What's at stake for Benton County?
In part due to the high percentage of the population of Benton County employed at Oregon State University, Benton has the highest median family income in the state, followed closely by the counties in the Portland metro area. Still, the county has the 9th highest poverty rate (18%), and employment drops drastically during the summer months.
Children and Families
| Total Population: |
85,579 |
| Child population (0-17): |
17,464 |
| Median family income: |
$71,800 |
| Average cost of child care per month: |
$862.67 |
| Percentage of population over the age of 65: |
11.6% |
Impacts of the Recession
| Poverty Rate: |
18% |
| Number of low-income children: |
4,719 |
| Number of children in families receiving cash assistance (TANF): |
554 |
| Number of children in families receiving food stamps (SNAP): |
3,276 |
| Number of children receiving Employment Related Day Care (ERDC): |
223 |
| Rates of bankruptcy (per 1000): |
1.91 |
| Kids in foster care: |
73 |
Education
| Number of students enrolled in K12 schools: |
8,791 |
| Number of children in Head Start/pre-K: |
289 |
| Kids eligible for free/reduced lunch: |
42.5% |
| Homeless students: |
325 |
| High School graduation rate: |
94.4% |
| College degree rate: |
47.4% |
Health Care
| Percentage of children who have access to certified School-Based Health Center: |
7.9% |
| Seniors and people with disabilities receiving long-term or in-home care: |
931 |
| Residents on the Oregon Health Plan: |
7,447 |
Jobs
| Unemployment (Dec 2010): |
6.8% |
| Total employment number: |
34,347 |
| Percentage employed in the public sector, including schools: |
25.3% |
| Number of people employed in Health Services, including long-term care for seniors: |
5,148+ |
