Page 133 - 2015 Compass Now

Figure 20: Availability to Pay for Basic Needs by County of Residence

3.5

3.07 2.87 2.95 3.04 2.82 2.89 2.89 2.98 3.04 2.94

3.0 2.85 2.72 2.77 2.80 2.83

2.5 2.49

2.33 2.13 2.20

2.18 La Crosse

2.0 Monroe
Trempealeau

1.5 Vernon
Houston

1.0

0.5

0.0 Ability to pay Ability to pay Ability to meet Ability to pay

for vehicle for housing basic needs for education

1=Poor; 2=Fair; 3=Good; 4=Excellent

Economic Aspects of Life by demographic characteristics 1 | APPENDIX

See In-Depth Analysis in Appendix for more detail.

Gender: There were a few differences in ratings of economic issues by gender. Females rated the availability
of resources to help budget lower than males. Females rated the ability to pay for education lower than
males (60% of females rated this as fair or poor compared to 47% of males). Females also rated access to
convenient public transportation as lower than males.

Age: Younger respondents rated several economic aspects poorer than older respondents. Younger adults
rated the ability to meet basic needs, ability to pay for housing, and ability to pay for their own vehicle
lower than older adults. Younger adults were more likely to rate the accessibility of convenient public
transportation as fair or poor (52% to 59%) compared to adults over age 65 (41%). Younger adults were
more likely to rate as fair or poor the availability of resources to help budget. Younger adults rated lower
efforts to reduce poverty compared to older adults. Of adults age 51 to 64, 67% indicated this was fair or
poor, compared to 60% of adults age 21 to 50, and 43% of adults over age 65.

Education: Those with a higher level of education rated most economic aspects in the community higher
than those with less education. There was no difference by education in rating of accessibility of convenient
public transportation.

Income: Economic aspects varied significantly by household income. Those earning less than $25,000 were
more likely to rate fair or poor availability of jobs that offer a good standard of living (77%), ability to meet
the basic needs (51%), ability to pay for housing (50%), ability of resources to help budget (51%), ability to
pay for education (78%), availability of services for people needing extra help (50%), ability to pay for own
vehicle (53%) efforts to reduce poverty (67%), and efforts to reduce hunger (43%). There was no difference
by income for rating of accessibility of convenient public transportation.

Race: Non-white respondents were more likely to rate the availability of services for people needing
extra help as fair or poor compared to white respondents. Of non-white respondents, 65% indicated this
compared to white respondents (37%). There were no other differences between white and non-white
ratings for any of the other economic aspects.

COMPASS NOW 2015 125