 |  |
Rhode Island news
5.25.2001
Census shows age of residents on the rise
In the West Bay area, the average age is increasing, more women are raising children by themselves, and more people are living with an unmarried partner than ever before.
Those are among the findings released this week from the 2000 Census. They expand on data issued in March showing that all six area communities grew over the previous decade, with the West Greenwich population nearly doubling.
Here's a rundown of key findings:
Lifestyle -- While the number of single-parent households has risen significantly in all Rhode Island communities, East Greenwich has the lowest percentage increase. Census counts show that the number of households where a woman is the head and caring for at least one child rose 9.7 percent between 1990 and 2000.
The second-smallest increase in the West Bay area was in Warwick, where the number rose by 29 percent. The increases were 47 percent in Coventry and 40 percent in both Cranston and West Warwick. The biggest increase was in West Greenwich, where the number rose 77 percent.
Warwick and West Warwick showed an overall decline in the number of two-parent households with at least one child under 18. The drop was sharpest in West Warwick at 17 percent. Warwick had a 7 percent decline.
In Coventry, the number of homes with traditional families remained essentially the same, although the total number of households rose nearly 13 percent.
The other three West Bay communities saw increases in the number of homes with two-parent families, although the growth was overwhelmed by the increases in single-parent families. The increases were 3 percent in Cranston, 16 percent in East Greenwich, and 54 percent in West Greenwich.
The number of people who reported living with an unmarried partner rose in all six communities. In Cranston, Warwick and West Greenwich, the number more than doubled from 1990 to 2000. Coventry saw a 74 percent increase. The increases were lowest -- just over 40 percent -- in both East Greenwich and West Warwick.
Housing -- The largest increase in housing units was in West Greenwich, where 439 units were added between 1990 and 2000, a 32 percent increase. East Greenwich had the second-highest growth rate: 12 percent. Coventry's rate was nearly 11 percent. In the other West Bay communities, the increase was 5.6 percent or less.
West Warwick had, by far, the highest percentage of rental property. Just under 46 percent of the housing stock in the town was occupied by renters in 2000, according to the Census data. In Cranston, 33 percent of the housing units were rental property, compared with 27 percent in Warwick, 25 percent in East Greenwich, 19 percent in Coventry and 10 percent in West Greenwich.
From 1990 to 2000, the number of vacant housing units rose by 24 percent in East Greenwich. In every other West Bay town, the number of vacant units declined. The decline was as high as 23 percent in Coventry and 45 percent in West Greenwich.
Gender -- West Greenwich is the only community in West Bay -- and one of only two in the state -- where men outnumber women. Census numbers show that there were 11 more men than women in West Greenwich, where the total population is 5,085. (Richmond was the only other community with more men -- 24 more, according to the Census.) In Warwick, there were 4,303 more women than men; 52.4 percent of the population was female.
Age -- The state's population is getting older (only Providence and Central Falls saw the average age decline). The "oldest" town in West Bay is East Greenwich, where the median age is 40.5 years, up 2.7 years from 1990.
West Warwick continues to have the "youngest" population, with a mean age of 36.4 years in 2000; in 1990, it was 33.3 years.
The Census numbers also show spikes in certain age brackets.
In most communities, the percentage of children age 5 to 14 and adults age 35 to 59 rose, while the number of people age 15 to 34 and in the 60-74 age bracket declined significantly. Those numbers reflect the aging baby-boomer population..
Every West Bay city and town also experienced a sizable percentage increase in the 75-and-older population.
West Greenwich experienced a population increase in every age bracket except one, 25-to-34-year-olds. The biggest increase was in the 85-and-older group, which increased by 170 percent, the largest increase in the state.
Census shows age of residents on the rise
In the West Bay area, the average age is increasing, more women are raising children by themselves, and more people are living with an unmarried partner than ever before.
Those are among the findings released this week from the 2000 Census. They expand on data issued in March showing that all six area communities grew over the previous decade, with the West Greenwich population nearly doubling.
Here's a rundown of key findings:
Lifestyle -- While the number of single-parent households has risen significantly in all Rhode Island communities, East Greenwich has the lowest percentage increase. Census counts show that the number of households where a woman is the head and caring for at least one child rose 9.7 percent between 1990 and 2000.
The second-smallest increase in the West Bay area was in Warwick, where the number rose by 29 percent. The increases were 47 percent in Coventry and 40 percent in both Cranston and West Warwick. The biggest increase was in West Greenwich, where the number rose 77 percent.
Warwick and West Warwick showed an overall decline in the number of two-parent households with at least one child under 18. The drop was sharpest in West Warwick at 17 percent. Warwick had a 7 percent decline.
In Coventry, the number of homes with traditional families remained essentially the same, although the total number of households rose nearly 13 percent.
The other three West Bay communities saw increases in the number of homes with two-parent families, although the growth was overwhelmed by the increases in single-parent families. The increases were 3 percent in Cranston, 16 percent in East Greenwich, and 54 percent in West Greenwich.
The number of people who reported living with an unmarried partner rose in all six communities. In Cranston, Warwick and West Greenwich, the number more than doubled from 1990 to 2000. Coventry saw a 74 percent increase. The increases were lowest -- just over 40 percent -- in both East Greenwich and West Warwick.
Housing -- The largest increase in housing units was in West Greenwich, where 439 units were added between 1990 and 2000, a 32 percent increase. East Greenwich had the second-highest growth rate: 12 percent. Coventry's rate was nearly 11 percent. In the other West Bay communities, the increase was 5.6 percent or less.
West Warwick had, by far, the highest percentage of rental property. Just under 46 percent of the housing stock in the town was occupied by renters in 2000, according to the Census data. In Cranston, 33 percent of the housing units were rental property, compared with 27 percent in Warwick, 25 percent in East Greenwich, 19 percent in Coventry and 10 percent in West Greenwich.
From 1990 to 2000, the number of vacant housing units rose by 24 percent in East Greenwich. In every other West Bay town, the number of vacant units declined. The decline was as high as 23 percent in Coventry and 45 percent in West Greenwich.
Gender -- West Greenwich is the only community in West Bay -- and one of only two in the state -- where men outnumber women. Census numbers show that there were 11 more men than women in West Greenwich, where the total population is 5,085. (Richmond was the only other community with more men -- 24 more, according to the Census.) In Warwick, there were 4,303 more women than men; 52.4 percent of the population was female.
Age -- The state's population is getting older (only Providence and Central Falls saw the average age decline). The "oldest" town in West Bay is East Greenwich, where the median age is 40.5 years, up 2.7 years from 1990.
West Warwick continues to have the "youngest" population, with a mean age of 36.4 years in 2000; in 1990, it was 33.3 years.
The Census numbers also show spikes in certain age brackets.
In most communities, the percentage of children age 5 to 14 and adults age 35 to 59 rose, while the number of people age 15 to 34 and in the 60-74 age bracket declined significantly. Those numbers reflect the aging baby-boomer population..
Every West Bay city and town also experienced a sizable percentage increase in the 75-and-older population.
West Greenwich experienced a population increase in every age bracket except one, 25-to-34-year-olds. The biggest increase was in the 85-and-older group, which increased by 170 percent, the largest increase in the state.
| ||||
Printer-Friendly VersionMore top stories
R.I. Chabad members pray for those slain in Mumbai
Providence pub must pay the piper, musicians say
Federal conservationist gives Rhode Island top marks
Legislator Costantino has second thoughts, takes pass on Atlanta conference
Most active surveys
Updated Mon 12.1.08
Share your reviews of area restaurants
Share your Black Friday shopping experience
What NFL team is the one you love to hate?
Most e-mailed in the last 24 hours
