Census Report Shows Valley Residents are More Educated, but Spend More Time in Traffic

Looking over the Valley | Photo by denisetaylor☼ via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr

Looking over the Valley | Photo by denisetaylor☼ via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr
The 2000 census report for the San Fernando Valley was recently updated and shows some interesting changes. At the request of Congressman Brad Sherman, the Census Bureau updated the report using detailed data from the 2008 American Community Survey (ACS) in order "to help community organizations, businesses, and government leaders make better-informed decisions affecting the Valley’s future and help our region compete for its fair share of funding for transportation improvements, housing, and social service programs," according to a press release from his office. This is the second-ever census report specifically focusing on the Valley as its own entity.

More than 1.75 million people live within the Valley, meaning if it were its own city, it would be the fifth largest after New York, L.A., Chicago and Houston. Since the 2000 report, the population has increased 3.5%.

And here are some other interesting facts, according to the report:

• The Valley Census Report shows that Valley residents spend, on average, nearly a half-hour (29.4 minutes) commuting to work, which is 8% longer than the average Californian and 13% longer than the average American.
• Latinos have edged out Whites in the Valley population majority. The Valley is now 42.4% Latino, 41.8% White, 10% Asian and 3.6% Black. To compare, Los Angeles as a whole is 49.1% Latino, 28.9% White, 10.2% Asian and 9.5% Black.

• Valley residents, on average, are more educated than other parts of the City and County with 118,575 people with graduate or professional degrees and another 239,705 with bachelor’s degrees. Since 2000, the Valley has had a 16.6% increase (59,689) in those with bachelor’s or advanced degrees.
• In 2008, over 50% of Valley homeowners (119,700) were spending 35% or more of their income on housing. Overall, the median monthly mortgage and homeowner’s costs had increased nearly 10% ($2,381 to $2,630) since 2000.
• 40.6% (712,425) of the Valley's population is foreign born. 39.4% (1,498,184) of Los Angeles, as a whole, is foreign born.
• 40.4% (661,230) of the Valley's households are English-speaking only. 39.7% (1,397,127) of Los Angeles, as a whole, are English-speaking only.