The U.S. Census Bureau released its findings from the 2011 American Community Survey, which shows how Americans live by reporting information gathered from approximately 3.3 million addresses on topics such as languages spoken, select monthly homeowner costs, educational milestones, occupation and ancestry. 

Special reports highlight implications of the survey and compare the 2011 data with data from previous years, such as "Poverty: 2012 and 2011" and "Health Insurance Coverage of Young Adults Aged 19-25: 2008, 2009 and 2011." The survey includes statistics at state, city and smaller, local levels. Businesses use the information when expanding into new demographic or geographic areas. Towns and cities can use it to place new schools and firehouses. Findings from these special reports include: 

• Real median household income in the U.S. fell by 1.3 percent ($51,144 to $50,502) between 2010 and 2011. 
• The number and percentage of people in poverty increased in 17 states between 2010 and 2011. Ten of those states have seen three consecutive increases. 
• Median household incomes were lower than the U.S. median of $50,502 in 27 states and higher in 19 states and the District of Columbia. Median household incomes in North Dakota, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Pennsylvania did not have a statistically significant different from the U.S. as a whole. 
• Among metro areas with populations of at least 500,000, poverty rates ranged from a low of 8.3 percent to a high of 37.7 percent. 
• No states experienced a decline in the insured rate of young adults from 2009 to 2011, while 37 states and the District of Columbia had an increase in health insurance coverage. 

More special reports focused on significant survey areas will be released through the end of the year.