Census shows improvement in Americans' quality of life

The most detailed demographic snapshot in a decade describes a nation where nearly 1 in 5 Americans does not speak English at home, more than 2 million grandparents are raising their grandchildren, and the number of adults who work solely out of their homes has grown by one-third since 1990.

The statistics released by the US Census Bureau yesterday come from a national survey of 700,000 households. Because the survey asked questions similar to those on the 2000 census, it is viewed by demographers as the first look at the most detailed information that will be released next year.

Described broadly, the information portrays a nation in transformation, although the trends are sometimes contradictory. Quality of life is rising for many Americans. Yet 1 in 6 children lives in poverty, and a growing share of the population struggles with English.

Overall, Americans are better-housed and better-educated than they were 10 years ago. Fewer homes lack plumbing, telephones, or cars. Fewer are crowded. The number of households with three or more cars grew 20 percent. One in 4 Americans age 25 or older has a bachelor's degree, up from 1 in 5 a decade earlier.

The census figures also document a growing number of foreign-born Americans. The US gained more immigrants in the 1990s than in any previous decade.