DATA SOURCES & METHODOLOGY

In order to identify subprime populations and the characteristics of their communities, Penta Group collated county- and state-specific data from sources including The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and The Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED). Below is an overview of the data sources and methodology used in building the Center for the New Middle Class’ Consumer Credit Digital Tool.

POPULATION

ADULTS WITH CREDIT SCORES BELOW 660 (%)

  ZIP CODES

GEOMETRY FOR MAP

MEDIAN INCOME (COUNTY)

Median Income (state and national)

UNBANKED

  • Description: Percentage of respondents in a given county that do not have a bank checking/savings account
  • Source: US Census – FDIC survey
  • Year: June 2019
  • Link: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/cps/techdocs/cpsjun19.pdf
  • Notes: Question: HEB20. Do you (or anyone else in your household) have a checking or savings account now?

POPULATION WITH BACHELOR’S DEGREES

  • Description: Population who have earned at least a bachelor’s degree. The percentage was calculated by dividing the number of people by the total population.
  • Source: PopStats
  • Year: Q4 2021
  • Link: https://synergos-tech.com/popstats/

UNEMPLOYMENT

  • Description: Percent unemployed. Total unemployed, as a percent of the civilian labor force (official unemployment rate). County-level percentages were calculated based on population data.
  • Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • Year: Jul/Aug 2022
  • Link: https://www.bls.gov/lau/ (https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs)
  • Notes: (For Kusilvak Census Area, AK; Valdez-Cordova Census Area, AK; and Kalawao County, HI, data is from the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey 2019)

POPULATION BY RACE (ASIAN)

  • Description: Total Asian Population. The Asian population percentage was calculated as Total Asian population / Population.
  • Source: PopStats
  • Year: Q4 2021
  • Link: https://synergos-tech.com/popstats/

POPULATION BY RACE (BLACK)

  • Description: Total Black Population. The Black population percentage was calculated as Total Black population / Population.
  • Source: PopStats
  • Year: Q4 2021
  • Link: https://synergos-tech.com/popstats/

POPULATION BY RACE (HISPANIC)

  • Description: Total Hispanic Population. The Hispanic population percentage was calculated as Total Hispanic population / Population.
  • Source: PopStats
  • Year: Q4 2021
  • Link: https://synergos-tech.com/popstats/

POPULATION BY RACE (OTHER)

  • Description: Total Population of Other or Mixed Ethnicity. The Other population percentage was calculated as Total Other population / Population.
  • Source: PopStats
  • Year: Q4 2021
  • Link: https://synergos-tech.com/popstats/
  • Note: “Other” includes American Indian or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, persons of two or more races, and others.

POPULATION BY RACE (WHITE)

  • Description: Total White Population. The White population percentage was calculated as Total White population / Population.
  • Source: PopStats
  • Year: Q4 2021
  • Link: https://synergos-tech.com/popstats/

POPULATION BY AGE (0-18)

  • Description: Total population aged 0 to 17. The percentage was calculated as the Total Population aged 0 to 17 / Population
  • Source:PopStats
  • Year: Q4 2021
  • Link: https://synergos-tech.com/popstats/

POPULATION BY AGE (18-25)

  • Description: Total population aged 18 to 25. The percentage was calculated as Total Population aged 18 to 25 / Population
  • Source: PopStats
  • Year: Q4 2021
  • Link: https://synergos-tech.com/popstats/

POPULATION BY AGE (25-45)

  • Description: Total population aged 25 to 45. The percentage was calculated as Total Population aged 25 to 45 / Population
  • Source: PopStats
  • Year: Q4 2021
  • Link: https://synergos-tech.com/popstats/

POPULATION BY AGE (45-65)

  • Description: Total population aged 45 to 65. The percentage was calculated as Total Population aged 45 to 65 / Population
  • Source: PopStats
  • Year: Q4 2021
  • Link: https://synergos-tech.com/popstats/

POPULATION BY AGE (65+)

  • Description: Total population over 65. The percentage was calculated as Total Population aged over 65 / Population
  • Source: PopStats
  • Year: Q4 2021
  • Link: https://synergos-tech.com/popstats/