Pennsylvanians have less income than the rest of the country, but they're more likely to have health insurance and less likely to be living in poverty.

Those were among the mixed findings in annual reports released today by the U.S. Census Bureau, covering such areas as household income, poverty and insurance coverage.

Using a three-year average from 2004-2006, 10.2 percent of Pennsylvanians were without health insurance compared to a rate of 15.3 percent for all Americans. Nationally, the number of people without health insurance coverage rose from 44.8 million in 2005 to 47 million in 2006, according to the Census Bureau's Current Population Survey.

A different government survey examining the poverty rate found Pennsylvania and all counties in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area except Fayette to be beneath the national average. The American Community Survey listed the U.S. poverty rate at 13.3 percent, Pennsylvania's at 12.1 percent, and the following rates for area counties: Armstrong, 11.8; Allegheny, 12.5; Beaver, 10.5; Butler, 7.9; Fayette, 19.7; Washington, 10.0; and Westmoreland, 9.2.

Household median income figures from the ACS told a different story, with all local areas except Butler County beneath the national average. The survey cited a U.S. median income figure of $48,451, a Pennsylvania median of $46,259, and the following for area counties: Armstrong, $36,701; Allegheny, $43,691; Beaver, $42,023; Butler, $52,943; Fayette, $31,637; Washington, $45,789; and Westmoreland, $43,617.

The Census Bureau uses the Current Population Survey as its official source for national poverty and income data, although that survey does not provide local comparisons. The official poverty rate fell from 12.6 percent in 2005 to 12.3 percent in 2006, and median household income adjusted for inflation rose from $47,845 to $48,201.

First Published: August 28, 2007, 5:00 p.m.