Financial Security
People Living in Poverty

Maintaining


People Living in Poverty

What does this measure?

People with incomes below the poverty line, as a percentage of those for whom poverty status has been determined. Poverty thresholds vary by family composition and year. In 2022, the threshold for a four-person family with two children was $29,678.

Why is this important?

The percentage of people living in poverty is a measure of the overall economic health of a region. It also indicates the level of need for social and government supports within the community.

How is our region doing?

In 2018-22, 8% of MetroWest residents were living in poverty, on par with 2008-12. Of the three regional counties, Worcester had the highest rate, at 10%, followed by Middlesex at 7% and Norfolk at 6%. Among cities, Framingham had the highest rate, at 10%, with nearly 7,200 residents below the poverty line. Waltham was second highest, at 9%, nearly 5,200 residents.

Notes about the data

The multi-year figures are from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey. The bureau combined five years of responses to the survey to provide estimates for smaller geographic areas and increase the precision of its estimates. The survey provides data on characteristics of the population that used to be collected only during the decennial census. Poverty status is not reported for people in institutions, including college dormitories and military barracks, and people in living situations without conventional housing. Data for this indicator are expected to be released in the fourth quarter.

People Living in Poverty
2008-122013-172018-22
United States15%15%13%
Massachusetts11%11%10%
Region8%9%8%
Middlesex County8%8%7%
Norfolk County6%7%6%
Worcester County10%11%10%
Acton town, Middlesex County3%**4%*3%**
Ashland town, Middlesex County4%**3%**4%**
Bedford town, Middlesex County5%***3%**5%*
Bellingham town, Norfolk County3%**4%**5%**
Boxborough town, Middlesex County3%***5%***4%***
Carlisle town, Middlesex County6%***2%***4%***
Concord town, Middlesex County5%**6%*2%**
Dedham town, Norfolk County5%*5%*4%*
Dover town, Norfolk County1%***1%***2%***
Framingham city, Middlesex County10%12%10%
Franklin town, Norfolk County4%*4%*5%*
Groton town, Middlesex County3%***4%**5%**
Harvard town, Worcester County6%***5%***4%**
Holliston town, Middlesex County4%***1%**3%**
Hopkinton town, Middlesex County2%**2%**4%**
Hudson town, Middlesex County6%*6%*6%*
Lexington town, Middlesex County4%*4%*4%*
Lincoln town, Middlesex County4%***3%***5%***
Littleton town, Middlesex County4%***4%**7%**
Marlborough city, Middlesex County7%*6%*9%*
Maynard town, Middlesex County4%**8%***8%**
Medfield town, Norfolk County4%**2%**3%**
Medway town, Norfolk County2%**5%**4%**
Milford town, Worcester County10%*8%*9%*
Millis town, Norfolk County4%***4%***4%***
Natick town, Middlesex County4%*4%*5%*
Needham town, Norfolk County4%*3%*3%**
Sherborn town, Middlesex County2%***4%***2%***
Southborough town, Worcester County2%***5%*3%***
Stow town, Middlesex County2%***4%***4%***
Sudbury town, Middlesex County1%**3%***1%***
Walpole town, Norfolk County4%**3%**5%**
Waltham city, Middlesex County11%10%9%
Wayland town, Middlesex County3%**3%**4%**
Wellesley town, Norfolk County3%**4%*4%*
Westborough town, Worcester County3%***5%*5%*
Westford town, Middlesex County2%**2%*2%**
Weston town, Middlesex County3%**5%**5%**
Westwood town, Norfolk County3%**2%***5%***

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%.




Number of People Living in Poverty
2008-122013-172018-22
United States44,852,52745,650,34540,521,584
Massachusetts698,286727,546672,361
Region237,449257,628245,961
Middlesex County115,308125,491117,050
Norfolk County42,25844,27945,607
Worcester County79,88387,85883,304
Acton town, Middlesex County631**893*622**
Ashland town, Middlesex County723**555**770**
Bedford town, Middlesex County666***348**639*
Bellingham town, Norfolk County520**701**867**
Boxborough town, Middlesex County163***295***220***
Carlisle town, Middlesex County293***83***195***
Concord town, Middlesex County740**1,088*423**
Dedham town, Norfolk County1,183*1,221*994*
Dover town, Norfolk County79***45***95***
Framingham city, Middlesex County6,2237,8657,154
Franklin town, Norfolk County1,104*1,380*1,462*
Groton town, Middlesex County338***483**501**
Harvard town, Worcester County344***286***252**
Holliston town, Middlesex County589***209**452**
Hopkinton town, Middlesex County326**250**799**
Hudson town, Middlesex County1,187*1,174*1,098*
Lexington town, Middlesex County1,237*1,198*1,412*
Lincoln town, Middlesex County256***183***354***
Littleton town, Middlesex County372***370**691**
Marlborough city, Middlesex County2,860*2,553*3,605*
Maynard town, Middlesex County413**848***875**
Medfield town, Norfolk County472**274**417**
Medway town, Norfolk County298**689**555**
Milford town, Worcester County2,814*2,244*2,750*
Millis town, Norfolk County290***357***359***
Natick town, Middlesex County1,354*1,271*1,655*
Needham town, Norfolk County1,176*872*859**
Sherborn town, Middlesex County102***179***106***
Southborough town, Worcester County165***453*336***
Stow town, Middlesex County136***310***305***
Sudbury town, Middlesex County251**576***278***
Walpole town, Norfolk County970**696**1,188**
Waltham city, Middlesex County5,8715,4565,175
Wayland town, Middlesex County348**414**546**
Wellesley town, Norfolk County803**1,075*1,045*
Westborough town, Worcester County562***942*960*
Westford town, Middlesex County358**552*416**
Weston town, Middlesex County297**575**598**
Westwood town, Norfolk County476**289***803***

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%.




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 Increasing
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Establishments Increasing
Households Without Vehicles Maintaining
Means of Transportation to Work Not Applicable
Households With Internet Access Increasing
Voter Participation Rate Decreasing
Average Charitable Contribution Maintaining
People Without Health Insurance Decreasing
Opioid Overdose 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
Business Ownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate Maintaining
Share of Workers who are Professionals, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Average Salary by Sector Not Applicable
High-Tech Jobs Decreasing
Female to Male Earnings Ratio Maintaining
Prekindergarten Participation Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 3 English, by Student Group Not Applicable
School Spending Per Student Maintaining
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
College Admission Rate, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty Maintaining
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 Maintaining
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
Share of Workers who are Professionals, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate 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
College Admission Rate, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults, 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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