Race 1.1 4.3 3.2 Source: U.S. Bureau of Census, 1990 and 2000 data Table 3.13: Croton-on-Hudson Households and Families, 1990 - 2000 Total Households Families Share of Total Households Non-Family Households Share of Total Households Average Household Size Average Family Size 1990 2,577 1,933 75% 644 25% 2.5 3.06 2000 2,798 2,052 73.3% 746 26.7% 2.65 3.11 Change 8.6% 119 -1.7% 102 1.7% 0.15 0.05 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1990 and 2000 data 3 Residents of Hispanic origin may be of any race According to the US Census Bureau, a household is defined as “all persons who occupy a housing unit,” while a family is defined as “a group of two people or more (one of whom is the householder) related by birth, marriage, or adoption and residing together.” The household classification contains both the family and non-family subgroups. 4 PAGE 42 CROTON COMPREHENSIVE PLAN According to the 2000 Census, 85% of Croton-on-Hudson families are headed by married couples, and 15% by single householders. Most single householder families are headed by women. More than half of all families have children under the age of 18. Table 3.14: Types of Households, 2000 Among the non-family households, 83.3% have a single occupant; of those householders living alone, 35% are over the age of 65. Married-Couple Families 1748 (85.2%) e. Education, Income and Employment Croton-on-Hudson’s rate of educational attainment is very high. In 1990, approximately 88% of Village residents 25 years and older had obtained a high school diploma. By comparison, Westchester 5 County’s overall rate was 80% in 1990. Median household and family income has been increasing in Croton-on-Hudson as well and has been consistently above the Westchester County medians. In 1989, the median family income in Croton-on-Hudson was $74,472 and the median household 6 income was $65,031. Two-thirds of Croton-on-Hudson households (65%) had incomes of $50,000 and up, with the majority within the $50,000 to $100,000 range. By comparison, Westchester County’s 1989 median incomes were $58,862 for families and $48,405 for households. In 1996, Croton-on-Hudson’s median household income levels were estimated to have increased to $83,108, $21,000 more than Westchester County’s median household 7 income of $61,861. Family Households: Female-Householder Families 229 (11.2%) Male Householder Families 75 (3.6%) Families With Own 1,082 (52.7%) Children under18 Non-Family Households: 622 (83.3%) Living Alone 215 (34.6%) 65 and Over Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1990 and 2000 data. Note: number in parentheses denotes percent of total family and non-family households from Table 3.13a According to 1990 US Census data, approximately 1.6% of Crotonon-Hudson residents lived in poverty. Of these residents, 75% were female and 25% were male. Among Croton-on-Hudson’s senior population, 45% of householders age 65 years and older had annual incomes below $25,000, compared to 49% of Westchester 8 County overall. The rate of participation in the labor force increased for Croton-onHudson between 1980 and 1990. In 1980, 65% of the Village’s population over 16 was employed or actively seeking employment. By 1990, the total participation rate had increased to 70.5%. The proportion of women participating in the labor force increased as well during this decade, from 53% in 1980 to almost 61% in 1990. 5 Source: U.S. Census Bureau data, 1990 and Westchester County Department of Planning 6 Family income is typically higher than household income due to the presence of dual incomes and the generally more stable finances of families. 7 Source: Westchester County Department of Planning 8 Source: Westchester County Department of Planning PAGE 43 CROTON COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 3.5 Housing Development and Trends a. Residential Development Patterns The diversity and character of Croton-on-Hudson’s housing stock were characterized as assets by many Village residents in their survey responses. The range of housing types and historic resonance of many homes lend an eclectic sensibility to the Village’s residential areas and contribute to the quaint character of the Village. Pre-1977 Housing Development Most of Croton-on-Hudson’s housing stock was built before 1969, with the majority built before 1939. When the original Croton Master Plan was written in 1977, most of the residentially-zoned land to the east, west and south of the Upper Village had already been developed. Most of these older residential neighborhoods are in higher-density zoning districts permitting development on lots ranging from 5,000 to 25,000 square feet and contained the largest population concentrations in the Village. As of 1977, only 15% of the Village’s population was estimated to live in the northern parts of the Village. Fieldstone house on Old Post Road Two of the oldest residential neighborhoods were originally separate communities: Mt. Airy and Harmon. Harmon, initially th established in the early 20 century as an enclave for artists and writers, became home to railroad workers and commuters to New York City in the 1920s due to its proximity to the railroad station and railroad yards. A portion of Harmon is known