Financial Self-Sufficiency
Income in Relation to Poverty Level, 2017-21


Income in Relation to Poverty Level, 2017-21

What does this measure?

The share of residents with incomes below the poverty level, and at various proportions of the poverty level (below half, double the poverty level, etc.). Poverty thresholds vary by family composition and year. In 2021, the threshold for a four-person family with two children was $27,479.

Why is this important?

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

How is our county doing?

In 2017-21, 9% of residents had incomes below the poverty level, including 4% with incomes less than half of the poverty level. These individuals are considered to live in extreme poverty. Another 13% of county residents had incomes between 100% and 199% of the poverty level, 12% had incomes between 200% and 299% of poverty, and 65% had incomes above that level. This was essentially unchanged since 2012-16. That distribution of incomes was very similar to the state and better than the nation, where 13% of residents were below the poverty line, 17% between 100% and 199%, 16% between 200% and 299%, and 55% above that level.

The cities of Lawrence and Lynn had the highest percentages of residents living below the poverty level at 19% and 14%, respectively, including 6% and 7% of residents in extreme poverty. Since 2012-16, poverty decreased 8 percentage points in Lawrence and 6 points in Lynn.

How do we compare to similar counties?

Though Essex County had the highest percentage of residents with incomes under the poverty level in 2017-21, at 9%, the comparison counties were all very similar, with Middlesex, MA, Lake, IL, and Westchester, NY at 8%. There were slightly higher proportions of residents at the upper end - at or above the 300% of poverty - in Middlesex (74%) and Westchester (71%), while Lake (68%) was fairly similar to Essex.

Notes about the data

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 3 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 expected to be released annually in December.

Income in Relation to Poverty Level, 2017-21
Under 50%50% to 99%100% to 199%200% to 299%300% or Higher
Essex County, MA4%5%13%12%65%
Amesbury3%****3%****11%10%**73%
Beverly4%**6%**10%10%70%
Gloucester5%**5%**11%15%65%
Haverhill6%5%16%15%59%
Lawrence6%13%28%19%34%
Lynn7%7%19%18%48%
Methuen5%5%13%13%65%
Newburyport2%****4%****6%**4%**83%
Peabody4%**4%10%13%69%
Salem5%**10%14%13%59%
Andover2%**1%****5%**6%86%
Boxford0%******1%******4%******4%******91%
Danvers3%**3%****7%**12%75%
Essex1%******8%******10%****7%******74%
Georgetown2%******2%******3%******11%**82%
Groveland1%******1%******4%******7%****87%
Hamilton4%****3%****5%****12%**76%
Ipswich5%**2%****7%**7%**79%
Lynnfield2%****1%******7%****7%**83%
Manchester1%******2%******3%******4%******90%
Marblehead1%******2%****6%**7%**84%
Merrimac7%******0%******8%****12%**72%
Middleton1%******2%******6%****4%****87%
Nahant2%******2%******9%******5%******82%
Newbury5%******1%******3%******8%******82%
North Andover3%**4%**6%**6%**81%
Rockport4%****3%******7%****10%****77%
Rowley3%******0%******5%******8%****84%
Salisbury3%****2%******8%**18%**68%
Saugus3%**5%**10%**13%70%
Swampscott1%******4%******8%****8%**80%
Topsfield0%******5%******4%******5%******85%
Wenham3%******1%******3%******6%****87%
West Newbury2%******2%******4%******8%**84%
Middlesex County, MA4%4%9%10%74%
Lake County, IL4%4%12%13%68%
Westchester County, NY4%4%11%10%71%
Massachusetts5%5%12%12%67%
United States6%7%17%16%55%

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 by Income to Poverty Level, 2017-21
Under 50%50% to 99%100% to 199%200% to 299%300% or Higher
Essex County, MA34,64543,04499,55297,822512,897
Amesbury446****545****1,9171,705**12,449
Beverly1,611**2,275**3,7434,04127,234
Gloucester1,409**1,335**3,2544,34719,269
Haverhill3,7813,34410,4189,70138,868
Lawrence5,43511,19024,33616,58829,005
Lynn7,4387,43018,90417,63548,091
Methuen2,5582,4876,5896,57233,905
Newburyport355****691****1,150**802**15,050
Peabody2,028**2,2925,4597,10936,747
Salem2,193**4,1895,9975,39725,131
Andover785**452****1,722**2,10029,927
Boxford22******42******334******319******7,471
Danvers761**839****1,821**3,41720,626
Essex52******276******349****267******2,666
Georgetown155******156******275******958**6,908
Groveland99******86******248******449****5,857
Hamilton310****239****387****860**5,642
Ipswich733**238****991**946**10,760
Lynnfield237****188******862****843**10,744
Manchester46******90******165******216******4,865
Marblehead198******367****1,302**1,406**17,017
Merrimac491******29******555****789**4,773
Middleton112******206******478****338****7,420
Nahant64******68******293******178******2,707
Newbury338******85******228******568******5,495
North Andover951**1,186**1,799**1,768**23,848
Rockport245****215******474****677****5,341
Rowley185******1******287******495****5,122
Salisbury276****218******739**1,660**6,234
Saugus873**1,320**2,777**3,63419,637
Swampscott223******524******1,159****1,148**11,851
Topsfield17******328******289******317******5,476
Wenham111******40******86******202****2,988
West Newbury107******73******165******370**3,773
Middlesex County, MA56,02060,490134,484149,6931,167,442
Lake County, IL24,76427,88786,25487,169470,622
Westchester County, NY39,10841,061102,72196,813697,346
Massachusetts317,136351,644780,714796,5334,510,190
United States18,597,26922,064,36753,379,51951,219,485176,637,063

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%.




Income in Relation to Poverty Level, 2012-16
Under 50%50% to 99%100% to 199%200% to 299%300% or Higher
Essex County, MA5%6%14%14%62%
Amesbury2%****4%**9%14%71%
Beverly4%**4%12%13%67%
Gloucester3%**5%17%14%61%
Haverhill6%7%16%15%55%
Lawrence11%16%29%18%27%
Lynn9%11%18%19%43%
Methuen4%**7%13%15%61%
Newburyport5%****3%****10%7%76%
Peabody3%5%15%13%64%
Salem6%9%14%14%57%
Andover2%**2%**4%**7%85%
Boxford0%******2%******4%******7%**87%
Danvers3%**2%**10%14%71%
Essex3%******2%******5%******9%**80%
Georgetown0%******2%******5%****9%**84%
Groveland1%******0%******10%****17%**72%
Hamilton6%****3%****5%****11%**74%
Ipswich3%****4%****10%12%71%
Lynnfield1%******0%******5%****7%**86%
Manchester4%******4%******8%******15%**69%
Marblehead3%**3%**5%**9%80%
Merrimac2%******4%******14%**15%**65%
Middleton2%******2%******6%******11%**79%
Nahant2%******2%******11%****8%**77%
Newbury1%******4%******6%****14%****76%
North Andover3%**3%**5%**10%80%
Rockport3%****2%******14%**13%**68%
Rowley2%******3%******5%******11%**80%
Salisbury6%****5%**13%**12%**64%
Saugus3%**5%**10%12%71%
Swampscott4%****2%****6%**9%**79%
Topsfield0%******1%******5%******6%****87%
Wenham1%******2%******8%******12%**78%
West Newbury3%******2%******1%******10%**84%
Middlesex County, MA4%4%10%11%71%
Lake County, IL4%5%14%14%63%
Westchester County, NY4%5%12%11%67%
Massachusetts5%6%13%13%63%
United States7%8%18%17%50%

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 by Income to Poverty Level, 2012-16
Under 50%50% to 99%100% to 199%200% to 299%300% or Higher
Essex County, MA36,90747,850102,158101,932464,082
Amesbury337****605**1,5202,39412,002
Beverly1,387**1,5594,6834,79325,663
Gloucester961**1,4414,9414,18217,774
Haverhill3,7784,07710,0929,31533,959
Lawrence8,33612,35322,80613,93220,939
Lynn8,30210,02816,91417,02839,224
Methuen1,823**3,1736,5287,41029,737
Newburyport842****525****1,6841,21213,270
Peabody1,5892,6387,5276,94533,071
Salem2,4043,8235,7865,73423,163
Andover652**842**1,327**2,22028,641
Boxford0******171******333******537**7,157
Danvers760**661**2,6483,64119,211
Essex123******82******190******329**2,908
Georgetown24******151******394****772**7,163
Groveland97******14******664****1,123**4,783
Hamilton480****256****411****916**5,910
Ipswich417****548****1,3791,6579,580
Lynnfield158******59******622****902**10,715
Manchester216******195******421******808**3,679
Marblehead643**520**1,095**1,83816,146
Merrimac109******262******965**1,005**4,330
Middleton178******171******468******905**6,344
Nahant74******70******362****281**2,631
Newbury49******285******415****925****5,163
North Andover722**824**1,396**2,75322,885
Rockport216****152******980**893**4,857
Rowley140******152******274******639**4,810
Salisbury496****415**1,157**1,099**5,660
Saugus890**1,272**2,6603,25919,454
Swampscott509****331****859**1,210**11,185
Topsfield22******65******327******393****5,506
Wenham33******62******280******431**2,789
West Newbury140******68******50******451**3,773
Middlesex County, MA60,59364,059154,764162,0271,070,060
Lake County, IL26,71433,95095,09196,322433,276
Westchester County, NY41,96750,633114,183107,284631,691
Massachusetts345,195395,641842,432844,7704,077,991
United States20,787,16226,145,06357,457,97351,454,243154,785,204

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 TREND | ESSEX COUNTY
People 65 or Older Living Alone Decreasing
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Prevalence of Overweight Adults Not Applicable
Preterm Births Increasing
Infant Mortality Rate Maintaining
Children with Elevated Blood Lead Levels Decreasing
Children Living in Poverty Increasing
Children Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Disengaged Youth Maintaining
Live Births to Teen Mothers Decreasing
Youth Arrests Decreasing
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Establishments Maintaining
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Employment Maintaining
Tourism Spending Increasing
Voter Participation Rate Increasing
Charitable Contributions Maintaining
Protected Land Not Applicable
Days with Good Air Quality Increasing
Beach Contamination Increasing
Daily Water Use per Resident Decreasing
Crimes Against People Maintaining
Crimes Against Property Decreasing
Drug-Related Arrests Maintaining
Reports of Domestic Violence Increasing
Incarceration Rates Decreasing
Recidivism Decreasing
Households Without Vehicles Decreasing
Means of Transportation to Work Not Applicable
Traffic Injuries and Fatalities Maintaining
Households With Internet Access Not Applicable
Change in Total Population Increasing
Change in Population by Age/Sex Not Applicable
People with Disabilities Maintaining
Households by Type Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Sex Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Foreign-Born Population Increasing
Language Diversity Increasing
Change in Total Jobs Increasing
Change in Jobs by Sector Not Applicable
Change in Average Salary Increasing
Change in Average Salary by Sector Not Applicable
Average Salary by Sector Not Applicable
Median Earnings by Occupation by Gender Not Applicable
People Entering/Leaving County for Work Not Applicable
Employer Size Not Applicable
Self-Employment Revenue Increasing
Business Ownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate Increasing
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Prekindergarten Participation Not Applicable
Female Enrollment in School Not Applicable
Chronically Absent Students Increasing
Per-Student Spending Increasing
Bullying Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 3 Reading Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 English Language Arts Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 Math Not Applicable
High School Cohort Graduation Rate Increasing
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults Not Applicable
Bachelor's Degree or Higher by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Income in Relation to Poverty Level Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income Increasing
Median Household Income by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income by Household Type Not Applicable
Living Wage Rate by Household Type Not Applicable
Access to Financial Services, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Households Receiving Temporary Assistance Increasing
Households Receiving Federal Food Assistance Increasing
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Earned Income Tax Credit Participation Decreasing
Economically Disadvantaged Students Increasing
Median Home Value Increasing
Cost of Homeownership Increasing
Cost of Renting Increasing
Homeownership Rates Maintaining
Homeownership Rates by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeless Persons Maintaining
People Without Health Insurance Decreasing
Medical Care Expenses Increasing
Prevalence of Children with Asthma Maintaining
Prevalence of Overweight Children Maintaining
Diabetes Incidence Decreasing
Chronic Disease Among Older Adults Increasing
Cancer Incidence Decreasing
Cancer Mortality Rate Decreasing
Heart Disease Mortality Rate Decreasing
Mortality Rate Decreasing
People who Smoke Not Applicable
Use of Illegal Drugs Not Applicable
Youth Use of Illegal Drugs Not Applicable
Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions Not Applicable
Drug Overdose Mortality Rate Increasing
Prevalence of Mental Illness Maintaining
Suicide Rate Maintaining
Children Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 3 Reading Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 English Language Arts Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 Math Not Applicable
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group Not Applicable
Bachelor's Degree or Higher by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeownership Rates by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable