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Health & Fitness

Census 2010

Brookfield's 2010 census numbers are in! What do they tell us?

Some of the United States Census data gathered in 2010 has been released. You can see more numbers than you care to look at on the official census site, http://www.census.gov/

The census is mandated by the U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 2. It calls for the count to be made every 10 years for the purpose of apportioning members of the House of Representatives (congressmen) and by implication other elected officials. Brookfield will be adjusting its voting wards and aldermanic districts in time for the spring 2012 elections.

Since its start, the census has greatly expanded its scope and complexity. It is a tool to determine general trends in the U.S. population so that government can create appropriate policies. The census now gathers data on race, age, gender, income, housing, occupation and many other characteristics of American life. Most of that detailed data will not be available for months or even years. In addition, the federal census bureau conducts a mini-census every year for various special demographic measurements.

Find out what's happening in Brookfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Let’s look at some data on Brookfield. There was an article on Patch “” Look at the graph attached to this entry. Here are my observations and interpretations:

  • Lots of young kids! About 7,000 (18%) residents are age 15 or
    younger. 
  • A big drop around age 20. Kids go away to school. Don’t expect much of a young adult tavern neighborhood.
  • People start moving back around age 30. They have finished school and
    saved enough money to buy a house here. Since the average house costs over $300,000, they must be in professions that pay well early on. They probably have a family ready to start school.
  • The middle age groups are most of the residents. They are the parents
    of all those kids.
  • Around age 60 the population starts to drop. The kids have moved
    away and the empty nesters don’t need that big house anymore.
  • The slow decline past age 70 implies you’ve chosen to retire here and won’t be leaving soon.

All those young people mean Brookfield is a family oriented community that needs schools, parks, playgrounds, etc.

Find out what's happening in Brookfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

So, if all those empty nesters are selling their homes, who’s buying them? It must be those 30-somethings with kids! People in the older age groups who say they shouldn’t be paying school taxes because they don’t have kids in school don’t understand this point. High quality schools attract young families who provide home sale liquidity.

If you’ve chosen to live out your life in the city you’ve long lived in, where do you go when you can no longer maintain your house? People who say the city needs no apartments or condominiums don’t get this point. That type of housing allows our long time residents to stay around. It also means the city’s Senior Center keeps busy.

Next: Some census comparisons between the city and town of Brookfield.

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