Wells County Demographic Report on the Population of Elders: An Overview of Census 2000 Data

Population / total
Total in 2000 / 27600
Total in 2006 (est.) / 28199
% Growth 2000-2006 / 2.17%
Ages 65 and over in 2000 / 3891
Ages 65 and over in 2006 / 4160
% 65 and over in 2006 / 14.75%
% Growth (65+) 2000-2006 / 6.9%
Population over 85 in 2006 / 711
Population est. 55-64 2006 / 2460
Spanish Speakers (65+) / 22
Speak little or no Engl. (65+) / 7

In Wells County the total population increased modestly during the period from 2000 to 2006, but the population ages 65 years and older increased rapidly at over three times that rate.

(*Number of seniors ages 65 and over by census tract.)

Income
% of ages 65+ living below poverty level / 6.9
% of total population below poverty level / 5.9
Ages 65+ living below 150% of poverty / 18.03
Labor force participation rate for ages 65+ / 13.84
Unemployment rate (%) among labor force participants ages 65+ / 0

The percentage of seniors in Wells County that lives below the poverty level is larger than the percentage of the total population in the county, but smaller than the percentage of seniors across Indiana (7.7%) that lives below the poverty level. The labor-force participation rate among seniors in Wells County is nearly the same as among seniors across Indiana (13.93%),but no seniors in the county are registered as unemployed, even though the unemployment rate among seniors in Indiana is 3.45%

The proportion of females to males generally increases in older cohorts.

In Wells County the largest frequency of seniors falls into the income category from $5,000 and $9,999, as in most counties in Indiana. *Note that income categories for this graph are larger for those making more than $54,999.

Housing
Households with 1 or more 65+ / 2533
Number of 65+ householders / 2406
% 65+ householders who own (v. rent) / 84.33
% 65+ householders living in housing built before 1960 / 49.46
% 65+ householders who moved in before 1970 / 40.11
Number of 65+ females living alone / 836
Number of 65+ male living alone / 223
% of householders living alone / 44.01
% of 65+ householders who pay >35% of income for housing / 10.97

In Wells County thepercentage of senior householders who live in older housing is slightly larger thanthe percentage of senior householders who live in older housingacross Indiana (48.6%), while thepercentage of senior householderswho have been living in the same home for over 30 years is also somewhat larger than the corresponding percentage across Indiana(37.8%).

Grandparents as Caregivers for Grandchildren 18 Years Old and Younger

Tot. / %
Aged 65+ who live with one or more own grandchildren / 60 / 1.69% (of sample)
Aged 65+ having primary responsibility for grandchildren / 0 / *0%
Aged 65+ live with, but not responsible for grandchildren / 60 / *100%
Aged 55-64 who live with one or more own grandchildren / 40 / 1.63% (of sample)
Aged 55-64 having primary responsibility for grandchildren / 20 / *50%
Aged 55-64 live with, but not responsible for grandchildren / 10 / *25%

*Percent of total of those who live with two or more of their own grandchildren. Sample size for 65+ = 3540; sample size for ages 55-64 = 2450.

Most householders over 64 years old own their home as opposed to rent, while almost one third of all seniors live alone. The percentage of senior householdersin Wells County who own their home is larger than the percentage of senior householders who own their homeacross Indiana (82.13%).; however, the percentage of householders ages 85 years and older in the county who own their homeis smaller than the corresponding percentageacross Indiana (70.94%). Finally, the percentage ofseniors in Wells County who live alone is smaller thanthe percentage of all seniors who live alone across Indiana (29.11%).

Disabilities among Non-institutionalized Population Aged 60+ (categories are not mutually exclusive) / Total number
Sensory / 530
Physical / 885
learning/remembering/concentrating / 205
Self-care disability / 230
Go-outside-home disability / 560
Employment disability / 40

*Categories are not mutually exclusive. (Source: US Census Summary File 3)