Racial Equity
Households Receiving SNAP by Race/Ethnicity, 2017-21


Households Receiving SNAP by Race/Ethnicity, 2017-21

What does this measure?

The proportion of households broken out by race and ethnicity that participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps).

Why is this important?

The SNAP program provides government funding for low-income people to buy food. It therefore indicates how many people in a region cannot support themselves at a basic level. Differences among racial and ethnic groups may reflect the economic health of these groups, as well as potential disparities in access to economic opportunity.

How is our county doing?

In 2017-21, 39% of Hispanic residents and 24% of African American residents participated in SNAP, compared to 9% of Asian residents and 10% of white residents. These rates were similar to the state and nation, except the Hispanic rate was substantially lower nationwide (18%). Participation among Asians also was somewhat lower at the national level (7%). Within Essex County, the City of Lawrence had by far the highest participation rate for whites (32%), as well as a high rate for Hispanic residents (48%).

Since 2012-16, Essex County had slight decreases in SNAP participation among all residents.

How do we compare to similar counties?

In 2017-21, Essex County had a substantially higher SNAP participation rate for Hispanic residents with more than twice as high in Middlesex, MA (19%), and Lake, IL and Westchester, NY (both at 18%). The rate for African Americans in Essex was lower than Lake (30%), but higher than Westchester (19%) and Middlesex (20%). Rates for Asian and white residents in Essex County were somewhat higher than in the comparison counties.

Why do these disparities exist?

Research connects lower incomes and higher poverty rates among people of color to historic and current policies and practices that disadvantaged people of color. These policies and systems, ranging from inequitable access to housing to employment discrimination to education systems that fail to equitably serve all populations, have prevented people of color from fully participating in our economy, locking them out of economic opportunity. This has increased the need for some groups to access programs to support basic needs such as SNAP.

Notes about the data

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 five 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.

Studies have found that national survey estimates (including the ACS) of enrollment in public benefit programs tend to underestimate the true rate due to underreporting by participants, when compared with state-level administrative data. Underreporting can occur for a variety of reasons, including the social stigma of program participation and participants' confusion about the source of the services they receive. For these reasons, the estimates reported above should be considered a lower bound of the true estimate.

Households Receiving SNAP by Race/Ethnicity, 2017-21
AsianBlack or African AmericanHispanicWhite
Essex County, MA9%**24%39%10%
Amesbury0%******0%******59%******7%**
Beverly21%******27%******36%******10%**
Gloucester0%******13%******8%******11%
Haverhill20%******30%******40%15%
Lawrence8%******20%**48%32%
Lynn29%**30%**39%20%
Methuen3%******30%******32%**8%
Newburyport0%******0%******0%******6%**
Peabody4%******14%******32%**9%
Salem0%******25%******36%****13%
Andover6%******0%******7%******3%****
Boxford0%******N/A******0%******1%******
Danvers20%******10%******14%******4%****
EssexN/A******N/A******N/A******10%******
Georgetown0%******0%******16%******4%******
Groveland0%******N/A******0%******2%******
Hamilton11%******N/A******0%******3%******
Ipswich0%******36%******9%******6%****
Lynnfield0%******0%******0%******2%******
Manchester0%******N/A******0%******0%******
Marblehead0%******0%******24%******5%**
Merrimac0%******N/A******0%******11%******
Middleton0%******0%******0%******2%******
Nahant0%******0%******0%******2%******
Newbury0%******N/A******0%******3%******
North Andover0%******23%******26%******6%****
RockportN/A******N/A******40%******4%****
RowleyN/A******0%******N/A******9%******
Salisbury0%******N/A******4%******8%**
Saugus5%******0%******4%******9%**
Swampscott0%******0%******0%******4%****
Topsfield0%******N/A******0%******6%******
Wenham0%******N/A******N/A******5%******
West NewburyN/A******N/A******0%******2%******
Middlesex County, MA7%20%19%6%
Lake County, IL3%**30%18%6%
Westchester County, NY5%19%18%4%
Massachusetts11%26%34%9%
United States7%24%18%9%

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 Households Receiving SNAP by Race/Ethnicity, 2017-21
AsianBlack or African AmericanHispanicWhite
Essex County, MA853**2,86521,89525,046
Amesbury0******0******100******469**
Beverly90******57******251******1,547**
Gloucester0******32******29******1,317
Haverhill58******281******1,9483,008
Lawrence37******365**11,0424,046
Lynn441**1,484**4,7624,173
Methuen28******300******1,426**1,101
Newburyport0******0******0******412**
Peabody17******94******680**1,905
Salem0******163******1,207****2,177
Andover113******0******53******289****
Boxford0******0******0******22******
Danvers31******18******58******446****
Essex0******0******0******130******
Georgetown0******0******12******116******
Groveland0******0******0******56******
Hamilton12******0******0******62******
Ipswich0******21******10******321****
Lynnfield0******0******0******69******
Manchester0******0******0******0******
Marblehead0******0******87******401**
Merrimac0******0******0******266******
Middleton0******0******0******74******
Nahant0******0******0******37******
Newbury0******0******0******82******
North Andover0******50******185******592****
Rockport0******0******10******143****
Rowley0******0******0******205******
Salisbury0******0******7******290**
Saugus26******0******28******811**
Swampscott0******0******0******252****
Topsfield0******0******0******132******
Wenham0******0******0******65******
West Newbury0******0******0******30******
Middlesex County, MA5,1775,5887,50028,919
Lake County, IL643**5,1137,04910,474
Westchester County, NY92610,56513,2969,952
Massachusetts17,47345,39490,736200,889
United States454,3213,706,8423,140,6647,683,046

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.




Households Receiving SNAP by Race/Ethnicity, 2012-16
AsianBlack or African AmericanHispanicWhite
Essex County, MA14%29%43%11%
Amesbury42%******0%******0%******8%**
Beverly0%******34%******23%******10%
Gloucester0%******33%******28%******9%
Haverhill19%******16%******35%**14%
Lawrence20%******37%**53%39%
Lynn35%**32%41%24%
Methuen0%******21%******29%**10%
Newburyport12%******73%******0%******4%**
Peabody8%******22%******43%**10%
Salem0%******32%******51%**12%
Andover2%******21%******31%******4%****
Boxford0%******N/A******N/A******1%******
Danvers11%******25%******20%******5%**
Essex0%******N/A******0%******4%******
Georgetown0%******0%******0%******3%******
Groveland0%******0%******0%******3%******
Hamilton47%******0%******0%******2%******
Ipswich0%******37%******0%******5%****
Lynnfield0%******0%******0%******2%******
ManchesterN/A******N/A******0%******6%******
Marblehead11%******0%******16%******3%****
MerrimacN/A******N/A******N/A******4%******
Middleton0%******100%******61%******7%******
Nahant0%******0%******20%******8%****
Newbury0%******N/A******N/A******2%******
North Andover0%******20%******11%******4%**
RockportN/A******0%******0%******6%****
RowleyN/A******N/A******0%******5%******
Salisbury75%******0%******62%******10%**
Saugus0%******18%******16%******11%**
Swampscott0%******0%******0%******9%**
Topsfield0%******N/A******0%******3%******
Wenham0%******N/A******0%******2%******
West Newbury0%******N/A******0%******0%******
Middlesex County, MA9%24%24%6%
Lake County, IL6%**31%20%7%
Westchester County, NY5%**20%18%5%
Massachusetts12%29%39%10%
United States8%28%22%10%

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 Households Receiving SNAP by Race/Ethnicity, 2012-16
AsianBlack or African AmericanHispanicWhite
Essex County, MA1,0843,04517,88525,982
Amesbury15******0******0******510**
Beverly0******44******105******1,575
Gloucester0******28******49******1,099
Haverhill57******100******1,131**2,840
Lawrence126******747**9,5965,223
Lynn697**1,4103,8124,293
Methuen0******137******1,034**1,377
Newburyport10******58******0******304**
Peabody29******89******591**2,044
Salem0******257******1,208**1,793
Andover35******46******93******353****
Boxford0******0******0******28******
Danvers22******29******60******506**
Essex0******0******0******60******
Georgetown0******0******0******83******
Groveland0******0******0******73******
Hamilton55******0******0******47******
Ipswich0******10******0******261****
Lynnfield0******0******0******82******
Manchester0******0******0******129******
Marblehead8******0******29******241****
Merrimac0******0******0******99******
Middleton0******15******17******185******
Nahant0******0******10******129****
Newbury0******0******0******45******
North Andover0******52******72******372**
Rockport0******0******0******188****
Rowley0******0******0******100******
Salisbury30******0******16******364**
Saugus0******23******62******998**
Swampscott0******0******0******476**
Topsfield0******0******0******72******
Wenham0******0******0******33******
West Newbury0******0******0******0******
Middlesex County, MA4,9946,1117,90530,374
Lake County, IL853**5,2507,00414,230
Westchester County, NY912**9,91011,67612,329
Massachusetts15,97347,19083,989207,235
United States395,4844,006,8443,286,4119,306,909

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 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