NORTH
VALLEY – Curious as to where Arizona stands compared to
the rest of the United
States?
The
Taxpayers Network, a social‑welfare research organization
headquartered in Green Bay,
WI, recently released the “50 State Comparisons” for 2007
on subjects such as demographics, taxes, education, natural
resources, transportation, public safety and health. Washington,
D.C., is also included in some of the comparisons.
Arizona
ranks 16th in the country for population, with more than
6.1 million people estimated
to live here as of July 1, 2006. That is a 20.19 percent
increase since July 2000, according to the network, putting
Arizona second in the nation for population growth just
behind Nevada. However, other statistics indicated Arizona
has passed Nevada to become the nation’s fastest‑growing
state. Recent U.S. Census figures disclose Phoenix has
surpassed Philadelphia to now rank as the fifth most populous
American city.
The
network estimates the average house payment for an Arizonan,
using figures from 2005, is $1,194 a month, 28th in the
nation. The average monthly rental rate is $717, 19th
in the country.
Median
housing value is listed, using 2005 inflation‑adjusted
dollars, as $185,400, 20th in the nation. The median family
income, using the same dollar formula, is ranked 34th
in the country at $51,458. Arizona is estimated to have
14.2 percent of it’s population living below the poverty
level, 16th in the United States.
The
state’s tax rate is listed at 5.6 percent, with gasoline
taxed at 18 cents per gallon.
Arizona’s
per capita property tax is assessed at $848, according
to the guide, while the state and local tax burden takes
up a little more than 10 percent of the average resident’s
income.
The
average government employee in Arizona earns $45,894 a
year, 21st in the nation; and the average annual teacher
salary is $44,672, 25th in the national rankings.
Arizona
spent $5,585 per pupil during the 2005‑06 school
year with a student/teacher ratio of 21.5 for K‑12.
That ranked Arizona 50th in the nation, with only Utah
spending less‑$5,347. Washington, D.C., ranked first,
spending $15,864 per student.
The
average ACT score earned by an Arizona student was 21.6
for tests given in 2006 with 18 percent of students taking
the exam. Reading and math brought the highest scores,
with English scores coming in lowest at 20.9. That ranked
Arizona 21 in the nation. Connecticut came in first, with
Mississippi and Washington, D.C., coming in at the bottom.
The
guide states Arizonans paid an average of $1,072 in auto
insurance premiums in 2004, ranked 13th; and $642 in home
insurance premiums, ranked 29th.
