05-04-2011, 02:45 AM
macuu222,
According to the U.S. Census Hawaii county has 14.1% of its population over 65 (lower than the state average of 14.5%), looking at the breakdowns by CDP it looks like much of Puna comes in even a little lower than that, and Kona and Kohala a little over. Hawaii county comes in higher than the state average in terms of number of people under 18 though, and the Puna CDPs even higher still. So statistically, Puna is a young community with more people under 18 than over 65, and the population of retirees isn't really all that large at 14%.
In terms of spending at a grocery store, a family with 2 adults commuting to work in Hilo and 3 to 6 kids spends a whole lot more on groceries than a retired couple would. Retirees may have more overall disposable income, but I highly doubt they spend proportionately more income on food and sundries at the grocery store, you can only eat so much.
HPP is a bedroom community of Hilo, just watch it empty out between 6 and 9 every morning with car after car heading into Hilo to work. Of the close to 10,000 people living here, my guess is the next round of census data which breaks down CDPs into detailed demographics, will show the trend from 2000 continuing; over 39% of the HPP households were families with children under 18 in 2000, if anything, that number will be still higher, because the cost of buying a house in Hilo got prohibitively expensive for young families during that time.
Carol
edited for clarity
According to the U.S. Census Hawaii county has 14.1% of its population over 65 (lower than the state average of 14.5%), looking at the breakdowns by CDP it looks like much of Puna comes in even a little lower than that, and Kona and Kohala a little over. Hawaii county comes in higher than the state average in terms of number of people under 18 though, and the Puna CDPs even higher still. So statistically, Puna is a young community with more people under 18 than over 65, and the population of retirees isn't really all that large at 14%.
In terms of spending at a grocery store, a family with 2 adults commuting to work in Hilo and 3 to 6 kids spends a whole lot more on groceries than a retired couple would. Retirees may have more overall disposable income, but I highly doubt they spend proportionately more income on food and sundries at the grocery store, you can only eat so much.
HPP is a bedroom community of Hilo, just watch it empty out between 6 and 9 every morning with car after car heading into Hilo to work. Of the close to 10,000 people living here, my guess is the next round of census data which breaks down CDPs into detailed demographics, will show the trend from 2000 continuing; over 39% of the HPP households were families with children under 18 in 2000, if anything, that number will be still higher, because the cost of buying a house in Hilo got prohibitively expensive for young families during that time.
Carol
edited for clarity
Carol
Every time you feel yourself getting pulled into other people's nonsense, repeat these words: Not my circus, not my monkeys.
Polish Proverb
Every time you feel yourself getting pulled into other people's nonsense, repeat these words: Not my circus, not my monkeys.
Polish Proverb