Oregon Releases 2006 Population Survey

The 2006 Oregon Population Survey was conducted during the summer and fall of 2006.

Salem-News.com

(SALEM) - The State of Oregon Thursday released the findings of the 2006 Oregon Population Survey, which provides a wealth of data on income and other household characteristics, health insurance coverage, educational attainment, commuting choices, savings for retirement and education, child care arrangements, and Internet usage.

The telephone survey, conducted by the Northwest Research Group during the summer and fall of 2006, also provides information on Oregonians' perceptions, ranging from the quality of public services to their sense of community.

Key Findings

Oregon Households:

Median household income increased from $40,569 to $42,021 between 2003 and 2005.

Adjusted for 1989 dollars, income decreased from $26,220 to $25,813 during that period.

About two-thirds (65 percent) of all Oregon households are owner-occupied, which is slightly lower than the U.S. average (69 percent).

Seventy-seven percent all Oregon households have personal computers, and 69 percent have Internet access, both about the same as in 2004.

A big increase occurred in high-speed access.

In 2004, 45 percent of households with Internet had high-speed access; in 2006 that number grew to 67 percent.

Education:

About a third of Oregon adults over 25 report that they have a college degree or higher, about the same as in 2004.

The percent of Oregonians who report that they hold an associate degree or have some college training rose from 28 percent in 2004 to 31 percent in 2006.

In-Migration:

The rate of people migrating to Oregon in the past five years grew from 17 percent in 2004 to 23 percent in 2006.

An increase occurred in all regions but Region 4 (five counties in southwest Oregon), which remained the same as in 2004.

Region 1 (three north coast counties plus Columbia County) saw a 10-percent increase.

Region 2 (Clackamas, Multnomah, Washington and Yamhill counties) experienced a 9-percent increase.

Health and Well-being:

An estimated 15.6 percent of Oregonians (576,000) lack health insurance, compared to 17 percent in 2004.

About 12.6 percent of those 18 and younger (116,000 children) lack health insurance, compared to 13.0 percent in 2004.

The percent of Oregonians who report suffering from a long-lasting disability increased from 13 percent in 2004 to 18 percent in 2006.

About half of those between the ages of 75 and 84, and two-thirds of those 85 and older, report living with a disability.

Oregonians' Perceptions:

About their state and community:

Oregonians remain positive about their state. About 87 percent feel somewhat or very positive about the state, a figure that's up slightly from 84 percent in 2004.

The post-9/11 boost in feelings of community cohesion continued through 2006, with about half feeling part of the community. In 2000, the figure was 37 percent.

People who have moved to Oregon in the past five years are less likely to feel a part of their community.

Access to health care and controlling drug use rated lower than in recent years.

About government services:

The percentage of Oregonians who feel very positive or somewhat positive about government services rose from 60 percent in 2004 to 65 percent in 2006.

This is still below the high of 79 percent in 2000.

About infrastructure:

Compared to 2004, a higher percentage of Oregonians think Oregon is doing a better job in maintaining highways, roads and bridges.

Despite a significant increase in concern about traffic in the Portland area, the great majority of Oregonians do not view traffic as a serious or critical problem.

However, controlling sprawl and developing mass transit were all rated lower than in recent years.

About education:

The percentage of Oregonians who believe the state is doing very well or somewhat well in K-12 education dropped from 64 percent in 2004 to 60 percent in 2006.

A slow but steady decline has occurred in perceptions of how Oregon is doing in undergraduate and graduate education at public four-year colleges and universities, falling from 85 percent in 2000 to 80 percent in 2006.

Community colleges remain a favorite with Oregonians, holding steady at an 88 percent overall approval rating.

About the environment:

Oregonians continue to feel that Oregon is doing a good job in preserving the state's resources and environment. Generally, environmental protection received the highest ratings from Oregonians, with provision of parks and open spaces the most highly rated of any service, with a 90 percent approval rating—about the same as in 2004.

Survey Background:

Every two years since 1990, a consortium of 17 state agencies has utilized the Oregon Population Survey to ask Oregonians a battery of questions that cover such topics as child care, employment, technology use, and many other facets of life in the state.

The result is an in-depth picture of the lives, families and jobs of Oregonians and the state's quality of life.

The 2006 Oregon Population Survey was conducted during the summer and fall of 2006. Approximately 4,500 household representatives were interviewed statewide. (Some questions were answered by a smaller number of respondents.)