Latest news about poverty in Boston, MA collected exclusively by city-data.com from local newspapers, TV, and radio stations
17.1% of Boston, MA residents had an income below the poverty level in 2022, which was 39.3% greater than the poverty level of 10.4% across the entire state of Massachusetts. 10.5% of high school graduates and 37.2% of non high school graduates live in poverty. The poverty rate was 33.7% among disabled residents. The renting rate among poor residents was 84.4%. For comparison, it was 48.3% among residents with income above the poverty level.
Poverty rates in Boston, MA
Residents with income below the poverty level in 2022:
Boston:
17.1%
Whole state:
10.4%
Residents with income below 50% of the poverty level in 2022:
Boston:
10.0%
Whole state:
5.3%
Poverty rate among disabled residents:
Boston:
33.7%
Massachusetts:
22.5%
Disability rate in this city among poor residents (it is 10.1% among residents who are not classified as poor):
Boston:
25.1%
Massachusetts:
27.4%
Renting rate in this city among poor and not poor residents:
Residents below poverty level:
84.4%
Residents above poverty level:
48.3%
Poverty by age in Boston, MA
Breakdown by age of poor male residents in Boston,MA (percentage below poverty level)
10.6%Under 5 years
18.2%5 years
29.4%6 to 11 years
28.2%12 to 14 years
19.2%15 years
22.6%16 and 17 years
37.4%18 to 24 years
7.4%25 to 34 years
6.7%35 to 44 years
15.9%45 to 54 years
15.2%55 to 64 years
20.7%65 to 74 years
19.1%75 years and over
Breakdown by age of poor female residents in Boston,MA (percentage below poverty level)
15.7%Under 5 years
38.5%5 years
18.4%6 to 11 years
20.6%12 to 14 years
26.0%15 years
31.6%16 and 17 years
37.2%18 to 24 years
10.9%25 to 34 years
14.8%35 to 44 years
13.0%45 to 54 years
16.3%55 to 64 years
19.6%65 to 74 years
24.0%75 years and over
Breakdown by age of very poor residents in Boston,MA (% below half of poverty level)
8.9%Under 6 years
14.7%6 to 11 years
15.1%12 to 17 years
27.2%18 to 24 years
5.8%25 to 34 years
6.9%35 to 44 years
10.1%45 to 54 years
6.5%55 to 64 years
8.3%65 to 74 years
6.2%75 years and over
Poverty by race and place of birth in Boston, MA
Breakdown of poor residents within races in Boston, MA (%)
11.9%White
22.0%Black
21.3%American Indian
16.5%Asian
32.3%Native Hawaiian
20.9%Other race
20.7%2+ races
25.4%Hispanic
Breakdown of poor residents within races in Boston, MA (absolute numbers)
31,176White
29,391Black
532American Indian
9,174Asian
173Native Hawaiian
10,082Other race
19,9492+ races
31,824Hispanic
16.7%Below poverty level
83.3%Above poverty level
18.0%Below poverty level
82.0%Above poverty level
Poverty in families in Boston, MA
Children below poverty level:
Boston, Massachusetts:
21.0%
State:
11.3%
Poverty rate among high school graduates:
Boston:
10.5%
Massachusetts:
7.8%
Poverty rate among people who did not graduate high school:
Boston:
37.2%
Massachusetts:
25.7%
22.6%Married-couple family
16.3%Male, no wife present
61.1%Female, no husband present
2.8%Worked full-time, year-round
32.8%Worked part-time
64.4%Did not work
0.3%Both worked full-time
4.6%One full-time, other part-time
6.5%One full-time, other didn't work
13.0%Both worked part-time
21.0%One part-time, other didn't work
54.7%Both didn't work
Other data
Owners below poverty level
0.3%1999 to 2000
0.8%1995 to 1998
2.6%1990 to 1994
3.3%1980 to 1989
2.1%1970 to 1979
7.4%1960 to 1969
9.4%1950 to 1959
10.5%1940 to 1949
63.5%1939 or earlier
Owners above poverty level
0.4%1999 to 2000
0.9%1995 to 1998
1.5%1990 to 1994
4.8%1980 to 1989
2.4%1970 to 1979
6.9%1960 to 1969
7.9%1950 to 1959
7.4%1940 to 1949
67.9%1939 or earlier
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