the larger families with young children and,
in general, families lacking adults who were potential earners. Only 1
family in 10 had a supplementary earner at any time during the year.
Slightly more than 40 percent o f all the families within this income
band were native white; 45 percent were foreign b om white; and of the
remaining 15 percent, practically all were Negroes.
Housing was a determining factor in the level of living of these
families. A bout one-fourth o f them were classed as home owners;
for many of them, particularly the older couples, the imputed income
from the owned home was the only form of current income. Among
the renting families rent represented an average of about two-fifths of
the total family income, although the variation among families was
wide. While a few spent less than one-fourth of their income for
housing, for others the rent of the home was greater than the entire
net income of the family during the year. These depended largely
upon pensions, savings, or gifts to meet current requirements.
F a m ilie s h avin g in c o m e s o f $ 1 ,0 0 0 to $ 2 ,0 0 0 .— Roughly two-fifths of
all Chicago families had incomes from $1,000 to $2,000 per annum— a
larger fraction than fell into any o f the other income bands selected.
Their aggregate family incomes amounted to somewhat more than onethird o f the total family income for the community. Less than 3
percent of their number received relief during the year.1
Well over half of these families (56.8 percent) belonged to the wageearner group, and another fourth depended on clerical occupations.
Only 2 percent of them reported no gainfully employed member in the
family. The remaining sixth of the total belonged to the business and
professional groups, with two out of three being classified as independ
ent business.
The better economic situation of these families, as compared with the
first group considered, reflects better rates of pay, greater regularity of
employment, and the fact that 25 percent had supplementary earners
who contributed to the family income. M ore than four-fifths of the
families contained both husband and wife, the median age of the hus
band in the native white families being 38 years.
A bout one-half of the families at this income level were native white;
another 46 percent were foreign born, the remaining 4 percent being
predominantly Negro.
One-third of the incomplete familes were to
be found in this income bracket. H om e ownership was somewhat
more common than at the lower economic level, 27 percent of the fami1
In this and higher income bands families that received relief at any time during the year received
relief during periods of unemployment. The relatively high annual income arose from employment during
that part of the year in which the family was not on the relief rolls.
106
F A M IL Y
IN C O M E
IN
C H IC A G O
lies reporting an equity in the home. Among the renters, from onefifth to one-fourth o f the total income was taken by rent.
F a m ilie s w ith in c o m e s o f $ 2 ,0 0 0 to $ 8 ,0 0 0 .— The families with in
comes o f more than $2,000 and less than $3,000 comprised somewhat
less than one-fifth of the total, but received 27 percent of the aggregate
annual income of the scheduled families. A negligible number received
any form o f relief during the year.
The predominance o f families o f wage earners was less marked here
than at the lower economic levels, 42 percent of the total falling into
this group. One-third o f the families derived their chief earnings
from clerical occupations, while almost one-fourth belonged to the
business and professional groups. Families in the salaried business
and professional categories formed a significant proportion (11 percent)
at this income level. Only 1 percent of the families had no gainfully
employed member.
All but 15 percent of the families in this third group contained both
husband and wife, the median age of the husband in the native white
families being 41 years. Supplementary earners contributed to the
family exchequer in more than two-fifths of the families.
Native white families formed a larger proportion of the total in this
income bracket than they did at the lower levels, constituting 57 per
cent of the families, while 41 percent were foreign born. A t this level
w e find an increase in home ownership, with 34 percent of the families
living in owned homes. Of the renting families, the native complete
in the wage-earner classification spent an average of less than 20 percent
of their incomes for housing, while in the business and professional
groups rent took approximately 23 percent of family income.
F a m ilie s w ith in c o m e s o j $ 3 ,0 0 0 to $ 5 ,0 0 0 .— That portion of Chicago
families which had from $3,000 to $5,000 a year to spend amounted
to less than one-tenth of the number in the total sample, but accounted
for nearly two-tenths of the aggregate family income reported in Chi
cago. It was predominantly a salaried, white-collar class, containing
less than 30 percent of its number in the wage-earner group. Families
of clerical workers made up 32 percent; independent business and pro
fessional families accounted for 15 percent; while the salaried business
and professional families constituted 22 percent of the total. As in
the preceding income group, only 1 percent of the families reported
no gainfully employed member.
Three-fifths of the families were native white, less than 1 percent
were Negro. Less than one-sixth of the families were incomplete.
The median age o f the husbands in the native white families was
slightly under 45 years. M ore than half of the families had supple
mentary earners.
A t this income level, the proportion of home owners rises to 41.8
percent. The average rent was about one-third higher than for the
SU M M AR Y
107
income class between $2,000 and $3,000, but the amounts paid for
rent averaged only about one-sixth of total family income.
F a m ilie s w ith in c o m e s f r o m $ 5 ,0 0 0 u p w a r d .— Approximately 2 per
cent of the families living in Chicago reported incomes of $5,000 or
more. The income per family reported by them as available for
family spending was more than four times the average for all Chicago
families.2
Wage-earner families formed 10 percent of this income group, and
in practically all those cases the wages of supplementary earners made
possible the building up of family income to the given level. Like
wise among the clerical families, which formed less than one-fourth
of the total, it was the contribution of supplementary earners that
ordinarily raised the families to the $5,000 class. Sixty-five percent
of the families reported as within this income bracket were classed as
business and professional, those on salary being somewhat more
numerous than those who conducted their own establishments.
A bout 1.5 percent of the families were classified as retired.
M ore than 85 percent of the families contained both the husband
and wife. The median age of the husbands among the native whites
was 47 years, a higher median age than for any of the other income
brackets which we have here summarized.
While home ownership was common, with 38.8 percent living in
owned homes, the proportion was not quite so high as in the income
bracket just below. The families residing in the city evidenced a
preference for well-equipped modern apartments. The average rental
rate reported was roughly equivalent to one-eighth of current family
income.
Family income obtained from sources other than earnings naturally
loomed larger in this income group than in the others. Whereas
income from sources other than earnings in the lower income bands
was attributable mainly to returns from real property, the noneamed
incomes of the upper income brackets were obtained chiefly from
interest and dividends. Even within this top income band, however,
earnings of individuals constituted the m ajor source of most family
incomes.
The study of consumer purchases involves a twofold inquiry—
first, how are incomes apportioned among the families; and secondly,
how do they spend their incomes? The analysis up to this point
(volume I) has been designed to answer the first question. The second,
dealing with the goods and services which families purchase, will form
the subject matter of volume II, under the title “ Family expenditure
in Chicago.”
2
Under the procedure used in this study, however, only a part of the income attributable to individual
members of the family in their business relations was covered.
T A B U L A R SU M M ARY
Tables presented on the following pages show the distribution of
Chicago families by income class, by family type, by occupational
group, and by color and nativity group. Data on the family income,
earners, and housing are shown according to these m ajor classifications.
The tables are presented in three sections. Tables in section A show
the estimated distribution of all families in Chicago according to
income, color and nativity, occupational group, and family type. The
tables in section B present data only for the native white “ com plete”
families— those containing both husband and wife. Families which
furnished expenditure schedules were selected from this sample, which
was, accordingly, the largest sample secured for any color or nativity
group. The tables in this section are more complete and detailed
than those in sections A and C. Tables in section C present data for
color and nativity groups other than the native white complete
families. As the samples secured for these other color and nativity
groups were somewhat smaller than that shown in section B, the
tables in this section are in a more summarized form.
Families reported data for 12 consecutive months within the period
of January 1, 1935, through Novem ber 30, 1936. For a distribution
of the periods covered by the reports obtained from native white com
plete families, see table 19 of section B.
Unless otherwise specified on the table, money averages reported
in the tables are based on all families scheduled at the given income
level, whether or not each family reported data contributing to the
particular average. In order to obtain an average only for families
reporting data for a specified item, multiply the average for all families
by the total number of families in the income class and divide the
resulting aggregate by the number of families in the income class
reporting the specific item.
A discussion of the sampling methods employed in securing the data
recorded in these tables is presented in appendix B.
108
109
TABULAE SUM M AKY
SECTION A . ALL FAMILIES
Estimated Distribution According to Family Income, Color and
N ativity, Occupational Group, and Family Type
The five tables in this section present estimated distributions of all
families in the city of Chicago by income class, color and nativity
group, occupational group, and family type.
Samples of varying size were secured for each of the color and
nativity groups. The frequencies of families in these samples as
reported in sections B and C of the tabular summary form the bases
upon which the distributions shown in the following section A tables
were estimated. In order to obtain these approximate distributions
for each of the color and nativity groups, the following weights were
applied to the individual samples:
Color and nativity groups
Native white:
Complete_________________________________________________
Incomplete_______________________________________________
Foreign born___________________________________________________
Negro__________________________________________________________
Other color____________________________________________________
Weights
10.8567
95. 2535
66. 9906
42. 8919
53. 5394
It is not to be assumed that the data are accurate to the number of
digits shown in these weights, but in order to arrive at the estimated
totals, it was necessary to use these weights with four decimal places.
For a description of the method used in securing these weights, see
appendix B on sampling procedures.
T able 1. C olor
2.
3.
4.
5.
and nativity groups by income : Estimated number of
families of specified color and nativity, by income, 1935-36.. _
O ccupational groups by income : Estimated number of fami
lies of specified occupational groups, by income, 1935-36_____
F amily types by income : Estimated number of families of
specified types, by income, 1935 -3 6____________________________
C olor .and nativity groups by occupational group : Esti
mated number of families of specified color and nativity, by
occupational group, 19 35 -3 6-----------------------------------------------------F amily types by occupational g r o u p : Estimated number o f
families of specified types, by occupational group, 19 35 -3 6___
110
111
112
113
113
110
T able
FAMILY INCOME IN CHICAGO
1.— Color and nativity groups by income: Estimated number of families
of specified color and nativity, by income, 1935-86 1
White
Income class
A ll2 Native
and
foreign
born
(2)
(1)
(3)
Native
Negro and other colors3
Foreign born
All
All
(4)
Com Incom
plete 3 plete
(5)
(6)
All
(7)
Com Incom
plete 3 plete
(8)
(9)
(10)
Com Incom
plete 3 plete
(ID
(12)
Relief and nonrelief families 4
823,230766, 790403, 500309,580
67,460 46,170 24,800 12,320
55,500 49,380 23,250 15,440
69,300 57,640 26,220 17,080
82,090 72, 740 33,010 23,200
92,720 86,060 42,850 . 32,180
83,960 80,100 38.500 30, 210
79, 750 77,500 40,790 32,500
71,060 69, 390 38,440 32,630
55,210 53, 570 31, 530 27,240
41,820 41,050 24,640 21,120
52, 580 52,020 28,840 23,600
30,710 30,370 17,980 14,550
18,610 18,470 10.500 9,170
10,780 10,690 6, 470 5,420
5,910 5,870 4,200 3, 250
11,950 11, 950 8, 530 7,200
1,980 1,980 1, 360 1,260
1,840 1,840 1,590 1, 210
93,920363,290296, 970
12,480 21, 370 11,860
7.810 26,130 19,090
9,140 31,420 23,380
9.810 39, 730 32.290
10, 670 43, 210 35,640
8.290 41,600 36,580
8.290 36, 710 31, 280
5.810 30,950 27,870
4.290 22,040 19, 090
3,520 16,410 14,070
5,240 23,180 19.290
3,430 12, 390 10, 920
1, 330 7,970 6,830
1,050 4,220 3, 620
950 1, 670 1, 340
1,330 3, 420 3,020
100 620 550
380 250 250
66, 320
9, 510
7,040
8, 040
7, 440
7, 570
5, 020
5,430
3,080
2,950
2, 340
3,890
1,470
1,140
600
330
400
70
52, 800
10, 810
5,580
11, 070
8,490
6,180
3, 650
2,140
1, 670
1, 370
770
510
340
90
90
40
35, 640
2, 920
3, 010
8, 540
6,730
5,150
2,920
1, 970
1,580
1,200
640
420
340
90
90
40
17,160
7,890
2,570
2,530
1, 760
1, 030
730
170
90
170
130
90
------- 710,460 679,800 360, 720 280,130 80, 590 319,080 265,490 53,590 28, 520 21,140
7, 380
All families----------$0-$249____ _____
$250-$499________
$500-$749________
$750-$999________
$1,000-$1,249______
$1,250-$1,499______
$1,500-$1,749______
$1,750-$1,999______
$2,000-$2,249______
$2,250-$2,499______
$2,500-$2,999______
$3,000-$3,499______
$3,500-$3,999______
$4,000-$4,499______
$4,500-$4,999______
$5,000-$7,499______
$7,500-$9,999---------$10,000andover------
Nonrelief families
All families—.
$0-$249_____________
$250-$499___________
$500-$749___________
$750-$999___________
$1,000-$1,249________
$1,250-$1,499________
$1,500-$1,749_______
$1,750-$1,999_______
$2,000-$2,249_______
$2,250-$2,499________
$2,500-$2,999________
$3,000-$3,499________
$3,500-$3,999________
$4,000-$4,499________
$4,500-$4,999________
$5,000-$7,499________
$7,500-$9,999________
$10,000 and over _. - —
17, 520
27, 960
45, 620
70, 430
87,270
81, 620
78, 610
70, 770
54, 780
41, 770
52, 430
30, 660
18, 570
10, 770
5,910
11,950
1,980
1,840
16, 570
24,930
41, 340
64,030
81, 380
78, 410
76,450
69,140
53,400
41.000
52.000
30,360
18, 470
10,680
5,870
11,950
1,980
1,840
8,130
10, 520
19, 570
29,530
40,720
38,010
40,470
38,320
31,430
24,590
28,820
17,970
10,500
6, 460
4,200
8,530
1,360
1,590
3,270 4.860 8,440 5,090
5,660 4.860 14.410 9,380
11, 760 7,810 21, 770 15,870
20, 580 8, 950 34,500 28, 540
30,620 10,100 40, 660 33,560
29, 720 8.290 40,400 35,580
32,180 8.290 35, 980 30, 750
32,510 5, £10 30,820 27,740
27,140 4.290 21,970 19,090
21,070 3,520 16.410 14,070
23, 580 5,240 23,180 19,290
14, 540 8,430 12,390 10, 920
9,170 1.330 7,970 6,830
5,410 1,050 4,220 3,620
3,250
950 1,670 1,340
7,200 1.330 3,420 3,020
1,260
100
620
550
1,210
380
250
250
3, 350
5,030
5,900
5,960
7,100
4,820
5,230
3,080
2,880
2, 340
3,890
1,470
1,140
600
330
400
70
900
2,870
4,120
5,700
5, 410
3.050
2.050
1, 630
1,110
770
430
300
50
90
40
260
1,240
2,320
4, 370
4,510
2,490
1,880
1, 540
1, 070
640
340
300
50
90
40
640
1, 630
1,800
1, 330
900
560
170
90
40
130
90
1 A family is classified as native if both husband and wife are native born (or, in the case of an incomplete
family, if the head is native born); otherwise, the family is classified as foreign born. A family is classified
as a complete family if it includes both husband and wife, as an incomplete family if it does not include
both husband and wife. Single individual householders are included in the incomplete families. See
glossary for further definitions.
2 These totals include 3,640 families of other color, of which 2,140 are nonrelief.
3 All family types combined. For definitions of family types, see footnote 1 of table 3 on p. 112.
4 Relief families, defined in this and subsequent tables as those which received relief at any time during
the report year, are classified according to their reported income. This includes only relief and nonrelief
earnings, and any nonrelief income other than earnings. It does not include direct relief, whether in the
form of cash or of goods.
111
TABULAR SUM M ARY
T able
2
.
—
Occupational groups by in com e:
E stim a ted n u m ber o f fa m ilie s o f
specified occu p ation al gro u p s , b y in co m e , 1 9 3 5 - 8 6
[All color and nativity groups combined]
Occupational groups
Business and professional
Income class
All
(1)
(2)
Wage
earner Clerical
(3)
(4)
Independent
All
busi
ness
and pro Busi Profes
fessional ness
sional
(5)
(6)
Salaried
Busi
ness
Profes
sional
(8)
(9)
(7)
Other 1
(10)
Relief and nonrelief families 2
All families_______________ 823,230 417,940 186, 030 154,410
$0-$249___________________
$250-$499_________________
$500-$749_________________
$750-$999_________________
$1,000-$1,249______________
$1,250-$1,499______________
$1,500-$1,749______________
$1,750-$1,999______________
$2,000-$2,249______________
$2,250-$2,499______________
$2,500-$2,999______________
$3,000-$3,499______________
$3,500-$3,999______________
$4,000-$4,499______________
$4,500-$4,999______________
$5,000-$7,499______________
$7,500-$9,999______________
$10,000 and over---------------
57,460
55,500
69,300
82,090
92,720
83, 960
79,750
71,060
55, 210
41,820
52, 580
30,710
18, 610
10, 780
5,910
11,950
1,980
1,840
14, 330
36,340
44, 720
52,030
55, 710
51, 670
43,090
35, 340
24, 570
17, 470
21, 620
10, 290
5, 770
2,330
1,080
1, 570
10
2,440
3,620
8, 600
13, 010
19,410
19,940
23,000
21,160
19, 450
13,820
16,920
9, 750
5,580
3, 680
1, 910
3,240
420
80
3, 720
6,510
10, 280
13, 690
14,140
11,140
12,280
13, 570
10,490
9,800
13, 730
10,170
7,090
4, 710
2,870
7,010
1,470
1, 740
86,080
10, 230
23,140
34,960
64, 850
3, 210
5,580
8,170
10,880
10, 630
8,430
7,360
7,120
4,860
3,820
5, 710
3,360
2,210
1,490
770
1,630
310
540
100
80
230
470
670
330
560
650
330
980
1,360
1,150
560
580
270
1,360
200
350
20
70
180
260
860
680
1,360
2,180
2,010
2,160
2,650
2,960
2,100
1,140
910
2, 330
640
630
390
780
1, 700
2,080
1,980
1,700
3,000
3, 620
3,290
2,840
4, 010
2,700
2,220
1,500
920
1,690
320
220
36,970
9,030
5,700
3,360
3,460
1, 210
1, 380
990
700
730
310
500
170
60
50
130
80
20
Nonrelief families
All families--------------------$0-$249___________________
$250-$499_________________
$500-$'749_________________
$750-$999_________________
$1,000-$1,249______________
$1,250-$1,499______________
$1,500-$1,749______________
$1,750-$1,999______________
$2,000-$2,249______________
$2,250-$2,499______________
$2,500-$2,999______________
$3,000-$3,499____________
$3,500-$3,999______________
$4,000-$4,499______________
$4,500-$4,999______________
$5,000-$7,499______________
$7,500-$9,999______________
$10,000 and over___________
710,460 349, 290 176,130 147, 750
17,520
27, 960
45, 620
70, 430
87, 270
81, 620
78, 610
70, 770
54, 780
41,770
52,430
30, 660
18, 570
10, 770
5,910
11,950
1,980
1, 840
3,800
12, 430
25,110
43,640
52,540
49, 980
42,420
35,200
24,250
17,430
21, 490
10,290
5, 730
2,330
1,070
1, 570
10
1,110
1, 870
6, 210
11, 260
17,670
19,480
22,690
21, 010
19,440
13,800
16, 920
9, 730
5,580
3,690
1,920
3, 250
420
80
2, 070
5,350
8,800
12, 210
13,680
10,940
12,190
13, 570
10, 390
9,810
13, 710
10,140
7,090
4, 700
2,880
7, 010
1, 470
1, 740
82, 230
10,180
23, 040
32, 300
37, 290
1, 750
4, 850
7,390
10,200
10, 520
8,360
7, 370
7,120
4,820
3,820
5, 710
3, 360
2,220
1,490
770
1, 630
310
540
80
70
230
460
670
320
550
660
330
980
1, 360
1,140
560
580
280
1,360
200
350
20
70
180
240
790
680
1, 350
2,180
2, 010
2,160
2,650
2,980
2,090
1,130
910
2,330
640
630
220
360
1,000
1, 310
1,700
1,580
2,920
3, 610
3, 230
2,850
3, 990
2,660
2,220
1,500
920
1,690
320
220
10, 540
8,310
5,500
3, 320
3, 380
1,220
1,310
990
700
730
310
500
170
50
40
120
80
20
families classified in the occupational group “ No gainfully employed members, and farmers.”
2 Relief families are classified according to their reported income. This includes only relief and nonrelief
earnings, and any nonrelief income other than earnings. It does not include direct relief, whether in the
form of cash or of goods.
112
F A M IL Y
IN C O M E
IN
C H IC A G O
T able 3.— Family types by in com e:
E stim a ted n u m ber o f fa m ilie s o f specified
ty p e s , b y in c o m e , 1 9 3 5 - 3 6 1
[All color and nativity groups combined]
Complete families of type 2—
Income class
(1)
All
(2)
All
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
VII
(10)
VIII
and
other
CD
Incom
plete
fami
lies
(12)
Relief and nonrelief families 3
All families-------------- 823,230 645,290 146, 760 92,030 70,970 152, 570 69,460 37,700 32, 780 43,020 177,940
$0-$249_____________ 57,460 27, 580
$250-$499___________ 55,500 37,970
$500-$749___________ 69,300 49,430
$750-$999_____ ______ 82,090 62, 970
$1,000-$1,249________ 92, 720 73,400
$1,250-$1,499________ 83, 960 69, 870
$1,500-$1, 749________ 79, 750 65,860
$1,750-$1,999________ 71,060 62,080
$2,000-$2,249________ 55, 210 47, 740
$2,250-$2,499________ 41,820 35,830
$2,500-$2,999________ 52, 580 43, 360
$3,000-$3,499________ 30, 710 25, 810
$3,500-$3,999________ 18, 610 16,140
$4,000-$4,499________ 10, 780 9,130
5,910 4,630
$4,500-$4,999________
$5,000-$7,499________ 11, 950 10, 220
1,980 1,880
$7,500-$9,999________
$10,000 and over_____ 1,840 1,390
10, 920
10,870
14, 250
17,190
18, 380
15,830
13, 920
13, 620
9,050
6,540
5,730
3,790
2,310
1,340
530
1,790
450
250
2,800
4,340
7, 310
10,000
12, 350
11,070
10, 770
9,800
7, 360
5,070
4,460
2,820
1,420
820
430
1,050
110
50
2,990
3,940
4, 850
7, 370
8, 670
9,540
7, 710
6,790
6,040
3,850
4,010
2,090
1,120
450
280
890
180
200
3,920
6, 840
10,120
13,010
16,160
14,550
15, 560
15, 420
12,110
9, 650
14, 220
8,050
4,940
2,410
1,470
2,930
690
520
2, 220
3,870
4,060
6, 560
6,580
8, 360
7, 360
6, 550
5,410
4,410
5,700
3,190
2,280
1,010
530
1,130
90
150
2,040
3, 380
3, 710
4,100
5,400
3,780
4,090
3,590
2, 410
1,640
1,670
740
290
280
110
340
50
80
1,810
2, 650
2,700
2, 730
2,820
3,460
3,080
2,830
2,310
1, 390
2.680
1,140
1,250
730
410
610
140
40
880
2,080
2,430
2,010
3,040
3,280
3, 370
3,480
3,050
3,280
4,890
3, 990
2, 530
2,090
870
1,480
170
100
29,880
17, 530
19,870
19,120
19, 320
14,090
13,890
8,980
7,470
5,990
9,220
4,900
2,470
1,650
1,280
1, 730
100
450
Nonrelief families
All families_________ 710,460 568,470 131,120 83,440 62, 630 140,400 59, 290 29,960 24, 530 37,100 141,990
$0-$249_____________
$250-$499___________
$500-$749___________
$750-$999___________
$1,000-$1,249________
$1,250-$1,499________
$1,50Q-$1,749________
$1,750-$1,999________
$2,000-$2,249________
$2,250-$2,499________
$2,500-$2,999________
$3,000-$3,499________
$3,500-$3,999________
$4,000-$4,499________
$4,500-$4,999________
$5,000-$7,499________
$7,500-$9,999..... .........
$10,000 and over_____
17,520
27,960
45,620
70,430
87,270
81,620
78,610
70, 770
54, 780
41, 770
52,430
30, 660
18, 570
10, 770
5, 910
11, 950
1,980
1, 840
8,670
16,340
30,050
54,080
69,110
67,900
64,920
61,790
47, 520
35, 780
43, 210
25,760
16,100
9,120
4,630
10,220
1,880
1, 390
4,980
530
7,130 1,960
10,440 4,460
15, 760 9,170
17, 800 12,120
15, 790 11,020
13,920 10, 780
13, 550 9,800
9,030 7,360
6, 540 5,070
5,730 4,460
3,790 2,820
2,310 1,420
820
1,340
430
530
1,780 1,060
110
450
50
250
690
1,190
3,000
6, 320
8,350
9, 530
7,640
6,790
6,050
3, 850
4,010
2,090
1,120
450
280
890
180
200
1, 540
3, 750
6, 670
11, 260
15, 430
14,090
15,410
15, 390
12,040
9,640
14,180
8,050
4, 940
2,400
1,470
2,930
690
520
480
1,090
1,680
5,190
5,740
7,730
7,130
6,440
5,390
4,400
5, 640
3,190
2, 280
1,010
530
1,130
90
150
120
560
1,850
3,430
5,110
3,600
4,080
3,600
2,400
1, 640
1,670
740
290
290
110
340
50
80
230
240
740
1, 580
2, 210
3,210
2,940
2, 770
2,300
1,380
2,680
1,100
1, 210
730
420
610
140
40
100
420
1,210
1,370
2,350
2,930
3,020
3,450
2, 950
3,260
4,840
3,980
2, 530
2,080
860
1,480
170
100
8,850
11,620
15, 570
16,350
18,160
13, 720
13.690
8,980
7,260
5,990
9,220
4, 900
2,470
1,650
1,280
1, 730
100
450
1 A family is classified as a complete family if it includes both husband and wife, as an incomplete family if
it does not include both husband and wife. See appendix C for further definitions.
2 Family types:
I— 2 persons. Husband and wife only.
II— 3 persons. Husband, wife, 1 child under 16, and no others.
III— 4 persons. Husband, wife, 2 children under 16, and no others.
IV— 3 or 4 persons. Husband, wife, 1 person 16 or over, and 1 or no other person regardless of age.
V—
5 or 6 persons. Husband, wife, 1 child under 16,1 person 16 or over, and 1 or 2 other persons regard
less of age.
VI— 5 or 6 persons. Husband, wife, 3 or 4 children under 16 and no others.
VII— 7 or 8 persons. Husband, wife, 1 child under 16, 4 or 5 other persons regardless of age.
VIII and other—Husband, wife, and all combinations of other persons not included in I through VII.
a Relief families are classified according to their reported income.
This includes only relief and nonrelief
earnings, and any nonrelief income other than earnings. It does not include direct relief, whether in the
form of cash or of goods.
TABULAR
113
SU M M AR Y
Color and nativity groups b y occupational group: E stim a ted
n u m b er o f fa m ilie s o f specified color and n a tivity, b y o ccu p ation al grou p , 1 9 S 5 —3 6
T able 4 .—
White
Occupational
group
All
(2)
0)
Foreign born
Native
Native
and
foreign
born
All
(3)
(4)
In
Com com
plete 2 plete
(5)
Negro
(6)
All
In
Com com
plete 2 plete
(7)
(8)
(9)
Other
In color 1
Com com
All plete
2 plete
(10)
(11)
(12)
(13)
Relief and nonrelief families 3
All families_______ 823, 230 766, 790 403, 500 309, 580 93,920 363,290 296,970 66,320 52,800 35,640 17,160 3,640
Wage earner __
Clerical___________
Business and pro
fessional- ____
Independent:
Business .
.
Professional _
Salaried:
Business
Professional-Other4___________
417,940 379,150 172,550 146,450 26,100 206,600 177,930 28,670 35,900 28,140 7,760 2,890
186,030 183,260 119,210 89,490 29,720 64,050 49,170 14,880 2,660 2,190
470
110
154,410 148,100 84,060 63,970 20,090 64,040 53, 530 10, 510 5,880 3,380 2,500
430
86,080 81,990 35,100 24,720 10,380 46,890 39,190 7,700 3,820 2,060 1,760
400
260
210
50
10,230 9,970 7,020 5,690 1,330 2,950 2,550
270
330
260
210
50
23,140 22,830 18, 540 16,830 1,710 4,290 3,960
34,960 33,310 23,400 16,730 6,670 9,910 7,830 2,080 1, 540
900
640
64, 850 56,280 27, 680 9, 670 18,010 28,600 16, 340 12,260 8, 360 1,930 6,430
50
110
210
Nonrelief families
All families_______ 710,460 679,800 360, 720 280,130 80, 590 319,080 265,490 53, 590 28, 520 21,140 7, 380 2,140
Wage earner. _____ 349,290 326,970 148,040 127,080 20,960 178,930 156,160 22,770 20,720 16,090 4,630 1,600
Clerical_____
__ 176,130 173, 620 113,860 85, 380 28,480 59, 760 46,090 13,670 2,400 1,970
430
110
Business and pro
fessional _______ 147,750 142,730 81, 570 62,040 19, 530 61,160 51, 510 9,650 4,590 2,870 1,720
430
Independent:
270
Business. .. . . . 82, 230 78, 740 33,790 23,880 9,910 44,950 37,980 6,970 3,220 1,890 1,330
400
260
40
220
Professional... _ 10,180 9,920 6,970 5,640 1,330 2,950 2, 550
Salaried:
340
260
210
50
50
Business____ . 23,040 22,730 18,440 16, 730 1,710 4,290 3,950
850
550
Professional___ 32, 300 31, 340 22,370 15, 790 6,580 8,970 7,030 1,940
300
110
810
600
Other4_________ . 37,290 36,480 17, 250 5, 630 11,620 19, 230 11,730 7,500
210
1 Complete and incomplete families.
For footnotes 2 and 3, see 3 and 4 of table 1 on p. 110.
4 Families classified in the occupational group “ No gainfully employed members, and farmers."
T a b l e 5. —
Family types by occupational group:
E stim a ted n u m ber o f fa m ilie s
o f specified t y p e s , b y occu p ation al g r o u p , 1 9 8 5 - 8 6 1
[All color and nativity groups combined]
Complete families of type 2—
Relief status and occupa
tional group
All
(1)
(2)
All f a m ilie s .....................
Relief families. _
______
Nonrelief families_______ _
Wage earner. __ ________
Clerical_______________
Business and professionalindependent:
Business____________
Professional_____ _
Salaried:
Business___ ______
Professional. . . ___
Other3__________ ______
All
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
In
com
VIII plete
and fami
other lies
(ID
823,230 645,290 146, 760 92,030 70,970 152, 570 69,460 37, 700 32, 780 43,020 177,940
112, 770 76,820 15, 640 8,590 8, 340 12,170 10,170 7,740 8, 250 5,920 35,950
710, 460 568, 470 131,120 83, 440 62, 630 140,400 59, 290 29,960 24,530 37,100 141,990
349,290 300,660 62,400 42,370 34,130 71, 680 35, 590 18,220 16, 670 19,600 48, 630
176,130 133, 550 27,040 22, 550 14,300 36, 460 11,910 6,040 3,890 11, 360 42, 580
147, 750 116,690 29,920 17,700 13,850 28,670 11,300 5,420 3,930 5,900 31,060
82,230 63,860 16,060 7,920 7, 320 16,650 6,920 3,140 2,360 3,490 18, 370
700
230
200
10,180 8,410 2,420 1,390 1,170 2,020
280 1, 770
23, 040 20, 940 4,970 4,170 3,030
32, 300 23, 480 6, 470 4,220 2, 330
37, 290 17, 570 11, 760
820
350
4,350 1,880 1,100
980
5, 650 1,800
3, 590
490
280
670
770 2,100
670 1,360 8,820
40
240 19, 720
For footnotes 1 and 2, see table 3 on p. 112.
3 Families classified in the occupational group “ No gainfully employed members, and farmers.’
(12)
114
FAM ILY INCOME IN
CHICAGO
SECTION B. N A T IV E W H ITE FAMILIES, INCLUDING BO TH
H U SBAN D A N D WIFE
Sources o f Income, Number and Earnings o f Principal and Supple
mentary Earners, Rent or Rental Value, and Size o f Family,
According to Family Income, Occupational Group, and Family
Type
Tables in this section present data for native white “ complete”
families only— those including both husband and wife.
The figures
represent a random sample of approximately 10 percent of all Chicago
native white complete families.
CONTENTS
Page
T able 1.
F amily T ypes : Number of families of specified types and
average number of persons per family, by income, 1935-36_ _
1A.
2.
2A.
2B.
3
3A.
3B.
4.
4A.
4B.
116
F amily T ypes : Number of families of specified types and
average number of persons per family, by occupation and
income, 1 9 3 5 -3 6 _______________________________________________
Sources of F amily I ncome : Number of families receiving
income from specified sources, and average amount of such
income, by income, 19 3 5 -3 6_________________________________
Sources of F amily I ncome : Number of families receiving in
come from specified sources, and average amount of such
income, by occupation and income, 19 3 5 -3 6 _________________
Sources of F amily I ncome : Number of families receiving
income from specified sources, and average amount of such
income, by family type and income, 1 9 3 5 -3 6 _______________
M oney E arnings : Number of families receiving net money
earnings and average net money earnings received from
each source, by income, 19 3 5 -3 6 ____________________________
M oney E arnings : Number of families receiving net money
earnings and average net money earnings received from each
source, by occupation and income, 19 35 -3 6_________________
M oney E arnings : Number of families receiving net money
earnings and average net money earnings received from
each source, by family type and income, 19 35 -3 6-------------Principal E arners : Number and average yearly earnings
of principal earners, classified as husbands, wives, and
others, with weeks of employment of principal earners, by
income, 1 9 3 5 -3 6 _______________________________________________
Principal E arners : Number and average yearly earnings
of principal earners, classified as husbands, wives, and
others, with weeks of employment of principal earners, by
occupation and income, 1935 -3 6_____________________________
Principal E arners : Number and average yearly earnings of
principal earners, classified as husbands, wives, and others,
with weeks of employment of principal earners, by family
type and income, 1935 -3 6____________________________________
117
120
122
124
128
129
130
132
133
135
TABULAR SU M M A R Y
115
Page
T able 5.
6.
6A.
6B.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14A.
N umber
of
E arners
in
F am ily : Number of families with
specified number of individual earners, family relationship
of sole earners, and average number of supplementary
earners per family, by income, 1935-36____________________
Sole and Supplementary E arners : Number of families
with individual earners; number and average earnings of
supplementary earners classified as husbands, wives, and
others; and average earnings of family from supplementary
earners; by income, 19 3 5 -3 6 _________________________________
S ole
a n d
S u pplem e n ta ry
E a r n e r s : Number of families
with individual earners; number and average earnings of
supplementary earners classified as husbands, wives, and
others; and average earnings of family from supple
mentary earners; by occupation and income, 19 3 5 -3 6 _____
Sole and S upplementary E arners : Number of families
with individual earners; number and average earnings of
supplementary earners classified as husbands, wives, and
others; and average earnings of family from supplementary
earners; by family type and income, 19 3 5 -3 6 ______________
E arnings of Supplementary E arners : Number of supple
mentary earners with earnings of specified amount, by
family income, 1 9 3 5 -3 6 _______________________________________
H usbands as E arners : Number and average yearly earn
ings of husbands classified as principal or supplementary
earners, by age and family income, 1 9 3 5 -3 6 _______ _______
W ives as E arners : Number and average yearly earnings of
wives classified as principal or supplementary earners, by
age and family income, 19 35-36_____________________________
M oney I ncome Other T han E arnings : Number of families
receiving money income other than earnings, and average
amount received, by source and total income, 1 9 3 5 -3 6_____
N onmoney I ncome F rom Owned H omes: Number of
families owning homes with and without mortgages,
average rental value, average expense, and average non
money income from home ownership, by income, 1935-36_
M o n t h l y ^ R e n t a l V a l u e : Number of home-owning families
having homes with specified monthly rental value, by
income, 1 9 3 5 -3 6 _______________________________________________
M o n th ly
R e n t : Number
of renting families reporting
specified monthly rent, by income, 19 3 5 -3 6 _________________
15.
140
141
143
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
A verage M onthly R ental V alue and A verage M onthly
R e n t : Number of home-owning and renting families,
average monthly rental value, and average monthly rent,
by occupation and income, 19 3 5 -3 6 _________________________
14B.
139
153
A verage M onthly R ental V alue and A verage M onthly
R e n t : Number of home-owning and renting families,
average monthly rental value, and average monthly rent,
by family type and income, 19 35-36_______________________
T ype of L iving Quarters : Number and percentage of own
ing families occupying specified types of living quarters, by
income, 1935-36 ______________________________
154
156
116
FAM ILY INCOME IN
CHICAGO
Page
T
T
a b l e
a b l e
16.
T
17.
M
18.
A
19.
R
1 .—
Number and percentage of rent
ing families occupying specified types of living quarters, by
income, 1 9 3 5 -3 6 _______________________________________________
e m b e r s
o f H o u s e h o l d N ot i n
E c o n o m i c F a m i l y : N um
ber of families having persons in the household who were
not members of the economic family, and average number
of such nonfamily members, by income, 1 9 3 5 -3 6 ____________
g e
o f
H u s b a n d s a n d W i v e s : Number of husbands and
number of wives, by age and family income, 1 9 3 5 -3 6 _______
e p o r t
Y e a r : Number
and percentage distribution of
families by date of end of report year, by occupation,
19 3 5 -3 6 ________________________________________________________
y p e
o f
L
Q
iv in g
u a r t e r s
:
Family types:
N u m b er o f fa m ilie s o f specified ty p e s
n u m b e r -o f p erson s per f a m i ly , b y in c o m e , 1 9 3 5 - 3 6
a nd
157
158
159
160
average
[White families including husband and wife, both native born: All occupational groups combined]
Average number
of persons per
family *
Number of families of type *-
Other than
husband
and wife
Income class
All
(1)
(2)
I
(3)
II
(4)
III
(5)
IV
(6)
V
(7)
VI
(8)
VII
(9)
All
VIII Other mem
bers Un
der
16
16
and
over
(13)
(14)
(10)
(12)
(ID
All families 3______ 28, 515 7, 229 5, 412 3, 738 5,772 2, 559 1,847
954
667
337
3.6
1.0
0.6
332
412
429
345
369
479
Relief families____ 2, 713
Nonrelief families. _ 25, 802 6, 750 5, 000 3,309 5,427 2,227 1,478
220
734
35
632
92
245
4.3
3. 5
1.7
1.0
.6
.6
5
4
15
25
59
67
88
70
69
53
97
58
39
24
20
31
6
4
2
8
12
14
41
38
47
59
42
48
77
69
55
41
21
44
6
8
1
4
9
15
30
24
21
19
21
30
18
11
14
12
12
3
1
3.0
3.1
3.2
3.2
3.4
3.5
3.5
3.5
3.6
3.6
3.8
3.8
3.9
4.0
4.2
3.9
3.8
3.9
.6
.7
.9
.9
1.0
1.1
1.0
1.0
1.1
1.0
1.0
.9
.9
.9
.8
.9
.9
.9
.4
.4
.3
.3
.4
.4
.5
.5
.6
.6
.8
1.0
1.0
1.1
1.4
1.0
1.0
1.0
$0-$249_______
$250-$499 _____
$500-$749______
$750-$999______
$1,000-$1,249___
$1,250-$1,499___
$1,500-$1,749___
$1,750-$1,999---$2,000-$2,249___
$2,250-$2,499___
$2,500-$2,999---$3,000-$3,499___
$3,500-$3,999___
$4,000-$4,499__
$4,500-$4,999__
$5,000-$7,499___
$7,500-$9,999___
$10,000 and over4
301
521
1,083
1,896
2,820
2, 738
2,964
2, 995
2,500
1,941
2,172
1, 339
845
498
299
663
116
111
139
205
383
622
819
775
783
779
583
445
445
287
165
99
42
133
23
23
42
97
253
431
643
601
623
609
486
383
330
186
119
64
33
85
10
5
27
48
119
271
371
432
412
391
374
259
246
109
85
41
19
70
17
18
55
97
177
318
510
438
565
612
508
447
590
380
233
133
105
190
38
31
19
35
56
98
156
200
234
252
260
184
252
182
111
56
37
73
8
14
11
27
64
108
206
157
188
202
159
101
105
50
27
26
10
25
5
7
i Family types:
I— 2 persons. Husband and wife only.
II— 3 persons. Husband, wife, 1 child under 16 and no others.
III— 4 persons. Husband, wife, 2 children under 16 and no others.
IV— 3 or 4 persons. Husband, wife, 1 person 16 or over, and 1 or no other person regardless of age.
V—
5 or 6 persons. Husband, wife, 1 child under 16,1 person 16 or over, and 1 or 2 other persons regardless
of age.
VI— 5 or 6 persons. Husband, wife, 3 or 4 children under 16 and no others.
VII— 7 or 8 persons. Husband, wife, 1 child under 16, 4 or 5 other persons regardless of age.
VIII— 5 or 6 persons. Husband, wife, 3 or 4 persons 16 or over.
Other—7 or more persons. All types not included in I through VIII.
aThese are year-equivalent persons. The sum of columns (13) and (14) plus 2 (husband and wife) does
not always equal column (12). For the methods used in deriving these averages, see glossary.
314 families which reported a net loss are excluded from this and subsequent tables. These are families
which had gross business expense and losses exceeding their gross earnings and other income.
4 Largest income reported between $50,000 and $55,000.
TABULAR
T
a b l e
117
SU M M AR Y
1A.— Family types:
N u m b er o f fa m ilie s o f specified typ es and average
nu m ber o f p erson s p er f a m i l y , b y occu p ation a nd in co m e , 1 9 3 5 - 8 6
[White nonrelief families including husband and wife, both native born]
Average number
of persons per
family 3
Number of families of type 1—
All
I
II
III
IV
V
Other than
husband
and wife
All
VI VII VIII Other mem
bers Un
16
der and
16 over
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8) (9)
(10)
(11)
(12)
(13)
All nonrelief families _ 11,705 2,844 2, 252 1,585 2,337 1,081 790 402
272
142
3.6
1.0
0.6
.9
.8
.9
1.0
1.1
1.2
1.1
1.1
1.2
1.0
1.0
.8
.7
.9
.7
.7
.4
1
7
12
18
17
14
10
17
21
6
6
7
5
1
3. 3
3. 2
3.2
3.4
3.5
3.6
3.6
3. 7
3.8
3.8
4.1
4.2
4.4
4.9
4.9
4.6
(*)
(*)
Income class and oc
cupational group
(1)
(14)
Wage earner
$0-$249_____________
$250~-$499___________
$500-$749___________
$750-$999___________
$1,000-$1,249________
$1,250-$1,499________
$1,500-$1,749________
$1,750-$1,999________
$2,000-$2,249________
$2,250-$2,499________
$2,500-$2,999________
$3,000-$3,499________
$3,500-$3,999________
$4,000-$4,499________
$4,500-$4,999
$5,000-$7,499________
$7,500-$9,999________
$10,000 and over 3
101
312
633
1,239
1,630
1,589
1,540
1,440
1,017
750
754
352
165
85
50
47
40
110
201
359
423
416
374
344
206
156
129
54
16
8
3
5
20
62
170
295
373
351
300
258
173
125
89
19
9
5
12
32
82
202
249
262
217
190
148
88
71
3
1
17
9
5
12
49
88
203
278
218
312
308
220
190
212
123
63
21
23
17
10
28
33
67
89
152
134
139
121
80
101
4
23
40
77
146
110
113
106
84
41
35
71
7
26
1
14
2
1
10
6
2
4
9
19
40
45
52
50
37
30
55
28
13
7
4
7
1
1
4
9
10
20
17
21
31
18
23
41
27
22
16
4
7
1
.4
.3
.4
.4
.4
.5
.6
.6
.8
1.1
1.4
1.8
2.1
2. 2
1.9
(*)
Clerical
984 1,742
All nonrelief families.
7,864 1,960 1,630
$0-$249_____________
$250-$499___________
$500-$749___________
$750-$999___________
$1,000-$1,249________
$1,250-$1,499________
$1,500-$1,749____ _
$1,750-$1,999________
$2,000-$2,249________
$2,250-$2,499________
$2,500-$2,999________
$3,000-$3,499________
$3,500-$3,999________
$4,000-$4,499________
$4,500-$4,999________
$5,000-$7,499________
$7,500-$9,999
$10,000 and over 3___
19
62
206
390
714
777
983
1,062
1,014
717
765
441
303
150
90
153
9
16
63
145
228
213
260
284
240
150
152
85
54
29
10
20
11
7
1
1
All nonrelief families.
2,2 00
629
369
279
497
$0-$249_____________
$250-$A99___________
$500-$749___________
$750-$999___________
$1,000-$1,249________
$1,250-Sl,499________
$1,500-$1,749________
$1,750-$1,999________
$2,000-$2,249________
$2,250-$2,499________
$2,500-$2,999________
S3.000-S3.499________
27
72
137
162
296
189
184
194
152
144
189
131
10
3
3
9
13
7
8
2
13
49
95
186
181
237
247
203
154
124
64
36
10
11
17
1
1
7
19
44
66
122
133
134
162
107
85
43
28
10
8
11
2
2
6
19
47
69
131
154
171
204
206
153
228
133
100
48
25
42
4
643 400 199
1
1
8
12
41
30
70
80
89
76
91
53
39
20
11
21
2
3
13 ""i"
3
19
38
9
32 20
59 28
73 11
61 25
38 18
25 28
17 13
9 11
5 10
1 9
6
8
1
1
1
239
3
2
3
14
17
19
24
22
18
26
24
23
14
10
18
67
1
1
8
6
5
6
3
6
9
3
4
5
10
2
1
3.5
.9
.6
2. 7
3.1
3.3
3.0
3.2
3.4
3. 5
3.4
3.6
3.6
3.7
3.8
3.9
4.1
4.6
4.3
4. 0
4. 6
.3
.6
.8
.8
.8
.9
.4
1 .0
.9
1.1
1 .0
.9
.9
.8
.8
.8
.8
.8
1. 7
.6
.5
.3
.4
.5
.5
.5
.5
.6
.8
.9
1.1
1.4
1.8
1.5
1. 2
.9
Independent business
41
65
65
84
63
51
51
36
36
42
30
10
18
24
54
35
32
33
32
23
29
19
21
37
22
31
21
2J
17
31
14
22
26
67
43
38
46
31
41
42
36
For footnotes 1 and 2, see table 1 on p. 116.
3 Largest income reported between $10,000 and $15,000.
* Averages not computed for fewer than 3 cases.
205 119
1
3
9
16
22
11
2
1
9
9
21
18
9
7
20
11
24
10
26
17
5
11
10
2
52
36
14
1
1
1
6
1
2
7
2
1
4
8
3
2
4
4
4
3
5
2
3
1
1
1
1
2
3.5
.9
.6
3.2
2.7
3.0
3.2
3.4
3.3
3.5
3.6
3. 5
3.5
3.7
3.7
.7
.5
.7
.9
1.0
.9
1.1
.5
.2
.3
.3
.5
.5
.5
.6
.5
.6
.6
.9
.8
1 .0
.8
1 .0
i.o
118
FAM ILY INCOME IN
CHICAGO
T a b l e 1A . — F a m ily ty p e s: N u m b e r o f fa m ilie s o f sp ecified typ es a nd average
n u m ber o f p erson s p er f a m i l y , b y occu p ation and in c o m e , 1 9 3 5 - 3 6 — Continued
Average number
of persons per
family
Number of families of type—
Other than
husband
and wife
Income class and oc
cupational group
III
All
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
IV
(6)
(7)
All
VI VII VIII Other mem
bers Un
der
16
16
and
over
(8) (9)
(14)
(10)
(ID
(12)
(13)
3.7
3. 8
3.7
3. 9
3. 9
3.9
1.0
1. 2
.8
1.1
Independent business—
Continued
$3,500-$3,999________
$4,000-$4,499________
$4,500-$4,999________
$5,000-$7,499________
$7,500-$9,999________
$10,000 and over 4___
84
59
37
13
13
6
100
16
17
26
2
519
161
1
6
12
1
5
19
10
13 ' 5
5
3
13
17
1
5
2
3
21
11
13
14
28
5
9
4
3
7
2
1
106
38
5
4
4
1
3
5
3
1
8
1
1
1
1
18
15
12
2
6
1
6
1
1
1
1.4
0. 7
.6
1.0
.8
.6
.9
1.0
Independent professional
All nonrelief families.
$0-$249_____________
$250-$499 __________
$500-$749___________
$750-$999___________
$1,000-$1,249________
$1,250-$1,499________
$1,500-$1,749________
$1,750-$1,999________
$2,000-$2,249________
$2,250-$2,499________
$2,500-$2,999________
$3,000-$3,499________
$3,500-$3,999________
$4,000-$4,499________
$4,500-$4,999________
$5,000-$7,499________
$7,500-$9,999_____ .
$10,000 and over 5___
15
28
15
25
31
30
31
64
52
40
38
16
77
18
3
2
5
11
7
96
2
1
3
9
7
3
13
11
10
6
6
23
17
13
7
10
6
12
14
1
9
5
71
1
1
1
3
3
3
3
3
4
7
7
10
2
2
6
4
4
3
5
6
7
6
12
12
1
1
1
2
1
2
2
1
143
13
3
20
6
6
6
1,541
405
315
195
321
2
1
1
1
1
5
2
3
2
2
2
2
2
1
2
2
3
1
4
3
3
4
9
11
1
1
1
4 ....
5
3
3
18
19
4
4
1
2
3
2
2
2
3.4
(*)
2. 9
3. 4
3. 2
3. 0
3. 3
2.9
3. 2
3.1
3. 3
3. 3
3. 4
3. 7
3. 4
3. 8
3. 6
4.1
3.5
.6
.8
(*)
.4
.7
.9
.8
.8
.6
.9
.6
.8
.7
.8
1.1
(*)
.5
.8
.3
.2
.5
.3
.3
.5
.5
.6
1.1
.6
.6
.6
.8
.8
1.2
.8
1.0
.6
.9
.9
.9
.7
Salaried business
All nonrelief families.
$0-$249_____________
$250-$499.__________
$500-$749___________
$750-$999___________
$1,000-$1,249________
$1,250-$1,499________
$1,500-$1,749________
$1,750-$1,999________
$2,000-$2,249________
$2,250-$2,499________
$2,500-$2,999 _______
$3,000-$3,499________
$3,500-$3,999________
$4,000-$4,499________
$4,500-$4,999________
$5,000-$7,499________
$7,500-$9,999________
$10,000 and over6-----
3
7
14
39
44
88
132
133
150
190
179
148
84
57
181
46
44
4
2
1
6
3
19
15
26
36
33
48
50
38
39
18
10
10
22
32
33
36
27
42
35
17
8
10
44
14
28
5
6
2
452
3
1
1
6
17
30
1
1
1
2
4
5
11
4
7
15
10
21
21
6
5
4
7
19
50
14
20
12
10
294
181
303
98
2
1
1
14
20
10
2
21
37
32
10
1
2
2
18
23
29
46
45
19
20
20
22
83
19
18
4
1
4
5
7
5
4
17
1
1
1
1
1
1
3
1
2
2
2
1
2
1
4
3
5
3
1
2
1
2
1
6
1
1
5
7
7
5
5 "T
8
4
3
” 3' 1
3
25
37
11
2
3.5
(♦)
3. 0
2. 9
3! 5
2. 9
3. 3
3" 4
3! 3
3. 4
32
3. 6
3.6
3.6
3.7
4.0
3 6
3.6
4.1
(*) (*)
.7
.3
.1
.8
.2
l! 4
;e
.3
.3
1.0
.3
1! 1
1*1
.2
1.0
8
l.’ o
1.0
1.1
.9
1.1
.4
.4
.6
.7
.6
.8
.9
.9
.
.6
1.0
1.1
1.0
7
Salaried professional
All nonrelief families.
$0-$249_____________
$250-$499 __________
$500-$749 __________
$750-$999___________
$1,000-$1,249________
$1,250-$1,499 ______
$1,500-$1,749________
1, 454
7
7
27
40
57
85
104
2
11
19
18
33
38
4
10
8
23
27
4
1
15
16
10
6
12
8
17
4 Largest income reported between $50,000 and $55,000.
4 Largest income reported between $20,000 and $25,000.
6 Largest income reported between $35,000 and $40,000.
60
1
3
4
3 ....
1
1 ....
3
4
]
1
1
4 ” 3"
1
2
1
1
4
3.3
3.0
3. 3
3! 3
2. 9
3. 2
3.0
3.1
.8
.9
.6
.7
.5
.8
.8
.8
.5
.l
.6
.4
.4
.2
.4
119
TABULAR S U M M A R Y
1A.— Family types: N u m b er o f fa m ilie s o f sp ecified ty p e s a nd average
n u m b er o f p e rso n s p er f a m i l y , b y o ccu p ation a n d in c o m e , 1 9 3 5 - 8 6 — Continued
T able
Average number
of persons per
family
Number of families of type—
Other than
husband
and wife
Income class and oc
cupational group
I
All
(1)
(2)
III
II
(3)
(4)
(5)
All
VI VII VIII Other mem
bers Un
der
16
V
IV
(7)
(6)
(8)
(9)
4
9
4
3
3
3
18
14
9
4
12 16
10
3
3
5
(10)
(11)
(12)
(13)
16
and
over
(14)
Salaried professional—
Continued
$1,750-$1,999________
$2,000-$2,249________
$2'250-$2'499________
$2'500-$2'999________
$3,000-$3,499________
$3,500-$3,999________
$4,000-$4,499________
$4^500-$4,999 _ _____
$5,000-$7,499________
$7 500-$9,999
110
143
141
203
173
99
77
45
46
52
39
49
55
28
12
10
102]
28
11
7
23
2
24
38
38
47
35
14
10
2
9
2
13
19
23
30
14
8
9
4
11
3
_____
19
18
28
45
28
24
27
21
33
8
2
10
6
1
3
4
_____
1
1
2
2
1
2
2
1
1
2
1.
10
5
4
1
5
3
1
1
1
1
1
3. 0
3. 2
3. 2
3.4
3.4
3.6
3. 8
3. 5
3.6
4.1
3.1
0. 7
.8
.9
1.1
.2
1.0
3.4
3,1
2. 8
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.2
3.3
3.3
3.4
3.3
3.6
3.6
3.6
3.7
3.8
3.7
3.8
3.8
.9
.7
.5
.7
1.0
.9
.5
.4
.3
4
.4
.4
.4
.4
.4
.4
.4
.9
.7
2.7
2. 9
2. 6
.3
.5
1.0
.8
.8
.9
7
.7
0.3
.4
.3
.4
.6
.8
.9
.8
.9
.9
A l l business and pro
fessional combined 8
All nonrelief families$0-$249 ____________
$250-$499___________
$500-$749 __________
$750-$999___________
$1,000-$1,249________
$1,250-$1>499________
$1,500-$1,749________
$1,750-$1,999________
$2,000-$2,249________
$2,250-$2,499________
$2,500-$2,999________
$3,000-$3,499________
$3,500-$3,999________
$4,000-$4,499________
$4,500-$4,999________
$5,000-$7,499________
$7,500-i$9,999________
$10,000 and over 9___
5, 714 1,646 1,075
5
37
15
88
46
15
183
24
82
231
95
40
420
132
81
68
333
118
84
401
127
102
467
140
131
458
110
103
133
466
164
646
116
140
103
535
371
74
90
57
49
258
25
22
155
65
107
460
104
22
9
22
5
101
726 1,227
4
8
12
9
33
18
24
38
56
87
47
59
61
71
67
89
63
79
64
104
90
145
49
121
48
69
26
04
11
57
58
129
33
15
16
29
484 280 129
2
4
13
17
25
17
28
32
50
28
60
58
46
2
1
11
12
22
15
16
22
2
3
9
2
8
9
14
7
21 5
44 14
26 17
17 15
22 19 7
16
8 7
46 19 16
8 5 5
12 6 3
117
30
1
1
1
6
1
2
2
1
2
2
1
4
5
4
7
10
18
10
11
7
19
4
7
3
3
3
2
3
2
1
3
1
.8
.9
.8
.9
.9
1.0
1.0
1.0
.9
.9
.9
.9
.6
.6
.7
.9
.8
.9
.9
N o gainfully em ployed
members 10
All nonrelief families_
$0-$249 ____________
$250-$499 __________
$500-$749 __________
$750-$999 _________
$1,000-$1,249
____
$1,250-$1,499 ______
$1,500-$1,749 ______
$1,750-$1,999
$2,000-$2,249
$2,259-$2,499
$2,500-$2,999
$3,000-$3,499
$3,500-$3,999___ ____
$4,000-$4,499_______
$4,500-$4,999
$5,000-$7,499
$7,500-$9,999
$10,000 and over n—
519
144
59
61
36
56
39
40
26
11
8
7
11
6
5
4
3
1
2
299
75
33
37
23
36
28
22
11
5
6
8
5
5
4
1
44
15
7
10
1
3
1
2
2
1
1
1
14
121
19
8
10
29
17
9
6
2
2
2
1
1
2
1
5
1
1
1
1
8
14
7
11
11
3
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
5
3
4
3
4
6
1
1
2
1
1
2
1
1
2.8
2. 7
2. 5
2. 5
2. 7
2. 9
3. 4
2. 6
3. 3
2. 2
2. 3
2. 0
.2
.3
.2
.3
1.1
.6
.6
.4
.4
.2
.6
.6
.4
.7
.3
.3
2.0
2. 7
2
(*)
<*)
7 Largest income reported between $25,000 and $30,000.
8 Combined figures for the 4 preceding occupational groups.
9 Largest income reported between $50,000 and $55,000.
10Of these families, 7 were engaged in farming—a group too small to be separately classified,
h Largest income reported between $10,000 and $15,000,
74021°— 39----- 9
.2
.4
.3
.4
.4
.4
.4
.7
(*)
(*)
(*)
(*)
120
F A M IL Y IN C O M E IN
CHICAGO
T a b l e 2 .— Sources o f fa m ily in c o m e : Num ber o f families^ receiving income
fro m specified sources, and average amount o f such income, by income, 19S5—S6
[White families including husband and wife, both native born: All occupational groups and all family
types combined]
Number of families receiving—
Money income from—
Income class
(1)
Number
of
families
(2)
Nonmoney income from—
Any
source 1
Earn
ings 2
Other
sources
(positive
or nega
tive)3
Any
source 4
Owned
home
(positive
or nega
tive)5
Bent as
pay
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
All families________________
28,515
28,023
27, 612
3,727
6,294
5,965
329
Belief families_________________
Nonrelief families---------------------
2,713
25,802
2, 373
25, 650
2,334
25, 278
201
3, 526
277
6,017
252
5, 713
25
304
$0-$249____________________
$250-$499__________________
$500-$749__________________
$750-$999__________________
$1,000-$1,249_______________
$1,250-$1,499_______________
$1,500-$1,749_______________
$1,750-$1,999_______________
$2,000-$2,249_______________
$2,250-$2,499_______________
$2,500-$2,999_______________
$3,000-$3,499_______________
$3,500-$3,999_______________
$4,000-$4,449_______________
$4,500-$4,999_______________
$5,000-$7,499_______________
$7,500-$9,999_______________
$10,000 and over....................
301
521
1,083
1,896
2,820
2,738
2,964
2,995
2,500
1,941
2,172
1,339
845
498
299
663
116
111
169
504
1,080
1,896
2,820
2,738
2,964
2,995
2, 500
1,941
2,172
1,339
845
498
299
663
116
111
152
462
1, 0'23
1,860
2,765
2,697
2,924
2,969
2,489
1,933
2,165
1,328
839
493
295
660
115
109
31
95
165
206
286
303
330
316
301
262
389
243
175
106
78
154
46
40
49
132
211
280
421
493
580
586
570
536
752
473
296
190
121
240
50
37
43
124
191
249
383
463
543
572
546
505
724
458
285
184
119
238
49
37
6
8
20
31
38
30
37
14
24
31
28
15
11
6
2
2
1
1 Includes 1 family whose money income from earnings was less than its losses.
2 See glossary for definition of “ earnings.”
3 Includes 3,454 families (3,261 of which were nonrelief) which had money income other than earnings
and no business losses; 208 families (203 of which were nonrelief) which had business losses and no money
income other than earnings; and 65 families (62 of which were nonrelief) which had both money income and
business losses. There were, therefore, 3,519 families (3,323 of which were nonrelief) which had money
income other than earnings, whether or not they had business losses; and there were 273 families (265 of
which were nonrelief) which had business losses, whether or not they had money income other than earn
ings. The latter 265 families were found in the following income classes: $0-$249, 7; $250-$499, 10; $500$749, 17; $750-$999, 17; $1,000-$1,249, 25; $1,250-$1,499, 12; $1,500-$1,749, 19; $1,750-$1,999, 23; $2,000-$2,249,
20; $2,250-$2,499, 24; $2,500-$2,999, 24; $3,000-$3,499, 24; $3,500-$3,999, 11; $4,000-$4,499, 8; $4,500-$4,999, 3;
$5,000-$7,499, 12; $7,500-$9,999, 5; $10,000 and over, 4. See glossary for definitions of money income other
than earnings and business losses.
4 The total of the numbers of families in columns (7) and (8).
« Includes families with losses from owned homes, as well as families whose estimated rental value, of
owned homes for the period of ownership and occupancy exceeded estimated expenses allocable to that
period. There were 245 families (228 of which were nonrelief) with losses from owned homes (i. e., families
whose estimated rental value was less than estimated expenses). The latter 228 families were found in the
following income classes: $0-$249, 2; $250-$499, 10; $500-$749, 18; $750-$999, 20; $1,000-$1,249, 23; $1,250$1,499, 25; $1,500-$1,749, 30; $1,750-$1,999, 23; $2,000-$2,249, 23; $2,250-$2,499, 14; $2,500-$2,999, 22; $3,000$3,499, 9; $3,500-$3,999, 3; $4,000-$4,499, 2; $4,500-$4,999, 2; $5,000-$7,499, 2. Excludes 8 families whose
estimated rental value of owned homes was equal to estimated expenses.
121
TABULAE SUMMARY
T a b l e 2, — Sources o f fa m ily in c o m e : Num ber o f fam ilies receiving income
fro m specified sources , and average amount o f such incom e, by income, 1935—3 6 1—
Continued
[White families including husband and wife, both native born: All occupational groups and all family
types combined]
Average family income
Money income from—
Nonmoney income from—
Income class
All
sources
Earn
ings 2
Other
sources
(positive
or nega
tive)3
All
sources
Owned
home
(positive
or nega
tive)4
Rent as
pay
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
Total
(1)
(2)
All families______________ _ ___
5 $1,892
$1,841
$1,789
$52
$51
$47
$4
461
5 2,043
447
1,987
431
1,932
16
55
14
56
12
51
2
5
100
382
627
874
1,118
1,356
1,599
1,856
2,112
2, 374
2, 692
3,175
3, 708
4,195
4, 733
5,756
8, 227
14, 281
81
341
596
851
1,093
1,323
1, 563
1,819
2, 065
2, 311
2, 605
3, 072
3,598
4, 065
4,571
5, 581
7, 973
14, 022
74
312
556
821
1,059
1, 288
1,524
1,783
2, 031
2, 276
2, 549
2, 990
3, 500
3,933
4,383
5,410
7, 546
12, 731
7
29
40
30
34
35
39
36
34
35
56
82
98
132
188
171
427
1,291
19
41
31
23
25
33
36
37
47
63
87
103
110
130
162
175
254
259
17
37
27
19
21
29
32
35
42
55
81
95
100
118
155
173
246
259
2
4
4
4
4
4
4
2
5
8
6
8
10
12
7
2
8
Relief families_____ _________
Nonrelief families____ _
$0-$249____________________
$250-$499__________________
$500-$749__________________
$750-$999__________________
$1,000-$1,249_______________
$1,250-$1,499_______________
$1,500-$1,749_______________
$1,750-$1,999_______________
$2,000-$2,249_______________
$2,250-$2,499_______________
$2,500-$2,999_______________
$3,000-$3,499_______________
$3,500-$3,999_______________
$4,000-$4,499_______________
$4,50O-$4,999_______________
$5,000-$7,499_______________
$7,500-$9,999_______________
$10,000 and over___________
1 The averages in each column are based on all families, column (2) of table 2, whether or not they re
ceived income from the specified source. Averages in columns (2), (3), (5), (6), and (7) are net figures,
after deduction for all families of business losses or expenses for owned homes.
2 See glossary for definition of “ earnings.”
3 Includes money income other than earnings, after deduction of business losses. See glossary for defini
tions of money income other than earnings and business losses.
4 Represents the estimated rental value of owned homes for the period of ownership and occupancy,
less estimated expenses allocable to that period.
6 Median income for all families was $1,687; for nonrelief families, $1,798.
122
F A M IL Y IN C O M E IN
CHICAGO
T a b l e 2 A . — Sources o f fa m ily In c o m e : Num ber o f fam ilies receiving income
from specified sources , and average amount o f such incom e , by occupation and
incom e , 1 9 3 5 -8 6
[White nonrelief families including husband and wife, both native born: All family types combined]
Number of families receiving—
Money income from—
Income class and occupational group
Nonmoney income from—
Number of
families
Earnings
1
Other
sources
(positive or
negative)2
Any
source3
Owned
home
(positive or
negative)4
Rent as
pay
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(2)
(3)
All nonrelief families..............
11, 705
11, 697
1, 276
2,629
2,484
145
$0-$499_______________________
$500-$749____________________
$750-$999____________ _______
$1,000-$1,249________ ________
$1,250-$1,499_________________
$1,500-$1,749________________ _
$1,750-$1,999............ ...................
$2,000-$2,499............ ...................
$2,500-$2,999_________________
$3,000-$4,999___________ _____
$5,000 and over. ....................
413
633
1,239
1, 630
1,589
1,540
1,440
1, 767
754
652
48
407
632
1,239
1,630
1,588
1,540
1,440
1, 767
754
652
48
41
56
106
129
142
125
140
227
149
143
18
71
98
169
231
258
298
311
529
300
331
33
60
82
149
211
246
279
303
509
289
323
33
11
16
20
20
12
19
8
20
11
8
All nonrelief families_________
7,864
7,863
973
1, 656
1, 586
70
$0-$499— ____ ______________
$500-$749-------------------------------$750-$999____________________
$1,000-$1,249_________________
$1,250-$1,499_________________
$1,500-$1,749--------------------------$1,750-$1,999_________________
$2,000-$2,499_________________
$2,500-$2,999_________________
$3,000-$4,999. ______________
$5,000 and over_______________
81
206
390
714
777
983
1,062
1, 731
765
984
171
81
206
389
714
777
983
1,062
1,731
765
984
171
6
24
28
54
75
98
106
200
138
203
41
9
35
36
86
116
155
174
386
255
344
60
8
32
29
76
104
147
170
370
252
338
60
1
3
7
10
12
8
4
16
3
6
All nonrelief families_________
5, 714
5, 711
906
1,494
1,405
89
$0-$499_______________________
$500-$749_____________________
$750-$999_____________________
$1,000-$1,249_________________
$1,250-$1,499_________________
$1,500-$!,749_________________
$1,750-$1,999_________________
$2,000-$2,499____ ____________
$2,500-$2,999_________________
$3,000-$4,999_________________
$5,000 and over. ____________
125
183
231
420
333
401
467
924
646
1,319
665
123
182
231
420
333
401
467
924
646
1,319
665
17
27
38
48
47
67
44
118
95
230
175
27
48
54
86
94
96
89
183
191
392
234
25
47
51
78
87
86
87
164
177
372
231
2
1
3
8
7
10
2
19
14
20
3
519
7
371
238
238
(1)
W a g e ea rn er
C le r ic a l
B u s in e s s a n d p r o fes sio n a l
N o g a in fu lly e m p lo y e d
m em bers
All nonrelief families_________
i See glossary for definition of “ earnings.”
a Includes families having money income other than earnings, families having business losses, and families
having both such income and such losses. See glossary for definitions of money income other than earnings
and business losses.
3 The total of the numbers of families in columns (6) and (7).
4 Includes families with losses from owned homes, as well as families whose estimated rental value of owned
homes for the period of ownership and occupancy exceeded estimated expenses allocable to that period.
TABULAR SUMMARY
123
T a b l e 2A* — Sources o f fa m ily in c o m e : Num ber o f fam ilies receiving income
fro m specified sources , and average amount o f such incom e , by occupation and
incom e , 1 9 3 5 - 8 6 1— Continued
[White nonrelief families including husband and wife, both native born: All family types combined]
Average family income
Money income from—
Income class and occupational
group
Total
(1)
(2)
Nonmoney income from—
All
sources
Earn
ings 2
Other
sources
(positive
or nega
tive) 3
All
sources
Owned
home
(positive
or nega
tive) 4
Rent as
pay
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
W age earner
5 $1, 651
$1, 609
$1, 586
$23
$42
$38
330
632
874
1,116
1, 357
1,603
1, 859
2,224
2,704
3, 581
5,864
309
612
854
1, 093
1,331
1,573
1,823
2,167
2,609
3, 452
5, 653
298
602
842
1,080
1, 318
1, 558
1, 805
2,144
2, 550
3, 367
5, 389
11
10
12
13
13
15
18
23
59
85
264
21
20
20
23
26
30
36
57
95
129
211
14
7
5
15
16
\
3
20
24
2
3
27
2
34
53
4
6
89
121
8
211 --------------
All nonrelief families----------------
« 2, 086
2,036
2,003
33
50
46
4
$0-$499_________________ ______
$500-$749______________________
$750-$999______________________
$1,000-$1,249___________________
$1,250-$1,499___________________
$1,500-$1,749___________________
$1,750-$1,999___________________
$2,000-$2,499___________________
$2,500-$2,999___________________
$3,000-$4,999___________________
$5,000 and over-------------------------
321
628
879
1,120
1, 353
1,598
1, 852
2, 222
2,686
3, 646
6, 034
304
608
864
1,102
1,324
1, 571
1,820
2,173
2,603
3, 531
5, 884
300
587
849
1,096
1,305
1, 549
1,794
2,150
2, 554
3, 454
5, 735
4
21
15
6
19
22
26
23
49
77
149
17
20
15
18
29
27
32
49
83
115
150
14
16
11
14
22
24
30
44
81
111
150
3
4
4
4
7
3
2
5
2
4
All nonrelief families----------------
8 2, 879
2, 795
2, 718
77
84
75
9
$0-$499__ _____ ________________
$500-$749______________________
$750-$999_____________ ____ ____
$1,000-$1,249___________________
$1,250-$1,499___________________
$1,500-$1,749___________________
$1,750-$1,999___________________
$2,000-$2,499___________________
$2,500-$2,999___________________
$3,000-$4,999___________________
$5,000 and over________________
321
612
862
1,120
1,352
1,588
1,854
2, 240
2,685
3, 692
7, 506
296
561
826
1,082
1,299
1, 530
1,812
2,184
2,605
3, 586
7,297
294
540
785
1, 053
1,260
1,486
1, 788
2,151
2,569
3, 515
6,972
2
21
41
29
39
44
24
33
36
71
325
25
51
36
38
53
58
42
56
80
106
209
24
50
32
30
45
47
40
44
69
93
205
1
1
4
8
8
11
2
12
11
13
4
1, 027
895
9
886
132
132
AlHnonrelief families.............. .
$0-$499__________ _____________
$500-$749______________________
$750-$999_ _____ _______________
$1,000—
$1,249____ ______________
$1,250-$1,499___________________
$1,500-$1,749___________________
$1,750-$1,999___________________
$2,000-$2,499_______________
$2,500-$2,999___________________
$3,000-$4,999___________________
$5,000 and over-------------------------
$4
C le r ic a l
B u s in e s s a n d p r o fessio n a l
N o g a in fu lly e m p lo y e d m e m b e r s
All nonrelief families__________
1
The averages in each column are based on all families, column (2) of table 2A, whether or not they received
income from the specified source. Averages in columns (2), (3), (5), (6) and (7) are net figures, after deduction
for all families of business losses or expenses for owned homes.
a See glossary for definition of “ earnings.”
5
Includes money income other than earnings, after deduction of business losses. See glossary for defini
tions of money income other than earnings and business losses.
4
Represents the estimated rental value of owned homes for the period of ownership and occupancy, less
estimated expenses allocable to that period.
* Median incomes were as follows; Wage earner families, $1,557; clerical families, $1,934; business and pro
fessional families, $2,377.
FAM ILY INCOME IN
124
CHICAGO
T a b l e 2B . — Sources o f fa m ily in c o m e : Num ber o f fam ilies receiving incom e
fro m specified sources , and average amount o f such income , by fa m ily type and
income , 1 9 3 5 -8 6
[White nonrelief families including husband and wife, both native born: All occupational groups combined]
Number of families receivingMoney income from—
income class and family type Number of
families
(2)
( 1)
Earnings1
Other
sources
(positive
or nega
tive) 2
(3)
(4)
Nonmoney income from—
Any
source 3
(5)
Owned
home
(positive
or nega
tive) 4
Rent as
pay
(6)
(7)
T ype I
All nonrelief families, ...
6,750
6,449
987
1,167
1,065
102
$0-$499—............. ..............
$500-$749_______________
$750-$999______________
$1,000-$1,249___________
$1,250-$1,499___________
$1,500-$1,749___________
$1,750-$1,999___________
$2,000-$2,499___________
$2,500-$2,999___________
$3,000-$4,999___________
$5,000 and over_________
344
383
622
819
775
783
779
1,028
445
593
179
235
346
599
784
745
761
768
1,017
445
571
178
58
72
75
104
98
90
89
133
88
132
48
80
85
80
108
126
122
105
182
113
129
37
75
79
69
91
111
109
99
170
106
120
36
5
6
11
17
15
13
6
12
7
9
1
All nonrelief families___
8,309
8,251
773
1,090
995
95
$0-$499_________________
$500-$749_______________
$750-$999_______________
$1,000-$1,249___________
$1,250-$1,499___________
$1,500-$1,749___________
$1,750-$1,999___________
$2,000-$2,499___________
$2,500-$2,999___________
$3,000-$4,999___________
$5,000 and over________
214
372
702
1,014
1,033
1,035
1,000
1,502
576
656
205
181
363
700
1,011
1,031
1,032
998
1,499
575
656
205
23
39
49
57
78
73
62
147
81
119
45
24
32
63
78
112
104
113
234
139
150
41
20
25
51
67
105
93
110
208
134
142
40
4
7
12
11
7
11
3
26
5
8
1
All nonrelief families-----
7, 654
7, 511
1,319
2, 773
2,707
66
$500-$749______
$750-$999...........
$1,000-$1,249__
$1,250-$1,499__
$1,500-$1,749__
$1,750-$1,999__
$2,000-$2,499__
$2,500-$2,999__
$3,000-$4,999__
$5,000 and over.
206
233
416
666
638
799
864
1,399
842
1, 237
354
149
222
406
651
630
786
852
1,396
837
1,233
349
38
39
73
98
99
124
123
212
158
248
107
64
74
115
188
198
267
263
513
367
558
166
61
70
111
179
192
259
261
502
358
549
165
3
4
4
9
6
8
2
11
9
9
1
T y p e s I I and I I I
T ypes I V
and V
1 See glossary for definition of “ earnings.”
2Includes families having money income other than earnings, families having business losses, and families
having both such income and such losses. See glossary for definitions of money income other than earnings
and business losses.
2 The total of the numbers of families in columns (6) and (7).
* Includes families with losses from owned homes as well as families whose estimated rental value of owned
homes for the period of ownership and occupancy exceeded estimated expenses allocable to that period.
TABULAR SUMMARY
T
125
2 B . — Sources o f fa m ily in c o m e : Num ber o f fam ilies receiving incom e
from specified sources , and average amount o f such incom e , by fa m ily type and
income, 1 9 3 5 -8 6 1— Continued
able
[White nonrelief families including husband and wife, both native born: All occupational groups combined]
Average family income
Money income from—
Income class and family type
All
sources
Earn
ings 2
Other
sources
(positive
or nega
tive) 3
All
sources
Owned
home
(positive
or nega
tive) 4
Rent as
Pay
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
Total
(2)
( 1)
N onmoney income from—
T ype I
All nonrelief families___
5 $1, 833
$1, 789
$1, 714
$75
$44
$38
$6
$0-$499_________________
$500-$749_______________
$750-$999_______________
$1,000-$1,249____________
$1,250-$1,499____________
$1,500-$1,749____________
$1,750-$1,999____________
$2,000-$2,499____________
$2,500-$2,999____________
$3,000-$4,999____________
$5,000 and over_________
264
624
869
1,118
1, 355
1,597
1, 852
2, 224
2, 668
3, 578
6,994
229
584
847
1,090
1, 318
1,561
1,823
2,179
2, 596
3,494
6, 852
204
522
801
1,026
1,257
1, 506
1, 778
2,134
2, 549
3,262
6, 481
25
62
46
64
61
55
45
45
47
232
371
35
40
22
28
37
36
29
45
72
84
142
32
36
18
22
28
30
26
39
65
71
137
3
4
4
6
9
6
3
6
7
13
5
All nonrelief families___
5 1,873
1,843
1,821
22
30
25
5
$0-$499_________________
$500-$749_______________
$750-$999_______________
$1,000-$1,249____________
$1,250-$1,499____________
$1,500-$1,749____________
$1,750-$1,999____________
$2,000-$2,499____________
$2,500-$2,999____________
$3,000-$4,999____________
$5,000 and over_________
294
626
873
1,114
1, 351
1, 594
1,850
2, 223
2, 664
3, 604
6, 787
276
614
860
1,102
1, 334
1,575
1,832
2,190
2,600
3, 526
6, 674
263
592
847
1,092
1, 321
1,561
1,818
2,167
2, 562
3, 472
6,544
13
22
13
10
13
14
14
23
38
54
130
18
12
13
12
17
19
18
33
64
78
113
16
10
9
9
15
15
17
24
59
67
106
2
2
4
3
2
4
1
9
5
11
7
All nonrelief families___
s 2, 303
2,214
2,140
74
89
85
4
$0-$499_________________
$500-$749_______________
$750-$999_______________
$1,000-$1,249____________
$1,250-$1,499____________
$1,500-$1,749____________
$1,750-$1,999____________
$2,000-$2,499____________
$2,500-$2,999____________
$3,000-$4,999____________
$5,000 and over_________
282
626
880
1,123
1, 361
1, 606
1,862
2, 233
2, 716
3, 676
7, 321
232
580
837
1,079
1, 306
1, 546
1,800
2,152
2,605
3, 531
7,070
210
542
795
1,036
1,265
1,486
1,748
2,113
2, 543
3, 447
6, 572
22
38
42
43
41
60
52
39
62
84
498
50
46
43
44
55
60
62
81
111
145
251
45
42
41
40
52
57
61
77
105
139
250
5
4
2
4
3
3
1
4
6
6
1
T y p e s I I and I I I
T ypes I V
and V
1 The averages in each column are based on all families, column (2) of table 2B, whether or not they received
income from the specified source. Averages in columns (2), (3), (5), (6), and (7) are net figures, after deduc
tion for all families of business losses or expenses for owned homes.
2 See glossary for definition of “ earnings.”
3 Includes money income other than earnings, after deduction of business losses. See glossary for defini
tions of money income other than earnings and business losses.
4 Represents the estimated rental value of owned homes for the period of ownership and occupancy, less
estimated expenses allocable to that period.
fi Median incomes were as follows: Families of type I, $1,638; families of types II and III, $1,698; families of
types IY and Y , $2,002; families of types VI and VII, $1,825; families of types V III and other, $2,437.
FAMILY INCOME IN CHICAGO
126
T
2B.— Sources o f fa m ily in c o m e : Num ber o f fam ilies receiving income
fro m specified sources , and average amount o f such incom e , by fa m ily typ e and
incom e , 1 9 3 5 -3 6 — Continued
able
[White nonrelief families including husband and wife, both native born: All occupational groups combined]
Number of families receiving—
Money income from—
Income class and family type
(1)
Number of
families
(2)
Earnings
Other
sources
(positive
or nega
tive)
(3)
(4)
Nonmoney income from—
Any
source
(5)
Owned
home
(positive
or nega
tive)
Rent as
pay
(6)
(7)
T yp es V I and V I I
2,212
2,199
280
597
567
30
47
79
133
265
224
276
272
382
202
254
78
38
79
133
264
224
276
271
381
201
254
78
5
11
7
20
16
30
24
48
43
52
24
9
15
14
36
32
62
70
115
84
113
47
8
12
11
35
30
58
68
110
78
110
47
1
3
3
1
2
4
All nonrelief families--------------
877
868
167
390
379
11
$0-$499_______________________
$500-$749______ ______________
$750-$999 ______ ______ $1,000-$1,249_________________
$1,250-$1,499_________________
$1,500-$1,749_________________
$1,750-$1,999_________________
$2,000-$2,499_________________
$2,500-$2,999_________________
$3,000-$4,999_________________
$5,000 and over_____________
11
16
23
56
68
71
80
130
107
241
74
10
13
23
55
67
69
80
129
107
241
74
2
4
2
7
12
13
18
23
19
51
16
4
5
7
11
26
25
35
62
49
130
36
3
5
7
11
25
24
34
61
48
125
36
1
All nonrelief families------------$0-$499_______________________
$500-$749_______ ______________
$750-$999__________________—
$1,000-$1,249_________________
$1,250-$1,499_________________
$1,500-$1,749_________________
$1,750-$1,999_________________
$2,000-$2,499_________________
$2,500-$2,999_________________
$3,000-$4,999_________________
$5,000 and over
___ ________
2
5
6
3
T y p e s V I I I a n d o th e r
1
1
1
1
1
5
TABULAR SUMMARY
127
T a b l e 2B.— Sources o f fa m ily in c o m e : Num ber o f fam ilies receiving income
fro m specified sources , and average amount of such incom e , by fa m ily type and
incom e , 1 9 3 5 -S 6 — Continued
[White nonrelief families including husband and wife, both native born: All occupational groups combined]
Average family income
Money income from—
Income class and family type
(1)
All
sources
Earn
ings
Other
sources
(positive
or nega
tive)
All
sources
Owned
home
(positive
or nega
tive)
Rent as
pay
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
Total
(2)
Nonmoney income from—
T yp es V ia n d V I I
All nonrelief families__________
$0-$499__________ _____________
$500-$749_______ ______________
$750-$999_________________ ____
$1,000-$1,249___________________
$1,250-$1,499___________________
$1,500-$1,749___________________
$1,750-$1,999___________________
$2,000-$2,499___________________
$2,500-$2,999______ ______ ______
$3,000-$4,999___________________
$5,000 and over______ ____ _____
« $2,099
$2,044
$2,000
$44
$55
$50
$5
297
647
876
1,122
1,355
1,604
1,860
2,217
2,702
3, 708
7,414
278
620
863
1,106
1,335
1,572
1,822
2,166
2,614
3,593
7,135
268
599
857
1,093
1,326
1, 550
1,796
2,136
2, 519
3, 517
6, 793
10
21
6
13
9
22
26
30
95
76
342
19
27
13
16
20
32
38
51
88
115
279
11
20
8
15
19
27
34
46
74
108
279
8
7
5
1
1
5
4
5
14
7
5 2,846
2,745
2,677
68
101
96
5
323
638
896
1,113
1,382
1,609
1,865
2,255
2,724
3,795
7,335
272
607
873
1,079
1,314
1, 566
1,786
2,164
2,632
3,651
7,127
233
484
870
1,031
1,242
1,495
1, 737
2,116
2, 585
3,572
6,990
39
123
3
48
72
71
49
48
47
79
137
51
31
23
34
68
43
79
91
92
144
208
29
31
23
34
63
42
76
91
91
130
208
22
T y p e s V I I I a n d o th e r
All nonrelief families...............
$0-$499__________ _____________
$500-$749_______ ______________
$750-$999______ _______________
$1,000-$1,249___________________
$1,250-$1,499_____ _____________
$1,500-$1,749___________________
$1,750-$1,999_____ _____________
$2,000-$2,499_______ ___________
$2,500-$2,999___________________
$3,000-$4,999___________________
$5,000 and over________________
5
1
3
(**)
1
14
8
Median incomes were as follows: Families of type I, $1,638; families of types II and III, $1,698; families of
types IV and V, $2,002; families of types VI and VII, $1,823; families of types VIII and other- $2,437.
** $0.50 or less.
128
FAM ILY INCOME IN
CHICAGO
T a b l e 3 . — M o n e y e a r n in g s: N um ber o f fam ilies receiving net m oney earnings
and average net m oney earnings received fro m each source , by incom e , 1 9 3 5 -8 6
[White families including husband and wife, both native born: All occupational groups and all family types
combined]
Number of families receiving net
money earnings from—
Number
of fami
lies
Income class
(2)
(1)
Any
source
(3)
Average net money earnings
from 1—
Other
Individ Roomers work not
All
and
attribu
ual
board
table to sources
earners
individ
ers 2
uals
(4)
(5)
(7)
(6)
Roomers
Individ
and
ual
boarders
earners and other
work 3
(8)
(9)
28, 515
27,612
27,481
1,461
94
$1,789
$1,776
$13
Relief families---------------Nonrelief families
2,713
25,802
2, 334
25, 278
2,318
25,163
83
1,378
7
87
431
1,932
425
1,918
6
14
$0-$249_____________
$250-$499___________
$500-$749___________
$750-$999___________
$1,000-$1,249________
$1,250-$1,499________
$1,500-$1,749________
$1,750-$1,999_______
$2,000-$2,249_______
$2,250-$2,499________
$2,500-$2,999________
$3,000-$3,499________
$3,500-$3,999________
$4,000-$4,499________
$4,500-$4,999
___
$5,000-$7,499________
$7,500-$9,999________
$10,000 and over____
301
521
1,083
1,896
2,820
2, 738
2,964
2,995
2,500
1,941
2,172
1, 339
845
498
299
663
116
111
152
462
1,023
1,860
2,765
2,697
2,924
2,969
2,489
1,933
2,165
1,328
839
493
295
660
115
109
144
441
992
1,847
2, 752
2,686
2,914
2,967
2,487
1,932
2,165
1,326
839
492
295
660
115
109
12
38
84
98
156
183
146
152
125
99
135
58
30
19
16
22
4
1
3
8
6
9
13
9
13
5
7
4
8
1
1
74
312
556
821
1,059
1,288
1, 524
1, 783
2,031
2, 276
2,549
2,990
3, 500
3,933
4, 383
5,410
7, 546
12,731
70
296
535
809
1,046
1,272
1,510
1,771
2,016
2,264
2,531
2,975
3,481
3,921
4, 368
5,401
7,536
12,725
4
16
21
12
13
16
14
12
15
12
18
15
19
12
15
9
10
6
All families________
-
1 The averages in each column are based on all families, column (2), whether or not they received money
earnings from the specified source.
2 Includes only families which had net money earnings from roomers and boarders (i. e., whose gross income
from roomers and boarders exceeded estimated expenses). In addition, there were a few families which
had roomers and boarders but which received from them no net money earnings.
3 Includes net money earnings from roomers and boarders and from other work not attributable to indivi
duals (casual work in the home such as laundry and sewing). Average net money earnings of all nonrelief
families from other work not attributable to individuals were less than $0.50.
TABULAR SUMMARY
T
129
3A . — M o n e y e a r n in g s: Number o f fam ilies receiving net m oney earnings
and average net m oney earnings received from each source , by occupation and
incom e , 1985-86
able
[White nonrelief families including husband and wife, both native born: All family types combined]
Number of families receiving net
money earnings from—
Income class and occu
pational group
(1)
Number
of fami
lies
(2)
Any
source
(3)
Average net money earnings
from1—
Other
work not
Individ Roomers
and
All
attribu
ual
board
table to sources
earners
ers 2
individ
uals
(4)
(6)
(5)
(7)
Roomers
Individ
and
ual
boarders
earners and other
work3
(8)
(9)
W a g e ea rn er
All nonrelief families___
11, 705
11, 697
11, 695
672
43
$1, 586
$1,573
$13
$0-$499_________________
$500-$749_______________
$750-$999_______________
$1,000-$1,249____________
$1,250-$1,499____________
$1,500-$1,749____________
$1,750-$1,999____________
$2,000-$2,499____________
$2,500-$2,999____________
$3,000-$4,999____________
$5,000 and over_________
413
633
1,239
1,630
1, 589
1,540
1,440
1,767
754
652
48
407
632
1,239
1, 630
1,588
1,540
1,440
1,767
754
652
48
405
632
1,239
1,630
1,588
1,540
1,440
1,767
754
652
48
13
27
61
92
107
5
3
3
294
594
833
1,069
1,305
1,546
1,793
2,128
2,528
3,343
5,383
4
84
103
50
46
298
602
842
1,080
1,318
1, 558
1,805
2,144
2, 550
3,367
5,389
All nonrelief families___
7,864
7,863
7,863
327
27
2,003
1,993
10
$0-$499_________________
$500-$749_______________
$750-$999_______________
$1,000-$1,249____________
$1,250-$1,499____________
$1,500-$1,749____________
$1,750-$1,999____________
$2,000-$2,499____________
$2,500-$2,999____________
$3,000-$4,999____________
$5,000 and over___ __ .
81
206
390
714
777
983
1,062
1,731
765
984
171
81
206
389
714
777
983
1,062
1, 731
765
984
171
81
206
389
714
777
983
1,062
1,731
765
984
171
3
3
9
35
41
32
37
81
41
33
5
1
300
587
849
1,096
1,305
1, 549
1, 794
2,150
2, 554
3,454
5, 735
295
580
842
1,087
1,295
1,542
1,786
2,138
2,540
3,442
5, 727
5
7
7
9
All nonrelief families. _
5, 714
5,711
5, 598
378
17
2, 718
2,694
24
$0-$499_________________
$500-$749_______________
$750-$999________________
$1,000-$1,249____________
$1,250-$1,499____________
$1,500-$1,749____________
$1,750-$1,999____________
$2,000-$2,499____________
$2,500-$2,999____________
$3,000-$4,999____________
$5,000 and over______ __
125
183
231
420
333
401
467
924
646
1,319
665
123
182
231
420
333
401
467
924
646
1,319
665
97
152
217
407
321
391
465
921
646
1,316
665
33
47
28
29
35
26
31
40
44
44
3
233
453
743
1,019
1, 216
1,449
1,766
2,138
2, 552
3,500
6.963
61
87
42
34
44.
37
21
294
540
785
1,053
1,260
1, 486
1,788
2,151
2, 569
3, 515
6, 972
519
7
7
1
9
8
1
88
1
6
7
7
6
3
2
1
8
9
11
13
12
12
16
22
24
6
C le r ic a l
10
4
8
2
4
4
1
10
7
8
12
14
12
8
B u s in e s s a n d p r o fe s sio n a l
1
2
3
2
1
4
1
22
13
17
15
9
N o g a in fu lly e m p lo y e d
m em bers
All nonrelief families___
1The averages in each column are based on all families, column (2), whether or not they received money
earnings from the specified source.
2Includes only families which had net money earnings from roomers and boarders (i. e., whose gross income
from roomers and boarders exceeded estimated expenses). In addition, there were some families which had
roomers and boarders but which had no net money earnings from them.
3Includes net money earnings from roomers and boarders and from other work not attributable to individ
uals (casual work in the home such as laundry and sewing). Average net money earnings of all nonrelief
families from other work not attributable to individuals were as follows: Wage earner families, $1; clerical
families, $1; business and professional families, less than $0.50.
FAMILY INCOME IN CHICAGO
130
T
3B.— M o n e y e a rn in g s: Number o f fam ilies receiving net m oney earnings
and average net m oney earnings received from each source, by fa m ily type and
incom et 1935-36
able
[White nonrelief families including husband and wife, both native born: All occupational groups combined]
Number of families receiving net
money earnings from—
Income class and family Number
type
of families
Any
source
(2)
(1)
(3)
Average net money earnings
from1—
Other
not
Indi
Roomers work
attrib
All
vidual
and
utable
to sources
earners boarders 2
indi
viduals
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
Indi
vidual
earners
Roomers
and
boarders
and other
work 3
(8)
(9)
T ype I
All nonrelief families___
6,750
6,449
6,368
471
21
$1,714
$1,693
$21
$0-$499_________________
$500-$749_______________
$750-$999_______________
$1,000-$1,249____________
$1,250-$1,499_________ .
$1,500-$1,749____________
$1,750-$1,999____________
$2,000-$2,499____________
$2,500-$2,999____________
$3,000-$4,999____________
$5,000 and over________
344
383
622
819
775
783
779
1,028
445
593
179
235
346
599
784
745
761
768
1,017
445
571
178
212
5
325
591
773
740
754
767
1,015
445
568
178
34
40
49
67
62
51
36
204
522
801
1,026
1,257
1, 506
1,778
2,134
2,549
3, 262
6,481
182
488
784
22
1,234
1,482
1,766
2,116
2,523
3,235
6,471
All nonrelief families____
8, 309
8, 251
8,243
313
1,821
1,813
$0-$499___________ ______
$500-$749______ ________
$750-$999_______________
$1,000-41,249____________
$1,250-$1,499____________
$1,500-$l, 749___________
$1, 750-$l, 999___________
$2,000-$2,499___________
$2, 500-$2,999___________
.
$3,000-$4,999________
$5,000 and over_________
214
372
702
1,014
1,033
1,035
181
363
700
181
359
699
263
592
847
1,092
1,321
1, 561
1,818
2,167
2,562
3,472
6,544
262
583
840
1,086
1, 310
1, 556
1,808
2,158
2, 552
3,465
6, 541
66
32
28
2
1
5
5
2
1
6
1,002
34
17
24
23
24
12
18
26
27
10
T y p e s I I and I I I
22
8
1
1, 502
576
656
205
1,031
1,032
998
1,499
575
656
205
1,030
1,032
998
1,498
575
656
205
4
19
23
31
62
33
43
53
27
14
4
All nonrelief families____
7, 654
7, 511
7,489
461
28
2,140
2,124
16
$0-$499_________________
$500-$749_______________
$750-$999_______________
$1,000-$1,249____________
$1,250-$1,499____________
$1,500-$1,749____________
$1,750-$1,999 ________ _
$2,000-42,499____________
$2,500-42,999____________
$3,000-44,999____________
$5,000 and over_________
206
233
416
149
145
216
401
650
627
783
852
1,396
837
1,233
349
11
20
22
6
2
210
200
10
T ypes I V
1,000
1,011
1,010
2
3
4
1
3
3
5
1
9
7
6
11
5
10
9
10
7
3
and V
666
638
799
864
1,399
842
1,237
354
222
406
651
630
786
852
1, 396
837
1,233
349
43
44
47
61
75
63
61
14
3
2
7
2
2
3
1
542
795
1,036
1,265
1,486
1,748
2,113
2,543
3,447
6, 572
518
777
1,022
1,249
1,471
1,731
2,097
2, 524
3,431
6,561
24
18
14
16
15
17
16
19
16
11
1The averages in each column are based on all families, column (2), whether or not they received money
earnings from the specified source.
2Includes only families which had net money earnings from roomers and boarders (i. e., whose gross income
from roomers and boarders exceeded estimated expense). In addition there were some families which had
roomers and boarders, but which had no net money earnings from them.
3Includes net money earnings from roomers and boarders and from other work not attributable to indi
viduals (casual work in the home such as laundry and sewing). Average net money earnings of all nonrelief
families from other work not attributable to individuals were less than $0.50 for each family-type group
shown above.
TABULAR SUMMARY
131
T a b l e 3 B . — M o n e y e a r n in g s: Num ber o f fam ilies receiving net m oney earnings
and average net m oney earnings received from each source^ by fa m ily type and
incom e , 1 9 3 5 -8 6 — C on tin u ed
Number of families receiving net
money earnings from—
Income class and family Number
type
of families
Other
not
Roomers work
All
attrib
and
utable
to sources
boarders
indi
viduals
Any
source
Indi
vidual
earners
(2)
(3)
(4)
2,212
2,199
2,198
47
79
133
265
224
276
272
382
202
254
78
38
79
133
264
224
276
271
381
201
254
78
38
79
133
264
224
276
270
381
201
254
78
5
3
12
9
10
10
18
8
15
3
All nonrelief families-----
877
868
865
40
$0-$499_____ ___________
$500-$749____ __________
$750-$999______________
$1,000-$1,249___________
$1,250-$1,499_________
$1,500-$1,749___________
$1,750-$1,999___________
$2,000-$2,499___________
$2,500-$2,999___________
$3,000-$4,999___________
$5,000 and over___
11
16
23
56
68
71
80
130
107
241
74
10
13
23
55
67
69
80
129
107
241
74
9
13
23
55
65
69
80
129
107
241
74
1
(1)
Average net money earnings
from—
(7)
(6)
(5)
Indi
vidual
earners
Roomers
and
boarders
and other
work
(8)
(9)
Types V I and V II
All nonrelief families__
$0-$499______ __________
$500-$749_____ _________
$750-$999_____ _________
$1,000-$1,249___________
$1,250-$1,499_______
$1,500-$1,749___________
$1,760-$!,999___________
$2,000-$2,499....................
$2,500-$2,999___________
$3,000-$4,999___________
$5,000 and over_______
93
$2,000
$1,990
$10
268
599
857
1,093
1,326
1,550
1, 796
2,136
2, 519
3,517
6, 793
268
592
853
1,087
1,318
1,542
1, 788
2,124
2, 504
3,499
6,779
7
4
6
8
8
8
12
15
18
14
5
2, 677
2,663
14
1
1
1
233
484
870
1,031
1,242
1,495
1,737
2,116
2, 585
3, 572
6,990
231
484
866
1,020
1,215
1,469
1,732
2,088
2, 560
3, 567
6,990
4
11
27
26
5
28
25
5
11
2
2
2
1
2
1
1
Types V III and other
1
3
6
5
2
12
5
5
2
2
132
F A M IL Y
IN C O M E
IN
C H IC A G O
T a b l e 4 .— P rin cipal ea rn ers: Num ber and average yearly earnings o f principal
earners , classified as husbands , wives , and others,
weeks o f em ploym ent o f
principal earners, by incom e , 1 935—36 1
[White families including husband and wife, both native born: All occupational groups and all familytypes combined]
Number of principal earners
Income class
(1)
All families......... .......... .........
Relief families _____ _____
Nonrelief families................
$0-$249_________________
$250-$499_______________
$500-$749_______________
$750-$999_______________
$1,000-$1,249____________
$l,250r-$l,499____________
$1,500-$1,749____________
$1,750~$1,999____________
$2,000-$2,249____________
$2,250-$2,499____________
$2,500-$2,999____________
$3,000-$3,499____________
$3,500-$3,999____________
$4,000-$4,499____________
$4,500-$4,999____________
$5,000-$7,499____________
$7,500-$9,999___________
$10,000 and over__............
Income class
(8)
All families____ ____________
Relief families---------------------N onrelief families------ ----------$0-$249_________________
$250-$499_______________
$500-$749_______________
$750-$999_______________
$1,000-$1,249____________
$1,250-$1,499____________
$1,500-$1,749____________
$1,750-$1,999____________
$2,000-$2,249____________
$2,250-$2,499____________
$2,500-$2,999____________
$3,000-$3,499____________
$3,500-$3,999____________
$4,000-$4,499____________
$4,500-$4,999____________
$5,000-$7,499____________
$7,500-$9,999____________
$10,000 and over--------------
Number of
families
Others
All 2
Husbands
Wives
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
28,515
2, 713
25,802
301
521
1,083
1,896
2,820
2,738
2,964
2,995
2, 500
1,941
2,172
1,339
845
498
299
663
116
111
27,481
2,318
25,163
144
441
992
1,847
2, 752
2,686
2,914
2,967
2,487
1,932
2,165
1,326
839
492
295
660
115
109
25,293
2,110
23,183
121
385
873
1,692
2, 533
2,474
2,697
2,775
2,344
1,812
1, 990
1,201
757
443
260
609
111
106
Average
weeks of
employ
ment of
principal
earners 3
(9)
48
29
49
16
29
39
46
49
50
51
51
51
51
51
52
52
52
52
52
52
52
690
42
648
13
26
63
84
96
80
72
48
30
35
42
26
10
10
3
10
Males
Females
(6)
(7)
1,002
113
889
6
18
33
40
72
81
98
93
72
53
90
82
60
27
24
33
4
3
496
53
443
4
12
23
31
51
51
47
51
41
32
43
17
12
12
8
8
Average earnings of principal earners 4
Others
All
Husbands
Wives
(10)
(ID
(12)
$1,684
464
1,796
142
338
566
808
1,037
1, 240
1,458
1, 685
1,912
2,103
2, 245
2,604
2, 986
3, 270
3, 520
4, 777
6,874
12,148
$1, 730
459
1,846
146
345
575
821
1,055
1,264
1,489
1,722
1,951
2,147
2,306
2, 690
3,095
3,397
3,682
4, 925
6, 989
12, 238
$1, 019
403
1,058
142
321
515
676
818
952
1,039
1,222
1,312
1,389
1, 594
1,936
1,999
2,305
2,369
4,296
Males
Females
(13)
(14)
$1, 329
560
1,427
130
246
477
683
853
1,009
1,149
1,192
1,363
1,599
1,642
1,804
2,057
2,152
2,336
2,910
3,690
8,967
$977
531
1,030
36
300
504
657
828
846
977
998
1,049
1,238
1, 322
1,460
1, 585
1,893
2,239
1,845
1Includes 519 families classified in the occupational group “ No gainfully employed members,” who are not
included in table 4A, pp. 133 to 138. These families had 7 principal earners.
2 The total number of principal earners given in column (3) is equivalent to the total number of families
having individual earners, since a family can have only one principal earner. The difference between the
totals in columns (2) and (3) is explained by the fact that column (2), number of families, includes cases
in which none of the family income was attributable to individual earners.
3 Averages in this column are based on the number of principal earners reporting weeks of employment.
4 Averages in this section of the table are based on the corresponding counts of principal earners in
columns (3) through (7).
133
TABULAR SUMMARY
T a b l e 4 A .— P rin cipal e a rn e rs: Num ber and average yearly earnings o f principal
earners, classified as husbands , wives, and others, with weeks o f em ploym ent o f
principal earners, by occupation and incom e , 1 9 3 5 -3 6
[White nonrelief families including husband and wife, both native born: All family types combined]
OCCUPATIONAL GROUP: WAGE EARNER
Number of principal earners
Number of
families
Income class
Others
All i
Husbands
Wives
( 2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
All nonrelief families.
$0-$499..... ........
$500-$749_____
$750-$999_____
$1,000-$1,249__
$1,250-$1,499__
$1,500-$1,749__
$1,750-$!,999...
$2,000-$2,499__
$2,500-$2,999__
$3,000-$4,999__
$5,000 and over.
11,705
413
633
1,239
1,630
1,589
1,540
1,440
1,767
754
652
48
11,695
405
632
1,239
1,630
1,588
1,540
1,440
1, 767
754
652
48
11,008
354
570
1,156
1, 554
1, 522
1,457
1, 373
1, 699
709
571
43
Income class
weeks of
employ
ment of
principal
earners 2
( 1)
Males
Females
(6)
(7)
196
31
40
44
29
21
15
7
9
406
13
14
31
38
39
56
49
47
38
76
5
85
7
8
8
9
6
12
11
12
7
5
Average earnings of principal earners 3
(9)
(8)
48
24
39
45
48
49
50
51
51
51
51
52
All nonrelief families...............
$0-$499_____________________
$500-$749___________________
$750-$999___________________
$1,000-$1,249________________
$1,250-$1,499________________
$1,500-$1,749________________
$1,750-$1,999________________
$2,000-$2,499________________
$2,500-$2,999________________
$3,000-$4,999________________
$5,000 and over_____ _____ _
Others
All
Husbands
Wives
GO)
(ID
(12)
$1,430
291
577
812
1,037
1, 252
1,468
1,677
1, 958
2,144
2,497
3,706
$1, 457
299
585
826
1,051
1, 267
1,494
1,707
1,987
2,186
2,586
3,812
$626
264
523
616
701
807
829
1,110
994
Males
Females
(13)
(14)
$1,235
195
499
670
811
992
1,127
1,138
1, 389
1, 560
1,900
2,787
$714
154
441
513
506
737
733
774
906
1,058
1,486
OCCUPATIONAL GROUP: CLERICAL
Number of principal earners
Income class
(1)
All nonrelief families...............
$0-$499_____________________
$500-$749..............................
$750-$999..... .............................
$1,000-$1,249...... ........... ..........
$1,250-81,499......... ........... ........
$1,500-$1,749________________
$1,750-$1,999________________
$2,000-$2,499............................
$2,500-$2,999_______ ______ _
$3,000-$4,999________________
$5,000 and over_____________
Number of
families
(2)
7,864
81
206
390
714
777
983
1,062
1, 731
765
984
171
Others
A ll1
Husbands
Wives
(3)
(4)
(5)
7,863
81
206
389
714
777
983
1,082
1, 731
765
984
171
For footnotes 1, 2, 3 see 2, 3, 4 of table 4 on p. 132.
6,908
62
165
331
600
649
870
961
1,584
682
860
144
300
4
14
30
51
48
47
29
34
23
20
Males
Females
(6)
(7)
353
10
12
8
27
37
33
36
60
34
75
21
302
5
15
20
36
43
33
36
53
26
29
6
134
F A M IL Y IN C O M E IN
CHICAGO
T a b l e 4 A . — P rin cipal e a rn e rs: Number and average yearly earnings o f principal
earners, classified as husbandst wives, and others, with weeks o f em ploym ent of
principal earners , by occupation and incom e , 1 9 3 5 -3 6 — C on tin u ed
OCCUPATIONAL GROUP: CLERICAL-Continued
Income class
(8)
Average
weeks of
employ
ment of
principal
earners 2
(9)
Average earnings of principal earners3
Others
All
(10)
Husbands
(11)
Wives
(12)
Males
Females
(13)
(14)
All nonrelief families....... ........
51
$1, 792
$1, 874
$1,105
$1,432
$1,028
$0-$499_____________________
$500-$749______ ____________
$750-$999___________________
$1,000-$1,249________________
$1,250-$1,499________________
$1,500-$1,749_____ ___________
$1,750-$1,999__________ ____ _
$2,000-$2,499________________
$2,500-$2,999____ ___________
$3,000-$4,999________________
$5,000 and over___.......... ........
25
39
48
50
51
51
51
52
52
52
52
280
559
822
1,049
1,223
1,449
1,685
2,007
2,234
2,792
4, 629
286
571
835
1,078
1,274
1,493
1,743
2,071
2, 326
2,933
5,002
284
504
780
882
1,024
1,137
1,171
1,288
1, 515
1,990
247
488
718
925
1,009
1,123
1,213
1,519
1.634
1,883
2,888
325
538
712
893
852
1,064
1,022
1,121
1,222
1, 510
1,785
OCCUPATIONAL GROUP: BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL
Number of principal earners
Income class
(1)
Number of
families
(2)
Others
A1P
Husbands
Wives
(3)
(4)
(5)
Males
Females
(6)
(7)
All nonrelief families_______
5, 714
5,598
5,260
152
130
56
$0-$499_____________________
$5Q0-$749 __________________
$750-$999___________________
$1,000-$1,249____ _____ ______
$l,250-$f,499________________
$1,500-$1,749________________
$1,750-$1,999________________
$2,000-$2,499________________
$2,500-$2,999________________
$3,000-$4,999________________
$5,000 and over. _ __________
125
183
231
420
333
401
467
924
646
1,319
665
97
152
217
407
321
391
465
921
646
1,316
665
88
136
203
378
303
370
441
873
599
1, 230
639
4
9
10
16
11
10
12
22
19
29
10
1
7
1
7
5
9
8
18
18
42
14
4
Income class
(8)
Average
weeks of
employ
ment of
principal
earners 2
(9)
All nonrelief families.
50
$0-$499........... ...........
$500-$749__________
$750-$999___________
$1,000-$1,249________
$1,250-$1,499________
$1,500-$1,749________
$1,750-$1,999________
$2,000-$2,499________
$2,500-$2,999________
$3,000-$4,999________
$5,000 and over_____
34
42
45
49
50
51
51
51
51
52
52
Average earnings of principal earners3
Others
All
Husbands
Wives
( 10)
(ID
( 12)
294
532
762
1,015
1,218
1,442
1,708
2,043
2,378
3,215
6,463
For footnotes 1, 2, 3, see 2, 3, 4, of table 4 on p. 132.
* Averages not computed for fewer than 3 cases
3
6
2
2
4
8
10
15
2
$2,624
$1, 525
300
540
770
1,028
1,232
1, 461
1, 724
2,070
2,426
3,282
6,554
217
497
629
823
914
895
1,412
1,603
1,689
2,093
4,296
Males
Females
(13)
(14)
$2, Oil
(*)
(*)
414
803
1,142
1,382
1,436
1,468
1,830
2,378
4,506
$1, 529
262
671
919
(*)
(*)
1,408
1,544
1,766
2,217
(*)
TABULAE SUMMAEY
135
T able 4 B . — P rin cip al e a rn e rs: N um ber and average yearly earnings o f principal
earners , classified as husbandsf wives , and others, with weeks o f em ploym ent o f
principal earners , b y fa m ily typ e and incom e , 1 9 3 5 -8 6
[White nonrelief families including husband and wife, both native born: All occupational groups combined]
FAMILY TYPE I
Number of principal earners
Income class
( 1)
Number of
families
(2)
Others
AU 1
Husbands
Wives
(3)
(4)
(6)
All nonrelief families.
6,750
6,368
6,051
316
$0-$499____ ________
$500-$749___________
$750-$999__________
$1,000-$1,249________
$1,250-$1,499_______
$1,500-$1,749________
$1,750-$1,999....... .
$2,000-$2,499_______
$2,500-$2,999_______
$3,000-$4,999_______
$5,000 and over_____
344
383
622
819
775
783
779
1,028
445
593
179
212
325
591
773
740
754
767
1,015
445
568
178
196
297
550
722
704
714
741
980
423
551
173
16
28
41
51
36
40
25
35
22
17
5
Income class
(8)
Average
weeks of
employ
ment of
principal
earners 2
(9 )
Males
Females
(6)
(7)
41
41
Average earnings of principal earners 3
Others
All
Husbands
Wives
( 10)
( 11 )
( 12)
All nonrelief families.
49
$1,709
$1,741
$0-$499_____________
$500-$749___________
$750-$999__...........— .
$1,000-$1,249________
$1,250-$1,499________
$1,500-$1,749________
$1,750-$1,999________
$2,000-$2,499________
$2,500-$2,999________
$3,000-$4,999________
$5,000 and over.........
28
40
46
49
50
51
51
51
52
52
52
287
558
802
1,032
1,247
1,465
1, 728
2,040
2, 357
3,128
6,290
290
564
809
1,046
1,260
1,483
1,743
2,062
2,390
3,160
6,354
Males
Females
(1 3 )
(1 4 )
(*)
242
488
716
829
1,004
1,138
1,284
1,438
1,726
2,075
4,084
______
______
______
______
______
______
(*)
______
______
______
______
For footnotes 1, 2, 3, see 2, 3, 4 of table 4 on p. 132.
4
This individual was a member of the family for less than 27 weeks. His presence in the family, therefore,
was not inconsistent with the classification of the family as type I. See glossary for further explanation of
family types.
* Averages not computed for fewer than 3 cases.
740 2 1 °— 39-------10
FAMILY INCOME IN CHICAGO
136
T a b l e 4 B . — P rin cip al e a rn e rs : N um ber and average yearly earnings o f principal
earners, classified as husbands, wives, and others, with weeks o f em ploym ent o f
principal earners, by fa m ily typ e and income, 1 9 3 5 -8 6 — C on tin u ed
FAMILY TYPES II AND III
Number of principal earners
Income class
Number of
families
Others
Ain
( 1)
( 2)
(3)
Husbands
Wives
(4)
(5 )
All nonrelief families.
8,309
8, 243
8,115
128
$0-$499_____________
$500-$749___________
$750-$999___________
$1,000-$1,249_______
$1,250-$1,499_______
$1,500-$1,749_______
$1,750-$1,999_______
$2,000-$2,499_______
$2,500-$2,999_______
$3,000-$4,999_______
$5,000 and over_____
214
372
702
1,014
1,033
1,035
181
359
699
174
337
684
983
1,012
7
22
15
27
18
Income class
( 8)
1,000
1,502
576
656
205
Average
weeks of
employ
ment of
principal
earners 2
(9)
1, 010
1,030
1,032
998
1,498
575
656
205
1,021
Males
Females
( 6)
(7 )
11
989
1,493
570
649
203
9
5
5
7
2
Average earnings of principal earners 3
Others
All
Husbands
Wives
( 10 )
(ID
( 12)
All nonrelief families.
50
$1, 803
$1, 815
$1, 019
$0-$499_____ ____
$500-$749___________
$750-$999___________
$1,000-$1,249_______
$1,250-$1,499_______
$1,500-$1,749_______
$1,750-$1,999_______
$2,000-$2,499_______
$2,500-$2,999_______
$3,000-$4,999_______
$5,000 and over_____
23
39
47
50
50
51
51
52
52
52
52
304
595
834
1,076
1,298
1,537
1,784
2,146
2, 518
3,399
6,483
305
598
837
1,084
1,304
1,544
1,787
2,148
2, 524
3,409
6,498
286
548
690
795
969
976
1,409
1,433
1,848
2,475
Males
Females
(13)
(14)
FAMILY TYPES IV AND V
Number of principal earners
Income class
(1)
All nonrelief families________
$0-$499_____________________
$500-$749___________________
$750-$999___________________
$1,000-$1,249________________
$1,250-SI,499________________
$1,500-$1,749________________
$1,750-$1,999________________
$2,000-$2,499________________
$2,500-$2,999________________
$3,000-$4,999________________
$5,000 and over_ ----------------
Number of
families
(2)
7,654
206
233
416
666
638
799
864
1, 399
842
1, 237
354
Others
A ll1
Husbands
Wives
(3)
(4)
(5)
7,489
145
216
401
650
627
783
852
1,396
837
1,233
349
For footnotes 1, 2, 3, see 2, 3, 4 of table 4 on p. 132.
* Averages not computed for fewer than 3 cases.
6,375
96
159
318
537
502
661
738
1, 229
739
1, 069
327
173
13
12
24
17
24
16
10
21
11
22
3
Males
Females
(6)
(7)
615
22
25
30
53
63
73
67
93
58
113
18
326
14
20
29
43
38
33
37
53
29
29
1
137
TABULAR SUM M ARY
T
4 B .— P rin cip al e a rn e rs: Num ber and average yearly earnings o f principal
earners , classified as husbands , wives , and others, with weeks o f em ploym ent of
principal earners, by fa m ily typ e and incom e, 1 9 8 5 -8 6 — C on tin u ed
a b l e
FAMILY TYPES IV AND V—Continued
Income class
(8)
Average
weeks of
employ
ment of
principal
earners 2
(9)
Average earnings of principal earners 3
Others
All
Husbands
Wives
(10)
(11)
(12)
Males
Females
(13)
(14)
All nonrelief families-------------
49
$1,853
$1, 958
$1, 033
$1,432
$1,038
$0-$499_____________________
$500-$749___________________
$750~$999____________________
$1,000-$1,249________________
$1,250-$1,499________________
$1,500-$1,749________________
$1,750-$1,999________________
$2,000-$2,499________________
$2,500-$2,999____ ___________
$3i000-$4,999________________
$5,000 and over_____________
26
39
44
47
48
50
51
51
51
52
52
271
528
765
981
1,148
1,359
1, 560
1,835
2,078
2, 721
5,763
287
542
797
1,006
1,196
1,408
1, 620
1,898
2,138
2,819
5,870
272
522
583
830
858
905
979
1, 212
1,407
1,929
4,200
221
456
678
862
1,044
1,162
1,268
1, 515
1,779
2,1*44
4,270
236
504
659
865
867
1,030
1,058
1,189
1,414
1,941
(*)
FAMILY TYPES VI AND VII
Number of principal earners
Income class
•
(1 )
Number of
families
( 2)
All nonrelief families.
2, 212
$0-$499____________
$500-$749___________
$750-$999___________
$1,000-$1,249_______
$1,250-$1,499_______
$1,500-$1,749_______
$1,750-$1,999_______
$2,000-$2,499________
$2,500-$2,999_______
$3,000-$4,999_______
$5,000 and over_____
47
79
133
265
224
276
272
382
202
254
78
Income class
(8)
All nonrelief families.
$0-$499____________
$500-$749__________
$750-$999___________
$1,000-$1,249________
$1,250-$1,499___ ____
$1,500-$1,749________
$1,750-$1,999________
$2,000-$2,499________
$2,500-$2,999________
$3,000-$4,999._______
$5,000 and over---- -
Average
weeks of
employ
ment of
principal
earners 2
(9)
49
26
37
45
48
50
50
51
51
51
51
52
Others
All i
Husbands
Wives
(3)
(4)
(5)
Females
(6)
(7)
2,198
2,072
13
89
38
79
133
264
224
276
270
381
201
254
78
36
75
126
254
213
264
263
364
186
219
72
1
1
3
1
2
3
8
6
9
3
10
12
31
4
1
3
1
3
24
1
1
2
4
3
4
3
4
2
Average earnings of principal earners 3
Others
All
Husbands
Wives
( 10)
(11)
$1, 846
328
583
837
1,073
1,265
1,495
1,736
2,027
2, 218
2, 916
6,174
For footnotes 1, 2, 3, see 2, 3, 4, of table 4 on page 132.
* Averages not computed for fewer than 3 cases.
Males
$1, 877
332
587
841
1,080
1,290
1, 521
1, 756
2,062
2, 289
3,068
6, 481
Males
Females
(12)
(13)
(14)
$860
(*)
(*)
783
$1, 505
(*)
(*)
810
992
753
1,021
1,127
1,424
1,340
2,046
2,898
(*)
644
(*)
1,405
$983
(*)
(*)
(*)
791
847
819
1,300
1,350
(*)
138
F A M IL Y
IN C O M E
IN
C H IC A G O
Number and average yearly earnings o f principal
earners, classified as husbands, wives, and others, with weeks o f em ployment o f
principal earners, by fa m ily type and incom e, 1935—
36— Continued
T a b l e 4 B . — P rin cip al e a rn e rs:
FAMILY TYPES VIII AND OTHER
Number of principal earners
Income class
0)
Number of
families
(2)
Others
Alii
Husbands
Wives
(3)
(4)
(5)
Males
Females
(6)
(7)
All nonrelief families............ .
877
865
570
18
184
93
$0~$499........ - ..........- ........— .
$500-$749.............................. .
$750-$999.......... ....................—
$1,000-$1,249.............- ......... —
$1,250-$1,499________________
$1,500-$1,749________ _____ —
$1,750-$1,999________________
$2,000-$2,499____ __________
$2,500-$2,999________________
$3,000-$4,999________________
$5,000 and over-------- ------------
11
16
23
56
68
71
80
130
107
241
74
9
13
23
55
65
69
80
129
107
241
74
4
5
14
37
43
37
44
90
72
173
51
2
1
6
7
11
12
16
22
22
20
49
18
2
2
1
6
9
14
11
16
11
16
5
Average earnings of principal earners *
Average
Income class
(8)
employ
ment of
principal
earners 2
(9)
Others
All
Husbands
Wives
(10)
(ID
(12)
All nonrelief families------- --
50
$1, 764
$2, 037
$0-$499_____________________
$500-$749___________________
$750-$999___________________
$1,000-$1,249______ ____ _____
$1,250-$1,499________________
$1,500-$1,749______ ____ _____
$1,750-$1,999________________
$2,000-$2,499________________
$2,500-$2,999________ _____
$3,000-$4,999________________
$5,000 and over_____________
20
38
46
47
48
50
52
50
51
51
52
216
526
758
883
1,023
1,191
1,196
1, 532
1,676
2,093
4,404
226
510
816
974
1,089
1,340
1,423
1,696
1,869
2,291
5,246
For footnotes 1, 2, 3, see 2, 3, 4, of table 4 on p. 132.
* Averages not computed for fewer than 3 cases.
1
1
1
2
3
1
4
3
Males
Females
(13)
(14)
$1, 036
$1, 369
(*)
(*)
(*)
(*)
(*)
(*)
1,023
(*)
1,064
1,813
550
650
709
953
1,160
944
1,260
1,427
1,629
2,734
$1,018
(*)
(*)
(*)
684
783
851
839
1,020
1,087
1,423
1,826
139
TABULAE SUMMARY
T able 5.— N u m b e r o f earners In f a m i ly : Num ber o f fam ilies with specified
number o f individual earners , fa m ily relationship o f sole earners , and average
number o f supplem entary earners per fa m ily , by incom e , 1 9 3 5 -3 6
[White families including husband and wife, both native born: All occupational groups and all family types
combined]
Number of families with individual earners
Income class
Num
ber of
fami
lies
Any
family
mem
ber
Families
with more
than one
One only
earner as
percent
age of
Four families
Other
Two Three or with any
Hus
more
individ
band Wife
Fe
ual
Male male
earner1
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
All families...............
28, 515
22,032
21,329
229
326
Belief families______ 2,713
Nonrelief families— 25,802
2,021
20, 011
1,930
19,399
24
205
50
276
128
393
874
1,644
2,419
2,252
2,444
2,457
2,053
1,495
1,453
847
515
280
147
446
79
85
111
351
802
1,562
2,326
2,1,97
2,371
2,408
2,015
1,471
1,424
828
506
278
143
443
79
84
9
19
38
42
28
18
19
11
8
3
5
3
1
4
15
18
23
37
27
41
28
22
18
16
14
8
1
3
$0-$249_________
$250-$499.............
$500-$749............
$750-$999......... .
$1,000-$1,249____
$1,250-$1,499____
$1,500-$1,749____
$1,750-$1,999____
$2,000-$2,249____
$2,250-$2,499____
$2,500-$2,999____
$3,000-$3,499____
$3,500-$3,999 ___
$4,000-$4,499.......
$4,50O-$4,999____
$5,000-$7,499____
$7,500-$9,999 ___
$10,000 and over.
301
521
1,083
1,896
2,820
2,738
2,964
2,995
2,500
1,941
2,172
1,339
845
498
299
663
116
111
1
1
(8)
Aver
age
num
ber of
supple
men
tary
earners
per
family *
(9)
(10)
148 4,400
836
213
20
0. 25
17
257
131 4,143
30
806
10
203
13
20
.15
.25
8
4
6
9
7
12
35
17
26
26
16
29
6
2
11
11
12
11
12
16
16
17
17
23
33
36
39
43
50
32
31
22
. 11
. 11
. 12
. 11
.13
. 18
.18
.20
.21
.28
.42
.47
. 55
.69
.78
. 52
.48
.33
4
8
16
17
28
10
13
10
8
3
8
2
1
1
2
16
47
116
197
303
396
415
487
363
355
551
355
221
120
87
127
23
14
1
2
6
22
34
49
64
64
70
126
107
77
66
45
58
7
8
(12)
(ID
i
This percentage was computed by dividing the sum of columns (8), (9), (10) by column (3) of table 4 on
p. 132.
* Averages in this column are based on the number of families with individual earners, column (3) of
table 4 on p. 132.
T a b l e 6 .— Sole an d su p p lem en ta ry earners: N u m ber o f fa m ilies with in d ivid u a l ea rn ers; n u m b er a n d average ea rnings o f su p p lem en ta ry
earners classified as husbands , w ives , and others; and average earnings o f f a m i l y f r o m su p p lem en ta ry ea rn ers; b y in co m e , 1 9 3 5 - 3 6
O
[White families including husband and wife, both native born: All occupational groups and all family types combined]
Number of families with individual
earners
Income class
All families.— --------------------Relief families_______________
Nonrelief families____________
$0-$249__________________
$250-$499________________
$500-$749________________
$750-$999________________
$1,000-$1,249______________
$1,250-$1,499______________
$1,500-$1,749______________
$1,750-$1,999______________
$2,000-$2,249______________
$2,250-$2,499______________
$2,500-$2,999_____________
$3,000-$3,499______________
$3,500-$3,999______________
$4,000-$4,499______________
$4,500-$4,999______________
$5,000-$7,499______________
$7,500-$9,999______________
$10,000 and over__________
(2)
28, 515
2, 713
25, 802
301
521
1,083
1,896
2,820
2, 738
2, 964
2, 995
2,500
1,941
2,172
1,339
845
498
299
663
116
111
Average earnings of supplementary
earners 4
Others 3
Others 4
1 only
Any
(3)
27,481
2, 318
25,163
144
441
992
1,847
2,752
2,686
2, 914
2,967
2,487
1,932
2,165
1,326
839
492
295
660
115
109
Any
family Husband
member
(4)
22,032
2,021
20,Oil
128
393
874
1,644
2,419
2,252
2, 444
2,457
2,053
1,495
1,453
847
515
280
147
446
79
85
(5)
21, 329
1,930
19,399
111
351
802
1,562
2,326
2,197
2,371
2, 408
2,015
1,471
1,424
828
506
278
143
443
79
84
More
than
l2
All
(6)
5,449
297
5,152
16
48
118
203
333
434
470
510
434
437
712
479
324
212
148
214
36
24
Hus
bands
Wives
(7)
(8)
(9)
6, 764
351
6, 413
16
49
120
209
371
476
532
594
513
535
912
622
463
338
229
343
55
36
1,199
97
1,102
3
9
39
60
105
128
124
109
80
78
120
80
59
41
27
36
2
2
1,416
48
1,368
10
28
48
81
113
142
169
155
127
96
148
81
64
45
24
28
4
5
All
Hus
bands
Wives
Males
Fe
males
(10)
(ID
(12)
(13)
(14)
2,354
136
2, 218
2
6
21
31
92
103
144
179
179
204
352
271
198
132
103
154
25
22
1, 795
70
1,725
1
6
12
37
61
103
95
151
127
157
292
190
142
120
75
125
24
7
$644
220
667
42
98
142
194
254
328
426
513
557
620
698
851
943
1,017
1,168
1,249
1,523
2, 454
$658
255
693
49
77
163
212
304
406
505
620
633
743
832
1,059
1,213
1,296
1,443
1,727
(*)
(*)
$616
180
631
37
104
124
177
252
334
444
569
654
755
754
945
1,115
1,205
1,638
1,687
2, 605
6,860
Males
Fe
males
(15)
(16)
$667
236
694
$624
171
643
(*)
95
140
231
241
268
368
460
495
559
670
842
906
967
1,062
1,195
1,478
1, 785
O
104
154
168
193
281
374
442
497
556
647
735
806
907
1,062
1,080
1, 261
1, 421
1 Averages in this section of the table are based on the corresponding counts of supplementary earners in the preceding section: “ Number of supplementary earners.’’
2 Families that have supplementary earners.
3 Includes 7 males and 3 females under 16 years of age.
4 Average earnings of persons under 16 years of age amounted to: Males, $59; females, $46.
5 Averages in this column are based on the number of families as shown in column (2).
* Averages not computed for fewer than 3 cases.
Average
earnings
per fam
ily from
supple
mentary
earners3
(17)
$153
28
166
2
9
16
21
33
57
76
102
114
171
293
395
517
690
894
646
722
796
FAMILY INCOME IN CHICAGO
(1)
Number
of fam
ilies
Number of supplementary earners
T a b l e 6 A . — Sole a n d su p p lem en ta ry earners : Number of fam ilies with individual earners; number and average earnings of supplem entary
earners classified as husbandsy wives, and others; and average earnings of fa m ily from supplem entary earners; by occupation and incom e ,
1 9 3 5 -8 6
[White nonrelief families including husband and wife, both native born: All family types combined]
Number of families with in
dividual earners
Income class and occupational group
Number
of fami
lies
(2)
Males
Fe
males
Average
earnings
per fam
ily from
supplementary
earners 5
(13)
(14)
(15)
(16)
Others <
Others3
Any
(1)
Average earnings of supplementary
earners *
Number of supplementary earners
(3)
More
than 1 2
All
(4)
(5)
(6)
1 only
Hus
bands
Wives
(7)
(8)
All
Males
Fe
males
(9)
(10)
(11)
Hus
bands
Wives
(12)
11, 705
11,695
9,293
2,402
2,981
373
696
1,139
773
$566
$594
$483
$624
$540
$144
$0-$499................... ...........................
$500-749___________________________
$750-$999______ _____ ______________
$1,000-$1,249______ _____ ___________
$1,250-$1,499_______________________
$1,500-$1,749_______________________
$1,750 -$1,999_______________________
$2,000-$2,499_______________________
$2,500-$2,999_______________________
$3,000-$4,999_______________________
$5,000 and over-------------- --------- ------ -
413
633
1,239
1,630
1,589
1,540
1,440
1, 767
754
652
48
405
632
1,239
1,630
1,588
1, 540
1,440
1, 767
754
652
48
355
557
1,109
1,446
1,344
1,290
1,166
1,337
437
238
14
50
75
130
184
244
250
274
430
317
414
34
50
76
136
205
269
290
332
531
415
615
62
9
19
36
34
41
47
42
45
34
63
3
S2
35
53
74
96
102
86
106
60
50
2
6
15
22
57
68
85
110
230
196
314
36
3
7
25
40
64
56
94
150
125
188
21
79
140
186
258
321
412
504
562
698
896
1,298
75
176
205
340
436
506
592
670
836
1,090
1,645
86
128
175
266
332
423
587
694
781
1,002
(*)
45
122
211
231
262
372
485
534
679
900
1,390
77
142
159
211
293
374
414
480
650
796
1,032
10
17
20
32
54
78
116
169
384
845
1, 677
7, 864
7, 863
6,126
1,737
2,233
549
407
647
630
707
680
699
726
717
201
Clerical
All nonrelief families__________ ____ _
12
9
3
4
3
55
159
72
10
96
$0-$499 _________ ____ _____ ________
81
81
81
94 ™ 246
21
14
3
4
171
182
24
25
4
170
188
$500-$749__________________________
206
206
22
149
131
3
6
188
218
347
$750-$999___________ _____ _________
390
389
343
46
46
19
18
20
16
11
250
291
180
235
186
37
714
714
620
94
105
58
$1,000-$1,249_______________________
362
251
72
31
24
30
341
390
269
163
$1,250-$1,499_______________________
777
777
629
148
78
483
91
383
55
45
30
456
506
408
$1,500-$1,749_______________ _____ _
983
983
803
180
197
67
For footnotes 1, 2, 5, see table 6 on p. 140.
3 Includes persons under 16 years of age as follows: Wage-earner families, 4 males and 2 females; clerical families, 2 males and no females; business and professional families, 1
male and 1 female; families with no gainfully employed members, none.
* Average earnings of persons under 16 years of age were as follows: Wage-earner families, males $49. Other averages not computed.
* Averages not computed for fewer than 3 cases.
TABULAR SUMMARY
Wage earner
All nonrelief families_________ ______
6A.— Sole and supplementary earners: N u m ber o f fa m ilies with individ ual ea rn ers; num ber a nd average earnings o f su p p lem en ta ry
earners classified as husbands , w ives , and others; and average earnings o f f a m i l y f r o m su p p lem en ta ry ea rn ers; b y occup ation and in co m e ,
1 9 8 5 - 3 6 — Continued
[White nonrelief families including husband and wife, both native born: All family types combined]
T able
Number of families with in
dividual earners
Number
of fami
lies
Income class and occupational group
Others
1 only
Any
(3)
(4)
1,062
1,731
765
984
171
1,062
1,731
765
984
171
884
1,434
506
558
95
All nonrelief families...... .........................
5,714
5,598
4,587
$0-$499............. ......... .................... ..........
$500-$749............. ................. .....................
$750-$999— ...................... ........................
$1,000-$1,249........................................... .
$1,250-$1,499..............................................
$1,500-$1,749..............................................
$1,750-11,999..............................................
$2,000-$2,499.............. ........................... .
$2,500-$2,999.............................................
$3,000-$4,999..............................................
$5,000 and over.........................................
125
183
231
420
333
401
467
924
646
1,319
665
97
152
217
407
321
391
465
921
646
1,316
665
92
134
191
352
279
351
407
777
510
993
501
519
7
All
(5)
(6)
1
Hus
bands
(8)
(7)
Others
All
Wives
Males
Fe
males
(9)
GO)
Hus
bands
Wives
Males
Fe
males
(ID
( )
12
(13)
(14)
(15)
121
$634
698
870
1,203
1, 613
$560
700
763
1,214
1,563
$464
532
614
944
1,248
$471
580
654
878
1, 232
130
306
650
1,098
939
829
748
177
(*)
118
246
275
306
303
331
498
738
903
1,287
(*)
(*)
267
129
295
267
530
596
620
834
1,066
(16)
C l e r i c a l —Continued
$1,750-$1,999....... .......... ...........................
$2,000-$2,499....... ........ ..............................
$2,500-$2,999....... .............................. ........
$3,000-$4,999____________ ____ _____
$5,000 and over________ _________ ____
178
297
259
426
76
198
364
336
646
143
41
60
85
56
89
50
74
59
83
9
243
56
231
58
$541
617
697
990
1,312
180
264
432
321
844
20
47
110
100
95
$101
B u s in e s s a n d p r o fes sio n a l
1,011
6
1,197
5
18
26
55
42
40
58
144
136
323
164
18
26
61
44
45
64
153
161
391
229
2
2
6
5
13
9
10
7
28
30
55
17
2
8
10
19
15
12
19
43
29
81
26
2
3
6
19
11
22
14
43
56
147
109
1
1
5
10
9
9
16
39
46
108
77
114
114
246
248
317
377
472
615
697
988
1,451
920
(*)
106
236
268
401
491
679
684
756
1,322
2,110
121
242
272
287
450
510
703
680
1,119
2,846
5
11
28
36
42
42
65
102
174
293
500
N o g a in fu lly e m p lo y e d m e m b er s
All nonrelief families.................... _........
1
* Averages not computed for fewer than 3 cases.
5
1
1
(*)
(*)
(*)
C)
CHICAGO
2
More
than
Average
earnings
per fam
ily from
supplementary
earners
FAM ILY INCOME IN
( )
1
( )
Average earnings of supplementary
earners
Number of supplementary earners
^
T
6B .— Sole and supplementary earners: N u m ber o f fa m ilie s w ith in d ivid u a l ea rn ers; nu m ber a nd average ea rnings o f s u p p lem en ta ry
earners classified as husba n d s , wives , and others; and average ea rnings o f f a m i l y f r o m s u p p lem en ta ry ea rn ers; b y f a m i l y ty p e a nd in co m e,
able
1985-36
[White nonrelief families including husband and wife, both native born: All occupational groups combined]
Number of families with in
dividual earners
lonly
More
than
12
Hus
bands
All
Males
6
8
( )
(3)
(4)
All nonrelief families_________________
6,750
6,368
5,532
836
838
$0-$499______________________________
$500-$749______ ______________________
$750-$999____________________________
__
$1,000-$1,249 ____________________
$1,250-$1,499.__ ______________ ____
$1,500-$1,749.„_______________________
$1,750-$1,999___________ _____________
$2,000-$2,499_____ _________________
$2,500-$2,999_________________________
$3,000-$4,999___ _____________________
$5,000 and over. _........... __
........ .......
344
383
622
819
775
783
779
1,028
445
593
179
325
591
773
740
754
767
1,015
445
568
178
194
292
534
691
648
637
687
876
361
453
159
18
33
57
82
92
117
80
139
84
115
19
18
33
58
82
92
117
80
139
84
116
19
36
27
30
19
28
18
14
4
All nonrelief families_____ - ---------------
8, 309
8,243
7,838
405
412
81
306
$0-$499______________________________
$500-$749______________________ _____
$750-$999____________________________
$1,000-$1,249_________________________
$1,250-$1,499_________________________
214
372
702
1,014
1,033
181
359
699
165
331
661
962
980
16
28
38
48
50
16
29
38
49
50
3
9
7
19
13
18
29
29
34
(5)
All
Wives
(V)
( )
( )
(9)
Fe
males
(
10)
11
( )
Hus
bands
12
( )
Wives
(13)
Males
Fe
males
(14)
05)
Average
earnings
per family
from suppiementary earn
ers
5
(16)
T ype I
212
207
1
10
20
614
17
23
36
44
62
84
59
109
65
100
15
14
i
2
2
1
2
1
2
3
3
1
1
1
$648
$627
92
165
228
284
368
478
624
751
877
(•)
200
258
330
440
537
$665
86
150
211
1,221
2,030
735
1,050
1,366
2,700
248
350
469
615
765
840
1,219
1,852
493
521
502
72
46
143
192
338
44/6
77
109
159
280
332
688
$194
$232
$80
5
14
(*)
(*)
97
(*)
C)
(*)
(*)
(*)
(*)
(*)
C)
21
28
44
71
64
102
166
239
215
TABULAR SUM M ARY
2
1
4
Others
Others
Any
( )
1
3
Number
of families
Income class and family type
Average earnings of supplementary
earners
Number of supplementary earners
T y p e s I I and I I I
6
1,010
1,030
12
13
2
1
2
12
1
1
2
112
168
297
340
150
(*)
(•)
(*)
For footnotes 1, 2, 5, see table on p. 140.
Includes persons under 16 years of age as follows: Families of type I, none; families of types II and III, 4 males and 1 female; families of types IV and V,
families of types VI and VII, males and females; families of types VIII and other, none.
Average earnings of persons under 16 years of age were as follows: Families of type I, males $36. Other averages not computed.
* Averages not computed for fewer than 3 cases.
^
3
4
2
2
185
24
5
9
(*)
(*)
w
9
14
16
1 male and no females;
t—*
Sole and supplementary earners : N u m ber o f fa m ilies with in divid ual ea rn ers; nu m ber a nd average ea rnings o f s u p p lem en ta ry
earners classified as husbands, w ives , and others; and average earnings o f f a m i ly f r o m s u p p lem en ta ry ea rn ers; b y f a m i l y ty p e a n d in co m e,
1 9 3 5 - 8 6 — Continued
[White nonrelief families including husband and wife, both native born: All occupational groups combined]
T ables 6B .—
Number of families with in
dividual earners
Income class and family type
Number
of families
lonly
More
than
1
1,035
1,502
576
656
205
1,032
998
1,498
575
656
205
982
949
1,451
544
614
199
50
49
47
31
42
All nonrelief families. _ _____________
7,654
7,489
4,589
2,900
$0-$499______________________________
$500-$749____________________________
$750-$999____________________________
$1,000-$1,249_________________________
$1,250-$1,499_________________________
$1,500-$1,749_________________________
$1,750-$1,999— _______________________
$2,000-$2,499_________________________
$2,500-$2,999_________________________
$3,000-$4,999_________________________
$5,000 and over______________________
206
233
416
145
216
401
650
627
783
852
1,396
837
1,233
349
23
47
85
164
(9)
(
10)
Males
Fe
males
( )
11
( )
12
(13)
(14)
(IS)
$455
539
601
713
1,037
1,982
$647
602
867
1,067
1,117
(*)
$454
551
609
720
1,048
2,156
$151
(*)
326
(*)
(*)
(•)
$204
(16)
/ / / —Continued
$1,500-$1,749...______________________
$l,750r$l,999_________________________
$2,000-$2,499_________________________
$2,500-$2,999_.
__________ _____
$3,000-$4,999—
____________________
$5,000 and over. . . . _________________
T ypes I V
and
1,000
6
8
6
3
2
3,440
585
356
1,381
1,118
821
724
715
712
644
24
47
7
14
28
41
72
64
60
97
67
7
5
7
17
3
82
145
185
237
313
412
515
584
716
60
156
192
265
381
468
635
704
818
1,322
1,847
1Q4
65
168
246
330
405
563
662
694
80
146
87
167
163
194
273
390
461
554
692
898
1,172
6
4
4
7
3
2
1
23
40
43
38
24
34
4
53
51
47
31
42
1
1
(*)
$23
27
19
38
66
58
V
666
638
799
864
,399
842
1,237
354
1
122
169
316
486
406
550
563
856
393
541
187
221
233
289
540
444
692
162
88
182
246
270
324
637
539
878
205
120
15
11
32
34
41
40
63
48
59
16
22
64
66
94
124
267
217
398
105
11
27
45
74
71
100
210
207
301
69
1,012
1, 519
1,110
3,303
211
246
275
394
485
545
711
990
143
369
10
29
39
65
121
139
193
266
458
718
880
C H IC A G O
8
( )
(7)
( )
Wives
IN
(4)
Fe
males
Hus
bands
IN C O M E
(3)
All
Wives
Males
6
(5)
( )
T y p e s I I and
Hus
bands
All
Average
earnings
perfamily
from suppiementary earn
ers
F A M IL Y
2
1
Others
Others
Any
( )
Average earnings of supplementary
earners
Number of supplementary earners
Jr*
T yp es V I and V I I
All nonrelief families_________
$0-$499_______________________
$500-$749_____________________
$750-$999_____________________
$1,000-$1,249._._______________
$1,250-$1,499_________________
$1,500-$1,749_________________
$1,750-$1,999_________________
$2,000-$2,499_________________
$2,500-$2,999_________________
$3,000-$4,999_________________
$5,000 and over_______________
T ypes
2,212
2,198
1,833
365
569
47
79
133
265
224
276
272
382
38
79
133
264
224
276
270
381
37
75
1
4
12
1
4
12
254
78
202
121
18
32
27
32
56
254
78
246
192
249
238
325
135
158
57
865
219
646
9
13
23
55
65
69
80
129
107
241
74
3
7
201
66
21
96
23
35
38
43
82
110
179
42
76
56
3
1
1
2
3
5
6
7
10
10
24
6
5
5
11
6
12
8
270
2
10
11
7
23
18
39
56
91
36
540
20
167
943
786
36
57
16
113
170
173
206
338
341
413
474
546
826
1,124
154
C)
253
483
460
550
425
672
1,133
1,798
425
1,252
709
3
5
8
9
12
21
431
(*)
(*)
62
240
280
414
564
521
825
617
562
(*)
172
336
354
379
459
560
823
1,081
310
212
331
229
383
475
493
702
924
297
582
605
714
687
1,647
(*)
(*)
373
264
253
323
435
525
640
824
117
113
(*)
62
199
308
454
419
460
594
782
55
56
109
154
238
311
536
568
884
1, 474
2,585
243
2
9
16
18
53
47
65
102
V I I I a n d o th e r
877
11
16
23
56
68
71
80
130
107
241
74
Averages not computed for fewer than 3 cases.
12
34
26
26
20
40
20
23
8
6
6
11
21
39
43
60
89
87
218
66
1,154
6
7
13
35
53
54
96
143
148
437
162
153
1
3
3
6
12
16
17
19
21
42
13
1
3
1
4
7
1
3
14
2
1
2
5
16
21
22
35
72
78
212
76
4
1
10
19
12
5
37
51
46
169
71
100
128
192
246
305
409
447
516
639
813
1,181
80
146
105
329
404
536
529
631
719
848
1, 578
633
10
136
130
237
452
520
741
906
1, 350
1,120
SUM M ARY
$0-$499_______________________
$500-$749_____________________
$750-$999_____________________
$1,000-$1,249__________________
$1,250-$1,499_________________
$1,500-$1,749_________________
$l,750-$l,999-_________________
$2,000-$2,499_________________
$2,500-$2,999_________________
$3,000-$4,999_________________
$5,000 and over_______________
TABULAR
All nonrelief families_________
T
able
7 .—
Earnings o f supplementary earners:
N u m ber o f su p p lem en ta ry earners w ith ea rnings o f specified a m ou n t , b y f a m i ly in co m e ,
1 9 3 5 -3 6
^
i—1
O
[White families including husband and wife, both native born: All occupational groups and all family types combined]
Number of supplementary earners with earnings of—
Number
Income class
(2)
(3)
(4)
Under
$50
$50$99
$100$199
$200$299
$300$399
$400$499
$500$599
$600$699
$700$799
$800$899
$900$999
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
(ID
(12)
(13)
(14)
(15)
$1,000- $1,500$1,999
$1,499
(16)
(17)
$2,000
and
over
(18)
5,449
$644
6,764
309
364
693
576
567
387
502
490
840
311
404
918
304
99
297
5,152
220
667
351
6,413
50
259
54
310
96
597
59
517
39
528
21
366
17
485
6
484
5
835
1
310
1
403
2
916
304
99
16
48
118
203
333
434
470
510
434
437
712
479
324
212
148
214
36
24
42
98
142
194
254
328
426
513
557
620
698
851
943
1,017
1,168
1,249
1,523
2,454
16
49
120
209
371
476
532
594
513
535
912
622
463
338
229
343
55
36
9
11
23
28
28
37
22
22
19
22
17
7
4
2
3
4
6
14
24
31
46
36
35
29
21
24
17
12
5
2
2
5
5
31
44
65
82
54
46
39
37
59
18
14
9
4
8
2
18
49
51
39
41
30
26
58
19
18
6
4
6
31
64
74
51
49
52
75
36
20
19
5
8
44
60
67
77
45
48
69
46
26
14
15
9
4
4
90
124
95
91
167
107
59
46
31
20
1
12
44
35
32
65
44
32
24
9
10
3
1
1
1
19
34
54
78
77
72
62
53
24
51
23
21
8
7
10
2
1
1
1
37
50
54
83
59
42
34
13
27
3
1
34
76
192
182
145
103
60
99
17
8
40
62
51
56
79
10
6
10
18
44
12
15
$0-$249_______________
$250-$499______________
$500-$749_____________
$750-$999.........................
$1,000-$1,249__________
$1,250-$1,499..................
$1,500-$1,749_........ ........
$1,750-$1,999______ .
$2,000-$2,249-.............
$2,250-$2,499.. _
$2,500-$2,999
$3,000-$3,499____ ____ _
$3,500-$3,999..
...
$4,000-$4,499__________
$4,500-$4,999...................
$5,000-$7,499____ _____
$7,500-$9,999____
$10,000 and over----------
8
34
70
65
67
61
43
49
59
29
15
10
2
14
1
1
CHICAGO
All families________ ______
Relief families___ _______
Nonrelief families............
FAM ILY INCOME IN
(1)
ilies with earnings
any
of supple
Any
supple mentary
amount
mentary earners
earners
T
able
8 .—
Husbands as earners:
N u m b er and average ye a rly earnings o f husba nd s classified as p rin cip a l or su p p lem en ta ry ea rners , b y
age and f a m i l y in co m e, 1 9 3 5 - 3 6
[White families including husband and wife, both native born: All occupational groups and all family types combined]
Principal earners by age groups
Supplementary earners by age groups
Income class
(1)
Any
Under
20
2024
2529
3034
3539
4044
4549
5054
5559
6064
65
and
over
Any
Under
20
2024
2529
3034
3539
4044
4549
5054
5559
6064
65
and
over
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
(11)
(12)
(13)
(14)
(15)
(16)
(17)
(18)
(19)
(20)
(21)
(22)
(23)
(24)
(25)
Number of husbands1
25,290
Relief families______
Nonrelief families...
2,110
23,180
$0-$249_________
$250-$499___.......
$500-$749_______
$750-$999_______
$1,000-$1,249___
$1,250-$1,499___
$1,500-$1,749___
$1,750-$1,999
$2,000-$2,249___
$2,250-$2,499___
$2,500-$2,999___
$3,000-$3,499___
$3,500-$3,999___
$4,000-$4,499___
$4,500-$4,999___
$5,000-$7,499.......
$7,500-$9,999._...
$10,000 and over.
121
385
873
1,691
2,533
2,474
2, 696
2, 775
2, 344
1,812
1,990
1,201
757
442
260
609
111
106
8
692 3,369 4,483 4,736 4,244 3,188 2,158 1,152
749
511 1,198
45
138
120
121
127
168
164
120
95
100
3
5
283
359
373
365
302
145
95
90
597 3,086 4,124 4,363 3,879 2,886 2,013 1,062
49
700
46
97
465 1,101
2
43
11
127
7
113
8
113
14
113
20
148
16
148
12
108
4
91
3
97
3
2
2
7
8
5
3
3
3
4
2
1
...
1
4
8
16
16
14
14
13
6
10
6
10
4
3
2
1
1
3
12
11
15
15
II
4
9
9
8
4
1
3
6
1
1
5
6
14
13
12
1
6
6
12
18
11
16
15
9
23
10
7
4
3
6
1
2
5
9
11
10
10
6
12
13
8
5
8
5
3
1
2
6
12
13
10
8
8
10
6
4
4
3
4
2
2
2
9
8
7
7
7
7
17
9
7
3
3
7
667
652
1
1
1
1
1
7
19
51
125
134
98
59
46
22
13
10
7
1
3
2
18
53
154
368
513
473
452
373
245
160
131
67
39
12
6
16
4
2
21
52
160
315
477
508
566
543
465
324
288
155
103
61
23
51
8
4
16
66
139
264
442
459
529
570
551
375
375
202
141
77
31
95
15
16
21
61
136
220
357
383
416
466
lo 7
330
393
211
164
95
70
,109
17
23
13
57
79
155
235
234
266
335
313
254
346
237
105
62
42
115
20
18
6
26
60
101
179
143
197
221
196
178
226
146
103
67
34
89
21
20
6
20
38
63
101
69
113
98
74
97
119
79
46
29
30
56
11
13
6
17
30
36
52
55
53
77
49
56
65
68
39
22
12
47
10
6
7
13
26
43
42
52
44
45
22
25
37
29
16
14
12
29
5
4
3
9
39
60
105
128
124
109
80
78
120
80
59
40
27
36
2
2
5
9
12
6
7
1
3
7
5
15
8
16
15
4
9
8
5
6
8
3
3
1
1
3
6
12
11
20
18
12
11
10
18
12
8
3
2
1
TABULAE SUM M ARY
All families________
1
Average earnings of husbands (in dollars)2
All nonrelief families.
1,846
906 1,153
1,751 1,907 2,001 2,005 2,036 2,002 2,041 1,773
637
736
680
738
760
663
668
683
1 Excludes 3 principal earners and 1 supplementary earner who did not report age.
|—i
3 Averages for each age group are based on the corresponding numbers of husbands in the upper section of the table; the 2 averages for all age groups combined are based on the
corresponding total numbers of husbands, including those who did not report age.
M
^
T
able
9.— Wives as earners:
N u m b er and average yea rly earnings o f wives classified as p rin cip a l or su p p lem en ta ry earners, b y age and
fa m ily in co m e, 1 9 3 5 - 3 6
OO
[White families including husband and wife, both native born: All occupational groups and all family types combined]
Principal earners by age groups
Supplementary earners by age groups
Income class
(1)
Any
Under
20
2024
2529
3034
3539
4044
4549
5054
55
59
6064
65
and
over
Any Under
20
2024
2529
3034
3539
4044
4549
5054
5559
6064
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
(11)
(12)
(13)
(14)
(16)
(17)
(18)
(19)
(20)
(21)
(22)
(23)
(24)
4
206
369
289
219
171
88
51
10
4
5
4
4
202
11
358
7
282
10
209
9
162
2
86
3
48
2
8
4
5
2
3
13
10
21
31
44
22
16
15
14
6
2
2
1
5
13
22
28
39
44
37
38
29
38
28
18
10
3
5
3
7
5
18
21
25
23
31
35
20
41
19
18
9
4
2
1
1
6
7
11
12
18
26
26
19
12
21
8
13
12
8
8
1
2
1
5
4
12
8
12
6
5
9
5
4
5
2
4
1
1
3
5
8
19
14
16
20
5
12
22
11
7
6
5
4
2
2
693
630
(15)
65
and
over
(25)
$0-$249__.......................
$250-$499_____ _______
$500-$749.... ............ .......
$750-$999_____________
$1,000-$1,249__________
$1,250-$1,499__________
$1,500-$1,749._......... .
$1,750-$1,999__________
$2,000-$2,249__________
$2,250-$2,499__________
$2,500-$2,999__________
$3,000-$3,499__________
$3,500-$3,999 ________
$4,000-$4,499__________
$4,500-$4,999_________
$5,000-$7,499__________
$7,500-$9,999__________
$10,000 and over..........
13
26
63
84
96
80
72
48
30
35
42
26
10
10
3
10
3
41
159
128
119
89
67
41
29
3
3
38
6
153
7
121
9
110
2
87
4
63
5
36 .
5
24
3
6
8
22
22
23
20
13
13
6
13
1
2
1
3
2
11
17
19
16
15
9
4
5
6
8
1
4
5
6
10
15
13
21
12
4
7
3
3
2
3
2
1
8
7
6
6
5
3
i
2
1
4
2
5
14
9
17
7
6
5
4
6
6
4
1
8
9
8
2
4
1
6
7
5
4
3
1 _____
1
2
2
6
5
4
2
3
1
3
3
2
1
7
7 1,416
7
1
48
6 1,368
1
2
1
2
4
4
3
1
1
2
1
1
2
3
1
I
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
4
1
10
28
48
81
113
142
169
155
127
96
148
81
64
45
24
28
1
1
1
1
1
5
1
2
3
5
6
3
7
3
6
3
3
2
1
1
1
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
653 1,002 1,078 570
646
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Average earnings of wives (in dollars) 1
All nonrelief families_____
1,058
503
871
969 1,145 1,084
1,031 1,237
969 1, 226 1,070
978
631
201
519
615
611
1 Averages for each age group are based on the corresponding numbers of wives in the upper section of the table; the 2 averages for all age groups combined are based on the corre
sponding total numbers of wives.
CHICAGO
Relief families___________
Nonrelief families________
42
648
IN
690
IN C O M E
All families______________
F A M IL Y
Number of wives
T
able
10.— Money incom e other than earnings:
N u m b er o f fa m ilie s receiving m o n e y in co m e other than ea rnings, and average a m ou n t
received , by source and total in co m e, 1 9 3 5 - 3 6 1
[White families including husband and wife, both native born: All occupational groups and all family types combined]
Number of families receiving money income other than
earnings from—
Income class
(1)
Number of
families
(2)
Any source
Rent from
property
(net)
Interest
and divi
dends
Pensions,
annuities,
benefits
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
Average money income, other than earnings, received from 2—
Gifts for
current use All sources
(7)
(8)
Rent from
property
(net)
Interest
and divi
dends
Pensions,
annuities,
benefits
Gifts for
current use
Miscella
neous
sources 3
(9)
(10)
(ID
(12)
(13)
All families____________ _
28,515
3,519
1,478
826
661
503
$53
$14
Re1ief families..______ _____
Nonrelief families____ _____
2,713
25,802
196
3,323
46
1,432
4
822
41
620
32
471
16
57
2
16
301
521
1,083
1,896
2,820
2,738
2,964
2,995
2, 500
1,941
2,172
1,339
845
498
299
663
116
111
26
90
151
190
265
296
315
295
284
244
370
222
166
104
76
147
43
39
10
46
55
77
95
134
141
130
125
115
177
107
78
38
34
50
10
10
8
9
16
29
38
50
54
64
65
58
97
68
66
38
33
72
28
29
2
16
37
48
78
71
79
60
47
37
49
33
19
15
11
13
1
4
6
26
49
41
56
45
44
41
36
33
27
21
13
11
4
13
4
1
9
31
43
31
36
35
40
36
35
37
57
85
99
134
190
182
434
1, 304
2
14
10
9
6
10
11
8
12
11
22
31
37
34
66
55
73
121
$0-$249_________________
$250-$499_______________
$500-$749-..................
$750-$999__ _____ ______
$1,000-$1,249____________
$1,250-$!,499___________
$1,500-$1,749____________
$1,750-$1,999____________
$2,000-$2,249____________
$2,250-$2,499_______ ____
$2,500-$2,999____________
$3,000-$3,499_______ ____
$3,500-$3,999____________
$4,000-$4,499____________
$4,500-$4,999____________
$5,000-$7,499______ _____
$7,500-$9,999____________
$10,000 and over________
$12
$16
$5
$6
13
4
17
1
5
9
6
3
1
3
2
4
3
3
5
1
6
6
18
32
30
73
85
243
860
1
9
15
13
20
17
19
15
13
12
15
24
15
39
37
19
26
95
2
7
13
6
4
3
4
4
4
4
3
4
8
8
1
6
58
21
(**)
1
(**)
2
1
2
2
3
4
5
4
11
8
7
23
13
17
34
207
W
d
>
W
CP
d
&
s
1 See glossary for definition of “ Money income other than earnings.”
2 Averages are based on all families, column (2), whether or not they received money income other than earnings.
3Includes money income other than earnings from sources other than those specified, including profits from business enterprises partially or wholly owned but not operated by
family members. See glossary for further definition of profits.
** $0.50 or less.
CO
T
able
II. — Nonmoney incom e from owned homes:
N um ber o f fa m ilies o w n in g hom es w ith a nd w ithout m ortgages , average rental value ,
average ex p e n se , and average n o n m o n ey in co m e f r o m hom e o w n ersh ip , b y in co m et 1 9 3 5 - 3 6
§
[White families including husband and wife, both native born: All occupational groups and all family types combined]
Number of families
Income class
Mortgaged homes
Homes free from mortgage
Families owning
homes free from
mortgage
Owning
homes 1
(2)
(3)
(4)
Average
Average Average
non
rental
expense4 money
value 3
income 5
(1)
Average
rental
value 3
Number Percent2
Number Percent2
(6)
(5)
Families owning
mortgaged homes
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
(ID
Average expense4
Interest
Other
(12)
(13)
Interest
Average
as per
non
centage
money
of rental
income 5
value
(14)
(15)
1,963
33
$461
$119
$342
4,002
67
$452
$169
$117
$166
37
252
5, 713
57
1,906
23
33
290
466
89
120
201
347
195
3,807
77
67
337
458
130
171
97
118
110
169
39
37
$0-$249............ .......... .......... .
$250-$499_________________
$500-$749_________________
$750-$999................ ................
$1,000-$1,249........ .................
$1,250-$1,499____ _________
$1,500-$1,749____ _________
$1,750-$1,999______________
$2,000-$2,249______________
$2,250-$2,499______________
$2,500-$2,999_________ ____
$3,000-$3,499____ _________
$3,500-$3,999........ .................
$4,000-$4,499..........................
$4,500-$4,999______________
$5,000-$7,499______________
$7,500-$9,999______________
$10,000 and over................
301
521
1,083
1,896
2,820
2,738
2,964
2,995
2,500
1,941
2,172
1, 339
845
498
299
663
116
111
43
124
191
249
383
463
543
572
546
505
724
458
285
184
119
238
49
37
16
59
69
83
124
134
158
179
158
142
229
159
113
65
54
113
27
24
37
48
36
33
32
29
29
31
29
28
32
35
40
35
45
48
55
65
217
318
334
330
328
367
394
395
418
448
475
518
542
576
653
797
821
1,134
77
94
97
96
95
102
107
107
111
117
121
129
132
138
152
177
180
235
140
224
238
234
233
266
287
288
307
330
353
389
410
438
501
620
641
899
27
65
122
166
259
329
385
393
388
363
495
299
172
119
65
125
22
13
63
52
64
67
68
71
71
69
71
72
68
65
60
65
55
52
45
35
354
337
349
349
371
396
404
410
427
451
493
521
536
581
667
784
936
1,197
149
146
145
148
151
157
166
163
167
170
175
173
186
186
218
254
226
401
100
97
99
99
103
107
109
110
112
116
124
129
131
139
154
173
200
243
105
94
105
103
117
132
129
137
149
165
194
219
220
256
295
356
510
553
42
43
42
42
41
40
41
40
39
38
36
33
35
32
33
32
24
34
C H IC A G O
5,965
2,713
25,802
IN
28, 515
Relief families________________
Nonrelief families_____________
IN C O M E
All families........ .........................
F A M IL Y
All
1 Includes all families occupying owned homes at any time during the report year, but excludes 8 families whose expenses exactly equaled the annual rental value of their homes.
Data for the latter families, however, are included in the computation of averages.
2 Based on number of families owning homes, column (3).
2 Based on estimate made by home owner for period of ownership and occupancy during report year. This period averages, in general, approximately 12 months.
4
Expense for period of ownership and occupancy during report year. Expense other than interest, columns (7) and (13), estimated on basis of average relationship between rental
value and expense.
8 Nonmoney income for period of ownership and occupancy during report year. Obtained by deducting estimated expense (including interest) from rental value.
T
able
1 2 .—
M onthly rental value:
N u m ber o f h om e-ow n in g fa m ilie s having hom es with specified m on th ly rental value , b y in co m e, 1 9 3 5 - 8 6 1
XZOfi
[White families including husband and wife, both native born: All occupational groups and all family types combined]
Income class
(1)
Home-owning
Number
Average
families
monthly
of home
owning
rental
and rent
value of
Per
ing fami Number
owned Under
lies
cent 2 homes 3
$5
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
Number of home-owning families reporting monthly rental value of—
$10-$14 ;15-$19 $20-$24 $25-$29 $30-$34 $35-$39 $40-$44 $45-$49 $50-$54 $55-$64 $65-$74 $75-$99
(7)
(8)
(10)
(9)
(ID
(12)
(13)
(14)
(15)
(16)
(17)
(18)
(19)
$100
and
over
(20)
28,085
5, 924
21
$38.40
313
413
763
761
984
831
417
597
290
138
187
112
Relief families_____
Nonrelief families—
2,658
25,427
252
5, 672
9
22
27. 30
38.90
32
281
38
375
55
708
38
723
31
953
20
811
8
409
8
589
5
285
138
187
112
296
511
1,066
1,864
2,778
2,694
2,917
2,950
2,467
1,913
2,153
1,316
833
494
295
656
115
109
44
124
191
245
380
456
541
566
542
502
723
450
285
182
119
238
47
37
15
24
18
13
14
17
19
19
22
26
34
34
34
37
40
36
41.
34*
25. 40
27.60
28. 90
29.10
30.00
32. 70
33.60
34. 40
35. 90
38.10
41.10
43. 70
46.00
49.10
54. 80
66.40
74.20
99. 40
6
16
27
28
45
34
34
26
18
13
16
12
2
4
16
18
36
42
42
55
42
38
25
33
15
4
1
2
2
13
23
31
44
72
82
89
91
71
56
50
36
29
14
4
3
6
17
31
30
61
73
82
102
88
65
76
41
28
5
7
11
4
21
27
35
68
90
96
100
117
99
138
74
31
34
7
11
2
13
20
29
38
56
83
85
80
115
117
67
46
19
13
25
2
1
1
5
13
13
21
27
50
50
34
78
44
17
24
11
18
3
2
2
6
11
24
31
32
40
44
52
114
76
50
31
28
31
9
6
1
1
3
3
4
7
18
11
20
21
53
39
31
22
14
27
7
3
1
2
1
3
1
2
6
8
5
3
7
22
23
17
17
19
36
12
5
2
3
5
4
8
6
6
6
44
9
18
$0-$249________
$250-$499______
$500-$749______
$750-$999______
$1,000-$1,249___ _
$1,250-$l,499— _
$1,500-$1,749___
$1,750-$1,999----$2,000-$2,249___
$2,250-$2,499___
$2,500-$2,999----$3,000-$3,499___
$3,500-$3,999___
$4,000-$4,499___
$4,500-$4,999___
$5,000-$7,499___
$7,500-$9,999___
$10,000 and over
102
1
2
1
1
4
8
2
7
7
19
15
22
9
7
30
3
2
1
TABULAR SU M M A R Y
All families________
1 Includes only those families that did not change living quarters between the end of the report year and the date of interview. Families are classified as home-owning families
or as renting families according to their status at the date of interview.
2 Based on the number of home-owning and renting families, column (2).
3 Based on estimate made by home owner for period of ownership and occupancy during report year. Averages are based on the number of home-owning families, column (3)#
Cn
T
able
13,— M onthly rent:
N u m ber o f renting fa m ilie s reporting specified m on th ly rent , b y in co m e , 1 9 3 5 - 8 6 1
O i
to
[White families including husband and wife, both native born: All occupational groups and all family types combined]
Income class
Renting
Number
families
of home
Average
owning
monthly
and
rent3 Un
renting Number Per
der
cent2
families
$5
5 22,161
79
$32.80
2, 658
25, 427
2, 406
519, 755
91
78
18.10
34. 60
296
511
1,066
1,864
2, 778
2,694
2,917
2.950
2, 467
1,913
2,153
1,316
833
494
295
656
115
109
252
387
875
1,619
2, 398
5 2, 238
2, 376
2, 384
1,925
1,411
1, 430
866
548
312
176
418
68
72
85
76
82
87
86
83
81
81
78
74
66
66
66
63
60
64
59
66
30. 30
22.90
22.90
22.70
26.00
28.00
30. 80
34.10
36. 70
40.40
42.00
47.40
53.40
55. 50
59.60
70.20
86.70
124.60
$0-$249................
$250-$499_______
$500-$749_______
$750-$999_______
$1,000-$1,249___
$1,250-$1,499___
$1,500-$1,749___
$1,750-$1,999___
$2,000-$2,249___
$2,250-$2,499___
$2,500-$2,999___
$3,000-$3,499___
$3,500-$3,999___
$4,000-$4,499___
$4,500-$4,999___
$5,000-$7,499___
$7,500-$9,999___
$10,000 and over.
$15$19
$20$24
$25$29
$30$34
$35$39
$40$44
$45$49
$50$54
$55$64
$65$74
$75$99
$100 Rent
and
over free4
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
(ID
(12)
(13)
(14)
(15)
(16)
(17)
(18)
(19)
(20)
2
285 1,467 2, 713 2,192 2,592 3,089 3,464 2,134 1,272
966
934
406
372
202
70
2
111
174
56
261
863
398
138
23
4
533
934 1, 850 1, 794 2, 331 2,951 3,408 2,111 1,268
3
963
5
929
406
372
202
11
59
7
3
10
10
44
29
51
90
107
144
156
119
83
44
20
40
2
4
11
4
5
11
14
25
19
60
69
101
151
146
115
63
42
80
10
3
4
1
4
4
6
5
9
16
18
42
36
52
60
45
21
69
12
2
5
1
1
2
4
1
6
7
14
19
27
46
48
28
31
104
13
16
1
1
1
2
3
7
6
9
17
16
9
59
26
44
(6)
1
1
4
16
43
44
36
10
12
5
2
1
20
62
132
255
222
112
66
29
19
9
5
2
1
31
81
195
362
428
306
188
121
63
32
25
12
3
1
1
1
36
58
142
271
367
290
252
179
83
47
42
14
4
7
2
30
49
119
248
386
439
375
267
188
96
68
33
19
9
1
4
32
49
91
196
404
448
532
482
297
188
147
53
20
7
3
2
31
36
58
146
294
372
537
590
530
283
313
121
49
22
13
11
2
21
10
48
45
116
139
219
363
354
275
249
128
65
40
17
22
8
8
15
18
65
56
106
173
178
166
204
130
65
30
18
23
3
2
1
Includes only those families that did not change living quarters between the end of the report year and the date of interview.
or as renting families according to their status at the date of interview.
a Based on the number of home-owning and renting families, column (2).
8 Rent reported at date of interview. Averages are based on the number of renting families in each class that reported monthly rent.
4 Consists of families receiving rent as gift.
5 Includes 1 family that did not report on monthly rent.
(21)
11
10
11
7
11
3
3
1
1
C H IC A G O
28,085
(5)
$14
IN
All families________
Relief families_____
Nonrelief families.
(4)
$10-
IN C O M E
(3)
$5$9
F A M IL Y
(2)
(1)
Number of renting families reporting monthly rent of—
1
Families are classified as home-owning families
T
able
1 4 A .— A v e r a g e
r e n t a l v a lu e a n d a v e r a g e m o n t h l y r e n t : Number o f home-owning and renting fam ilies , average
monthly rental value, and average monthly renty by occupation and income , 1 9 3 5 -8 6 1
m o n th ly
[White nonrelief families including husband and wife, both native born: All family types combined]
Occupational group: Clerical
Occupational group: Wage earner
Income class
Number of
families
Percentage of
home-owning
and renting
families 2
Average
monthly—
Number of
families
Percentage of
home-owning
and renting
families 2
Occupational group: Business and professional
Average
monthly—
Number of
families
Percentage of
home-owning
and renting
families2
Average
monthly—
Rental
Home Renting Home Renting Rental R ent4 Home Renting Home Renting Rental Rent4
Home Renting Home
owning
owning
owning
value 3
value 3
owning Renting value3 Rent4 owning
owning
(2)
(3)
(4)
All nonrelief families 5__.
2, 467
9,092
21
$0-$499____ ____________
$500-$749_............. ............
$750-$999_______________
$1,000-$1,249_________
$1,250-$1,499____________
$1,500-$1,749___________
$1,750-$1,999 __________
$2,000-$2,499 __________
$2,500-$2,999 __________
$3,000-$4,999 __________
$5,000 and over_________
60
83
146
210
242
278
301
503
290
321
33
344
539
1,076
1, 395
1,325
1,240
1,122
1, 249
461
326
15
15
13
12
13
15
18
21
29
39
50
69
(10)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
79
$33.00
$27.60
1, 572
e 6,166
20
85
87
88
87
85
82
79
71
61
50
31
24. 30
25.20
27. 40
28.60
30. 00
30. 90
31. 70
34. 50
37. 90
39. 20
46.90
20.60
20.60
20.60
23.20
25.90
28. 40
31.00
34. 40
37.10
41.00
62.60
8
32
28
74
101
146
168
370
250
335
60
69
171
352
628
e 667
820
872
1,333
508
638
108
10
16
7
11
13
15
16
22
33
34
36
(5)
(16)
(17)
(19)
(12)
(13)
(H)
(15)
80
$39.80
$36.60
1,394
4,220
25
75
$48. 40
$46.30
90
84
93
89
87
85
84
78
67
66
64
27.10
30.10
28.10
30. 60
34. 60
33.80
35. 90
37. 50
41.60
48.00
61.20
30.00
25.90
25. 60
28.20
30.50
32.40
36. 30
39.10
43. 30
50. 90
66. 30
26
46
50
78
87
86
85
163
177
367
229
99
134
176
337
233
307
376
743
460
926
429
21
26
22
19
27
22
18
18
28
28
35
79
74
78
81
73
78
82
82
72
72
65
26.50
32.00
32.10
31.80
34.80
39. 30
39.60
42. 70
45.00
51. 30
77.50
28.90
27.10
29.20
32. 40
33.00
35. 60
37.90
43. 30
45.60
55. 60
82.10
(11)
(18)
TABULAR SU M M ARY
(1)
1 Includes only those families that did not change living quarters between the end of the report year and the date of interview. Families are classified as home-owning families
or as renting families according to their status at the date of interview.
2 Based on the number of home-owning and renting families in the respective occupational groups.
2
Based on estimate made by home owner for period of ownership and occupancy during the report year. Averages are based on the number of home-owning families as of end of
report year.
* Bent as reported at date of interview. Averages in this column are based on the number of families reporting monthly rent, including families receiving rent as gift, the amount
of which is estimated by the family.
6
Of the families classified in the occupational group “ No gainfully employed members,” 516 did not change their living quarters between the end of the report year and the date
of interview. Of the latter group, 239 families, or 46 percent, were owning families. Their average monthly rental value was $37.90. The remaining 277 families, or 54 percent, were
renting families. Their average monthly rent was $39.50.
6 Includes 1 family that did not report on monthly rent.
O i
00
T
able
14B.— A v e r a g e
r e n t a l v a l u e a n d a v e r a g e m o n t h l y r e n t : N um ber o f home-owning and renting fam ilies , average
monthly rental value, and average monthly rent, by fa m ily type and income , 1 9 8 5 -8 6 1
m o n th ly
[White nonrelief families including husband and wife, both native bom: All occupational groups combined]
Family type I
Income class
Number of
families
Rent- Homeing
owning
Renting
Average
monthly—
Number of
families
Percentage of
home-owning
and renting
families 2
Rental
Home
value3 Rent 4 owning
Renting
Homeowning
Renting
(6)
(7)
(9)
(10)
(ID
(1)
(2)
(3)
All nonrelief families___
1, 059
5,584
16
84
$38.10
$34.60
984
7,176
12
$0-$499_________________
$500-$749_______________
$760-$999_______________
$1,000-$1,249___________
$1,250-$1,499___________
$1,500-$1,749___________
$1,750-$1,999___________
$2,000-$2,499_________ _
$2,600-12,999___________
$3,000-$4,999___________
$5,000 and over_________
75
78
69
89
111
109
97
169
106
120
36
262
297
545
720
653
664
674
839
333
460
137
22
21
11
11
14
14
13
17
24
21
21
78
79
26.90
29.90
30.10
32.50
32.90
36.70
34.00
38.70
41.90
51.20
81.30
27.20
23.90
24.30
28.20
30.10
31.90
35.30
38.90
43. 70
51.20
75.00
20
26
51
67
103
93
109
206
134
136
39
189
341
637
928
905
921
866
1, 277
437
510
165
10
7
7
7
10
9
11
14
23
21
19
(4)
(5)
86
86
87
83
76
79
79
(8)
90
93
93
93
90
91
89
86
77
79
81
Average
monthly—
N umber of
families
Home
Rental
value3 R ent 4 owning
Percentage of
home-owning
and renting
families 2
Rent- Homeing
owning
(12)
(13)
(14)
(15)
$39. 40
$33. 30
2,686
4,873
36
29.20
33. 40
28.20
29.40
32.90
34.20
34.10
37.50
43.80
51.80
76.00
24.20
21.00
20.30
23.80
27.20
30.40
34.00
39.40
43.70
55.00
78.90
61
70
108
177
187
258
259
499
357
546
164
143
159
300
479
444
530
596
881
478
674
189
30
31
26
27
30
33
30
36
43
45
46
(16)
Renting
(17)
64
Average
monthly—
Rental
value3 Rent4
(18)
(19)
$39.40
$37.30
27.00
27.00
28.70
29. 80
32.10
33.40
35.90
37.10
41.40
45.80
71.40
26.80
24.70
25.80
28.10
28.80
31.60
34.10
37.60
40.80
50.80
84.80
FAMILY INCOME IN CHICAGO
Home
owning
Percentage of
home-owning
and renting
families 2
Family types IV and V
Family types II and III
Family types VIII and other
Family types VI and VII
Income class
(1)
Number of families
Percentage of home
owning and renting
families2
Average monthly—
Number of families
Percentage of home
owning and renting
families2
Home
owning
Renting
Home
owning
Renting
Rental
value 3
R ent4
Home
owning
Renting
Home
owning
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
Renting
(ID .
Average monthly—
Rental
value3
R ent4
(12)
(13)
All nonrelief families_______
566
M, 628
26
74
$38.50
$31.00
377
494
43
57
$36.90
$37.30
$0-$499_____________________
$500-$749___________________
$750-$999___________________
$1,000-$1,249......................
$1,250-$1,499_______________
$1,500-$1,749_______________
$1,750-$1,999_______________
$2,000-$2,499_______________
$2,500-$2,999_______________
$3,000-$4,999_______________
$5,000 and over_____________
8
12
11
36
30
57
67
109
78
111
47
38
67
120
226
5193
214
203
271
123
142
31
17
15
8
14
13
21
25
29
39
44
60
83
85
92
86
87
79
75
71
61
56
40
28.20
24.70
28.50
25. 90
32. 30
31.40
32. 30
34.30
38.70
44.90
71.30
21.30
23.00
20.70
23. 30
23.00
27.30
31.70
34. 80
39.20
51.80
67.20
4
5
6
11
25
24
34
61
48
123
36
7
11
17
45
43
47
45
68
59
116
36
36
31
26
20
37
34
43
47
45
51
50
64
69
74
80
63
66
57
53
55
49
50
17.50
26.00
31.70
30.00
34. 90
24.60
30.30
33.40
33. 00
41.00
56. 00
23.40
24.70
23.20
26.60
30.40
30.40
31.70
34.80
36.00
42.70
78.20
1 Includes only those families that did not change living quarters between the end of the report year and the date of interview. Families are classified as home-owning families
or as renting families according to their status at the date of interview.
2 Based on the number of home-owning and renting families in the respective family types.
3 Based on estimate made by home owner for period of ownership and occupancy during the report year. Averages are based on the number of home-owning families as of end of
report year.
4 Rent as reported at date of interview. Averages in this column are based on the number of families reporting monthly rent, including families receiving rent as gift, the amount
of which is estimated by the family.
6 Includes 1 family of type VI which did not report on monthly rent.
h3
W
d
E
W
d
>
3
Of
Cn
156
T
able
FAM ILY INCOME IN
CHICAGO
N um ber and percentage o f owning fam ilies
occupying specified types o f living quarters, by income, 1 9 8 5 -8 6 1
1 5 .— T y p e o f l i v i n g q u a r t e r s :
[White families including husband and wife, both native born: All occupational groups and all family
types combined]
Number of owning families occupying—
Income class
(1)
Num
ber of 1-family house
owning
fami
lies 1
De
At
tached tached
(2)
(3)
2-family
house
Side
by
side
(5)
(4)
Dwell
ing
unit in
busi Other
ness
23-fami 4-farni- 5-fami
ly or
build
decker
ly
iy
more
ing
Apartment building
(6)
(7)
(8)
GO)
(9)
(11)
Number
All families......... ........
5,924
4,196
103
Relief families_______
Nonrelief families___
252
5,672
193
4,003
4
99
$0-$249__________
$250-$499________
$500-$749________
$750-$999________
$1,000-$1,249____
$1,250-$1,499____
$1,500-$1,749____
$1,750-$1,999____
$2,000-$2,249____
$2,250-$2,499____
$2,50O-$2,999____
$3,000-$3,499____
$3,500-$3,999____
$4,000-$4,499____
$4,500-$4,999____
$5,000-$7,499____
$7,500-$9,999____
$10,000 and over..
44
124
191
245
380
456
541
566
542
502
723
450
285
182
119
238
47
37
25
68
119
146
267
296
391
400
400
380
517
331
205
137
80
179
36
26
1
4
3
5
4
10
10
12
7
9
13
7
4
2
3
4
1
11
1,195
167
47
108
91
11
49
1,146
5
162
1
46
108
91
6
10
35
47
67
73
112
113
120
112
96
151
72
48
30
21
31
6
2
3
9
11
9
17
14
8
13
11
8
16
8
12
3
9
10
3
4
7
4
13
15
4
6
7
3
8
9
2
3
2
1
2
1
3
1
1
1
1
2
1
9
1
2
9
5
1
1
5
2
3
1
2
1
1
1
2
2
5
5
5
5
6
4
5
11
19
10
5
4
11
3
6
6
1
1
1
1
2
1
Percent
All families_________
100
70
2
Relief families_______
Nonrelief families___
100
100
77
70
2
2
$0-$249__________
$250-$499________
$500-$749________
$750-$999________
$1,000-$1,249____
$1,250-$1,499____
$1,500-$1,749____
$1,750-$1,999____
$2,000-$2,249____
$2,250-$2,499____
$2,500-$2,999____
$3,000-$3,499____
$3,500-$3,999____
$4,000-$4,499____
$4,500-$4,999____
$5,000-$7,499____
$7,500-$9,999____
$10,000 and over..
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
57
55
62
59
71
65
72
71
74
75
71
73
72
75
67
75
77
70
2
3
2
2
1
2
2
2
1
2
2
2
1
1
2
2
2
(2)
20
3
(2)
19
20
2
3
23
28
24
27
20
25
20
21
21
19
21
16
17
16
18
13
13
5
7
7
6
4
4
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
4
2
8
4
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
3
3
1
2
2
(2)
1
2
2
(2)
(2)
2
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
4
2
1
1
1
2
(2)
2
2
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
4
4
3
3
5
6
16
7
3
4
2
3
3
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
2
4
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
1
3
1 Includes only those families that did not change living quarters between the end of the report year and
the date of interview.
20.5 percent or less.
157
TABULAR SUMMARY
T able 16.— Type o f livin g q u a rters: Number and percentage of renting fam ilies
occupying specified types o f living quarters, by incom e , 1 9 3 5 -8 6 1
[White families including husband and wife, both native born: All occupational groups and all family types
combined]
Number of renting families occupying—
Income class
Num
ber of
renting
fami
lies 1
1-family house
At
De
tached tached
(1)
(2)
(4)
(3)
2-family
house
Side
by
side
(5)
Dwell
ing
unit in
busi Other
ness
23-fami 4-fami 5-family or
build
decker
ly
ly
more
ing
Apartment building
(6)
(7)
(8)
(10)
(9)
(ID
Number
All families............ ........
22,161
2,411
120
80
6,089
2, 219
1,131
9,209
723
179
Relief families_________
Nonrelief families_____
2,406
19, 755
272
2,139
20
100
14
66
846
5, 243
325
1,894
180
951
589
8,620
134
589
26
153
$0-$249____________
$250-$499__________
$500-$749__________
$750-$999__________
$1,000-$1,249_______
$1,250-$1,499_______
$1,500-$1,749.............
$1,750-$1,999_______
$2,000-$2,249_______
$2,250-$2,499_______
$2,500-12,999_______
$3,000-$3,499_______
$3,500-$3,999........... .
$4,000-$4,499_______
$4,500-$4,999....... . . .
$5,000-$7,499_______
$7,500-$9,999_______
$10,000 and over___
252
387
875
1,619
2, 398
2, 238
2, 376
2, 384
1, 925
1, 411
1,430
866
548
312
176
418
68
72
22
38
98
140
269
224
273
274
226
155
159
110
51
32
19
34
7
2
3
5
11
12
11
14
12
10
5
10
2
1
1
1
6
6
8
13
4
8
4
6
5
2
1
107
125
270
524
875
926
1,039
1,126
896
694
726
424
299
163
81
251
45
49
11
20
50
89
114
67
74
54
35
23
25
10
9
1
2
14
24
27
14
23
12
5
8
1
24
43
99
184
231
196
181
178
154
132
129
101
68
51
39
62
14
8
5
28
64
117
145
118
125
85
96
54
54
31
9
9
5
6
8
79
127
269
524
717
669
643
635
499
334
316
179
109
55
28
57
2
1
1
1
6
7
1
2
1
3
3
4
4
Percent
All families.............. .
100
11
Relief families_________
Nonrelief families_____
100
100
11
11
$0-$249____________
$250-$499__________
$500-$749__________
$750-$999__________
$1,000-$1,249_______
$1,250-$1,499_______
$1,500-$1,749_______
$1,750-$1,999_______
$2,000-$2,249....... .
$2,250-$2,499_______
$2,500-$2,999....... .
$3,000-$3,499_______
$3,500~$3,999_______
$4,000-$4,499_______
$4,500-$4,999_______
$5,000-$7,499_______
$7,500-$9,999_______
$10,000 and over-----
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
9
10
11
9
11
10
11
12
12
11
11
12
9
10
11
8
10
11
(2)
(2)
1
(2)
(2)
1
1
1
1
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
1
(2)
(2)
1
(2)
(2)
1
1
1
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
1
1
27
10
5
42
3
1
35
26
13
10
8
5
24
43
6
1
1
31
33
30
32
30
30
27
27
26
24
22
21
20
18
16
14
3
1
10
11
11
11
10
9
2
42
32
31
32
36
41
44
47
46
49
51
49
54
52
45
60
66
69
8
7
7
7
6
5
5
7
4
8
5
9
9
12
12
16
22
15
21
11
4
4
4
2
3
3
1
3
4
5
(2)
1
6
6
2
5
3
3
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
1
2
1
2
1
(2)
(2)
(2)
1
1
(2)
_
1
6
1 Includes only those families that did not change living quarters between the end of the report year
and the date of interview.
2 Q.5 percept or less.
T
able
[White families including husband and wife, both native born: All occupational groups and all family types combined]
of the economic fa m ily , and average number of such nonfam ily members , by income , 1 9 3 5 -3 6
1 7 . — M e m b e r s o f h o u s e h o l d n o t i n e c o n o m i c f a m i l y : Number of fam ilies having persons in the household who were not
158
FAMILY INCOME IN CHICAGO
159
TAB U LAE SU M M A R Y
T
able
1 8 .— A g e o f h u s b a n d s a n d w i v e s : N um ber o f husbands and number of
wives , by age and fa m ily income , 1 9 8 5 -3 6
[Wljite families including husband and wife, both native born: All occupational groups and all family types
combined]
Number with ages of—
-LN um uer
Family income class
(1 )
reporting
Under
age 1
20
(2)
(3)
20-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
60-64
(4)
(5)
(6 )
(7)
(8 )
65-69 70-74
(9)
(10)
75
and
over
(1 1 )
Husbands
All families____________
Percent_______________
28, 510
Relief families_________
Nonrelief families_____
2, 713
25, 797
$0-$249............. .........
$250-$499............. .
$500-$749...................
$750-$999__________
$1,000-$1,249_______
$1,250-$1,499_______
$1,500-$1,749_______
$1,750-$1,999_______
$2,000-$2,249....... .
$2,250-$2,499_______
$2,500-$2,999....... .
$3,000-$3,499_______
$3,500-$3,999_______
$4,000-$4,499_______
$4,500-$4,999_______
$5,000-$7,499_______
$7,500-$9,999_______
$10,000 and over—
301
521
1, 083
1,895
2,820
2,737
2,963
2,995
2, 500
1, 941
2,172
1, 339
845
496
299
663
116
111
100 .0
7
(?)
2
5
1
1
1
1
1
4, 321
9, 671
8,110
8 3.9
2 8.5
4,050
1 4 .2
1,115
1 5.2
669
340
227
2 .3
1 .2
0 .8
428
3,893
847
8, 824
841
7, 269
352
3, 698
91
1,024
74
595
45
295
33
194
34
75
222
509
669
598
533
441
283
182
156
84
52
20
9
19
4
3
72
125
322
608
952
1,005
1,136
1,137
1,034
715
684
377
254
146
58
156
23
20
77
150
270
426
649
658
729
841
744
608
768
469
285
166
118
231
38
42
40
86
140
211
340
283
374
376
307
313
400
259
165
109
72
156
33
34
25
34
56
57
97
88
80
108
73
70
84
83
48
31
20
54
10
6
27
23
40
44
64
62
67
48
31
30
42
40
20
17
10
22
5
3
17
15
21
23
24
29
28
24
15
15
24
14
11
4
11
17
2
1
9
12
12
16
24
14
15
19
13
8
14
13
10
3
1
8
1
2
3.9
W ives
All families___________
Percent........ ........... —
28, 506
131
7, 393
9, 564
6,889
3,113
730
441
160
1 00.0
0 .5
2 5.9
3 3.5
24-3
10.9
2.6
1 .5
0 .6
Relief families_________
Nonrelief families_____
2, 713
25, 793
31
100
729
6, 664
853
8, 711
696
6,193
264
2, 849
55
675
56
385
17
143
12
73
$0-$249____________
$250-$499__________
$500-$749__________
$750-$999__________
$1,000-$1,249_______
$1,250-$1,499_______
$1,500-$1,749_______
$1,750-$1,999_______
$2,000-$2,249_______
$2,250-$2,499_______
$2,500-$2,999_______
$3,000-$3,499_______
$3,500-$3,999_______
$4,000-$4,499_______
$4,500-$4,999_______
$5,000-$7,499_______
$7,500-19,999_______
$10,000 and over___
301
521
1,083
1,895
2, 820
2, 735
2,963
2,995
2,500
1, 940
2,172
1, 338
845
496
299
663
116
111
1
4
10
29
24
13
8
4
2
4
58
116
327
737
992
921
934
772
592
376
330
210
130
55
28
65
12
9
81
140
309
518
861
919
1,035
1,108
1, 000
765
779
397
280
164
84
208
31
32
66
135
229
362
560
554
604
703
599
494
662
430
254
170
98
197
37
39
41
69
124
160
258
223
259
288
228
229
315
210
127
70
63
135
26
24
23
24
44
45
58
52
62
69
42
42
45
55
34
24
14
32
6
4
18
20
26
29
46
35
40
27
25
20
23
24
11
11
6
19
3
2
8
7
10
9
10
15
12
18
7
6
15
10
3
1
5
5
1
1
5
6
4
6
11
3
9
6
5
4
3
2
5
1
1
2
1
1 Excludes 5 husbands and 9 wives who did not report age.
20.05 percent or less.
85
0 .3
FAMILY INCOME IN CHICAGO
160
T able
y e a r : Num ber and percentage distribution o f fam ilies by
date o f end o f report yeary by occupation , 1 985—8 6
1 9 .— R e p o r t
[White families including husband and wife, both native born: All family types combined]
Nonrelief families in specified occupational groups
Business and professional
Date of end of
report year
(1)
All
fam
ilies
(2)
Relief
fam
ilies
(3)
All
(4)
Wage Clerical
earner
(5)
(6)
All
busi
ness
and
profes
sional
Independent
Salaried
Busi Profes Busi Profes
ness sional ness sional
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
(11)
Oth
er i
(12)
Number of families
All dates_______
28, 515
2, 713
25,802
11,705
7,864
5, 714
2,200
519
1,541
1,454
519
Dec. 31, 1935____
Jan. 31, 1936____
Feb. 29,1936____
Mar. 31, 1936___
Apr. 30, 1936____
M ay 31, 1936___
June 30, 1936____
July 31, 1936____
Aug. 31, 1936___
Sept. 30, 1936....
Oct. 31, 1936____
Nov. 30, 1936....
4, 510
728
5,052
3,548
5,055
5,473
2,165
1,086
429
264
132
73
403
69
596
377
450
528
149
63
16
31
20
11
4,107
659
4,456
3,171
4,605
4,945
2,016
1,023
413
233
112
62
1,763
314
2, 333
1, 529
2,085
2,165
796
374
178
82
49
37
1,234
, 192
1,181
954
1, 430
1,608
689
331
126
75
35
9
1,005
135
839
632
1,017
1,087
493
295
97
74
26
14
411
54
359
218
378
434
174
89
39
29
8
7
118
14
77
51
94
85
39
28
3
6
4
265
28
205
180
288
296
134
85
32
15
10
3
211
39
198
183
257
272
146
93
23
24
4
4
105
18
103
56
73
85
38
23
12
2
2
2
Percent
All dates.............
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
Dec. 31, 1935____
Jan. 31, 1936____
Feb. 29, 1936.......
Mar. 31, 1936___
Apr. 30, 1936____
M ay 31, 1936___
June 30, 1936____
July 31, 1936____
Aug. 31, 1936___
Sept. 30, 1936___
Oct. 31, 1936____
Nov. 30, 1936___
16
3
17
12
17
19
8
4
2
1
(2)
(2)
15
2
22
14
17
19
6
2
1
1
1
(2)
16
3
17
12
17
19
8
4
2
1
(2)
(2)
15
3
20
13
17
18
7
3
2
1
(2)
(2)
16
2
15
12
18
21
9
4
2
1
(2)
(2)
17
2
15
11
18
20
9
5
2
1
(2)
(2)
* 19
2
16
10
17
20
8
4
2
1
(2)
(2)
22
3
15
10
18
16
8
5
1
1
1
17
2
13
12
18
19
9
6
2
1
1
(2)
14
3
14
13
17
18
10
6
2
2
(2)
(2)
20
4
20
11
14
17
7
4
2
(2)
(2)
(2)
1 Families classified in the occupational group “ No gainfully employed members.”
a 0.5 percent or less.
TABULAR
SUM M ARY
161
SEC TIO N C. IN CO M PLETE N A T I V E W H IT E , F O R E IG N B O R N
W H IT E , A N D N E G R O FAM ILIES, A N D FAM ILIES
OF O T H E R C O L O R
Num ber o f Families Scheduled, Sources o f Income, Principal and
Supplementary Earners, R en t or Rental Value, According to
Family Income, Occupational Group, and Family T ype
The distribution of families by income, color and nativity group,
occupational group, and family type as shown in tables 1-3 of this
section represents the number of families which furnished the informa
tion as indicated. The remaining tables in this section present data
on family income, earners, and housing for native white incomplete,
foreign born, and Negro families, and families of other color. Be
cause the data in these tables for each color and nativity group
are based on a sample of different size, no valid combinations of
the data can be made without applying weights shown in the explana
tory note of section A.
and N ativity G roups by I ncome : Number of families
scheduled of specified color and nativity, by income, 1935-36.
2. O ccupational G roups: Number of families of specified occu
T able 1. C olor
162
pational groups, by color and nativity, and income, 1935-36. _
3. F amily T ypes : Number of families of specified types, by color
163
and nativity, and income, 1935-36_________________________
4. S ources of F amily I ncome : Number of families receiving in
164
come from specified sources and average amount of such in
come, by color and nativity, and income, 1935-36-----------------5. P rincipal E arners : Number and average yearly earnings of
principal earners, classified as husbands, wives, and others,
with weeks of employment of principal earners; by color and
nativity, and income, 1935-36________________________________
6. N umber of E arners in F am ily : Number of families with spec
ified number of individual earners, average number and
average earnings of supplementary earners, and average earn
ings of family from supplementary earners, by color and
nativity, and income, 1935-36________________________________
7. A verage M onthly R ental V alue and A verage M onthly
R ent : Number of home-owning and renting families, average
monthly rental value, and average monthly rent, by color
and nativity, and income, 1935-36__________________________
165
167
169
171
162
T
FAMILY INCOME IN CHICAGO
able
1.—
C o l o r a n d n a t i v i t y g r o u p s b y i n c o m e : Num ber o f fam ilies scheduled
o f specified color and nativity , by incom e , 1 9 3 5 -3 6
White
Income class
(2)
Negro
Foreign born
Native
Com- Incomplete 2 plete
(1)
1
(3)
AAll
ll
Com
plete
Incom
plete
(4)
(5)
(6)
All
Com
plete
Incom
plete
(7)
(8)
(9)
Other
color3
GO)
Relief and nonrelief families4
All families________________
28, 515
986
5, 423
4,433
990
1,231
831
400
68
$0-$249_____________________
$250-$499___________________
$500-$749___________________
$750-$999___________________
$1,000-$1,249_______________
$1,250-$1,499_______________
$1,500-$1,749_______________
$1,750-$1,999_______________
$2,000-$2,249_______________
$2,250-$2,499_______________
$2,500-$2,999_______________
$3,000-$3,499_______________
$3,500-$3,999_______________
$4,000-$4,499________________
$4,500-$4,999________________
$5,000-$7,499________________
$7,500-$9,999________________
$10,000 and over........... ..........
1,135
1,422
1, 573
2,137
2,964
2, 783
2,994
3, 006
2 , 509
1, 945
2 , 174
1 340
’ 845
499
299
663
116
111
131
82
96
103
112
87
87
61
45
37
55
36
14
11
10
14
1
4
319
390
469
593
645
621
548
462
329
245
346
185
119
63
25
51
8
5
177
285
349
482
532
546
467
416
285
210
288
163
102
54
20
45
8
4
142
105
120
111
113
75
81
46
44
35
58
22
17
9
5
6
252
130
258
198
144
85
50
39
32
18
12
8
2
2
1
68
70
199
157
120
68
46
37
28
15
10
8
2
2
1
184
60
59
41
24
17
4
2
4
3
2
9
10
11
16
9
4
2
5
1
1
1
Nonrelief families
All families________________
$0-$249_____________________
$250-$499___________________
$500-$749___________________
$750-$999___________________
$1,000-$1,249_______________
$1,250-$1,499________________
$1,500-$1,749_______________
$1,750-$1,999_______________
$2,000-$2,249_______________
$2,250-$2,499_______________
$2,500-$2,999_______________
$3,000-$3,499_______________
$3,500-$3,999______________
$4,000-$4,499_______________
$4,500-$4,999________________
$5,000-$7,499________________
$7,500-$9,999________________
$10,000 and over____ . __ __
25,802
846
4, 763
3, 963
800
665
493
172
40
301
521
1,083
1,896
2,820
2, 738
2,964
2,995
2, 500
1,941
2,172
1, 339
845
498
299
663
116
111
51
51
82
94
106
87
87
61
45
37
55
36
14
11
10
14
1
4
126
215
325
515
607
603
537
460
328
245
346
185
119
63
25
51
8
5
76
140
237
426
501
531
459
414
285
210
288
163
102
54
20
45
8
4
50
75
88
89
106
72
78
46
43
35
58
22
17
9
5
6
21
67
96
133
126
71
48
38
26
18
10
7
1
2
1
6
29
54
102
105
58
44
36
25
15
8
7
1
2
1
15
38
42
31
21
13
4
2
1
3
2
1
3
3
13
9
3
2
5
1
1
1 See the introductory note to section A for the size of the samples represented in this and subsequent
tables. A family is classified as native if both husband and wife are native born (or, in the case of an incom
plete family, if the head is native born); otherwise, the family is classified as foreign born. A family is
classified as a complete family if it includes both husband and wife; as an incomplete family if it does not
include both husband and wife. Single individual householders are included in the incomplete families.
See Glossary for further definitions.
2 See section B tables for tabular analysis of native white complete families.
3 Complete families (all family types combined) and incomplete families.
4 Relief families are distributed according to their income, which excludes direct relief received in cash or
in kind.
TABULAR SUMMARY
T
able
2
163
.— O c c u p a t i o n a l g r o u p s : N um ber o f fam ilies o f specified occupational
groups , by color and nativity , and incom e , 1 9 3 5 -3 6 1
Occupational group
Business and proSessional
Income class
All
(1)
(2)
Wage
earner
(3)
Cleri
cal
(4)
Independent
Salaried
All bu
siness
and
profes
sional
Busi
ness
Profes
sional
Busi
ness
Profes
sional
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
Other
3
(10)
Native white incomplete families 3
All families_____ __________
Relief families_____ _
Nonrelief families__________
$0-$499_________________
$500-$749_______________
$750-$999_______________
$1,000-$1,249__ _______
$1,250-$1,499___________
$1,500-$1,749___________
$1,750-$1,999____
$2,000-$2,499__ -$2,500-$2,999___________
$3,000-$4,999___________
$5,000 and over________
986
140
846
102
82
94
106
87
87
61
82
55
71
19
274
54
220
26
29
31
25
23
24
14
22
12
12
2
312
13
299
12
16
26
43
45
41
26
32
24
29
5
211
6
205
19
21
22
23
14
17
17
18
18
25
11
109
5
104
16
16
16
17
10
5
6
4
7
5
2
14
18
14
18
I
2
2
1
3
1
1
1
2
2
Foreign born white families
All families.. . ........ ...............
Relief families
_____ ____
N onrelief families____ ___
$0-$499_________________
$500-$749_______________
$750-$999__________
$1,000-$1,249___________
$1,250-$1,499___________
$1,500-$1,749
$1,750-$1,999___________
$2,000-$2,499___________
$2,500-$2,999___________
$3,000-$4,999__ ___
$5,000 and over_________
5,423
660
4, 763
341
325
515
607
603
537
460
573
346
392
64
3,084
413
2, 671
106
180
331
413
415
325
257
286
179
166
13
956
64
892
12
36
63
81
97
118
100
162
93
109
21
956
43
913
46
62
100
93
87
88
98
121
72
117
29
700
29
671
45
57
91
79
78
71
65
72
44
58
11
1
1
3
2
7
2
70
1
69
3
3
3
4
3
8
10
11
8
11
5
189
67
122
45
16
15
15
5
5
4
10
1
5
1
427
140
287
177
47
21
20
4
4
44
64
44
1
64
148
14
134
4
9
8
11
7
5
3
3
9
12
6
19
7
5
8
7
5
14
20
28
14
29
4
6
6
6
6
1
1
2
1
6
5
4
2
1
Negro families 4
96
133
126
71
48
38
44
10
11
837
354
483
49
76
103
103
60
37
24
25
4
2
62
6
56
2
1
8
9
6
5
7
12
2
4
68
28
40
54
24
30
2
8
2
8
All families____ ___________
Relief families. . __
Nonrelief families__________
$0-$499____________ __
$500-$749 _______
$750-$999 ______
$1,000-$1,249______
$1,250-$1,499
___
$1,500-$1,749
$1,750-$1,999 _ __
..
$2,000-$2,499______
$2,500-$2,999
$3,000-$4,999. __
$5,000 and over _ _
1,231
566
665
All families.............................
Relief families
Nonrelief families__________
88
137
30
107
25
15
20
14
4
6
7
7
4
5
89
14
75
21
13
18
8
3
3
2
4
1
2
195
176
19
12
4
2
1
36
16
20
3
2
1
4
1
1
3
2
2
1
5
1
2
4
4
5
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
Families of other color4
i A family is classified as native if both husband and wife are native born (or, in the case of an incomplete
family, if the head is native born); otherwise, the family is classified as foreign born. A family is classified
as a complete family if it includes both husband and wife; as an incomplete family if it does not include
both husband and wife. See glossary for further definitions.
* Families classified in the occupational group “ No gainfully employed members.”
* See column (3) of table 1 on p. 162.
* Complete families (all family types combined) and incomplete families.
164
FAM ILY INCOME IN
T able 3.—
F a m ily
CHICAGO
t y p e s : N u m b er o f fa m ilie s o f sp ecified t y p e s , b y color a nd
n a tiv ity , and in co m e , 1 9 3 5 - 3 6 1
Complete families of type 2—
Income class
(1)
All
(2)
All
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
and
other
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
(11)
Incom
plete
fami
lies
(12)
Foreign born white families
All families____________
5,423
4,433
824
433
417 1,230
577
229
287
436
990
Relief families------Nonrelief families______
660
4,763
470
3,963
94
730
35
398
37
86
380 1,144
77
500
39
190
60
227
42
394
190
800
341
325
515
607
603
537
460
573
346
392
64
216
237
426
501
531
459
414
495
288
339
57
108
79
99
106
98
71
69
58
13
21
8
13
21
57
70
64
54
45
42
13
17
2
14
16
55
56
81
66
52
71
42
42
5
4
12
27
39
27
30
21
18
8
3
1
5
8
17
20
32
27
30
32
23
28
5
6
15
16
22
31
31
36
68
55
100
14
125
88
89
106
72
78
46
78
58
53
7
$0-$499____________
$5Q0-$749___________
$750-$999__________
$1,000-$1,249_______
$1,250-$1,499_______
$1,500-$1,749_______
$1,750-$1,999_______
$2,000-$2,499_______
$2,500-$2,999_______
$3,000-$4,999_______
$5,000 and over_____
15
23
46
60
69
46
38
44
20
17
2
51
63
109
128
129
134
123
162
114
111
20
Negro families
All families------------------
1,231
831
296
90
47
170
64
43
67
54
400
Relief families __- _____
Nonrelief families_____
566
665
338
493
94
202
39
51
23
24
62
108
29
35
19
24
38
29
34
20
228
172
$0-$499 __________
$500-$749 _________
$750-$999____ ______
$1,000-$1,249_______
$1,250-$1,499_______
$1,500-$1,749_______
$1,750-$1,999___
$2,000-$2,499_______
$2,500-$2,999______
$3,000-$4,999_______
$5,000 and over_____
88
96
133
126
71
48
38
44
10
11
35
54
102
105
58
44
36
40
8
11
27
23
54
41
19
14
11
10
1
2
2
7
13
8
6
8
4
4
5
11
12
28
16
7
12
10
3
4
1
4
3
7
5
2
7
8
6
2
1
1
4
4
8
4
1
2
1
8
7
3
4
5
5
2
5
2
1
4
4
4
4
3
53
42
31
21
13
4
2
4
2
Families of other color
All families____________
68
58
8
7
8
Relief families.
_ __
Nonrelief families______
28
40
26
32
2
6
2
5
4
4
4
5
9
6
11
10
4
3
2
6
3
4
2
5
6
2
8
1 A family is classified as native if both husband and wife are native born (or, in the case of an incomplete
family, if the head is native born); otherwise, the family is classified as foreign born. A family is classified
as a complete family if it includes both husband and wife; as an incomplete family if it does not include both
husband and wife. See glossary for further definitions.
3 For definitions of family types, see footnote 2 of table 3, section A, on p. 112.
165
TABULAR SU M M ARY
T
4 . — S o u r c e s o f f a m i l y i n c o m e : N u m b e r o f fa m ilie s receiving in c o m e
f r o m specified sou rces a nd average a m ou n t o f such in c o m e , b y color a nd n a tiv ity ,
and in c o m e , 1 9 8 5 - 3 6 1
able
Number of families receiving—
Income class
(1)
Average 2—
Money in
Nonmoney income
Money in
from—
come from—
Num come from—
ber of
fami
Total
Other
Other
Owned
lies
sources
home Rent family
income Earn sources
Earn (posi
Any
(posi
(posi
as
ings 3 tive or source5 tive or
ings 3 tive or
nega
nega pay
nega
tive) <
tive) •
tive)7
(3)
(2)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
Non
money
income
from
owned
home
and
rent as
pay 8
(ID
Native white incomplete families
All nonrelief families___
846
726
272
287
264
23
$1,633
$1, 341
$210
$82
$(>-$249________________
$250-$499______________
$500-$749______________
$750-$999______________
$1,000-$1,249___________
$1,250-$1,499___________
$1,500-$1,749___________
$1,750-$1,999___________
$2,000-$2,249___________
$2,250-$2,499___________
$2,500-$2,999___________
$3,000-$3,499___________
$3,500-$3,999___________
$4,000-$4,499___________
$4,500-$4,999______ . . .
$5,000-$7,499___________
$7,500-$9,999___________
$10,000 and over..........
51
51
82
94
106
87
87
61
45
37
55
36
14
11
10
14
23
35
66
80
91
82
82
57
41
31
54
32
13
11
10
13
11
15
35
34
33
30
26
16
14
16
18
12
4
2
2
3
12
24
33
39
28
33
26
15
10
13
20
16
4
5
10
23
26
36
26
30
25
15
9
12
20
16
4
5
2
1
7
3
2
3
1
5
1
2
1
2
68
216
388
597
862
1,128
1, 381
1, 599
1,792
1,785
2, 379
2, 537
3, 241
4,025
4, 603
5,034
(*)
10, 628
17
57
151
185
200
141
169
205
268
486
236
517
264
33
90
488
4
3
1
2
113
370
623
867
1,126
1, 353
1,608
1,866
2,109
2, 389
2,730
3,190
3, 671
4,162
4, 731
5,707
(*)
13,202
2,495
28
97
84
85
64
84
58
62
49
118
115
136
166
104
38
185
(*)
79
4,763 4,481
1,402
2,029
1,961
68
$1,682
$1, 534
$78
$70
60
128
130
134
157
148
136
122
90
57
107
56
29
20
6
14
6
2
62
129
158
170
217
216
211
200
144
105
183
97
60
31
15
25
4
2
61
126
152
166
212
207
205
190
135
99
177
96
59
31
15
25
3
2
1
3
6
4
5
9
6
10
9
6
6
101
376
626
873
1,120
1, 361
1,606
1,864
2,117
2, 367
2,704
3,185
3,722
4, 221
4,709
5,755
8, 253
11,988
47
197
457
775
1,003
1, 260
1,477
1,722
1,955
2,233
2,513
2,971
3, 553
3, 957
4,404
5,438
4,909
10, 358
18
108
104
54
65
51
64
67
77
57
91
101
56
156
158
153
2,946
1,606
36
71
65
44
52
50
65
75
85
77
100
113
113
108
147
164
398
24
1
4
1
1
1
1
1
Foreign born white families 9
All nonrelief families___
$0-$249________________
$250-$499______________
$500-$749______________
$750-$999______________
$1,000-$1,249___________
$1,250-$1,499___________
$1,500-$1,749___________
$1,750-$1,999___________
$2,000-$2,249___________
$2,250-$2,499___________
$2,500-$2,999___________
$3,000-$3,499___________
$3,500-$3,999___________
$4,000-$4,499___________
$4,500-$4,999____ ______
$5,000-$7,499____ ______
$7,500-$9,999___________
$10,000 and over............
126
215
325
515
607
603
537
460
328
245
346
185
119
63
25
51
8
5
39
128
278
495
588
599
531
455
325
244
344
185
119
63
25
51
7
5
1
1
1
* A family is classified as native if both husband and wife are native born (or, in the case of an incomplete
family, if the head is native born); otherwise, the family is classified as foreign born. A family is classified
as a complete family if it includes both husband and wife; as an incomplete family if it does not include both
husband and wife. See glossary for further definitions.
a The averages in each column are based on all families, column (2), whether or not they received income
from the specified source.
a See glossary for definition of “ earnings.”
* Includes families having money income other than earnings, families having business losses, and families
having both such income and such losses. See glossary for definitions of money income other than earn
ings and business losses.
a The total of the numbers of families in columns (6) and (7).
* Includes families with losses from owned homes as well as families whose estimated rental value of owned
homes for the period of ownership and occupancy exceeded estimated expenses allocable to that period.
* Includes money income other than earnings, after deduction of business losses. See glossary for defini
tions of money income other than earnings and business losses.
* Represents the estimated rental value of owned homes for the period of ownership and occupancy, less
estimated expenses allocable to that period, and the value of rent received as pay.
* Complete families (all family types combined) and incomplete families.
* Averages not computed for fewer than 3 cases.
F A M IL Y
166
IN C O M E
IN
C H IC A G O
T able
4 . — S o u r c e s o f f a m i l y i n c o m e : N u m b er o f fa m ilie s receiving in co m e
f r o m sp ecified sou rces a nd average a m o u n t o f such in co m e , b y color a nd n a tiv ity ,
and in co m e , 1 9 3 5 - 8 6 — Continued
Number of families receiving
Income class
(1)
Average—
Nonmoney income
Money in
Money in
from—
come from—
Num come from—
ber of
fami
Total
Other
Other
Owned
family
lies
sources
home Kent income
sources
Any
Earn
(posi
Earn (posi
(posi
ings tive or source tive or as
ings tive or
nega
nega pay
nega
tive)
tive)
tive)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(7)
(6)
(8)
(9)
(10)
Non
money
income
from
owned
home
and
rent as
pay
(ID
Negro families 9
All nonrelief families___
665
646
95
83
76
7
$1,126
$1,051
$52
$23
$0-$249___ _____ _______
$250-$499____ __________
$500-$749______________
$750-$999______________
$1,000-$1,249___________
$1,250-$1,499___________
$1,500-$1,749___________
$1,750-$1,999_____
$2,000-$2,249___________
$2,250-$2,499___________
$2,500-$2,999___________
$3,000-$3,499___________
$3,500-$3,999___________
$4,000-$4,499___________
$4,500-$4,999___________
$5,000-$7,499___________
$7,500-$9,999___________
$10,000 and over.........___
21
67
96
133
126
71
48
38
26
18
10
7
1
2
1
15
61
92
131
126
70
48
38
26
18
10
7
1
2
1
6
9
9
14
10
9
9
6
6
8
4
2
5
5
9
18
11
4
5
8
2
6
4
3
4
4
8
16
10
3
5
8
2
6
4
3
1
1
1
2
1
1
154
373
623
857
1,110
1, 355
1,612
1,839
2,128
2, 386
2, 638
3,197
115
327
590
792
1,078
1, 289
1, 531
1,715
2,020
2,108
2,362
2,858
17
37
20
38
16
59
63
88
93
206
183
199
22
9
13
27
16
7
18
36
15
72
93
140
2
1
2
1
2
1
(*)
(*)
(*)
(*)
(*)
(*)
(*)
(*)
(*)
(*)
Families of other color 9
All nonrelief families___
40
40
3
2
1
1
$1,168
• Complete families (all family types combined) and incomplete families.
* Averages not computed for fewer than 3 cases.
$1,137
$16
$15
167
TABULAR SUM M ARY
T able 5. —
P r i n c i p a l e a r n e r s : N u m b e r and average ye a r ly earnings o f p rin cip a l
earners , classified as h u sba n d s , w ives , and others , mtf/i w eeks o f em p lo ym en t o f
p rin c ip a l ea rn ers; b y color and n a tiv ity , and in co m e , 1 9 8 5 - 8 6 1
Number of principal earners
Income class
(1)
Aver Average earnings of principal earners4
age
weeks
Others
Hus
Hus
Others
of
em
Num
bands Wives
ploy
bands Wives
or fe
or fe
ber of
or
or
ment
male
fami
male male
male heads
of
All
lies All 2 heads
prin
heads heads
Fe
Fe
of
of
Male male cipal
Male male
of
of
fami fami
fami fami
earn
lies
lies
lies
lies
ers 3
(2)
(3)
(6)
(5)
(4)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
(ID
(12)
(13)
Native white incomplete families
All nonrelief families.................. .
846
681
136
199
168
178
$0-$249_.............
$250-$499________
$500-$749________
$750-$999________
$1,000-$1,249_____
$1,250-$1,499_____
$1,500-11,749_____
$1,750-$1,999_____
$2,000-$2,249_____
$2,250-$2,499_____
$2,500-$2,999_____
$3,000-$3,499_____
$3,500-$3,999_____
$4,000-$4,499_____
$4,500-$4,999.........
$5,000-$7,499_____
$7,500-$9,999
$10,000 and over_._
51
51
82
94
106
87
87
61
45
37
55
36
14
11
10
14
1
4
18
25
58
69
85
81
81
55
41
31
53
32
13
11
10
13
1
4
2
4
11
8
16
13
16
14
8
6
12
10
2
5
2
5
9
10
28
30
30
19
17
17
7
10
7
8
3
1
1
1
1
4
6
8
15
13
20
27
10
14
8
V
9
6
1
5
4
3
5
11
16
26
29
21
14
12
7
18
5
2
4
2
3
2
2
48 $1,283 $1,627 $1,074 $1,352 $1,189
28
31
40
45
48
50
50
51
52
51
50
51
52
52
52
50
(*)
52
145
311
476
688
942
1,080
1,290
1, 437
1,696
1, 582
1,859
1,981
2, 423
2,127
2,968
3,264
(*)
6,950
(*)
256
493
718
934
1,094
1, 526
1,644
1,870
2,063
2,098
2,125
(*)
2, 560
(*)
3, 656
C)
146
351
484
723
970
1,110
1, 279
1, 538
1, 513
1, 426
1, 757
2, 252
2, 400
(*)
C)
(*)
C)
137
300
541
604
871
1,031
1,184
1, 394
1, 630
1, 611
1, 962
1, 643
2,446
(*)
2,780
3, 071
130
286
391
688
950
1,087
1, 257
1.140
1, 766
1, 359
1, 647
1,868
(*)
1,540
(*)
2,623
C)
Foreign born white families s
All nonrelief fam
ilies....... ............
4, 763
$0-$249__________
$250-$499________
$500-$749________
$750-$999________
$1,000-$1,249_____
$1,250-$1,499_____
$1,500-$1,749_____
$1,750-$1,999_____
$2,000-$2,249_____
$2,250-$2,499.........
$2,500-$2,999_____
$3,000-$3,499.........
$3,500-$3,999.........
$4,000-$4,499.........
$4,500-$4,999.........
$5,000-$7,499.........
$7,500-$9,999_____
$10,000 and over...
126
215
325
515
607
603
537
460
328
245
346
185
119
63
25
51
8
5
4, 424 3,188
32
114
262
487
581
597
530
455
325
242
344
185
119
63
25
51
7
5
18
76
166
352
437
457
391
365
233
164
224
125
85
36
13
36
5
5
167
653
416
5
17
28
30
20
16
18
9
4
6
8
2
3
5
9
33
54
76
71
67
51
58
48
74
44
23
19
9
11
1
4
12
35
51
48
53
54
30
30
24
38
14
8
8
3
3
1
1
49 $1, 292 $1, 387
26
33
39
46
49
50
51
51
51
51
51
52
52
51
50
52
50
52
156
319
506
757
964
1,120
1,257
1, 466
1, 589
1, 637
1, 705
1, 999
2,268
2, 504
2, 543
3, 367
4,823
9,200
135
326
535
787
1, 015
1,188
1, 337
1, 534
1, 732
1,826
1,872
2, 271
2,437
2, 665
3,140
3,677
6,048
9,200
$806 $1,168
129
310
491
693
713
853
1,124
1,092
1,155
1, 248
1, 439
(*)
1, 553
(*)
216
310
440
679
819
926
1,088
1, 233
1, 238
1,248
1, 463
1,452
1, 918
2, 554
2, 026
2,476
(*)
$954
208
294
446
673
825
867
931
1,144
1,211
1,224
1, 245
1, 382
1, 753
1, 656
1,510
2, 300
(*)
1A family is classified as native if both husband and wife are native born (or, in the case of an incomplete
family, if the head is native born); otherwise, the family is classified as foreign born. A family is classified
as a complete family if it includes both husband and wife; as an incomplete family if it does not include both
husband and wife. See glossary for further definitions.
2 The total number of principal earners given in column (3) is equivalent to the total number of families
having individual earners, since a family can have only one principal earner. The difference between the
totals in columns (2) and (3) is explained by the fact that column (2), number of families, includes cases in
which none of the family income was attributable to individual earners.
3 Averages in this column are based on the number of principal earners reporting weeks of employment.
4 Averages in this section of the table are based on the corresponding counts of principal earners in columns
(3) through (7).
c Complete families (all family types combined) and incomplete families.
♦Averages not computed for fewer than 3 cases.
74021°— 89------12
F A M IL Y
168
T
IN C O M E
IN
C H IC A G O
5 . — P r i n c i p a l e a r n e r s : N u m b er a nd average y e a r ly ea rn in g s o f p r in c ip a l
earners , classified as h u sba n d s , w ives , a nd others , w ith w eeks o f e m p lo ym en t o f
p rin cip a l ea rn ers; b y color and n a tiv ity , a nd in co m e , 1 9 8 5 —3 6 — Continued
able
Aver Average earnings of principal earners
age
weeks
Hus
Others'
of em
Others
ploy
bands Wives
or fe
or
ment
male
male
of
All
heads heads
Fe prin
of
Fe
cipal
Male male
of
Male male
fami fami
earn
lies
lies
ers
Number of principal earners
Income class
Num
ber of
fami
lies
(2)
(1)
All
Hus
bands
or
male
heads
of
fami
lies
Wives
or fe
male
heads
of
fami
lies
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
(ID
$525 $1, Oil
$580
161
344
488
656
698
(*)
(*)
(*)
(•)
512
468
780
793
(12)
(13)
Negro families 8
All nonrelief fam
ilies___________
$0-$249__________
$250-$499________
$500-$749________
$750-$999________
$1,000-$1,249_____
$1,250-$1,499_____
$1,500-$1,749_____
$1,750-$1,999. __ .
$2,000-$2,249_____
$2,250-$2,499 ___
$2,500-$2,999_____
$3,000-$3,499_____
$3,500-$3,999_____
$4,000-$4,499_____
$4,500-$4,999_____
$5,000-$7,499_____
$7,500-$9,999_____
$10,000 and over___
665
626
470
86
21
67
96
133
126
71
48
38
26
18
10
7
1
2
1
13
54
90
124
124
70
48
38
26
18
10
7
1
2
1
4
30
52
100
103
58
41
33
20
14
7
5
1
1
1
7
20
27
15
12
1
2
1
1
45
2
6
4
6
6
5
3
5
3
3
1
25
50
$915
$996
2
2
5
5
3
5
32
46
47
50
51
51
51
51
50
50
51
52
(*)
(*)
(*)
154
344
535
757
936
1,080
1,205
1, 410
1, 506
1, 589
1, 845
1, 937
(*)
(*)
(*)
144
345
577
785
966
1,124
1,249
1,474
1, 609
1, 601
1, 941
2,004
(*)
(*)
(*)
2
1
1
(•)
(*)
(•)
407
810
975
901
1,017
1,128
1,260
1, 543
1,622
(*)
(*)
(*)
C)
Families of other color 8
All nonrelief fam
ilies___________
40
40
34
2
3
1
50 $1,048 $1, 074
8 Complete families (all family types combined) and incomplete families.
* Averages not computed for fewer than 3 cases.
(*)
$1,213
C)
169
TABULAE SU M M ARY
T
6 . — X u m b e r o f e a r n e r s I n f a m i l y : N u m b er o f fa m ilie s w ith specified
n u m ber o f in divid u al earners, average n u m ber and average ea rn in g s o f s u p p le
m en ta ry earners, a nd average ea rn in gs o f f a m i l y f r o m su p p lem en ta ry earners, b y
color a nd n a tiv ity, and in co m e, 1 9 3 5 -S 6 1
able
Income class
Number of
fam
ilies
(1)
(2)
Aver
Supplemen
Families
age
with more tary earners Aver
earn
age
than one
earn
ings
per
earner as
ings of family
percentage
supple
from
Aver
families
men supple
Four of
age
with any Num number
Two Three or individual
men
tary
ber
more
earners3
tary
per
earner2
earners4
family5
Number of families with speci
fied number of individual
earners
Any
One
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
(11)
(12)
Native white incomplete families
All nonrelief families
846
681
446
181
$0-$249 __________
$250-$499_________
$500-$749 ________
$750-$999_________
$1,000-$1,249_______
$1,250-$1,499______
$1,500-$1,749______
$1,750-$1,999_______
$2,000-$2,249 ______
$2,250-12,499______
$2,500-$2,999______
$3,000-$3,499_______
$3,500-$3,999______
$4,000-$4,499______
$4,500-$4,999______
$5,000-$7,499______
$7,500-$9,999 ______
$10,000 and over___
51
51
82
94
106
87
87
61
45
37
55
36
14
11
10
14
1
4
18
25
58
69
85
81
81
55
41
31
53
32
13
11
10
13
1
4
14
20
56
63
66
56
53
31
27
16
23
11
4
3
1
4
4
2
6
18
23
26
17
13
11
20
14
7
5
2
8
2
1
38
16
1
1
2
1
7
1
4
8
6
1
2
3
1
34
(t)
(t)
1
2
1
1
4
2
3
1
1
(t)
(t)
(t)
(t)
(t)
(t)
3
9
22
31
35
44
34
48
57
66
309
0.45
$748
$273
4
6
2
6
20
27
31
31
15
19
42
29
12
22
14
20
3
6
.22
.24
.03
.09
.24
.33
.38
.56
.36
.61
.79
.91
.92
2.00
1.40
1. 54
(*)
1.50
69
89
^225
313
345
420
478
700
841
756
938
1,157
949
1,168
1, 402
1,920
2,450
5
10
5
14
59
107
150
243
233
432
577
756
991
1,898
1, 635
2,003
(*)
3,675
Foreign born white families 6
All nonrelief families 4,763 4,424 2, 647 1,132
$0-$249 ________
$250-$499 ________
$500-$749_____ ____
$750-$999.... ........—
$1,000-$1,249_______
$1,250-$1,499_......... .
$1,500-$1,749_...........
$1,750-$1,999_______
$2,000-$2,249______
$2,250-$2,499______
$2,500-$2,999_______
$3,000-$3,499______
$3,500-$3.999______
$4,000-$4,499______
$4,500-$4,999______
$5,000-$7,499_______
$7,500-$9,999 $10,000 and over___
126
215
325
515
607
603
537
460
328
245
346
185
119
63
25
51
8
5
32
114
262
487
581
597
530
455
325
242
344
185
119
63
25
51
7
5
28
95
216
393
456
403
313
262
172
91
94
60
27
11
4
15
4
3
4
17
42
79
106
159
167
146
103
75
124
45
36
11
7
9
1
1
461
2
3
14
14
29
44
39
39
55
94
51
32
24
6
12
2
1
184
40 2,649
0.60
$572
$318
1
1
5
6
6
8
11
21
32
29
24
17
8
15
4
12
21
17
51
18
111
19
22
149
235
32
41
273
42
248
216
47
62 , 253
73
410
242
68
177
77
114
82
48
(t)
71
89
5
(t)
3
(t)
. 12
. 18
.19
.23
.26
.39
.52
.54
.66
1.04
1.19
1.31
1.49
1.81
1.92
1.74
.71
.60
51
81
152
190
238
340
443
477
553
580
680
730
861
796
969
1,186
1,101
1, 927
2
8
24
41
58
133
225
257
364
599
806
955
1, 280
1,439
1,861
2,070
688
1, 156
1 A family is classified as native if both husband and wife are native born (or, in the case of an incomplete
family, if the head is native born); otherwise, the family is classified as foreign born. A family is classified
as a complete family if it includes both husband and wife; as an incomplete family if it does not include both
husband and wife. See glossary for further definitions.
a This percentage was computed by dividing the sum of columns (5), (6), (7) by column (3).
3 Averages in this column are based on the number of supplementary earners, column (9).
4 Averages in this column are based on the number of families in column (2).
* Averages in this column are based on the number of families with individual earners, column (3).
« Complete families (all family types combined) and incomplete families.
t Percentages not computed for fewer than 30 cases.
* Averages not computed for fewer than 3 cases.
170
T
FAM ILY INCOM E IN
CHICAGO
6 . — N u m b e r o f e a r n e r s I n f a m i l y : N u m b e r o f f a m ilie s w ith sp ecified
n u m ber o f in d ivid u a l earners, average n u m ber a n d average ea rn in g s o f s u p p le
m en ta ry earners, a n d average ea rn in g s o f f a m i l y f r o m su p p le m e n ta r y earners, b y
color and n a tiv ity, an d in co m e, 1 9 3 5 - 3 6 — Continued
able
Income class
Num
ber of
fam
ilies
(1)
($
Number of families with speci
fied number of individual
earners
Any
One
(3)
(4)
Aver
Supplemen
Families
age
with more tary earners Aver
age
earn
than one
earn
ings
per
earner as
ings of family
percentage
Aver supple from
of
families
Four with any Num age
men supple
Two Three or individual ber number tary
men
more
per
earners
tary
earner
family
earners
(5)
(6)
(7)
(9)
(8)
(10)
(11)
(12)
Negro families 6
All nonrelief families
665
626
436
158
21
$0-$94Q
$250-$499
$500-$749____
$750-$999_____ ___
$1,000-$1,249
$1,250-$1,499______
$1,500-$1,749______
$1,750-$1,999_______
$2,000-$2,249______
$2,250-$2,499______
$2,500-$2,999______
$3,000-$3,499______
$3,500-$3,999 _
$4,000-$4,499
21
67
96
133
126
71
48
38
26
18
10
7
1
2
1
13
54
90
124
124
70
48
38
26
18
10
7
1
2
1
13
48
69
96
90
46
27
24
10
7
4
2
6
20
27
32
19
16
11
10
8
5
3
1
2
3
3
2
5
2
$5,000-$7,499 _ —
$7,500-$9,999
$10,000 and over
1
1
1
1
11
1
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
30
237
0.38
$380
$135
n
23
23
27
34
44
37
6
23
29
36
31
28
18
23
15
9
11
2
3
3
.11
.26
.23
.29
.44
.58
.47
.88
.83
.90
1. 57
(*)
(*)
78
187
199
281
359
429
506
531
571
541
567
(*)
746
418
7
45
43
80
157
250
240
470
476
487
891
(*)
(*)
(*)
(1\)
(1\)
(1\)
(1\)
d\)
( )
(1\)
6 Complete families (all family types combined) and incomplete families,
t Percentages not computed for fewer than 30 cases.
* Averages not computed for fewer than 3 cases.
w
T able 7.— A v e ra g e m o n t h l y r e n t a l v a lu e a n d a v e ra g e m o n t h l y r e n t : N u m b er o f h o m e-o w n in g a nd ren tin g fa m ilie s , average m on th ly
rental value , and average m onthly ren tf b y color a nd n a tivity , and in co m e , 1 9 3 5 - 3 6 1
1
Native white incomplete families
Number of
families
Income class
Homeown
ing
Rent
ing
Homeown
ing
Rent
ing
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
Average
monthly—
Number of
families
Rental
Homevalue
of
Rent8 own
owned
ing
homes4
(6)
(7)
Percentage of
home-owning
and renting
families 3
Rent
ing
Homeown
ing
Rent
ing
(8)
(9)
(10)
(11)
Negro families 2
Average
monthly—
Number of
families
Rental
value
Homeof
Bent * own
owned
ing
homes4
(12)
(13)
(14)
Percentage of
home-owning
and renting
families3
Rent
ing
Homeown
ing
Rent
ing
(15)
(16)
(17)
Average
monthly—
Rental
value
of
Rent3
owned
homes4
(18)
(19)
278
708
28
72
$32
$31
2,064
3,359
38
62
$27
$27
93
1,138
8
92
$27
$21
Relief families. _ _____ _
Nonrelief families______
14
264
126
582
10
31
90
69
23
33
16
34
116
1,948
544
2,815
18
41
82
59
20
27
16
29
17
76
549
589
3
11
97
89
22
28
17
25
12
19
4
41
48
52
18
24
66
23
17
20
23
60
10
80
(t)
(t)
18
94
16
41
28
59
19
4
6
29
22
89
20
63
45
55
126
23
21
21
8
92
151
46
54
8
88
56
32
28
22
23
20
26
174
68
21
88
28
22
12
351
32
16
58
28
68
117
38
62
164
23
36
26
24
27
92
8
25
24
10
116
31
35
65
80
25
75
30
210
397
26
1 Families are classified as home-owDing or renting families according to their status at the date of interview. Of the 68 families of other color, 1 was a home-owning family, non
relief; 67 were renting families with an average monthly rent of $15. All 28 relief families of other color were renting families with an average monthly rent of $12. Of the 40 nonrelief
families of other color, 39 were renting families with an average monthly rent of $17.
2 Complete families (all family types combined) and incomplete families.
3 Based on the number of home-owning and renting families in the respective color and nativity groups.
4 Based on estimate made by home owner for period of ownership and occupancy during report year. Averages are based on the number of home-owning families as of end of
report year.
8 Rent reported at date of interview. Averages are based on the number of renting families in each class that reported monthly rent, including families receiving rent as gift,
the amount of which is estimated by the family.
t Percentages not computed for fewer than 30 cases.
$0-$249____________
$250-$499_............... .
$500-$749__________
$750-$999..... ............
$1,000-$1,249........
SUM M ARY
All families___________
TABULAR
(1)
Percentage of
home-owning
and renting
families 3
Foreign born white families 2
T able 7.— A v e ra g e m o n t h l y r e n t a l v a lu e a n d a v e ra g e m o n t h ly r e n t : N u m b er o f h o m e-o w n in g a n d renting fa m ilie s , average m on th ly
rental value , and average m onthly rent , b y color a nd n a tiv ity , a nd in co m e , 1 9 3 5 - 3 6 — Continued
Foreign born white families
Native white incomplete families
Percentage of
home-owning
and renting
families
Number of
families
Income class
Average
monthly—
Number of
families
Percentage of
home-owning
and renting
families
Average
monthly—
Homeown
ing
Rent
ing
Homeown
ing
Rent
ing
Rental
value
of
owned
homes
Rent
Homeown
ing
Rent
ing
Homeown
ing
Rent
ing
Rental
value
of
owned
homes
Rent
Homeown
ing
Rent
ing
Homeown
ing
Rent
ing
Rental
value
of
owned
homes
Rent
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
(11)
(12)
(13)
(14)
(15)
(16)
(17)
CIS)
(19)
34
29
25
20
32
36
44
(t)
(t)
(t)
(t)
(t)
(t)
66
71
75
80
68
64
56
(t)
(t)
(t)
(t)
34
38
41
41
40
51
52
49
49
(t)
49
(t)
(t)
66
62
59
59
60
49
48
51
51
(t)
51
(t)
(t)
$24
27
28
29
29
30
34
35
34
42
48
61
(*)
30
25
15
9
12
20
16
4
5
1
3
1
2
57
62
46
36
25
35
20
10
6
9
11
2
t Percentages not computed for fewer than 30 cases.
* Averages not computed for fewer than 3 cases.
Percentage of
home-owning
and renting
families
$30
26
34
40
40
39
39
62
31
(*67
8
$31
35
40
43
44
45
48
48
47
68
46
(*)
204
204
190
134
99
176
96
58
31
15
25
3
2
399
333
270
194
146
170
89
61
32
10
26
5
3
$26
27
32
33
37
36
44
44
50
45
60
93
183
3
5
8
2
6
4
3
‘2
1
68
43
30
24
12
6
4
1
4
10
21
(t)
(t)
(t)
(t)
(t)
(t)
(t)
96
90
79
(t)
(t)
(t)
(t)
(t)
(t)
(t)
$28
32
34
32
29
30
48
$19
26
28
(*)
34
40
43
(*)
(*)
(*)
CHICAGO
N onrelief families—Con.
$1,250-$1,499_______
$1,500-$1,749_______
$1,750-$1,999_______
$2,000-$2,249...... .
$2,250-$2,499_______
$2,500-$2,999_______
$3,000-$3,499_______
$3,500-$3,999_______
$4,00Q-$4,499_______
$4,500-$4,999_______
$5,000-$7,499_______
$7,500-$9,999_______
$10,000 and over____
Number of
families
FAM ILY INCOME IN
(1)
Average
monthly—
Negro families
Appendix A
Scope and Character o f Samples Taken in the Study o f
Consumer Purchases
The cities covered by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the Study
of Consumer Purchases are as follows:
Metropolitan and large
cities
Region
Northeast
_ ______ New York, N. Y . i 2______
Providence, R. I.
Atlanta, Ga.2 ___ _______
Southeast._____ ___
East Central
Small cities
Middle-sized cities
___ _ Chicago, 111.1 - ______
Columbus, Ohio.2
West Central_______
Pacific Northwest___
Haverhill, Mass______ ____
New Britain, Conn.
Columbia, S . C 2__________
Mobile, Ala.2
__ Muncie, Ind______________
New Castle, Pa.
Springfield, 111.
Omaha, Nebr.-C o u n c i 1 Dubuque, Iowa___________
Springfield, Mo.
Bluffs, Iowa.
Butte, Mont.
Denver, Colo.
Pueblo, Colo.
Portland, Oreg..... ............. Aberdeen-Hoquiam, Wash—
Bellingham, Wash.
Everett, Wash.
Wallingford, Conn.
Willimantic, Conn.
Albany, Ga.2
Gastonia, N. C.2
Beaver Falls, Pa.
Connellsville. Pa.
Logansport, Ind.
Mattoon, 111.
Peru, Ind.
Billings, Mont.
1The metropolitan centers of Chicago and New York have been treated separately from the other large
cities.
2 Information obtained from both white and Negro families.
Communities covered by the Bureau of Home Economics are as
follows:
Region
Small cities
_____ Westbrook, Maine.
Greenfield, Mass.
Central_____ _____ ____ _ Mt. Vernon, Ohio.
New Philadelphia, Ohio.
Beaver Dam, Wis.
Lincoln, 111.
Boone, Iowa.
Moberly, Mo.
Columbia, Mo.
Mountain and Plains. __ _ Dodge City, Kans.
Greeley, Colo.
Logan, Utah.
Provo, Utah.
New England. _
Pacific__________________ Astoria, Oreg.
Eugene, Oreg.
Klamath Falls, Oreg.
Olympia, Wash.
Southeast_____ ____ ___ Griffin, Ga.
White and negro fam Sumter, S. C.
ilies.
White families only____
Negro families only __ _
Villages
6 in Vermont.
8 in Massachusetts.
7 in Pennsylvania.
6 in Ohio.
8 in Michigan.
6 in Wisconsin.
8 in Illinois.
11 in Iowa.
6 in Kansas.
9 in North Dakota.
4 in Colorado.
1 in Montana.
2 in South Dakota.
12 in California.
5 in Oregon.
7 in Washington.
8 in Georgia.
7 in South Carolina.
8 in North Carolina.
10 in Mississippi.
1 in Mississippi.
Farm counties
2 in Vermont.
3 in New Jersey.
1 in Pennsylvania.
3 in Ohio.
1 in Michigan.
1 in Wisconsin.
4 in Illinois.
5 in Iowa.
4 in Kansas.
4 in North Dakota.
3 in Colorado.
1 in Montana.
1 in South Dakota.
1 in Central California.
2 in Southern California.
5 in Oregon.
1 in Washington.
2 in North Carolina.
2 in South Carolina.
7 in Georgia.
2 in Mississippi.
2 in North Carolina.
4 in South Carolina.
1 in Georgia.
2 in Mississippi.
173
174
FAM ILY INCOME IN
CHICAGO
Character o f the sample.— In the effort to secure reliable data
on family incomes and expenditures, a very careful sampling procedure
was employed. To begin with, a random sample was taken of the
total fam ily population in the communities selected for study. This
sample ranged from 4 percent of the fam ily population in New York
and 10 percent in Chicago up to 100 percent in most of the smaller
cities and in the farm and village communities. For the Urban Study
of Consumer Purchases this sample included a total of about 625,000
families. From them were selected about 250.000 families which
completed the short schedule, referred to as the “ family schedule” ,1
giving information on income and sources of income; occupations of
the employed members; the membership of the economic fam ily;
home tenure; and the rent or rental value of the premises. Similar
information was secured by the Bureau of Home Economics from ap
proximately 80,000 families living in small cites, villages, or farm
communities.
This selected random sample consisted of families which m et certain
criteria of eligibility. In order to isolate the effect on consumer pur
chases of differences in income, occupation, and fam ily type, it was
decided to lim it the detailed study of fam ily expenditures, except in
a few communities where Negro families were selected for study, to
native white families which included both the husband and wife and
which had not been on relief throughout the year for which the infor
mation was obtained. These limitations safeguarded the data from
variations due to special race characteristics, foreign birth, or the
absence of the husband or wife from the fam ily group, and made it
possible to restrict the analysis to the more permanent expenditure
patterns.
In order, however, to ascertain the relative position of the “ eligible”
sample in the total population, fam ily schedules, including the data
on incomes, were also taken in each community from every fam ily in
a selected part of the random sample. This comprehensive sample of
all elements in the population ranged in different communities from
0.4 to 10 percent of the total fam ily population of the community.
The comprehensive sample made it possible to build up a picture of
the income, occupation, and fam ily type distribution of all families
in each of the communities studied.
From the selected random sample of native white families including
both husband and wife, a smaller group— totaling approximately
60,000 families for the combined rural-urban study— were chosen to
provide the data on fam ily expenditures. The purpose controlling
the ^election of families in this smaller group was to provide, so far as
practicable, a uniform number of families for study in each comparable
“ cell” — a cell comprising families of similar occupation, fam ily compo1 For facsimile of the family schedule, see appendix C, p. 189.
175
SCOPE AND CHARACTER OF SAMPLES
sition, and income level. T he expenditure schedules obtained from
the controlled sample were supplemented b y check lists supplied b y
some of the families for food, clothing, and items of housefurnishings.
Thus data are available concerning the quantities of goods and serv
ices purchased and the amounts paid for specific commodities. In
building up the expenditure pattern for the community represented by
the selected random sample, the data for each of the controlled cells
were multiplied b y the frequency of that cell in the larger sample.
T h e ra n d o m sam p le o f n a tiv e w hite fam ilies including b o th h u sban d
a n d w ife w h ich supplied th e fa m ily schedules th us served tw o m a in
purposes.
It
in dicated
th e in com e,
occupation, and fa m ily
ty p e
distribu tion o f all such fam ilies in th e c o m m u n ity , and therefore su p
plied th e w eigh ts to be used in an alyzin g th e controlled sam p le.
also yield ed m o st o f th e cases needed for th e controlled sa m p le.
It
F or
so m e o f th e cells (chiefly in th e higher incom e ban ds a n d th e rarer
occupational gro u p s), th e ran d om sam p le did n o t yield a sufficient
n u m b er o f fam ilies w ith th e desired characteristics.
I n su ch cases,
th e stu d y reached o u t for the addition al fam ilies needed b y m ean s o f
a special stratified sa m ple, secured fro m professional listin gs or fro m
particular n eighborhoods th a t w ou ld yield a m a x im u m n u m b er o f
fam ilies w ith th e desired characteristics.
T h e cases secured in th e
stratified sam p le did n o t, o f course, affect the w eights or frequencies
established b y th e ra n d o m sam ple.
W h ile the detailed analysis o f collection procedure and the problem s
arising therein w ill be the su bject o f a separate pu blication , it is
desirable to include a brief explanation a t th is p oin t.
T h e in form ation has been secured b y th e schedule m e th o d , through
field visits.
T h e training o f field in vestigators has in v o lv ed
th or
ou gh ly fam iliarizing th em w ith a general schedule su pported b y care
fu lly detailed check lists.
F ollow in g the in terview , the in form ation
obtain ed w as review ed b y a process o f careful checking o f ite m s o f
expenditure again st current in com e and other receipts, th e fa m ily
being revisited w hen necessary in order to reconcile in com e and
expenditures w ith o u t “ forcin g” the d a ta .
E xp en d itu re schedules in
w hich, after this review , to ta l receipts and to ta l disbursem en ts did
n o t balance w ithin 5 percent were discarded as unreliable.
The question has been raised as to whether information on items
relating to annual income and expenditures can be given offhand
b y members of the fam ily. T he field experience in previous studies
has shown that if the average householder is asked, for example,
“ W h a t does your fam ily spend for recreation?” , she cannot reply
accurately. B u t it has been found that if she is asked for recrea
tion expense item by item , she can remember or refer to what has
been spent with a high degree of accuracy. Similarly, a single fig
ure for total income is less trustworthy than a total which is built
176
FAMILY INCOME IN CHICAGO
up fro m definite questions bearing on the specific jo b held b y each
em p loyed m em b er o f th e fa m ily , the n u m b er o f weeks o f em p lo y m en t,
the rate o f p a y , the dividends from securities held, in terest from
p roperty, the am oun ts received from room ers and boarders, and the
like.
O n e o f the m a jo r problem s to be faced a t the outset w as the expected
resistance fro m a portion o f the co m m u n ity to a schedule w hich w ould
be detailed enough to provide accurate in form ation , since such a
schedule requires a considerable a m o u n t o f cooperation on the p art of
the fa m ily interview ed.
T h e use of a sh ort and a lon g schedule tended
to overcom e this difficulty in large p a r t.2
T h e sh ort fa m ily schedule,
obtained in m o st cases w ith relative ease fro m the fam ilies in the
selected ra n d o m sam ple, provided the basic in form ation as to the
distribution of fam ilies w ithin
the co m m u n ity .
For
the
detailed
expenditures schedules and check fists, w hich were rela tiv ely difficult
to obtain , it w as on ly necessary to secure a lim ited n u m b er o f cases in
each cell conform ing to the control factors of in com e, occupation, and
fa m ily ty p e.
T h e process o f w eighting the d ata fro m these cells has
already been described.
W h e n the selected ran d om sam ple did n o t
yield th e n u m ber of cases needed for the controlled sam p le, add ition al
fam ilies were secured th rough the stratified sam ple, already referred to.
The schedule yea r .— The data secured in the Urban Study of Con
sumer Purchases refer chiefly to the years 1935-36.3 During that
period, the index of retail food costs in Chicago (base, 1923-25), which
had declined from a high in 1929 of 109.5 to 71.0 in 1932, was gradually
recovering, the index for 1935 being 80.5 and for the next year 84.7
(these figures are for July of the years mentioned).4 The index of
living costs (base, 1923-25) was also on its way up after a considerable
decline in the early thirties. For Chicago it stood at 76.0 in July 1935,
and at 77.6 in July 1936.5 These figures on living costs are to be com
pared with employment and pay rolls figures, which were corre
spondingly low. The index of employment in manufacturing indus
tries in Chicago (base, 1925-27) stood at 64.8 in July 1935 and at 73.6
in July 1936. The index figures for pay rolls were 45.9 and 56.4,
respectively.6
2
In Chicago this involved collecting 29,949 short schedules from native white families meeting eligibility
requirements and 2,711 expenditure schedules from among this sample. Details of the Chicago sample are
discussed in appendix B.
8 The families were asked to furnish information for a 12-month period, either the calendar year 1935 or the
12 months ending on the last day of the month immediately preceding the date of interview. See appendix
C, p. 190.
4 Monthly Labor Review, September 1936, p. 758.
8 Monthly Labor Review, December 1935, p. 1724; October 1936, p. 1070.
6 Employment, Payrolls, and Average Weekly Earnings in Illinois, by City. Illinois Department of Labor,
Division of Statistics and Research, Aug. 28, 1936.
Appendix B
Chicago Sampling Procedure
Since the findings presented in this stu d y of Chicago fam ilies are
based upon d a ta secured from random sam ples o f households, a de
tailed sta tem en t o f the sam pling procedure b y w hich the co m m u n ity
pattern
w as
ascertained
sam pling m eth od
is n ow
presented.
A
sta tem en t
of
the
em ployed in the stu d y o f expenditures will be
included in v olu m e I I of the Chicago bulletin.
T h e R ecord Card Sample
Selection o j the random sam ple .— The plan called for a 10-percent
sample of all families in Chicago. This would amount to 82,000 or
84,000 families, depending upon whether the 1934 or the 1930 census
enumerations were regarded as the best estimates for the year 1936.1
Practical considerations required that insofar as possible the sample
be drawn in the office under careful supervision rather than in the
field by the agents. The 1934 C. W. A. census provided the most
complete listing of families available for sampling and was used,
therefore, as the chief source of the sample. Families living in 830
of the 935 tracts in Chicago were drawn from the listing of families
in this census. These tracts contained approximately 92 percent
of the families in the city. For reasons to be discussed later, the other
8 percent residing in 105 tracts were selected by field agents who
compiled “ block sheets” or records of the total number of families
in each block from which the 10-percent sample was drawn.
Although the plans called for a 10-percent sample of the total
family population of Chicago, there was some uncertainty as to
whether time and funds would permit the completion of a sample this
size. It was necessary, therefore, to draw a number of smaller
samples (which when combined would amount to a 10-percent cover
age) each as representative as possible of the Chicago population.
Because of the transportation and time costs of sending the agents
over the entire city a number of times, it was decided to draw at ran
dom 110 tracts for each of 8 subsamples, with the remaining 55 tracts
constituting the ninth sample. These samples were designated as
samples “ A ,” “ B ,” etc., through “ I.” Fortunately, the field work in
all of these subsamples was completed, thus giving a 10-percent
i The 1934 C. W . A . census enumerated 822,687 families; the 1930 census reported 842,578.
177
FAMILY INCOME IN CHICAGO
178
coverage o f th e entire city .
T h ese su bsam ples served a second pur
p ose, h ow ever, w hich will be discussed in connection w ith the co m
prehensive sam ple.
F o r every ten th fa m ily in each of
830
tracts, a “ control ca rd ” w as
prepared fro m the census b lo ck sheets, g ivin g th e tra ct n u m b er,
enum eration district, address, and an in dication o f th e dw elling u n it
a t each address (i. e .,
6502 M a r q u e tte
S t ., third fa m ily ).2
T h e address
recorded on this “ control ca rd ” w as th en transcribed to the “ record
card” w h ich served as th e assignm ent to the a gen t o f the fa m ily to
b e interview ed.
Since census regulations did n o t perm it the taking
off o f n am es o f householders, special in stru ctions were given the agen ts
for locatin g the specific dw elling unit belongin g in the sam ple a t a
given address.
I t w ill b e recalled th a t one o f the p rim ary purposes for obtain in g
the in com e distribution o f fam ilies in C h icago w as to provide a basis
for selecting fam ilies a t all in com e levels fro m w hich to seek in form a
tion on expenditures.
E a r ly in the stu d y it w as realized th a t tim e
and other adm inistrative considerations w ould n o t perm it a s tu d y o f
expenditures o f fam ilies o f all n a tiv ity and color groups in ev ery c ity
su rveyed, so the C h icago su rvey o f expenditures w as lim ited to w h ite
fam ilies in w hich b o th the h usband and w ife were born in th e U n ite d
S tates.
I n view o f this restriction, it w as decided th a t the lo ca tin g o f
n a tiv e w h ite fam ilies w ou ld be expedited if the su rvey o f districts in
w hich the foreign b o m
p ostpon ed.
and N eg ro popu lation p redom in ated were
T h u s the sam p lin g o f 8 8 tracts contain in g tw o-th ird s or
m ore N eg ro and foreign popu lation w as deferred u n til the la st period
o f th e stu d y .
In addition to the 88 tracts not sampled in the original drawing
from the 1934 C. W. A. census sheets, 27 tracts could not be sampled
because the census sheets were missing. Since there was no other
complete fist of householders for these 27 tracts, and since the census
block sheets were not available when the 88 tracts were to be sampled,
the sample for these 105 tracts was drawn by field agents. They
compiled “ block record sheets” showing the number of dwelling units
at every address in each block and indicated every tenth dwelling
unit, which constituted the sample case.3
2
This sample yielded 76,086 addresses or control cards. Of this number, a net figure of 1,343 did not yield
families for interviewing, largely because the address could not be located, or if located, the building had
become vacant since 1934, had been transformed into a business unit, or had been demolished completely.
In all these cases an attempt was made to substitute a neighboring address for the one originally drawn, but
despite these efforts there were 1,343 cases for which no satisfactory substitute could be found. Efforts
were made also to sample buildings erected between the 1934 census enumeration and the present survey,
but since building activity during this period was rather limited, the number of families in new buildings
was not sufficient to bring the loss in the original sample below 1,343 addresses.
3 In the 105 tracts for which block sampling was employed, a total of 8,333 families were interviewed. Of
this number, 6,237 were regarded as coming within the 10-percent sample of the 1934 C. W . A . census. (The
reasons for this reduction are explained later, in the comparison of the record card sample with the 1934
C. W . A. census.) The 76,086 control cards from the 830 tracts, plus the 6,237 cases in the 105 tracts, make up
the total of 82,323 addresses which constitute the Chicago 10-percent random sample (see p. 184).
CHICAGO SAMPLING PROCEDURE
179
Collection o f the record card sam ple.— T h e 8 2 ,3 2 3 addresses co m
prising th e 10-percent sam ple were visited to o btain the record card
in form ation 4 fro m th e fa m ily residing a t th e assigned dw elling u nit.
T h e agen ts were instructed to fill o u t ev ery ite m on the card.
In
addition to d a ta needed for identifyin g the dw elling u n it, the follow ing
in form ation w as obtain ed fro m all fam ilies interview ed for the record
card d a ta :
I t e m 8 .—Whether
color.
the family member interviewed was white, Negro, or other
I t e m 9 .—Whether two or more persons were living together and dependent on
a common income.
A one-person family was defined as a person who lives alone or who has others
living in his household but not sharing his income or expenses. Two persons
living together financially independent of each other were regarded as two oneperson families.
I t e m s 1 0 and 1 1 .—Whether or not the husband and wife, or male or female head
of the family was bom in continental United States or Alaska.
I t e m 1 2 .—Whether the family maintained its own housekeeping quarters, that
is, had access to kitchen facilities, or was rooming with another family in a rooming
house, hotel, or institution.
I t e m 1 3 .—Whether the family included both a husband and a wife.
If so,
whether they had been married less than 1 year.
I f the dwelling unit visited proved to be uninhabited the agent
returned the card to the office with a notation to that effect. Since
the sample was drawn from a listing of families rather than of dwelling
units, no vacant dwelling units would have been drawn had the listing
been up to date.5 In order, therefore, to maintain a 10-percent sample
of families, provision was made for the substitution of the family next
door for the vacancy. This substitution was done b y supervisors or
check interviewers rather than by the original agent. W h en no
neighboring fam ily could be found living in the same rental level com
parable with that of the address drawn in the original sample, no
substitution was made.
I n order to insure the collection o f the ran d om sam ple as chosen,
certain m easures o f control and appraisal w~ere em p lo yed .
F o r 92
percent o f the cases the agen t w as assigned specific dw elling u nits a t
w hich fam ilies were to be in terview ed.
F o r th e selection o f th e oth er
8 percent in th e field, o n ly th e m o st reliable and w ell-train ed agents
were em p lo y ed .6
A ll schedules o f ev ery a gen t were carefully checked
b y th e su pervisory staff in the office a n d a sam ple o f each a g en t’s w ork
w as checked th rough the reinterview ing o f fam ilies b y a supervisor.
T h ere is reason to feel th a t the schedules turned in to the office repre
sen t th e fam ilies assigned to agents.
B y reinterview ing fam ilies and sh iftin g agen ts, the n u m ber o f un
acceptable schedules and refusals to give the in form ation called for on
the record card w as k ep t a t a m in im u m .
O f the to ta l o f 7 4 ,7 4 3
4 See facsimile of “ record card," appendix C, p. 188.
6
Due to movement of families since the 1934 enumeration, it was inevitable that vacant dwelling units
were found at the time of this survey.
6 Reasons for employing field sampling are discussed earlier in this appendix.
180
FAMILY INCOME IN CHICAGO
dw elling units in th e 8 3 0 tracts first sam pled, on ly 3 3 2 fam ilies either
could n o t be fou nd a t h om e or refused to g ive in fo rm a tio n .7
Com parison o f the record card sample with the 1934- C . W . A . census .—
W h en comparing the race and nativity distribution of the Urban
Study sample with the census distribution, a number of factors must
be taken into account. T o begin with, there is reason to believe that
the 1934 census figures are too low for foreign families and too high
for native. The 1934 census reported approximately 5 7 ,0 0 0 fewer
foreign families than did the 1930 census.8 This great difference
cannot be accounted for on the basis of mortality rate of foreign
heads, combining or doubling of families, or of migration from the
city.
T h e figures relating to N egroes in the 1934 census also are difficult
to explain.
T h e N eg ro fam ilies and other races enum erated in 1934
were 2 ,4 4 6 fewer th an in 1930.
I f on e-h a lf o f the dou bled fam ilies in
1934 were a ttribu ted to a real increase in the n u m ber o f fam ilies w hich
h ad com bined livin g quarters since 1930, the adju sted figure w ould
indicate a b o u t the sam e n u m ber o f N eg ro fam ilies in 1934 as in 1930.
T h e field sam plin g findings in the N egro areas indicate th a t there
should h av e been even m ore N egroes in 1934 th an in 1930.
A ccord in g
to the U rb a n S tu d y field sam plin g, the n um ber o f N eg ro fam ilies
increased 4 0 percent fro m 1930 to 1936.
T h is is in keeping w ith the
trend betw een 1920 and 1930, w hen the n um ber o f N egro fam ilies
in C h icago increased 114 percent.9
A lth o u g h 8 ,6 8 7 record cards w~ere obtain ed b y field sam plin g o f the
105 tra cts, o n ly 6 ,2 3 7 w ould h av e been secured h ad the sam ple for
these tracts been draw n from the 1934 census listings.
T h e difference
is chiefly due to the greater n um ber o f N egroes fou nd in these areas
th an were enum erated in the 1934 census.
Since the m a jo r p art of
7 These were in addition to the 1.343 vacancies and unlocated addresses referred to above.
8 Some decrease in foreign families and increase in native should be expected, in view of the stoppage Of
immigration during the last decade, and of the establishment of new families by the native born children
of the older immigrant groups.
In 1934 a certain section of public opinion in Chicago was against giving relief to foreign born aliens. Thus
families were less likely to report foreign birth than in 1930. Another reason for the differences may be the
different formulation of the questions on nativity in the two censuses. In 1930 the country of birth of the
head was asked, while in 1934 the head had only to specify whether he was native or foreign.
Comparison of the age distribution of foreign heads in 1930 with the mortality rate accounts for only a
small proportion of the 57,000 decrease. The only other reasons for the decrease could be doubling of families
and migration from the city. It is unlikely that either of these factors was sufficiently important to account
for the difference.
Neither is the decrease in foreign families in 1934 to be accounted for on the basis of combining families.
Although there were 24,323 foreign families which were doubled in 1934, 23,800 contained only two families.
The other 1,520 consisted of three or more families. If we allow an average of 2.5 extra families for these
1,520 households, we obtain 3,800 doubled families which, when added to the 23,800 combined families above,
gives 27,600 “ extra” families in 1934. Evidence from other sources has indicated that even in 1930 there was
considerable doubling; enough so that only about half of the doubled families in 1934 might be attributed
to a real increase over 1930.
As for migration from Chicago, there is little reason to believe that foreign families left the city in large
numbers during this period.
8 Negroes in the United States 1920-32, Bureau of the Census 1935, p. 275.
181
CHICAGO SAMPLING PROCEDURE
the C h icago sam ple w as draw n from the 1934 census it w as decided to
assum e for w eighting purposes th a t the n u m ber o f cases draw n in the
field sam pling equaled th e n u m ber w hich w ould h av e been obtain ed
h ad the census sheets been available for these 105 tracts.
Thus by
adding 6 ,2 3 7 to the 7 6 ,0 8 6 control cards draw n fro m the 8 3 0 tracts,
w e arrive a t our figures o f 8 2 ,3 2 3
fam ilies, w hich represents our
random sam ple, app roxim atin g 10 percent o f the 8 2 2 ,6 8 7 fam ilies
enum erated in the 1934 C . W . A . census o f C hicago fam ilies.
W h ile this sam ple furnishes the basis for a true cross-section stu d y o f
C hicago in com es, it w as n ot a census o f all fam ilies and is th us su bject
to certain lim itations.
T here is a source o f error in the fa ct th a t the
sam ple draw n for this stu d y carries forw ard a n y errors o f under
enum eration in the C . W . A . census.
I t follow s th a t the present
stu d y m ig h t yield an alm o st exact estim a te, for exam ple, o f th e per
centage o f all fam ilies w hich h ad incom es o f less th an $ 1 ,0 0 0 .
Sin ce,
h ow ever, w e lack a precise figure for th e to ta l n u m b er o f fam ilies in
the city in 1935, it is n o t possible to m ak e an equ ally exact estim ate
of the n um ber o f fam ilies w ith incom es o f less th an $ 1 ,0 0 0 .
A n a d ju stm en t o f the census figures m u st be m ad e in order to
com pare the n um ber o f fam ilies o f each n a tiv ity or color draw n in
the U rb a n S tu d y sam ple w ith the census.
T h e U rb a n S tu d y classifies
as foreign born, fam ilies in w hich either the husband or wife is foreign.
T h e census has regard only to the n a tiv ity o f the h usband in com plete
fam ilies.
T h u s, fam ilies w ith n ative h usbands and foreign w ives are
classed as foreign in the U rb a n S tu d y and as n ative in the census
classification.
A n exam ination o f a sam ple o f 500 fam ilies classified
as foreign in the U rb a n S tu d y revealed th a t 7 percent o f the foreign
fam ilies were such “ m ixed n a tiv ity cases.”
A d ju stin g the census
figures for this difference in definition, the com parison o f the C o n
sum er Purchases S tu d y sam ple and the census appears as in table 1.
T
■
1.— C o m p a riso n o f color and n a tiv ity o f fa m ilie s in Chicago reported in 1 9 3 4
W . A . cen su s w ith sa m p le o f record cards obtained in C o n su m er P u rch a ses S tu d y.
able
C.
1934 C. W . A.
census
Class
Total families___ ______ ______________
______ _
____________ _____
Native white____________ _______________
_______ _______ __ _ .
Foreign husbands with native or foreign wives and native husbands
with foreign wives._____ ______________ •_______________________ . . .
Negro________________ ________ _____________ ______ ___ . . . .
Other races................................................................... ............ ................
Consumer
Study record
cards (10-per
cent sample)
(estimated)
822, 687
i 82, 323
2438, 735
40, 350
3 326, 530
53, 718
3,704
45, 280
36, 329
364
1 Including 1,343 unobtained schedules (see discussion).
8 461, 692 reported in census minus 22,857 estimated number of native husbands with foreign wives.
3 303,673 reported in census as foreign born plus 22,857 cases just noted.
4 Reducing by approximately 2,000 the number drawn by sampling in field to 4,869, the number which
could have been drawn from a 10-percent sample of census listings in the 105 tracts,
182
FAMILY INCOME IN CHICAGO
T h e F am ily Schedule Sample
A s m en tioned a b o v e, the final goal o f this su rvey w as to obtain
d ata on expenditures fro m fam ilies o f such a h om ogeneous character
th a t definite conclusions could be reached w ith regard to consu m ption
p attern s o f different incom e groups, occupational groups, or fa m ily
ty p es.
Since n ative w h ite fam ilies containing b o th a h usband and
a w ife were selected as a h om ogeneous group for th e expenditure stu d y ,
the m a jo r em phasis o f the in com e or fa m ily schedule su rvey w as
also placed u pon this group.
W ith in the random sam ple o f 8 2 ,3 2 3 record card cases all fam ilies
h av in g specified characteristics were asked a t the tim e o f the first
interview to give the fa m ily sc h ed u le 10 in form ation.
T h e required
characteristics are referred to as “ eligibility requirem ents” and the
fam ilies m eetin g these specifications are designated as th e “ eligible”
fam ilies.
E lig ib ility for the fa m ily schedule in form ation w as ascer
tained from the record card in form ation .
T a b les included in T a b u la r
S u m m a ry , section B , relate to these “ eligible” fam ilies.
T h e y con
stitu te 37 percent o f all fam ilies interview ed, and represent approxi
m a te ly 75 percent o f all n ative w h ite fam ilies.
Eligibility requirements.— T h e eligibility requirem ents for the fa m ily
schedule are as follow s:
C olor. —Only white families were eligible for the regular sample in Chicago.
Since the agent was instructed to observe rather than ask the color of the family,
it is possible that if the family member interviewed was a white person married
to a Negro, Oriental, or Indian, the family was classified as white.
N a tiv ity . —Only families with a native born husband and wife were eligible.
To be classified as a native family, both the husband and wife must have been
born in the continental United States or in Alaska.
H o u se k e ep in g a rran gem en ts. —Only families having the use of kitchen facilities
at the date of interview were eligible. Thus families rooming in lodging houses
hotels, or institutions were not asked to give family schedule information.
F a m i ly co m p o sitio n . —Only families containing both a husband and a wife
at the date of interview were eligible for the family schedule.11
N u m b e r o f ye a rs m arried . —Only families in which the husband and wife had
been married for more than 1 year were eligible for the regular sample.
T h e n u m ber o f cases in the so-called “ eligible” or “ regular” sam ple
as com pared w ith th e to ta l n ative w hite fa m ily p op u lation is shown
in the accom pan yin g tab le 2 .
E v e r y effort w as m a d e to m ain tain a ran d om sam ple o f eligible
n ative w hite fam ilies.
A prelim inary check o f th e in com plete cases
or refusals revealed th a t fam ilies in the \ipper in com e groups h ad a
relatively high percentage o f refusals, and th a t a significant n u m b er
could n o t be interview ed.
Steps were taken , therefore, to reduce
10 See facsimile of “family schedule,” appendix C, p. 189.
11 In some cases it was determined after the family schedule information had been obtained, that either
the husband or the wife had not been a member of the economic family for 27 weeks or longer. (See “ Defini
tion of Items on the Family Schedule” for discussion of membership in the economic family.) Such
schedules were not included in the analysis of the regular sample,
CHICAGO SAMPLING PROCEDURE
183
this bias b y sending the superior interview ers to these districts and
by su bstituting other fam ilies in a sim ilar incom e class for these un
obtained cases.
T
able
2 . — A n a l y s is o f native white sa m p le o f C hicago S tu d y o f C o n su m er P u rch a ses
b y elig ib ility f o r f a m i l y schedule interview
Estimated number of total native white families in sample___________ 40, 350
Estimated number native white families eligible for family schedule___ 29, 949
Estimated number native white families ineligible for family schedule__ 10, 401
Reasons for ineligibility: 1
(a) One-person households__________________________________
(b) Families did not live in housekeeping quarters______________
(c) Families did not contain both husband and wife_____________
(d) Husband and wife married less than 1 year_________________
2, 979
299
6, 343
780
1
Some families were ineligible for the family schedule for several reasons. The list given shows only a
single cause for ineligibility. The procedure used was to determine ineligibility from the order of questions
on the record cards, which is the order shown above. Note should be made, however, that the number of
families not living in housekeeping quarters is not a true cross section of such families since the sample was
drawn from a list of householders, and only those household units which were converted into nonhouse
keeping quarters since the 1934 census enumeration are included above.
D esp ite efforts to secure a fa m ily schedule from every one o f the
eligible fam ilies in the record card sam ple, n o t all of the 2 9 ,9 4 9 fam ilies
estim ated to h ave been eligible were actually scheduled.
T here were
526 fam ilies w hich either refused or were unable to give the desired
in form ation.
W e m u st add to this n um ber the 132 fam ilies from w h ich
record cards were n o t obtain ed , b u t w hich we estim ated w ould h ave
been eligible for a fa m ily schedule had the record card d ata been
obtain ed .
T og eth er these tw o groups am oun t to 658 cases, or sligh tly
over 2 percent of the eligible fam ilies.
P art o f the shortage o f schedules
occurred at all incom e levels, b u t relatively it was greater in the high
incom es than in the low .
T h e shortage can hardly affect any general
izations w ith reference to the lower incom e groups.
A t the v ery w orst,
if it is assum ed th a t refusals occurred o n ly am ong the higher incom e
groups, it w ould m ean fam ilies w ith incom es o f m ore than $ 5 ,0 0 0 should
be described as 5 percent rather than 3 percent o f the n ative white
com plete fam ilies.
In addition to these 658 fam ilies w hich were p robab ly eligible for the
fa m ily schedule, we estim ate th a t 77 6 o f the 1,343 control cards w hich
turned o u t to be clerical errors in addresses, vacancies, business b u ild
in gs, and errors of agen t, should h ave yielded fa m ily schedules h ad it
been possible to su bstitute a neighboring fa m ily for these u n obtained
record cards.12
T h e om ission o f these cases probab ly has little or no
effect upon the random ness o f the sam ple obtain ed.
T h e clerical
errors either in the original listings o f the census or in the transcription
o f the addresses to the control cards certainly were random .
The
dem olition o f buildings and conversion o f housing u nits into business
12
The 1,343 control cards not yielding families for interviews were concentrated in those native white
tracts which had a higher percentage of eligible families than was the case for the city as a whole.
74021°—39-----13
FAMILY INCOME IN CHICAGO
184
buildings p ro ba b ly resulted in a slight bias in fa v o r o f the u pper incom e
groups.
T a k e n as a w hole, h ow ever, the b est assum ption seem s to be
th at o f random ness for these u n obtained cases.
In order to arrive a t the estim ate o f 2 9 ,9 4 9 eligible n ative w hite
fam ilies, we add to the 2 8 ,5 1 5 ta b u la ted schedules, 132 record card
refusals w hich should h ave yielded fa m ily schedules, 52 6 unsuccessful
fa m ily schedule interview s, and 7 7 6 control card errors and ch an ges
since 1934, for w hich a su bstitution should h ave been m ad e.
The comprehensive sample.— I n subsam ples E and F , representing
a b o u t on e-fou rth of all fam ilies interview ed, agents were instructed
to
ask
every
fa m ily
interview ed
on the fa m ily schedule.
to
give
the
in form ation
show n
T h e “ eligible” fa m ily schedules in these
sam ples were tabu lated w ith the “ eligible”
cases in all the other
sam ples, while the “ ineligibles” were tabu lated separately and w eighted
according to the frequency o f such cases in the to ta l c ity sam ple.
T h ese “ ineligibles” include n ative w hite fam ilies in w hich the h usband
an d wife h ad been m arried less than 1 y ear, fam ilies room ing rather
th an m ain taining housekeeping quarters, as w ell as all foreign b o m ,
N e g ro , and other color fam ilies.
G en erally speaking, v ery few fam ilies
n o t m ain taining housekeeping quarters should h ave been draw n in
the sam ple, since the addresses were drawn o n ly from fam ilies w ith
separate housekeeping dwelling units.
T
able
3. —
D istr ib u tio n o f fa m ilie s in each sa m p le in C h ica go , a ccording to eligibility
and in elig ib ility f o r f a m i l y schedules
U R B A N ST U D Y R ECO R D CAR D A N ALYSIS
Estimated number of families in 10-percent sample
Reasons for ineligibility
Subsample
Foreign nativ
Total Eligible Ineli
Native white
for
gible for
ity
fami family
family
Negro
lies in sched sched
and
sample
Single
ule
ule
other Single
Mar
individ
All
color individ
Incom ried less Room
ual
ual
other
plete
than
1
ing
house
house
year
holders
holders
A _________________
B _________________
C ________ ________
D _________________
E _________________
F _________________
G _________________
H _________________
I__________________
Total______
9,702
8,799
8,759
10,022
10,18?
10, 317
10, 045
10, 405
4,092
3,587
2,756
3,345
3,782
4,101
3, 889
3,489
3,797
1, 203
6,115
6,043
5,414
6,240
6,081
6,428
6, 556
6, 608
2, 889
681
576
395
796
529
702
857
650
458
255
302
209
272
264
234
251
283
86
3,943
3,943
3, 717
3,832
4,026
4,264
4,267
4,340
1, 840
353
417
289
376
364
323
347
391
119
753
686
689
821
766
790
706
806
326
80
80
83
108
101
93
101
98
36
50
39
32
34
31
22
27
40
24
82, 323
29,949
52,374
5, 644
2,157
34,172
2, 979
6, 343
780
299
T h e n u m b er o f “ ineligible” fam ilies in the city , according to the
record card analysis, is shown in table 3.
T h e distribution in each
su bsam ple is presented so th at sam ples E and F m a y be view ed in
CHICAGO SAMPLING PROCEDURE
relation to the other sam ples and to the to ta l.
185
Persons fam iliar w ith
sam pling will n ote th a t the tract subsam ples show greater v ariab ility
than w ou ld be expected fro m true ran d om sam ples o f the sam e size.
T h is com parison o f different sam ples does, h ow ever, show enou gh con
sistency fro m sam ple to sam ple to ju stify the belief in the accuracy of
the to ta l sam ple for the city.
Weights jo r different nativity and race groups .— I t was necessary to
bring the field w ork in Chicago to a close before ev ery “ ineligible”
fa m ily in sam ples E
schedule in form ation.
and F
h ad been interview ed for the fa m ily
In stead , therefore, o f 12,509 fa m ily schedules
fro m “ ineligible” fam ilies in these sam ples, o n ly 7 ,8 5 4 were actu ally
com pleted.
Furth erm ore, since sam ples E and F were ran dom b y
tracts rather than fro m the entire city , the various n a tiv ity and race
groups are n o t represented in exactly the sam e proportions as in the
city as a w hole.
Com parison o f the com pleted cases in each ineligible
group w ith the n u m b er expected on the basis o f record card in fo rm a
tion , indicated th a t the N egro sam ple w as m o st com plete, while the
sam ple o f n ative w hite fam ilies w ith ou t b o th h usband and wife w as
least com plete.
D ifferen t w eights are used, therefore, for each n a
tiv ity and race group to arrive at the to ta l n u m b er o f fam ilies in each
group for a 10-percent sam ple o f C hicago fam ilies.
schedules tab u lated ,
the w eights used,
and
the
T h e n u m b er o f
to ta l n u m b er o f
fam ilies in each group in a 10-percent sam ple are show n below :
T able
4, —
N u m b er o f f a m i l y schedules tabulatedf w eights , a nd estim a ted n u m ber o f
fa m ilie s i n a 1 0 -p er c en t sa m p le
Number
of family
schedules
tabulated
Color and nativity
Complete native white____________________________________
Incomplete native white-------------------- __ - __
---------Foreign white______ ______ ___________ ____
_________
Negro______ _______________ _______________ _ _________
Other color____ __ _________ ____________ _______________
28,515
986
5,423
1,231
68
Weights
1 1.08567
9.52535
6.69906
4. 28919
5. 35294
Estimated
number of
families in
a 10-percent
sample of
Chicago
230,958
9, 392
36, 329
5,280
364
1 This step-up allowed for the inclusion of families married less than 1 year with families containing both
husband and wife, although no tabulations of this group have been made.
2 Includes 780 couples married less than 1 year, and 229 without housekeeping facilities.
W it h few exceptions the w eights ju st described have been applied
to the original fa m ily schedule data for the 3 6 ,2 2 3 fam ilies whose
schedules were tab u lated , to obtain the estim ated distribution b y
incom e o f the to ta l pop u lation .
T h is was done, in general, even for
d ata w hich appeared to show the effect o f random fluctuations in the
sam ple.
O n the other h an d, there were instances o f schedules representing
incom es above $ 5 ,0 0 0 which hardly indicated anyth in g m ore than
186
FAMILY INCOME IN CHICAGO
that such a report had been received and was to be accounted for.
For example, 1 isolated report was received of a $7,500 income in a
racial group where only 1 case was sampled out o f each 53 in the
community. In cases of this sort the complete step-up could not be
applied solely at the point reported, but had to be distributed among
adjoining income bands, applying such judgment as could be brought
to bear upon the case to produce the most reasonable estimate as to
the probable distribution. In general it may be said that such
manipulation occurs among the cases o f incomplete families above
$5,000; and whenever the estimates represent a figure o f less than 50
cases in the total population at a given income level, some manipula
tion in the interests of reasonableness is to be assumed. Precisely
because there has been some departure from a strictly mechanical
handling o f the higher income reports, the text usually lumps incomes
of $5,000 and up. Wherever a finer break-down is shown, it m ay be
assumed that manipulation has had no real influence in determining
the distribution of the total population.
APPEN D IX C
Schedule Forms and Glossary
187
188
FAMILY INCOME IN CHICAGO
FA CSIM ILE O F R E C O R D C A R D —FACE A N D B A C K
COsN
F
L.—
hecIon
form
atiio
nreqiu
esgteitdin
th
hrIeyD
d.E
uN
leItT
isIA
icoT
tly
en
a
s
v
ogis
leu
ntca
isllptern
hegsa
enefindb
yta
nl.yexG
cevpin
tsworin
a
n
th
cw
oxoa
attpin
a
va
iltasboleffo
reta
tiorn
urpogseen
s.ciesandwillnotbe
B. L. S.
946
B
Schedule N o ..
U. S. DEPARTMENT OP LABOR
B U R E A U O F L A B O R STATISTICS
________________
STUDY OF CONSUMER PURCHASES
E. D ...............
NATIONAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE
W O R K S PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
WASHINGTON
A FE D E R A L W O R K S P R O JE C T
RECORD CARD—URBAN
A g en t... .........
E d ito r ______
B o r n I n U n it e d S ta t e s
1. Street and number...
Yes
2. Type of structure*..
10. □
11. □
D Vacant
3. Apartment or floor..
Husband or male head
Wife or female head
12. Residence in (a) housekeeping quarters, or (6) rooms
with another family, in rooming house, hotel, or
institution:
a. □ Housekeeping quarters
4. N am e.........................
Visit
________ j b. Q Rooms only
j___________________
13. Economic family includes husband and wife: *
5. First___
a. □ Yes | b. □ No~~|
I f yes:
c. Number of years married:
6. Second...
0. □
White
b. □
Negro
1 (1) D Less than one |
9. Number in economic family:
(2) □ One or more
a‘ D Tw o or m ore persona
j_________ {
1 c. □ Other
b. Q One person
« Is NO C H E C K in any of the heavy boxes, request family
f____
>Sj>ecify one-family house, detached, semidetached or row; two-family house, side by side or two decker; three-, four-, five- or
e family apartment building; business
>in fifing0recordcards for inellglbles, file separately cards tor families which are Ineligible only because they come under 136.
The items set off by heavy boxes varied according to the eligibility requirements for the family schedule
sample in cities of different size and sections of the country.
(F I L L IN FO B ALL FA M IL IES E L IG IB L E FO B ONE O B BO T H SC H ED U L E S)
L A
Expenditure
schedule
Id . S ch e d u le s com p le te d ( d a te )____________________ ...........................1 9 3 6
.......................... 1 9 3 6
IS . I n t e r v ie w t i m e ________________________________
........... .............. m in .
COECE USTS
Clothing
Food
1936
-1 9 3 6
______
m in .
Furnishings
..
.
_____
_ 19 3ft
...
m in .
1 6 . P e r s o n i n t e r v ie w e d ( r e la t io n t o h e a d o f f a m i l y ) ..
(Check)
(Check)
(Check)
(Check)
(Check)
1 7 . P a rtia l in fo rm a tio n ( o r n o n e ):
W illin g , nnf. fthlft
N o t w illin g
...................... ...........................
_ . _ ... ________
___________
C a n n o t b e in t e r v i e w e d : O u t o f t o w n
S i c k .......................................................................................
N e t h nm e
. _ ..
. ____
_________
O t h e r ( s p e c i f y ) ..............................................................
N o t Eligible for F am ily Sch ed u le
N o t Eligible fo r E x p en d itu re Schedule
First
.
.
.
.
Color Isee.item (8)] .—
Number in family (9) ..
Nativity (10 and 11) ...
Housekeepingarrangements(12).
. Family composition (13 b).
23. Married lees than year (13 c)..
24.
25.
26.
27.
28'.
29,
30.
Family t y p e .............................
Boarder- and/or lodger-years ...
Residence in com m unity_____
Ocoupancy o f dwelling----------In co m e ______________________
R e lie fOther —____________________
v. s. •onimitT untrue brrict. I*—8309
31. Completed
32. Dates cov33. R equ ested,
not obtainp r l,
Second
SCHEDULE FORMS AND GLOSSARY
189
FA C S IM IL E O F F A M IL Y SC H E D U LE —FA CE A N D B AC K
vogleu
ntary. Ietcw
illen
oattin
beteegn
byanyexcepttwon
a
av
an
ilta*boleffoth
rtaoxoap
tiorn
purgpa
osee*n.da*andwillnotb
I. Y E A R C O V E R E D B Y S C H E D U L E
.
B.I/.S.
93
T
u. s. departm en t o f labor
b u r e a u o f l a b o r s t a t is t ic s
INCO
OPERATIO
NW
ITH
NATIONAL. R E S O U R C E S C O M M I T T E D
W O R K S PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
WASHINGTON.
Twelve months beginning...
STUDY OF CONSUMER PURCHASES
II. F A M IL Y CO M PO SITIO N (during schedule
A
B
Members of economic family (all
persons sharing family income,
including those temporarily
away from home)
Sex
1. Husband____________
M
2. Wife.............................
F
year)
C
D j E
Age
Number of
weeks duringyear
birth
day
hIn
H
—
-----
Other Members of Family (give relationship)
A F E D E R A L W O R K S P R O JE C T
F A M IL Y SC H E D U L E —UR BAN
.Status
1. Sons and daughters boarding
and rooming at home:
A g e ----------, s ex ----------------2. Other roomers with board-----3. Roomers without board__
4. Boarders without room___
5. Tourists or transients..
6. Cuests________________
7. Paid help living in.
IV. H O M E O W N ER SH IP
. Number o f months during schedule year
living:
o. As renter— b. As owner: 1st hom e—
________________________
2d hom e-—
if an o w ner:
!. Monthly rental nine________
If any member of family died during year,
circle number in front of name.
le-aaso
I. W
anhom
em
ortgaged(orbeing
pnrchnsedonlandcontract)?..
gage (or landcontract) (or
m
oaUuoccnpiod..........
1. Umortgaged,interestonmort
Code No. ___________ ___
Schedule N o .___________
C ity ____________ D ist..
A gent..
Date o f interview..
V. R E SID E N C E IN TH IS CITY
For how many months o f
schedule year did the family live in
this c it y ? _______________ ________
1. D id fa m ily o ccu p y these living
quarters at end o f schedule
year? o. DYes.
b. □ No.
2. Does family Down or Qrent
these living quarters?
3. Monthly rent $~.
if renter.
. Type o f living quarters:
One-family house:
a. □Detached.
b. □ Attached.
Two-family house:
c. OSide by side.
d. DTwo decker.
Apartment in building for:
e. □ Three families.
/ . □ Four families.
g. DFive or more families.
Dwelling unit in business bldg.:
h. □
Room or rooms:
i. □ With another family.
j. D in rooming house.
O th er:
k. □________________
VII. CO LO R
a. PW hite.
YIEL M O flE Y EARNINGS O F FAMILY FR O M EM PLOYM ENT O R BUSINESS OUTSIDE OF H O M E O R AT H O M E
, (during uchedule year)
b. □N egro.
190
FAM ILY INCOME IN
CHICAGO
Section 1. D efin ition o f Item s on the F am ily Schedule
This section includes such definitions, numbered with the section
and item numbers appearing on the fam ily schedule, as are needed
for the interpretation of the text and accompanying tables. It repre
sents a summary of the more detailed instructions which were issued
in connection with the field collection and editing o f the data. The
reader is referred to section 2 of this glossary for definitions used in the
analysis of the data by income, occupation, and family type.
I. Y e a r C overed b y th e Schedule In fo rm a tio n
The information on family composition, income, and occupation
pertains to the situation of the family over a yearly period, sometimes
referred to on the tables as the “ report year” or “ schedule year.”
The fam ily was asked to choose the period for which it could give the
more accurate inform ation; either the 1935 calendar year or the 12
months ending on the last day of the month immediately preceding
the date of interview. Of the 28,515 Chicago families included in the
regular sample and for which family schedules were analyzed, 15.8
percent chose for the schedule year period the calendar year ending
Decem ber 31, 1935. The 12-month period from June 1, 1935, to
M ay 31, 1936, was chosen b y more families than was any other given
period (19.2 percent). Information covering a period after July 31,
1936, was obtained for only 3.1 percent of the families. Table 19 in
the tabular summary, section B, shows a distribution of the other 61.9
percent o f Chicago families by the schedule year period chosen.
II. F am ily C om position— th e Econom ic F a m ily
Since family income and other family characteristics refer to the
economic family, it is important to have the definition of this group
clearly in m ind.
The economic family is defined as a group of persons belonging to
the same household and dependent upon a common income. In m ost
cases the members of the economic family were related by blood;
marriage, or adoption. Persons thus related and either living under
the same roof or eating at least two meals daily with the family and
whose income could be determined were considered members. Thus
adult sons and daughters living in the household were regarded as
members o f the economic family provided that their income could be
determined, even though they paid a stipulated amount for room and
board instead o f pooling their earnings.
Related persons whose homes were with members of the economic
family and who were dependent on the economic family for at least
75 percent of their support were considered members even though
they were away at school or in an institution. Persons who were
SCHEDULE FORMS AFTD GLOSSARY
191
usually members of the economic family but who had been in an
institution at no expense to the family for a period of a month or less
at some time during the schedule year were considered members of
the economic family away from home. If they were in an institution
without expense to the family for more than a month continuously
during the year, they were members of the economic family only
during that part of the year which they spent at home. Persons not
related but living together and pooling all of their earnings or receiving
all of their support from the family fund (i. e., dependent on a com
mon income) were considered members of an economic family. In an
economic family consisting of more than one married couple, the
oldest married male was designated as the head, or husband. It is
always his wife who is referred to on the tables as “ wife.”
III. O th e r M em bers o f th e H ousehold
The household includes, in addition to the members of the economic
family, all persons who lived in the family home for 1 week or longer
during the schedule year and who were not dependent upon the com
mon income, and did not pool their income. These other members
of the household might be roomers, boarders, tourists, transients,
guests or paid help living in the home.
1. Sons and daughters boarding and rooming.— Adult sons and
daughters of members of the economic family were classified as roomers
and boarders only if it was impossible to ascertain their income.
When their income could be determined they were members of the
economic family even though they paid for room and board rather
than pooled their incomes.
2. Other roomers with board.— Persons who slept in the home and
paid for their room were classified as roomers with board if they
regularly took one or more meals daily in the home.
3. Roomers without board.— Roomers who took no meals with the
family were included in this category. Adult sons and daughters who
roomed but did not board with the family were classified as roomers
without board if they were not members of the economic family.
4. Boarders without room.— Persons who took one or more meals daily
in the home and paid for their board, but did not live in the house
hold, were considered as boarders. (The number of equivalent weeks
during which they were boarders was computed on the basis of 21
meals per week.)
5. Tourists or transients.— Classed as tourists or transients were per
sons who roomed and/or boarded in the home for less than a week,
and who paid for such accommodations. Only families having tourists
or transients for a total of 1 week or more during the year were classified
as households with such members.
192
FAM ILY INCOME IN
CHICAGO
6. G u ests .— Persons related or unrelated who were not members of
the economic family, but who lived in the household 1 or more nights
without payment for rent or food, were guests. The time spent in
the household b y all guests must total more than 1 week before the
family was classified as one having guests. When a person described
b y the family as a guest remained in the household for 26 weeks or
longer, without making payment for room or board, an attempt was
made to determine this person’s income so that he might be classified
as a member o f the econom ic family.
7. P a i d h elp livin g i n .— All servants sleeping under the family roof
or in dwelling quarters provided free b y the family were included in
this category.
I V . H om e O w n e rsh ip
Home ownership refers to the ownership of the home by any mem
ber of the economic family. T o make possible the computation of
nonmoney income from home ownership,1 information was obtained
on the number of months during which the family occupied an owned
home, the fam ily’s estimate of the monthly rental value, and the
amount of interest incurred during occupancy of a mortgaged home.
Because of the desirability of keeping the family schedule interview as
brief as possible, no detailed information was obtained during this
interview on expenses other than interest, which is usually the major
expense of an owned home.
R e n t as p a y .— If the family lived for all or part of the year in a dwell
ing furnished as part of wages or salary (as in the case of a parsonage
furnished to a minister or an apartment furnished to a janitor) the esti
mated monthly rental value and the number of months rent as pay
was received, were written on the schedule. The value of rent re
ceived as pay was later included in computing total family income.
R e n t as g ift .— If the family occupied a home owned b y a relative or a
friend on a rent-free basis during the year, when it had no home of its
own, the number o f months so occupied and the estimated rental value
of such residence were included in the agent’s notes attached to the
schedule but the rental value was not included in the computation of
total income.
V I . L iv in g Q uarters Occupied
Information on the type of living quarters relates to those quarters
occupied at the date of interview but was tabulated only for those
families which did not m ove between the end of the schedule year and
the date of interview.
Of the types specified on the schedule the dwelling unit in a business
building and the “ other” types have special meaning in this study.
1 See “ Imputed Income From Owned Home,” section 2, Terms Used in the Text and Tabular Summary,
p. 200.
SCHEDULE FORMS AND GLOSSARY
193
4-h . D w e llin g u n it in b u sin ess bu ildin g was a dwelling in a structure
used also for business purposes. A building used for both dwelling and
business was considered a business building if a third or more of the
floor space (not counting the basement) was used for business.
4 -k . O ther included living quarters over a private garage, a house
keeping apartment in an institution, rooms without housekeeping
facilities in a hotel. The classification “ other” on the tables includes
also rooms with another family or in a rooming house (4 -i and 4 -j).
Since the sampling method was designed to select householders,
schedules were obtained from very few families having rooms without
housekeeping facilities in a hotel or with another family, or in a room
ing house. These schedules were obtained only in the comprehensive
sample.
V III. M o n e y Earnings F rom E m p loym en t
E m p lo y m e n t .— Em ploym ent was any work for which persons while
members of the economic family normally received, or expected to
receive, m oney as compensation for services. Persons who had
worked during the year but whose losses exceeded or equaled earnings
were regarded as employed. Em ploym ent on work-relief projects was
considered as gainful employment and money earnings from such
sources were included in income.
S ta tu s o f w o rk er .— T o facilitate coding of an individual's occupation,
the sym bol “ s” was used for salaried workers and all wage earners;
“ o ” for persons working on their own account, and “ x ” to indicate
that employment was on a work-relief project. T o determine status
of certain workers, such as carpenters, dressmakers, etc., who repre
sent borderline cases between wage earners and independent business
men, it was necessary to set up the following qualifications, one or
more of which the person classified as in independent business must
meet:
(1)
The investment of either his own or borrowed capital in his busi
ness, as in a truck, stock of materials, shop, or special equipment for
his place of business, which might be in the home (the tools of a
workman such as he would need in his capacity as a wage earner were
not considered a capital investm ent); (2) the taking of business risks;
(3) the employment of others to work for him in his own business;
(4) the production of goods on the chance of finding a purchaser.
A person was considered as on work relief if he was required to
demonstrate to the public or private agency granting the work that he
had insufficient means to support his family according to the standards
adopted b y the agency concerned. Educational aid received by
students under N. Y . A. and F. E. R . A. to permit them to complete
their education was not considered work relief.
194
FAM ILY INCOME IN
CHICAGO
Net money earnings.— The earnings entered on the family schedule
were net earnings and were money earnings exclusively. Included in
money earnings were all commissions, tips, and bonuses which were
received during the schedule year. M oney earnings of persons work
ing on their own account represented the salary or profits drawn from
the business for family use.
The following expenses were considered occupational expense and
as such were deducted from gross earnings in arriving at net earnings:
Union dues and fees; business and professional association dues;
expense for technical books and journals directly related to the per
son’s occupation; room rent paid out of family funds while a member
was working away from hom e; the portion of operating expense for
business use of automobile not covered by an expense account; and
expense for workmen’s tools which are frequently replaced.
The following items were not considered to be occupational expenses
and consequently were not deducted from gross earnings: Clothing
worn at work and food eaten at work; amounts deducted from pay
checks for health and life insurance, retirement funds, e tc.; and trans
portation to and from work.
Overhead expenses such as rent for business premises, office sup
plies, telephone, and large sums expended for tools and equipment
which are in the nature of capital outlays were treated as business
expense rather than as occupational expense. The agent, with the
cooperation of the family, deducted such business expenses from the
earnings figure before entering it on the schedule.
Time employed.— Time employed, as entered on the schedule,
represents the number of hours, days, weeks, or months during which
the person had some employment. The unit chosen for reporting the
length of time employed was usually the unit by which the individual
was paid. When the length of time employed was reported in hours
or days, it was reduced, for purposes of analysis, to equivalent weeks
by using a 5-day or 40-hour week as the basis.
Since it was frequently impossible for the respondents to give the
number of weeks employed full time and the number of hours worked
in periods of part-time employment, tables showing time employed in
weeks do not distinguish between full-time and part-time employment.
Income from roomers and boarders and from work in the home.—
Although the schedule form provided for the entry of gross income from
roomers and boarders and income from casual work in the home
under “ other money incom e,” in the analysis or tabulation of this
item, net income from roomers and boarders and income from work
in the home were considered as earnings. Income from work in the
home which was irregular in nature was classified on the schedule as
“ other money incom e” ; had the work been regular, it would have been
shown originally under earnings.
SCHEDULE FORMS AND GLOSSARY
195
IX . O th e r M o n e y Income
This consisted of money income from sources other than earnings,
which was available for the current use of the family during the sched
ule year. The value of income received in kind was not obtained in
this survey. Direct relief or relief in kind, the eligibility for which
was determined by a means test, was not included as other money
income. Some other items not included in the money income figure
are enumerated later on.
The components of other money income are:
3. Interest and dividends.— Only amounts received as interest and
dividends from stocks, bonds, bank accounts, trust funds, etc., which
could be drawn in cash for family use were reported on this schedule.
Dividends received from paid-up insurance policies were also included
in this category. If, however, these dividends were reinvested in the
insurance policies they would not be reported.
4. Profits.— Net profits drawn from a business owned, but not
managed, b y the family were included as other money income. Prof
its drawn for family use from a business which was actively managed
by the family were included under earnings.
5. Rents from 'property.— Net rents from property owned by the
family were computed b y deducting current expenses on the property
from the gross rental income. Expenses for improvements or addi
tions to the property or for payments on the principal of the mortgage
were considered an investment and as such were not deducted from
gross rent.
W hen the family owned a multifamily dwelling, occupying a por
tion of it and renting the remainder, only the proportion of the
expenses which was applicable to the tenants’ share of the home was
deducted from rental receipts in arriving at net income from rents.
6. Pensions , annuities , benefits.— This included amounts received
from veterans’ pensions, pensions from employers, income from
annuities, compensation under workmen’s compensation laws, unem
ployment benefits from trade-unions, and benefits from sickness and
accident insurance. Income from old-age pensions, mothers’ pen
sions, and pensions for the blind, which are paid by local and Federal
governments only after demonstration of need, was not included
in other money income. The receipts of such income classified a
family with other families receiving relief.
7. Gifts in cash.— Included here are only those gifts in cash which
were for current use of the family and which were made by persons
other than members of the economic family. Amounts received from
relief agencies and the cash evaluation of income received in kind were
not considered gifts in cash.
196
FAMILY INCOME IN CHICAGO
7-a. M o n e y in co m e f r o m other sou rces. — Income received from sources
other than those specified above was classified in this category.
Such sources are: M oney found or received as a prize or as a reward
for finding a lost article, alimony, net gains from gambling, net income
from the sale of home-produced foods; amounts received from the
Government when members of the family are at C. C. C. camps;
that amount o f the soldiers7bonus which was spent for current liv in g ;2
and money earned prior to the schedule year and received during the
schedule year.
I t e m s n ot in clu d ed i n m o n e y in c o m e .— Some items which are com
m only considered m oney income were not covered by the Study of
Consumer Purchases because it was impossible in a survey o f this
sort to ascertain the amount o f certain types o f income. The pro
cedures used in the study excluded the following sources o f income:
That share o f profits to individuals participating in an entrepreneurial
business, partnership, syndicate, or pool which was not withdrawn for
family use; profits received from sales or exchanges of capital assets
(real estate, stocks, bonds, investments in business and other prop
erty), unless such transactions constituted the primary occupation of
some member o f the fam ily; interest and dividends from stocks, bonds,
bank accounts, trust funds, etc., which had accrued, but had not been
received into the family funds; direct relief in cash or in kind; the
value o f income in kind, except income from owned homes; money
received in a lump sum as a bequest or a gift in cash which was not
used for current expenses. Withdrawals from assets, borrowings, and
other nonincome receipts were not covered on the family schedule.
8.
L o s s e s i n b u sin e ss. — Classified here are only those net losses from
real estate operations or other businesses during the year which were
met from the family income, or b y an increase in the fam ily’s liabilities.
Among the cases included are those in which the actual expense for
real estate held b y any member of the economic family exceeded the
actual income, and cases in which traveling expenses for business pur
poses exceeded the allowance provided b y employers for such expenses.
Losses in business were charged against the specific type of family
business. For example, if the fam ily’s net rents from property
totaled $500, but the fam ily’s expenses on other businesses owned
but not managed b y the family were $500 more than the income from
this source, the family would appear on the “ other m oney” income
tables as a family having an income of $500 from rents and would
2
A large proportion of the families were scheduled before payment of the soldiers’ bonus began on June 15,
1936. Therefore, families which were entitled to a bonus but which gave schedule information for a yearly
period ending on or before May 31, 1936, would not have an opportunity to report receipts from this source.
Of the Chicago native white complete families, only 16 percent were scheduled for a period extending beyond
M ay 31, 1936; some of these families reported having received and cashed a bonus.
SC H E D U LE
FO RM S
AND
197
G LO SSAR Y
also appear as a fa m ily h avin g a loss in business o f $ 5 0 0 .
T h ese
tw o figures cancel o u t in the com p u tation o f the figure for to ta l m o n ey
incom e for the fa m ily .
A p p a ren tly the losses in business w hich were reported b y fam ilies
were for the m o st p art n o t entrepreneurial, b u t were instead losses
incurred in the rental o f ow ned property, etc.
A lth o u g h an entre
preneur m ig h t actu ally h av e h ad a n et business loss for the year, any
w ithdraw als fro m his business to support his fa m ily were considered
as fa m ily in com e.
W h e n w ithdraw als fro m the fa m ily fu nd to m eet
business losses exceeded the contribution to the fa m ily in com e, fa m i
lies were classified as h av in g suffered business losses for the enterprise
in question.
10 and 11.
Relief .— T h e fa m ily w as classified as h avin g received
relief if a t a n y tim e during the schedule y ear a n y m em b er o f the fa m ily
received aid fro m a public or private agen cy and if, to prove eligibility
for such aid, it w as u sually necessary to pass a m eans test.
The
inclusion as “ relief f a m ilie s /7 o f fam ilies w ho h ad received relief for
as sh ort a period as 1 d a y , and w ho m a y h av e h ad relatively high
incom es during part o f the schedule year, accounts for occasional
relief fam ilies in
the higher incom e brackets.
Since occasionally
churches and other organizations give support b y a regular allotm en t
to m em bers w ho w ou ld otherw ise h av e to app ly for relief, or to m e m
bers w h o are ineligible for public relief, such cash allotm en ts were
considered relief even thou gh the fa m ily w as n o t required to su bm it
to a form al m eans test.
T h e stu d y covers a period during w hich first F . E . E . A . and then
W . P . A . adm inistered w ork relief.
In m o st cities there w as a lag
betw een the separation o f clients fro m F . E . E . A . w ork projects and
their p lacem en t on W . P . A . w ork projects in the fall o f 1935.
D u rin g
this la g fam ilies were co m m o n ly carried on direct relief in cash or in
kind.
A s a rule relief fam ilies distinguished F . E . E . A . fro m W . P . A .
b y th e fa c t th a t the allo tm en t fro m the la tter w as based on the occupa
tional classification o f the w orker, while the form er relief set-up
budgeted the fa m ily on the basis o f n um ber and age o f m em bers.
F am ilies w ith m em bers w ho h ad w orked on P . W . A . p rojects were
considered relief fam ilies on ly if their assignm ent to such projects
w as dependent upon the passing o f a m eans test.
F am ilies of stu den ts
w ho received educational aid under N . Y . A . and F . E . E . A ., per
m ittin g th em to com plete their education, were n o t classified as relief
fam ilies if this w as the o n ly aid received.
F am ilies w ith m em bers
attendin g C . C . C . cam ps were n o t classified as h av in g received w ork
relief unless som e other m em bers o f the fam ilies h ad been assigned to
a w ork project.
Persons in C . C . C . cam ps were n o t m em bers of the
198
F A M IL Y
IN C O M E
IN
C H IC A G O
econom ic fa m ily during their sta y in cam p and, consequen tly, the
C . C . C . w ork w as n o t show n as em p loym en t.
C . C . C . enrollm ent
w as n o t in itself sufficient grounds for considering a fa m ily as on
relief.
In view of an E x ecu tiv e order of A p ril 1935, h ow ever, w hich
instructed th a t m en be sent to C . C . C . cam ps on ly from fam ilies on
relief, it is apparent th at the large m a jo rity of fam ilies w ith m em bers
in C . C . C . cam ps were also in the relief classification.
N o figures on the am ou n t o f direct relief received in cash or in
kind were requested from fam ilies.
E arnings on w ork-relief projects
were included w ith earnings from other sources, although fam ilies
receiving w ork relief were classified w ith fam ilies receiving direct
relief rather than w ith the nonrelief fam ilies.
Section 2. T erm s Used in the T e x t and Tabular
Sum m ary
(W ith particular reference to A. Income; B. Occupation; C. Family type)
A.
In com e
Total income .— T h e incom e b y which fam ilies were classified in the
text and appendix tables represents n et m o n ey incom e o f all m em bers
o f the econom ic fa m ily , as w ell as im p u ted incom e from ow ned h om e
(see below for definition) and rental value o f dw elling quarters received
in p ay m en t for w ork rendered.
T o ta l incom e does n o t include m o n ey
received as direct relief, or the value o f goods received in kind.
Components of total fam ily income—
1.
Net money income .— N e t m o n ey incom e included n et earnings
from gainful occupations o f fa m ily m em bers (w ages, salaries, profits,
and other w ithdraw als from business for fa m ily use, tips, com m is
sions, and b on u ses); m inus occupational expenses; n et incom e from
room ers, boarders, tourists, and transients; n et incom e from casual
w ork in the h o m e ; and incom e from all other sources indicated under
the discussion o f other m o n ey incom e on page 195.
O f these item s, the
m eth ods o f com putin g n et incom e from room ers and boarders, im p u ted
incom e from ow ned h om e, and rent received as p a y , need to be
explained.
In ascertaining the incom e from boarders and lodgers, an a tte m p t
w as m ad e to obtain the n et incom e after -deduction of business ex
penses— the incom e available for fa m ily spending.
Since too m u ch
interview tim e w ould be required to obtain cost figures on the keeping
of room ers and boarders, it w as necessary to estim ate this cost in the
office, using d a ta available from a previous stu d y o f the B u reau of
L ab o r Statistics.
T h e estim ates were for cost of food on ly and m ade
no allowance for the costs attached to keeping lodgers and for costs
other th an food— such as the expense for service, table linen, etc.
T h e cost o f boarders* food, how ever, is probab ly the largest single
item o f expense in this ty p e o f enterprise.
T h e cost estim ates corresponding to given p ay m en ts b y boarders
w ith ro o m were based on B u reau of L a b o r Statistics data for 279
wage-earner fam ilies livin g in 10 cities.
T h e line of relationship is
Y equals 8 7 .3 7 plus 0 .1 0 0 4 X , where X
equals the annual p a y m en t b y a boarder w ith room and Y the corre
represented b y the equation
sponding cost o f food.
T h is estim ated cost o f food was subtracted
199
740 2 1 °— 39------- 14
200
F A M IL Y
IN C O M E
IN
C H IC A G O
from the p a y m en t m a d e to the fa m ily and the rem ainder w as regarded
as n et incom e from boarders w ith room .
O b v io u sly the sam e p a y m en t as above for board w ith o u t room
requires a different cost estim ate.
T h e line o f relationship betw een
to ta l annual p ay m en ts b y boarders w ith ou t room and the correspond
ing cost o f food w as based on d ata for 59 w age-earner fam ilies in 8
cities.
T h e equation is
Y equals 52 .8 3 plus 0 .2 1 0 8 X , where X is the
Y the corresponding
annual p a y m en t b y a boarder w ith o u t room and
cost o f food.
W h e n , b y the use o f these corrections, th e cost o f
boarders’ food w as greater th an the gross incom e fro m boarders, a
zero balance rather th an a n egative incom e w as attribu ted to the
fa m ily fro m this source.
Imputed income from owned home.— T h e incom es o f h om e owners
2.
were adjusted to take in to accou n t their effective “ purchasing p ow er”
incom es, rather th an their m o n e y incom es alone.
T h is a dju stm en t
h ad the n et effect, in general, o f placing the h om e owners one $ 2 5 0
in terval a bo v e the fa m ily incom e scale in which their m o n ey incom es
alone w ould h a v e placed th em .
T h e incom e w hich w as attribu ted to h om e owners w as the differ
ence betw een the fa m ily ’s estim ate o f the rental value o f the h om e
and the expenses on the h o m e for the period o f occupancy.
A t the
tim e o f the fa m ily schedule interview the fa m ily w as asked for infor
m a tio n on the a m ou n t o f interest on the m ortgage or lan d contract.
O th er
expenses
on
the
ow ned
h om e— taxes,
special
assessm ents,
refinancing charges, repairs and replacem ents, insurance, etc.— were
com puted on the basis o f existing data on the relationship betw een
such expenses and rental value.
T h is procedure w as follow ed for tw o reasons: F irst, because it w as
n o t feasible to obtain , during the brief fa m ily schedule interview , infor
m a tio n on each ty p e o f expense o f h om e ow n ership; an d , second,
because it seem ed satisfactory, and possibly preferable, to use for
expenses other th an interest on m ortgage, a figure w hich approxi
m a ted an average for several years rather th an a figure equal to the
cash expenses for th e schedule year itself.
T h e line o f relationship w hich w as derived betw een “ other expenses”
and rental valu e for this purpose w as based on B u reau o f L a b o r
S ta tistics’ d ata for 949 h om e-ow nin g fam ilies, including w age earners
and low salaried workers, livin g in 10 cities as well as F ederal em
ployees livin g in W a sh in g to n .
ship is
and
T h e equation for the line o f relation
Y equals 3 9 .2 0 plus 0 .1 7 2 6 X where Y is annual other expenses
X is the annual rental value.
T h e estim ated expenses were added to the interest figure obtain ed
fro m th e fa m ily and the w hole w as deducted fro m the rental value for
the
period
o f occupancy.
im p u ted to h om e owners.
The
resultant figure w as
the
incom e
I f the figure for “ other expenses” w as
SCH EDULE
FO RM S
AND
201
G L O SS A R Y
greater th an the rental value o f the h om e, the expenses other than
interest were assum ed to equal the rental valu e.
I n such a case the
addition o f an expense for interest to these other expenses w hich were
assum ed to be zero resulted in a n egative incom e fro m h om e owner
ship ; th e am o u n t o f the n egative incom e w as deducted fro m the co m
bined m o n ey incom e figure and rent as p a y (if any) in arriving a t
the n et to ta l in com e.
3.
Rent received as p a y .— W h e n the free occupancy o f the fa m ily
dwelling w as received as p a y for services, as is frequen tly the case w ith
jan itors, m inisters, etc., the m o n th ly rental value and the n u m ber o f
m on th s o f rent as p a y w as obtain ed.
T h e value o f rent received as
p a y for the schedule y**-v w as later com puted and included in to ta l
incom e
B. Occupation
T h e classification o f occupations prepared b y the W orK s Progress
A d m in istration 3 w as u sed as a guide in classifying e m p lo ym en t in to
occupational groups.
T h e occupational grouping o f the S tu d y
C on sum er
is
Progress
Purchases
A dm in istration
S tu d y
shown
below
together
w ith
the
of
W orks
classification:
c la s sific a tio n
W . P . A . c la ssific a tio n
Salaried professional and independent Professional and technical workers.
professional.
Salaried business and independent busi Proprietors, managers, and officials.
Farm managers.
ness.
Owners of nurseries and greenhouses.
Office workers, salesmen, and kindred
Clerical.
workers.
Skilled workers and foremen in building
Wage earners.
and construction.
Skilled workers and foremen in manu
facturing and other industries.
Farm foremen and overseers.
Semiskilled workers in building and
construction.
Semiskilled workers in manufacturing
and other industries.
Unskilled laborers.
Farm laborers.
Domestic and personal service workers.
Farm owners and tenants.
Farm operators.
Farm croppers.
Farm croppers.
A further description o f the occupational groupings used b y the
S tu d y o f C on sum er Purchases follow s:
Salaried professional.— T h e salaried professional category included
all professional, sem iprofessional, and technical workers who were
em ployed b y others on a salaried an d /or com m ission basis.
3
A p p ren -
Index of Occupations, Occupational Classification and Code, Works Progress Administration Circular
No. 2-A, September 1935.
202
F A M IL Y
IN C O M E
IN
C H IC A G O
tices to these occupations were also included in this classification.
B esides law yers, teachers, physicians, and dentists, this group included
artists, chem ists, clergym en, technical engineers, technicians, trained
nurses, draftsm en, and journalists.
Certain o f the technicians and
laboratory assistants included here were p robab ly on the border-line
betw een professional and h ighly skilled wage earners.
Salaried business.— T h e salaried business category included persons
em p loyed b y
business
official positions,
and m anufacturing firms in m anagerial or
usually
on
a salaried
an d /or
com m ission
basis.
Officials and inspectors em ployed b y the city , State, or F ederal g o v
ernm ents were classified here.
Persons em ployed as salaried exec
u tives of firms were also included.
Office m anagers, as well as credit
and advertising m anagers (except those m anagin g establish m en ts in
these tw o fields), were classified as clerical.
Independent professional.— In clu ded in the independent professional
group
were
professional,
sem iprofessional,
w orking on, their own account.
and
technical
w orkers
(See “ Salaried professional” for a
partial list o f specific professional occupations.)
Independent business.— T h e independent business group included all
entrepreneurs or nonprofessional persons who w orked on their ow n
account.
Businesses ow ned b u t n ot m anaged b y any m em b er o f the
fa m ily were n o t included since such cases were included under “ other
m on ey in co m e” of the fa m ily .
T o be classified as an entrepreneur, one
or m ore o f the follow ing qualifications were m e t: T h e in v estm en t o f
capital in m aterials, equipm en t, etc. (tools of w orkm en such as were
needed b y wage earners were n o t considered capital in v e stm e n ts);
the taking o f business risks; the em p lo ym en t o f o th ers; the production
o f goods on the chance o f finding a purchaser.
T h e independent
business group included: R e ta il dealers, wholesale dealers, im porters
and exporters, building contractors, brokers, bankers, hucksters, and
peddlers.
Independen t business fam ilies in the low incom e levels
were com posed largely of sm all shopkeepers and lodging-house keepers,
while m o st fam ilies in the upper incom e groups belonged to large-scale
enterprises.
In com e from room ers, boarders, tourists, or transients
w as classified as h avin g been derived from independent business.
Clerical and kindred workers.— T h e clerical occupations included
office workers, office and store clerks, com m ercial travelers, salesm en,
and kindred workers.
W it h the exception o f office m anagers, persons
exercising control over the w ork of others were generally excluded fro m
this category.
Persons in the clerical occupations are u su ally re
m u nerated on a w eekly, m o n th ly , annual, an d /or com m ission, rather
than hou rly or d aily, basis.
Som e o f the higher paid clerical occu
pations w hich border on the salaried business classification were:
A cco u n ta n ts (other than certified public accou n tan ts), auditors, chief
SCH EDULE
clerks,
purchasing
agents,
FO RM S
credit
AND
203
G LO SSAR Y
m anagers,
office
m anagers,
and
advertising m anagers (other than those in advertising agencies).
Wage earner.— In the wage-earner classification were included skilled,
sem iskilled, and unskilled m an u al occupations in building and con
struction, m anufacturing, extraction, and transportation industries,
etc.
in
Apprentices to the skilled occupations and forem en were included
the
wage-earner
category.
A lso
included
were
dom estic
and
personal service workers and farm laborers.
O ccupations in the w age-earner category usually in volve m an u al
skill and, w ith the exception of forem en, do n o t ordinarily in volve
control over the w ork o f others.
R em u n eration is usually on an
h ou rly, daily, or w eekly, rather than a m o n th ly or annual, basis.
T h e inclusion o f workers o f the follow ing typ es in the w age-earner
classification resulted in a representation o f the w age-earner group in
the incom e brackets o f $ 3 ,5 0 0 to $ 5 ,0 0 0 : F orem en and inspectors, chief
engineers,
lithographers,
engravers,
sign
painters,
furriers,
and
w atchm akers.
N o gainfully employed members and farm ers .— F am ilies h avin g no
m em bers engaged in gainful em p lo ym en t were classified in this group.
A n individual was considered gainfully em ployed even thou gh his
business losses exceeded or equaled his earnings.
T h ese fam ilies
w ith no earnings m ig h t be retired or u n em p lo y ed ; th ey m ig h t be
supported b y direct relief, or living on pensions, savings, interest, etc.
I n C h icago, the fam ilies o f seven farm operators draw n in the sam ple
were analyzed w ith this group because there were too few o f th em to
constitute a separate classification.
W it h
the exception o f these
seven fam ilies, if there w as a n y incom e from earnings w hatsoever,
such as incom e from boarders and room ers, the fa m ily w as n o t show n
in this category, b u t in the category fro m which the earnings were
derived.
Family occupation .— T h e occupation b y w hich the fa m ily w as
classified w as th at one of six m a jo r occupational groups from w hich the
largest proportion of the to ta l earnings o f the econom ic fa m ily w as
derived.
T h e six occupational groupings are:
salaried business,
independent
professional,
Salaried professional,
independent business,
clerical, and wage earner.
W h e n n o m em ber of the econom ic fa m ily h ad w orked during the
schedule year because of retirem ent, u n em p lo y m en t, or for an y other
reasons, the fa m ily w as classified as h avin g “ no gainfully em p loyed
m em b ers.”
I f, how ever, som eone had w orked during the year, b u t
there were no earnings from occupation because losses exceeded or
equaled earnings, the fa m ily was considered as h avin g a gainfully
em p loyed m em b er and the occupation w as classified in the proper one
o f the six categories.
A n um ber o f fam ilies who w ould otherwise have
been classified as h avin g “ no gainfully em p loyed m em b er” were in
cluded in the independent business group because of some earnings
204
F A M IL Y
from room ers or boarders.
IN C O M E
IN
C H IC A G O
In C h icago, seven fam ilies o f farm opera
tors were grouped w ith the “ no gainfully em p loyed m e m b ers” because
th ey were n o t sufficiently num erous to analyze in a separate classi
fication.
O ccu pation refers to the occupation in w hich the in d ividu al actu a lly
w orked during the schedule year and n o t necessarily t.o w h a t he
considered
his
“ usual occu p ation ”
as
experience, voca tion a l training, etc.
determ ined
by
preference,
T h e occupation o f persons on
w ork-relief p rojects w as confined prim arily to w age-earner and clerical
w ork.
O b v io u sly
the
occupational
classifications
of
indepen den t
business and independent professional did n o t a pp ly to relief w ork.
If
relief fam ilies were classified in these categories it w as due to a n on
relief position o f som e nlem ber other th an the fa m ily head or the p osi
tion held b y the head before or after h avin g been engaged on a w o rk relief project.
T h e procedure follow ed in determ ining fa m ily occupation w as to
com bine the to ta l earnings o f a fa m ily fro m the fou r salaried and
in depen den t
occupations (salaried
business
and
professional,
and
in dependent business and professional) and to com pare this com bin ed
to ta l w ith the fa m ily ’s earnings fro m w age-earner occupations and
w ith those fro m clerical occu pation s.4
I f the earnings fro m the fou r
salaried and in depen den t groups com bined were greater than the
earnings fro m either o f the other groups, the fa m ily w as allocated to
the particular salaried or independent occupational group fro m which
the earnings were largest.
F o r exam ple, a physician derives $ 1 ,6 0 0
from p rivate practice (independent professional) and $ 1 ,0 0 0 as salary
from an insurance co m p an y for his m edical services (salaried profes
sion al).
H is son has earnings o f $ 1 ,8 0 0 during the schedule y ear as a
d ay laborer.
T h e earnings o f the fath er determ ine fa m ily occupation
since, w hen com bined, th ey are greater than the earnings o f the son.
Since the fa th er’s greater source o f earnings is his private practice,
the fa m ily occupation is independent professional.
F o r purposes o f determ ining fa m ily occupation, n et incom e from
room ers and boarders w as included in the earnings from independent
business occupations.
In com e from
classified according to
the occupational classification o f the w ork
casual w ork in the hom e w as
(e. g ., incom e from the occasional ty p in g o f letters or m anu scripts w as
entered under clerical).
E m p lo y m e n t on w ork-relief p rojects w as
considered as gainful e m p lo ym en t and w as classified according to the
ty p e o f w ork done.
In m o st cases such w ork fell under the w age-
4
Since the business and professional groups were classified into a fourfold grouping while wage earners
were classified as a single group, although they might equally w ell have been subdivided into skilled, semi,
skilled, and unskilled, it was decided to make the business and professional groups comparable w ith the
wage earner b y combining the earnings in these four occupations when determining family occupation. In
the smaller cities, furthermore, the four business and professional groups were combined into a single occupa
tional group for most tabulations.
SCH EDULE
FO RM S
AND
205
G LO SSAR Y
earner or clerical occupations, b u t a few cases fell in the professional
group.
W h e n rent w as received as p art p a y m en t o f services, the
value o f such rent w as included w ith the earnings o f the in dividu al who
received it, in determ ining fa m ily occupation.
I f equal am oun ts o f
earnings were derived from each o f tw o or m ore ty p es o f occupations,
the chief occupation (i. e ., the occupation yielding the largest earnings)
o f the in dividu al h av in g the largest earnings w as considered the fa m ily
occupation.
F o r exam ple, if the husband in a fa m ily earned $ 5 0 0
from an independent business, while the wife earned $30 0 from a w ageearner occupation and a son $20 0 also as a wage earner, the fa m ily was
classified as belonging to the independent business group.
W h e n there were tw o or m ore earners in a fa m ily , each earning the
sam e am ou n t b u t fro m different occupations, the fa m ily w as classi
fied in the occupation engaged in b y the in dividu al w ho w as the head
or who w as the m o st closely related to the head o f the fa m ily or his
w ife ; it the relationship o f these m em bers to the head w as the sam e,
the occupation o f the eldest determ ined the fa m ily occupation.
W h en
the earner who determ ined the fa m ily occupation h ad m ore than one
occupation the fa m ily w as classified on the basis o f the occupation from
w hich he derived the largest portion o f his earnings.
E arn ers.— An* earner is a m em b er o f the econom ic fa m ily w ho has
been gain fu lly em p lo yed a t a n y tim e during the schedule y ear.
No
m in im u m earnings or len g th o f em p lo y m en t were arbitrarily set u p as
a basis for determ in ing w hether a person should be called an earner.
Persons w h o w orked during the year b u t w ho h ad no earnings from
occu p ation because losses exceeded or equaled earnings were consid
ered to b e gain fu lly em p lo yed and were coun ted as earners.
T h e prin cipal earner is th a t m em b er o f the econom ic fa m ily w ho
has th e largest earnings during the year, fro m all o f his occupations
com bin ed , if he has m ore th an one occu pation .
I f th e fa m ily head
and anoth er a d u lt h ad equal earnings, th e h ead is designated as the
principal earner.
I f tw o persons other th an the h ead h av e the largest
and equal earnings, the principal earner is the one m ore closely re
la ted to the head o f the fa m ily or his w ife ; if th e degree o f relation
ship is the sam e for the tw o persons, the older is designated as the
principal earner.
Supplem entary earners are all m em bers o f the econom ic fa m ily other
than the principal earner who received an y earnings during the y ear.
Individual earners are persons to w h om earnings could be specifically
allocated.
In com e from room ers and boarders, or incom e from casual
w ork in the h om e, u sually results fro m a fa m ily enterprise and as a
consequence the earnings cannot be attribu ted to a n y one in dividu al.
T h e category “ other male” earners is com prised o f all m ale m em bers
o f the econom ic fa m ily , other than the oldest m arried m ale (or h ea d ),
who were gainfully occupied durm g the schedule year.
206
F A M IL Y
IN C O M E
IN
C H IC A G O
T h e category “ other fem a le” earners is com prised of all fem ale m e m
bers o f the econom ic fa m ily , other than the wife of the oldest m arried
m ale, who were gainfully occupied during the schedule year.
C . F a m ily T y p e
F am ilies were classified into the follow ing types based upon the m e m
bership com position o f the econom ic fa m ily:
Family type
I. Husband and wife, and no other persons in the economic family.
II. Husband, wife, and one child under 16 years and no other persons in
the economic family.
III. Husband, wife, and two children under 16 years and no other per
sons in the economic family.
IV . Husband, wife, and one person 16 years or over, and one or no others
in the economic family.
V. Husband, wife, one child under 16 years, one person 16 years or
over, and one or two other persons regardless of age in the
economic family.
V I. Husband, wife, and three or four children under 16 years and no
other persons in the economic family.
V II. Husband, wife, at least one child under 16 years, and four or five
other persons regardless of age in the economic family.
V III. Husband and wife, and in addition three or four persons over 16
years.
Other com- 1All other economic families which contain both husband and wife
plete families/
and are not designated above.
I X . 5 Families of two or more members without both‘ husband and wife
in the economic family.
X . 5 One-person economic families.
T h e above fa m ily ty p es are based upon the equivalen t n u m b er of
persons under 16 years o f age and the equivalen t n u m b er 16 years
or over in the econom ic fa m ily during the y ear.
F or
exam ple, if
tw o children were m em bers o f the econom ic fa m ily for 26 w eeks each,
together th ey w ou ld represent the equivalen t of one person for the
entire year.
T h u s a fa m ily so constituted w ould be classified as ty p e
I I (husband, w ife, and one child under 16 years and no oth er persons
in the econom ic fa m ily ).
*
B y use o f a conversion table, the n u m ber o f w eeks o f m em bership
o f persons in the econom ic fa m ily for o n ly a portion o f the schedule
year is expressed in term s o f equivalen t m em bers.
I f the econom ic
fa m ily contained o n ly one person w ho w as a m em b er for 2 6 w eeks or
less, he w as n o t regarded as an equivalent m e m b e r; h ad he been in the
fa m ily for 27 weeks he w ou ld h ave been classified as one equ ivalen t
m em ber.
I f tw o persons, b o th o f w h om were under 16 years, were
m em bers o f the econom ic fa m ily for a to ta l o f from 27 w eeks through
78 w eeks, together th ey counted as one eq uivalen t m e m b e r ; h ad th e y
been m em bers for a to ta l o f from 79 through 130 weeks, th ey w ould h ave
been counted as tw o equivalen t m em bers.
com putation applied to adults.
T h e sam e m eth od o f
I f, how ever, the fa m ily con tain ed an
adu lt for 17 weeks and a child for 17 weeks, neither w ould be cou n ted
6 Family schedules from types IX and X were obtained only from families drawn in the comprehensive
sample. These two types are referred to in the text as “ broken” or “ incomplete” families.
SC H ED U LE
FO RM S
AND
G LO SSAR Y
207
as m em bers o f the econom ic fa m ily, alth ough together th ey m ig h t
equal 2 7 weeks or morq.
In other w ords, an in dividu al u nder 16 y ears,
or one over 16 y ears, in the fa m ily less th an 27 w eeks w as disregarded
in the fa m ily -ty p e classification.
T h is com pu tation o f fa m ily typ es on the basis o f equivalen t m em bers
has resulted in the classification o f m arried couples w ith an in fan t less
than 6 m on th s o f age, in to fa m ily type I , i. e., husband and wife and
no other persons in the econom ic fa m ily.
A ll w eeks during w hich persons were m em bers o f the econom ic
fa m ily , w hether living in the hom e or tem porarily aw ay from h om e,
were included in com p u tin g equivalen t m em bers.
Children under 16 years were n o t necessarily the children o f the
head and his w ife, b u t m igh t have been grandchildren, foster children,
or other relatives.
Appendix D
N ote on Earlier Studies of Family Income and
Expenditure
Studies of family expenditures b y the Department of Labor date
back to a survey of workers in the iron and steel industry made in
1888, for the purpose o f securing information on wages and levels of
living among American and European workers in the same industries.
In more recent years the Bureau of Labor Statistics has progressively
increased the detail and widened the scope of its studies of family
expenditures, which have been conducted primarily to provide weights
for its cost of living indexes. The United States Department of Agri
culture has been conducting its studies of the expenditures of farm
families since 1890. In planning the present study the cooperating
agencies have also had the benefit of suggestions contained in the work
of a number of private agencies, particularly that of the Social Science
Research Council in Its Plan for a Study of Consumption According
to Income. The plans for the present study of consumer purchases
have been developed jointly b y the consumption staff of the National
Resources Committee, the Cost of Living Division of the Bureau of
Labor Statistics, and the Econom ics Division of the Bureau of Hom e
Economics, with the cooperation of the Central Statistical Board.
In addition to this study, the Bureau of Labor Statistics conducted
expenditure studies among families of wage earners and low-salaried
clerical workers in 1934-36 in the following cities:
B a ltim ore, M d .
Berlin, N . H .
B irm ingh am , A la.
B o sto n , M ass.
B u ffalo, N . Y .
C incin na ti, O hio.
C larem on t, N . H .
C levela n d , O hio.
C olu m bu s, O hio.
C o n co rd , N . H .
Conw ay, N . H .
D allas, T ex .
D e n v e r, C o lo .
D e tro it, M ich .
D over, N . H .
G ra n d R a p id s, M ich .
H o u sto n , T e x .
In dia n a polis, In d .
Ja ck son, M iss.
208
J a cksonville, Fla.
Joh n stow n , O hio.
K an sas C ity , M o.
K eene, N . H .
L a con ia , N . H .
L an caster, O hio.
L ansing, M ich .
L ittleton , N . H .
L os A ngeles, C alif.
L ou isville, K y .
M an ch ester, N . H .
M a rq u ette, M ich .
M em ph is, T en n .
M ilw au kee, W is.
M in n ea p olis-S t. P au l, M inn.
M ob ile, A la.
M od esto, Calif.
N ashua, N . H .
N ew O rleans, La.
NOTE
N e w Y o rk , N . Y .
N o r fo lk -P o r ts m o u th , V a.
P h iladelph ia, P a.
P ittsb u rgh , Pa.
P ortla n d , M aine.
P o rtsm o u th , N . H .
R eno, N ev.
R ich m on d , Va.
R och ester, N . Y .
ON
E A R L IE R
S T U D IE S
209
S a cram en to, Calif.
St. L ou is, M o .
S alt L a k e C ity , U tah.
San D ie g o , C alif.
San F ra n cis co -O a k la n d , Calif.
Scran ton , Pa.
Seattle, W ash.
Springfield, M ass.
C o n su m p tio n stu d ies i n C h ica go .— The present investigation is far
from being the first study of consumer purchases in Chicago. Ever
since the early 1880’s studies of family incomes and expenditures have
been made among Chicago groups whose living seemed in some way or
other important to a research agency. In 1882 the Chicago Trade
and Labor Assembly cooperated in an investigation of the relation of
current family earnings to current family expenditures among wage
earners and clerical workers. The data were secured by the Illinois
Bureau of Labor Statistics, and apply to the year 1881-82, a decade
after the great Chicago fire. There is a special analysis of rents as
related to earnings, the number of persons in the family, and the
number of rooms occupied b y families of workers in 62 different occu
pations in the city.1 This investigation was followed by a number of
others, different in scope and purpose, but all alike in that they were
restricted to the occupational and income limits set for the first study.
One of the earliest is an analysis of the dietary adequacy of food con
sumed b y 32 families living in the vicinity of Hull House.2 Another,
one of the best-known studies of consumer purchases ever made in the
city, was undertaken for the purpose o f discovering the relationship
between wage rates in the stockyards, and levels of living among
stockyards workers.3
A more recent investigation sponsored by the local community
research committee of the University of Chicago was initiated for the
purpose of determining whether a proposed revision of the Chicago
Standard Budget for Dependent Families set a higher standard than
would be maintained by families of independent unskilled workers.4
The Bureau of Labor Statistics has on numerous occasions collected
data from Chicago families, as a part of its inquiries into the cost of
living of wage earners and salaried workers. The 1918-19 study
presented data on 348 Chicago families at 7 different income levels,
the data including sources of family income, group expenditures and
1Illinois Bureau of Labor Statistics, Second Biennial Report (1883), pt. Ill, pp. 288-365.
2 U. S. Department of Agriculture. Official Experiment Station. Bulletin No. 129: Dietary Studies in
Chicago, by Ellen H. Richards. Washington, 1903, pp. 37-98.
3 Kennedy, J. C., and others: Wages and Family Budgets in the Chicago Stockyards District. An
investigation carried on under the direction of the board of the University of Chicago. 80 pp., illus. Chi
cago, 1914.
* Houghteling, Leila: The Income and Standard of Living of Unskilled Laborers in Chicago. University
of Chicago Social Science Studies No. 8. 224 pp. Chicago, 1927.
210
F A M IL Y
IN C O M E
IN
C H IC A G O
savings, size of dwelling and type of housing facilities, and expendi
tures for fuel and light.5
The study of the money receipts and disbursements of 100 Federal
employees living in Chicago, made b y the Bureau of Labor Statistics
in 1928 for the Federal Personnel Classification Board, was limited to
employees with salaries under $2,500. It was intended primarily to
show how far the families of such employees are dependent on the
incomes of supplementary earners, and to what extent their incomes
meet their annual disbursements.6
5U. S. Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Bulletin No. 357: Cost of Living in the
United States. Washington, 1924, pp. 18, 80, 285, 344.
6 Monthly Labor Review, vol. 29 (1929), No. 2, pp. 14-61; No. 3, pp. 248-259; No. 4, pp. 241-254; N o . 5,
pp. 1-10: Cost of Living of Federal Employees in Five Cities.
O
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