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 2021, the threshold for a four-person family with two children was $27,479.
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 Brookline doing?
In 2017-21, 10% of Brookline residents (about 6,200 people) were living in poverty. This was on par with the state rate, lower than Cambridge (12%) and Everett (13%) and higher than Newton (4%) and Arlington (5%).
Norfolk County's rate of 6% was similar to Middlesex County (7%) and lower than Essex County (10%).
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.
| 2000 | 2007-11 | 2012-16 | 2017-21 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brookline | 9% | 12% | 12% | 10% | ||||
| Arlington, Middlesex County | 4% | 4% | 5% | 5%* | ||||
| Cambridge, Middlesex County | 13% | 15% | 14% | 12% | ||||
| Everett, Middlesex County | 12% | 12% | 15% | 13%* | ||||
| Newton, Middlesex County | 4% | 7% | 4% | 4% | ||||
| Norfolk County | 5% | 6% | 7% | 6% | ||||
| Essex County | 9% | 11% | 11% | 10% | ||||
| Middlesex County | 7% | 8% | 8% | 7% | ||||
| Massachusetts | 9% | 11% | 11% | 10% |
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%.
| 2000 | 2007-11 | 2012-16 | 2017-21 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brookline | 5,177 | 6,557 | 7,134 | 6,220 | ||||
| Arlington, Middlesex County | 1,714 | 1,861 | 2,252 | 2,110* | ||||
| Cambridge, Middlesex County | 11,295 | 14,111 | 12,925 | 12,382 | ||||
| Everett, Middlesex County | 4,456 | 4,745 | 6,487 | 6,163* | ||||
| Newton, Middlesex County | 3,382 | 5,066 | 3,527 | 3,438 | ||||
| Norfolk County | 29,377 | 40,857 | 45,372 | 43,922 | ||||
| Essex County | 63,137 | 76,489 | 84,757 | 77,689 | ||||
| Middlesex County | 92,705 | 111,267 | 124,652 | 116,510 | ||||
| Massachusetts | 573,421 | 673,467 | 740,836 | 668,780 |
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%.
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