How Charitable Are Holmdel and Hazlet Residents?

Statistically speaking, Holmdel and Hazlet residents are pretty generous. But on average, township residents gave away less of their income to charity than their counterparts across the county, state and nation.

Holmdel Township is ranked 1,326 out of 28,725 American towns studied as part of an analysis released Monday by The Chronicle of Philanthropy. Hazlet placed 4,926. Both towns gave away about the same percentage of their disposable income.

The data, analyzed from figures in 2008, showed Holmdel residents donated $22 million to charitable causes, with the median family donating 3 percent of their disposable income of $141,207. The average family donated $4,200

In Hazlet, residents gave away $8.1 million to charity, with the median family donating 3.1 percent of their disposable income of $61,522. The average family donated $1,927.

But despite the relatively high dollar figure compared to cross-country averages, Holmdel and Hazlet residents donated a bit less percentage-wise than the Monmouth County average of 4.2 percent, the New Jersey state average of 3.7 percent, or the US average, 4.7 percent.

Overall, as residents' income levels increased, the percentage of that income that was given away decreased. The most charitable individuals and families were those making between $50,000 and $99,999. In Holmdel, those households donated 8.6 percent of their income to charity, and in Hazlet, they donated an average of 4.5 percent.

Those making between $100,000 to $199,999 gave away 3.7 percent in Holmdel, and 2.7 percent in Hazlet.

And those making $200,000 in Holmdel donated 2.4 percent. In Hazlet, they donated 2.8 percent.

The 45-64 age group donated the most. 

The study was based on Internal Revenue Service records of Americans who itemized deductions in 2008.

In taking a broad look, the study found that Utah residents gave 10.6 percent of their disposable income away to charitable causes, the most in the nation; the Upper East Side of Manhattan's 10021 donated the highest dollar amount of any zip code; and New Hampshire residents were the most tight-fisted, giving away only 2.5 percent of discretionary income. 

More on the study can be found at the Journal of Philanthropy's "How America Gives" website.