INSIDE TUCSON BUSINESS: Mon., Sept. 8, 2008

Tucsonans are poorest among state's cities

When it comes to personal income, Tucsonans are poor. In fact the city is the lowest ranking of 10 Arizona cities and a lowly 211 out of 261 U.S. cities with at least 100,000 population, according to a survey by American City Business Journals. Per capita income in Tucson is $19,250, nearly 24% below the national average of $25,267.

And Tucson scored below average on other factors as well.

Using data collected by the Census Bureau in its 2006 American Community Survey, researchers sought to identify significant "wealth areas" by scoring how residents in cities stacked up in six areas measuring income and home values.

Tucson fell below average in all categories. Median household income was $36,095, which was 28% less than the national median. Just 0.9% of Tucsonans have annual incomes above $200,000, compared with a national average of 3.4%. Tucson came closest on median home value of $175,500, which was 5% below the national average of $182,200.

In a scoring system that gave positive numbers to above-average figures and percentages and negative numbers to below averages, Tucson scored a -4.04.

Complete survey results are online at: www.bizjournals.com/edit_special/69.html.