About 8.6 percent of Freeborn County residents live below the poverty line, according to data released this week by the U.S. Census Bureau.

This is lower than national average. The Census Bureau states that about 13.5 percent of the nation is living below the poverty line, according to data from a new five-year survey called the American Community Survey, collected from 2005-09.

The county percentage is also lower than state averages, where 10 percent of residents live below the line, the data states.

Federal poverty guidelines show a one-person family unit is in poverty if they make $10,830 or less. The poverty line is raised about $4,500 or so for every person added to a family unit.

According to the data, about 4.7 percent of all families in Freeborn County were below the line.

Twenty-one percent of families with a female householder — where no husband is present — were below the level, and nearly 50 percent of families with only a mother and children under 5 years of age were below the level.

For married couple families, 2.9 percent were below the poverty level.

The data also stated the average household income was almost $55,000 in the county, with 13 percent of households making less than $15,000, 13 percent making $15,000 to $24,999, 14 percent making $25,000 to $34,999, 16 percent making $35,000 to $49,000, 23 percent making $50,000 to $74,999, 11 percent making $75,000 to $99,999, and 9 percent making $100,000 or more.

The median household income was listed at just over $44,000.

The average household income was almost $55,000.

Out of the 25,300 people in the county who are 16 years and older, 66 percent are eligible to work.

Poverty level rates

• Freeborn County: 8.6 percent

• Mower County: 13.5 percent

• Steele County: 6.1 percent

• Faribault County: 13.5 percent

• Blue Earth County: 18.8 percent

• Waseca County: 7.4 percent

• Worth County: 8.8 percent

• Winnebago County: 10.3 percent