RALEIGH – The economic picture of counties throughout North Carolina is clearer today with the release of county-by-county data from the NC Budget & Tax Center.

Using data from numerous sources, the “economic snapshot” is a document which provides intriguing economic information about all counties in North Carolina. The following are “snapshots” from each of the four counties in the Roanoke-Chowan area.

Bertie County

Unemployment

Bertie County’s unemployment rate was 10.7% in December 2009; the state rate was 11.1%. In December 2010, the county unemployment rate was 11.2%; the state rate was 9.7 %.

8,884 workers were a part of Bertie County’s labor force in December 2010. Since the Third Quarter of 2007, Bertie County lost 457 jobs on net, a 7% decline.

Poverty

24.3% of Bertie County residents (4,431 people) lived in poverty in 2009; the state rate was 16.2%.

Wages & Income

In 2010, the Bertie County’s average weekly wage of $575 equaled 75% of the statewide wage of $768.

Median household income in the county was $29,693, which equaled 68% of the statewide household income of $43,754.

Housing

56% of renters were unable to afford the fair market rent for a two- bedroom housing unit.

There were 47 foreclosure filings in 2010, representing 1 in 139 housing units in the county.

Health

20.4 % of Bertie County residents did not have health insurance in 2008-2009, compared to 15.9% of all North Carolinians.

11.6% of children in Bertie County did not have health insurance in 2008-2009.

5,340 were eligible for Medicaid in Bertie County in December 2010, a 5.0% increase.

Support for Working Families

From December 2007 to August 2009, $8,136,950 has circulated in Bertie County through unemployment insurance benefits.

In 2009, the state EITC provided refunds of $175,934 to working families in the county.

During December 2009, 4,922 Bertie County residents received assistance from the food and nutrition or food stamp program. In December 2010, the number increased by 14.7% to 5,645 and the share of residents receiving assistance reached 28.2%.

2010 Living Income Standard

A working family in Bertie County with 1 adult and 2 children needs to earn, on average, a total of $38,066 annually to afford basic living expenses in the county. This total is 207.9% of the 2009 federal poverty level for a family of three ($18,310).

The county’s living income standard for this family requires an hourly wage of $18.30, which is $11.05 more than the $7.25 per hour earned in a minimum wage job ($15,080 annually).

A working family in Bertie County with 2 adults and 2 children needs to earn, on average, a total of $45,267 annually to afford basic living expenses in the county. This total is 205.3% of the 2008 federal poverty level for a family of four ($21,200).

The county’s living income standard for this family requires them to earn a combined hourly wage of $21.76, which is $7.26 more than the $14.50 per hour earned through working two minimum wage jobs ($30,160 annually).

Gates County

Unemployment

Gates County’s unemployment rate was 6.9% in December 2009; the state rate was 11.1%. In December 2010, the county unemployment rate was 7.0%; the state rate was 9.7 %.

4,736 workers were a part of Gates County’s labor force in December 2010. Since the Third Quarter of 2007, Gates County lost 201 jobs on net, a 13% decline.

Poverty

17.5% of Gates County residents (2,041 people) lived in poverty in 2009; the state rate was 16.2%.

Wages & Income

In 2010, the Gates County’s average weekly wage of $567 equaled 74% of the statewide wage of $768.

Median household income in the county was $42,742, which equaled 98% of the statewide household income of $43,754.

Housing

47% of renters were unable to afford the fair market rent for a two bedroom housing unit.

There were 74 foreclosure filings in 2010, representing 1 in 52 housing units in the county.

Health

19.7 % of Gates County residents did not have health insurance in 2008-2009, compared to 15.9% of all North Carolinians.

10.0% of children in Gates County did not have health insurance in 2008-2009.

1,694 were eligible for Medicaid in Gates County in December 2010, a 9.1% increase.

Support for Working Families

From December 2007 to August 2009, $1,668,708 has circulated in Gates County through unemployment insurance benefits.

In 2009, the state EITC provided refunds of $70,897 to working families in the county.

In December 2009, 1,575 Gates County residents received assistance from the food and nutrition or food stamp program. In December 2010, the number increased by 13.8% to 1,793 and the share of residents receiving assistance reached 15.0%.

Living Income Standard

A working family in Gates County with 1 adult and 2 children needs to earn, on average, a total of $40,159 annually to afford basic living expenses in the county. This total is 219.3% of the 2009 federal poverty level for a family of three ($18,310).

The county’s living income standard for this family requires an hourly wage of $19.31, which is $12.06 more than the $7.25 per hour earned in a minimum wage job ($15,080 annually).

A working family in Gates County with 2 adults and 2 children needs to earn, on average, a total of $47,085 annually to afford basic living expenses in the county. This total is 213.5% of the 2008 federal poverty level for a family of four ($21,200).

The county’s living income standard for this family requires them to earn a combined hourly wage of $22.64, which is $8.14 more than the $14.50 per hour earned through working two minimum wage jobs ($30,160 annually).

Hertford County

Unemployment

Hertford County’s unemployment rate was 9.0% in December 2009; the state rate was 11.1%. In December 2010, the county unemployment rate was 9.2%; the state rate was 9.7 %.

10,048 workers were a part of Hertford County’s labor force in December 2010. Since the Third Quarter of 2007, Hertford County lost 427 jobs on net, a 5% decline.

Poverty

24.9% of Hertford County residents (5,228 people) lived in poverty in 2009; the state rate was 16.2%.

34.7% of Hertford County residents were low-income in 2009, meaning their incomes were less than twice the federal poverty level ($44,100 for a family of four in 2009).

Wages & Income

In 2010, the Hertford County’s average weekly wage of $614 equaled 80% of the statewide wage of $768.

Median household income in the county was $31,879, which equaled 73% of the statewide household income of $43,754.

The richest 5% of Hertford County households had an average income that was 28.9 times greater than that of the poorest fifth of households and 3.0 times greater than that of the middle fifth of households.

Housing

50% of renters were unable to afford the fair market rent for a two bedroom housing unit.

There were 108 foreclosure filings in 2010, representing 1 in 76 housing units in the county.

Health

21.5 % of Hertford County residents did not have health insurance in 2008-2009, compared to 15.9% of all North Carolinians.

11.5% of children in Hertford County did not have health insurance in 2008-2009.

5,927 were eligible for Medicaid in Hertford County in December 2010, a 4.5% increase.

Support for Working Families

From December 2007 to August 2009, $7,176,173 has circulated in Hertford County through unemployment insurance benefits.

In 2009, the state EITC provided refunds of $178,872 to working families in Hertford County.

In December 2009, 5,631 Hertford County residents received assistance from the food and nutrition or food stamp program. In December 2010, the number increased by 10.2% to 6,205 and the share of residents receiving assistance reached 25.9%.

Living Income Standard

A working family in Hertford County with 1 adult and 2 children needs to earn, on average, a total of $37,259 annually to afford basic living expenses in the county. This total is 203.5% of the 2009 federal poverty level for a family of three ($18,310).

The county’s living income standard for this family requires an hourly wage of $17.91, which is $10.66 more than the $7.25 per hour earned in a minimum wage job ($15,080 annually).

A working family in Hertford County with 2 adults and 2 children needs to earn, on average, a total of $44,732 annually to afford basic living expenses in the county. This total is 202.9% of the 2008 federal poverty level for a family of four ($21,200).

The county’s living income standard for this family requires them to earn a combined hourly wage of $21.51, which is $7.01 more than the $14.50 per hour earned through working two minimum wage jobs ($30,160 annually).

Northampton County

Unemployment

Northampton County’s unemployment rate was 11.1% in December 2009; the state rate was 11.1%. In December 2010, the county unemployment rate was 12.4%; the state rate was 9.7 %.

8,507 workers were a part of Northampton County’s labor force in December 2010. Since the Third Quarter of 2007, Northampton County lost 868 jobs on net, a 15% decline.

Poverty

24.9% of Northampton County residents (4,795 people) lived in poverty in 2009; the state rate was 16.2%.

38.7% of Northampton County residents were low-income in 2009, meaning their incomes were less than twice the federal poverty level ($44,100 for a family of four in 2009).

Wages & Income

In 2010, the Northampton County’s average weekly wage of $579 equaled 75% of the statewide wage of $768.

Median household income in the county was $31,355, which equaled 72% of the statewide household income of $43,754.

The richest 5% of Northampton County households had an average income that was 18.7 times greater than that of the poorest fifth of households and 3.6 times greater than that of the middle fifth of households.

Housing

64% of renters were unable to afford the fair market rent for a 2 bedroom housing unit.

There were 62 foreclosure filings in 2010, representing 1 in 53 housing units in the county.

Health

21.7 % of Northampton County residents did not have health insurance in 2008-2009, compared to 15.9% of all North Carolinians.

11.6% of children in Northampton County did not have health insurance in 2008-2009.

5,615 were eligible for Medicaid in Northampton County in December 2010, a 4.7% increase.

Support for Working Families

From December 2007 to August 2009, $7,320,434 has circulated in Northampton County through unemployment insurance benefits.

In 2009, the state EITC provided refunds of $172,867 to working families in Northampton County.

In December 2009, 5,491 Northampton County residents received assistance from the food and nutrition or food stamp program. In December 2010, the number increased by 13.7% to 6,244 and the share of residents receiving assistance reached 29.8%.

Living Income Standard

A working family in Northampton County with 1 adult and 2 children needs to earn, on average, a total of $37,408 annually to afford basic living expenses in the county. This total is 204.3% of the 2009 federal poverty level for a family of three ($18,310).

The county’s living income standard for this family requires an hourly wage of $17.98, which is $10.73 more than the $7.25 per hour earned in a minimum wage job ($15,080 annually).

A working family in Northampton County with 2 adults and 2 children needs to earn, on average, a total of $44,848 annually to afford basic living expenses in the county. This total is 203.4% of the 2008 federal poverty level for a family of four ($21,200).

The county’s living income standard for this family requires them to earn a combined hourly wage of $21.56, which is $7.06 more than the $14.50 per hour earned through working two minimum wage jobs ($30,160 annually).

Note: Sources used to compile this information included Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and

Poverty Estimates; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; Out of Reach, 2010;  N.C. Administration of the Courts; N.C. Institute of Medicine; N.C. Division of Medical Assistance; Employment Security Commission of N.C; N.C. Department of Revenue; and the N.C. Division of Social Services.