Politico's Kraushaar a bit off in trying to capture Michael Capuano's district

Here's the article Politico has up this morning on Massachusetts pols who may run for Kennedy's seat. The piece, by Josh Kraushaar, who tracks congressional races around the country, is mostly straightforward. But in assessing Rep. Michael Capuano, of the 8th congressional district, he serves up this:

Capuano, who represents a district that contains the affluent Boston suburbs of Cambridge and Somerville, would be an attractive candidate to the state’s academic and high-tech communities.

What he doesn't mention is that the district includes huge swaths of Dorchester, Roxbury and Mattapan, Boston neighborhoods that have significant poor populations. Oh, and the city of Chelsea, too. As for Cambridge and Somerville, the former, and to a lesser extent the latter, have many affluent people. But describing the cities as "affluent"? That's a stretch, particularly for Somerville.

Here are the stats, based on 2000 census data:

Someville:

The median household income in the community at the time of the last survey was $46,315. The median household income in the U.S. was $41,994.

In the last complete census survey, the median family income in the community was $51,243. Median family income in the U.S. was 50,046.

Per capita income in Somerville in the last full census was 23,628. Per capita income in the U.S. was 21,587.

According to the most recent survey, families living below the poverty line in Somerville numbered 1,254, or 8.4 percent of the population. The percentage of families in America living below the poverty line was 9.20%.

Individuals living below the poverty line in the community was 9,395, or 12.5 percent. The percentage of individuals living beneath the poverty level in the country was 12.40%.

Cambridge:

The median household income in the community at the time of the last survey was $47,979. The median household income in the U.S. was $41,994.

In the last complete census survey, the median family income in the community was $59,423. Median family income in the U.S. was 50,046.

Per capita income in Cambridge in the last full census was 31,156. Per capita income in the U.S. was 21,587.

According to the most recent survey, families living below the poverty line in Cambridge numbered 1,562, or 8.7 percent of the population. The percentage of families in America living below the poverty line was 9.20%.

Individuals living below the poverty line in the community was 11,295, or 12.9 percent . The percentage of individuals living beneath the poverty level in the country was 12.40%.

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I should mention that in the last decade Cambridge and Somerville have probably gotten more affluent. But still, we're talking cities that are not that far above the national medians, especially for Somerville.

The notion that affluent voters in Massachusetts are more likely to support, say, Capuano than Lynch is probably correct. But it's not because Capuano has a particularly affluent district; he doesn't. And it's also important to remember that while many affluent people in Massachusetts are liberal, many aren't.

One last point: going back to the 1998 primary election, Capuano was hardly the candidate of the affluent. Perhaps the opposite, in fact. For a bit of the history of that race, see Stuart Rothernberg's piece from the time.

Politico should be a bit more careful in categorizing a district too much based on spotting the People's Republic on the map.

Update 8/30: I forgot one more point. Cambridge and Somerville are not "suburbs."