Alaska median income rises from to 2000 to 2008: Juneau remains highest, Bethel lowest.

• Author: Ainsworth, Joel
• Position: Alaska Trends - United States. Department of Housing and Urban Development - Brief article - Statistical data

Each May, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) releases the median family incomes for U.S. residents by state and census area. The measurement income is used to set annual income limits, which determine eligibility for housing assistance through the Section 8 program. However, the median income measurement also can be useful when analyzing the changes of income over time within a state. When corn paring income levels, median income is generally the most reliable measurement, as income tends to have a skewed distribution.

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The graph illustrates the change n median family income from 2000 to 2008 using the 10 most populous boroughs in Alaska and state median.

The graph reveals widely varied income growth patterns across the state. On average the 10 boroughs saw a 32.9 percent (16.4 percent...