Personal Financial Situation

About 60 percent of area residents rate the state of their personal financial situation as good or excellent, roughly the same proportion as those who say they have enough or more than enough money to meet bills and contribute to savings. As might be expected, residents' perceptions of their financial situation vary directly with income, level of education and, to a lesser extent, age. Strong black/white racial disparities exist, but Hispanics and Asians are as likely to say they have enough money as whites despite less often rating their personal finances as good or excellent.