Children and Families
Children Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity

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Children Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity, 2016-20

What does this measure?

The number of children under 18 living below the federally defined poverty line, expressed as a percentage of all children under 18 within a racial and ethnic group. Poverty thresholds vary by family composition and year. In 2020, the threshold for a four-person family with two children was $26,246.

Why is this important?

Children raised in impoverished environments are at higher risk for a wide variety of health and social problems, including poor performance in school. Racial and ethnic disparities in child poverty rates stem from complex and interrelated reasons. Research suggests they include both historic and modern-day discrimination, as well as public policies that reinforce or do not address racial inequities in income, education, housing and other factors that are critical to economic mobility.

How is the region doing?

In 2016-20, poverty rates in MetroWest were substantially higher among Hispanic (24%) and African American (17%) children than among white (7%) and Asian (7%) children. Since 2000, the rate decreased among African American children by 2 percentage points, 7 points for Hispanic children and 6 points among Asian children, while the rate for white children increased by 1 point. Compared to Massachusetts, MetroWest's poverty rates were lower for all racial and ethnic groups, but especially among Hispanic children and African American children.

Racial and ethnic disparities existed across each of the region's counties. Poverty rates were highest in Worcester County for Hispanic children at 28%, compared to 22% in Middlesex. For African American children, the poverty rate was highest in Middlesex, at 21%. Sample sizes for individual communities in the region were too small to report reliably.

Why do these disparities exist?

Large and persistent disparities in poverty rates are the result of historic and current policies and practices that disadvantage people of color. Research has connected slavery and the inability of black Americans even after emancipation to fully participate in economic life to the wealth and income gaps still present today. Poverty crosses generations, resulting in high rates of child poverty rates. Factors include: living in a single-parent household, especially if the single parent is female; having parent(s) who are unemployed, employed and/or underemployed in low-wage jobs or incarcerated; and living in communities that have experienced disinvestment and have ineffective and/or under-resourced schools.

Notes about the data

Poverty status is not reported for people in institutions, including college dormitories and military barracks, and people in living situations without conventional housing. The Census Bureau asks people to identify their race (white, African American, etc.) separate from their ethnicity (Hispanic or non-Hispanic). So the totals for these categories cannot be added together, as people show up in both a racial and ethnic group.

The multiyear figures are from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey. The bureau combined 5 years of responses to the survey to provide estimates for smaller geographic areas and increase the precision of its estimates. However, because the information came from a survey, the samples responding to the survey were not always large enough to produce reliable results, especially in small geographic areas. CGR has noted on data tables the estimates with relatively large margins of error. Estimates with three asterisks have the largest margins, plus or minus 50% or more of the estimate. Two asterisks mean plus or minus 35%-50%, and one asterisk means plus or minus 20%-35%. For all estimates, the confidence level is 90%, meaning there is 90% probability the true value (if the whole population were surveyed) would be within the margin of error (or confidence interval). The survey provides data on characteristics of the population that used to be collected only during the decennial census. Data for this indicator are released annually in December.

Children Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity, 2016-20
AsianBlack or African AmericanHispanicWhite
United States11%32%25%14%
Massachusetts9%24%29%9%
Region7%17%24%7%
Middlesex County7%21%22%6%
Norfolk County6%*10%*15%*5%
Worcester County8%*15%28%10%
Acton town, Middlesex County0%***0%***5%***1%***
Ashland town, Middlesex County0%***0%***0%***6%***
Bedford town, Middlesex County8%***0%***0%***0%***
Bellingham town, Norfolk County0%***0%***0%***2%***
Boxborough town, Middlesex County3%***0%***0%***5%***
Carlisle town, Middlesex County0%***0%***0%***3%***
Concord town, Middlesex County12%***0%***0%***2%***
Dedham town, Norfolk County0%***15%***17%***5%***
Dover town, Norfolk County0%***0%***0%***0%***
Framingham city, Middlesex County0%***31%**23%*7%**
Franklin town, Norfolk County16%***0%***21%***2%***
Groton town, Middlesex County0%***0%***0%***1%***
Harvard town, Worcester County0%***0%***0%***2%***
Holliston town, Middlesex County0%***0%***0%***2%***
Hopkinton town, Middlesex County0%***7%***9%***4%***
Hudson town, Middlesex County0%***12%***11%***4%***
Lexington town, Middlesex County5%***0%***0%***1%***
Lincoln town, Middlesex County0%***0%***22%***12%***
Littleton town, Middlesex County10%***0%***0%***3%***
Marlborough city, Middlesex County1%***0%***18%***7%***
Maynard town, Middlesex County0%***0%***24%***5%***
Medfield town, Norfolk County0%***33%***0%***2%***
Medway town, Norfolk County0%***0%***0%***3%***
Milford town, Worcester County0%***0%***29%***14%***
Millis town, Norfolk County0%***0%***0%***1%***
Natick town, Middlesex County2%***34%***14%***1%***
Needham town, Norfolk County0%***0%***0%***1%***
Sherborn town, Middlesex County0%***0%***0%***13%***
Southborough town, Worcester County7%***0%***0%***0%***
Stow town, Middlesex County59%***0%***0%***0%***
Sudbury town, Middlesex County0%***0%***0%***4%***
Walpole town, Norfolk County0%***0%***0%***5%***
Waltham city, Middlesex County14%***3%***25%**6%**
Wayland town, Middlesex County0%***0%***0%***1%***
Wellesley town, Norfolk County0%***70%***20%***3%***
Westborough town, Worcester County5%***0%***11%***2%***
Westford town, Middlesex County0%***0%***2%***2%***
Weston town, Middlesex County21%***0%***0%***10%***
Westwood town, Norfolk County4%***0%***8%***2%***

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Notes: Multiyear results are from rolling American Community Survey. * Margin of error between 20% & 35% of estimate; ** margin of error between 35% & 50%; *** margin of error greater than 50%. The Census Bureau asks people to identify their race (white, African-American, etc.) separate from their ethnicity (Hispanic or non-Hispanic). So the totals for these categories cannot be added together, as people show up in both a racial and ethnic group.




Number of Children Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity, 2016-20
AsianBlack or African AmericanHispanicWhite
United States388,0573,169,8734,487,0186,345,279
Massachusetts7,84129,06571,14382,822
Region4,4527,05018,40829,716
Middlesex County2,7014,1518,27412,645
Norfolk County1,012*1,255*1,393*4,711
Worcester County739*1,6448,74112,360
Acton town, Middlesex County0***0***18***22***
Ashland town, Middlesex County0***0***0***148***
Bedford town, Middlesex County55***0***0***0***
Bellingham town, Norfolk County0***0***0***71***
Boxborough town, Middlesex County9***0***0***41***
Carlisle town, Middlesex County0***0***0***37***
Concord town, Middlesex County63***0***0***76***
Dedham town, Norfolk County0***60***130***181***
Dover town, Norfolk County0***0***0***0***
Framingham city, Middlesex County0***332**827*571**
Franklin town, Norfolk County101***0***36***142***
Groton town, Middlesex County0***0***0***16***
Harvard town, Worcester County0***0***0***22***
Holliston town, Middlesex County0***0***0***58***
Hopkinton town, Middlesex County2***2***19***148***
Hudson town, Middlesex County0***3***53***152***
Lexington town, Middlesex County182***0***0***46***
Lincoln town, Middlesex County0***0***112***161***
Littleton town, Middlesex County22***0***0***51***
Marlborough city, Middlesex County3***0***264***360***
Maynard town, Middlesex County0***0***33***100***
Medfield town, Norfolk County0***26***0***83***
Medway town, Norfolk County0***0***0***96***
Milford town, Worcester County0***0***384***593***
Millis town, Norfolk County0***0***0***9***
Natick town, Middlesex County25***77***62***51***
Needham town, Norfolk County0***0***0***39***
Sherborn town, Middlesex County0***0***0***121***
Southborough town, Worcester County39***0***0***0***
Stow town, Middlesex County110***0***0***0***
Sudbury town, Middlesex County0***0***0***164***
Walpole town, Norfolk County0***0***0***298***
Waltham city, Middlesex County74***32***685**284**
Wayland town, Middlesex County0***0***0***22***
Wellesley town, Norfolk County0***149***64***184***
Westborough town, Worcester County70***0***61***58***
Westford town, Middlesex County7***0***6***67***
Weston town, Middlesex County92***0***0***223***
Westwood town, Norfolk County12***0***21***75***

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Notes: Multiyear results are from rolling American Community Survey. * Margin of error between 20% & 35% of estimate; ** margin of error between 35% & 50%; *** margin of error greater than 50%. The Census Bureau asks people to identify their race (white, African-American, etc.) separate from their ethnicity (Hispanic or non-Hispanic). So the totals for these categories cannot be added together, as people show up in both a racial and ethnic group.




Children Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity, 2000
AsianBlack or African AmericanHispanicWhite
United States14%33%28%11%
Massachusetts18%27%37%8%
Region13%19%31%6%
Middlesex County13%17%26%6%
Norfolk County9%8%11%4%
Worcester County20%31%39%9%
Acton town, Middlesex County3%0%0%2%
Ashland town, Middlesex County0%0%0%2%
Bedford town, Middlesex County0%0%0%4%
Bellingham town, Norfolk County0%22%0%2%
Boxborough town, Middlesex County0%0%0%4%
Carlisle town, Middlesex County0%0%0%3%
Concord town, Middlesex County5%0%0%4%
Dedham town, Norfolk County0%0%23%4%
Dover town, Norfolk County0%0%0%3%
Framingham city, Middlesex County6%27%23%10%
Groton town, Middlesex County0%0%0%4%
Harvard town, Worcester County0%0%0%0%
Holliston town, Middlesex County0%0%13%2%
Hopkinton town, Middlesex County0%0%0%2%
Hudson town, Middlesex County0%0%23%3%
Lexington town, Middlesex County2%4%6%4%
Lincoln town, Middlesex County0%0%0%0%
Littleton town, Middlesex County0%0%0%2%
Marlborough city, Middlesex County14%11%22%8%
Maynard town, Middlesex County0%0%11%6%
Medfield town, Norfolk County0%24%0%1%
Medway town, Norfolk County0%0%0%2%
Milford town, Worcester County0%33%23%8%
Millis town, Norfolk County0%11%18%3%
Natick town, Middlesex County3%13%0%2%
Needham town, Norfolk County0%0%0%1%
Sherborn town, Middlesex County0%0%0%2%
Southborough town, Worcester County0%0%0%1%
Stow town, Middlesex County0%0%0%2%
Sudbury town, Middlesex County4%0%28%3%
Walpole town, Norfolk County29%0%10%2%
Waltham city, Middlesex County4%4%18%4%
Wayland town, Middlesex County0%0%0%2%
Wellesley town, Norfolk County0%44%22%4%
Westborough town, Worcester County5%13%9%4%
Westford town, Middlesex County0%0%0%3%
Weston town, Middlesex County10%0%24%1%
Westwood town, Norfolk County4%0%0%2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Notes: Multiyear results are from rolling American Community Survey. * Margin of error between 20% & 35% of estimate; ** margin of error between 35% & 50%; *** margin of error greater than 50%. The Census Bureau asks people to identify their race (white, African-American, etc.) separate from their ethnicity (Hispanic or non-Hispanic). So the totals for these categories cannot be added together, as people show up in both a racial and ethnic group.




Number of Children Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity, 2000
AsianBlack or African AmericanHispanicWhite
United States343,7253,467,9003,339,1705,469,560
Massachusetts10,28728,13656,20993,438
Region4,9134,68713,15633,946
Middlesex County2,9242,2175,16714,852
Norfolk County7954773365,029
Worcester County1,1941,9937,65314,065
Acton town, Middlesex County1500125
Ashland town, Middlesex County00061
Bedford town, Middlesex County000102
Bellingham town, Norfolk County07097
Boxborough town, Middlesex County00056
Carlisle town, Middlesex County00037
Concord town, Middlesex County800160
Dedham town, Norfolk County0041198
Dover town, Norfolk County00048
Framingham city, Middlesex County382495581,065
Groton town, Middlesex County000127
Harvard town, Worcester County0007
Holliston town, Middlesex County001284
Hopkinton town, Middlesex County00069
Hudson town, Middlesex County0039138
Lexington town, Middlesex County2055241
Lincoln town, Middlesex County0005
Littleton town, Middlesex County00042
Marlborough city, Middlesex County5718162575
Maynard town, Middlesex County0013138
Medfield town, Norfolk County07040
Medway town, Norfolk County00067
Milford town, Worcester County03399483
Millis town, Norfolk County061253
Natick town, Middlesex County1070158
Needham town, Norfolk County000100
Sherborn town, Middlesex County00032
Southborough town, Worcester County00019
Stow town, Middlesex County00026
Sudbury town, Middlesex County8032147
Walpole town, Norfolk County12010115
Waltham city, Middlesex County2922250271
Wayland town, Middlesex County00068
Wellesley town, Norfolk County02452243
Westborough town, Worcester County22621164
Westford town, Middlesex County000160
Weston town, Middlesex County2801838
Westwood town, Norfolk County60059

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Notes: Multiyear results are from rolling American Community Survey. * Margin of error between 20% & 35% of estimate; ** margin of error between 35% & 50%; *** margin of error greater than 50%. The Census Bureau asks people to identify their race (white, African-American, etc.) separate from their ethnicity (Hispanic or non-Hispanic). So the totals for these categories cannot be added together, as people show up in both a racial and ethnic group.




INDICATORS REGIONAL TREND
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Children Living in Poverty Maintaining
Children Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families Increasing
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Disengaged Youth Decreasing
Reports of Domestic Violence Maintaining
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Establishments Increasing
Households Without Vehicles Maintaining
Means of Transportation to Work Not Applicable
Households With Internet Access Not Applicable
Voter Participation Rate Increasing
Average Charitable Contribution Maintaining
People Without Health Insurance Decreasing
Drug Poisoning Mortality Rate Increasing
Crimes Against People Decreasing
Incarceration Rates, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Change in Total Population Increasing
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Foreign-Born Population Increasing
Language Diversity Increasing
Population by Age Not Applicable
Change in Population by Age/Gender Not Applicable
Seniors Living Alone Decreasing
People with Disabilities Maintaining
Change in Total Jobs by Sector Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate Increasing
Business Ownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Share of Workers who are Professionals, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Average Salary by Sector Not Applicable
High-Tech Jobs Maintaining
Female to Male Earnings Ratio Maintaining
Prekindergarten Participation Not Applicable
School Spending Per Student Maintaining
Student Performance on Grade 3 English, by Student Group Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group Not Applicable
Chronically Absent Students Increasing
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
College Admission Rate, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty Increasing
People Living in Poverty, by Education Level Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Households Receiving Temporary Assistance Maintaining
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income Maintaining
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Living Wage Not Applicable
80/20 Income Ratio Maintaining
Access to Financial Services, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeownership Rates Increasing
Homeownership Rates, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Homeownership Increasing
Cost of Homeownership, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Rent Not Applicable
Cost of Rent, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homelessness Increasing
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Children Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Incarceration Rates, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Business Ownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Share of Workers who are Professionals, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 3 English, by Student Group Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group Not Applicable
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
College Admission Rate, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Access to Financial Services, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeownership Rates, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Homeownership, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Rent, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable


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