The percentage of seniors living in poverty is a measure of the overall economic health of the older population, and it can indicate the level of need for social and government supports among this population.

In 2017-21, 8% of Norfolk County residents over age 65 (about 9,000 people) were living in poverty. This was slightly lower than the state (9%) and Essex County (10%), and on par with Middlesex County (8%).

Since 2000, the percentage of people in Norfolk County over age 65 has increased by 2 percentage points, representing an additional 4,000 people. The rate at the state level has remained unchanged during this time period.

Sample sizes for people ages 65 and older in Brookline and comparison municipalities were too small to report reliably.

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. Poverty status is not reported for people in institutions, including college dormitories and military barracks, and people in living situations without conventional housing.