MBPC: Examining Today's New Census Data on Income, Poverty, Children

Examining Today's Census Data on Income, Poverty, Children BOSTON - Sept. 14 - Showing the effects of a strong economy in 2016, new data from the U.S. Census finds that the median income (the income of the household at the midpoint of the income distribution) in Massachusetts increased 5.8 percent in 2016 and that poverty in the state declined significantly: from 11.5 percent to 10.4 percent. A new brief (PDF) from MassBudget finds the decline in poverty likely reflects both the overall strength of the state economy and increases in the state minimum wage that occurred in 2015 and 2016. "It's good news that incomes are up and poverty is down. But too many families in our state are still struggling. The state median wage remains below where it was in 2009, and more than one in eight children in our state live in poverty. The progress our state has made should encourage us to continue to work to expand opportunity and to help working families to become more economically secure." The new data from the Census also show a decline in child poverty. Improving the economic security of the families in which low income children are growing up has been shown to have long term positive effects for those children. A separate brief (PDF) released by MassBudget today, examines the implications of today's Census data for children.   Read the new MassBudget brief examining today's Census data on income and poverty (PDF) Read MassBudget's new KIDS COUNT brief on the implication of today's data for kids (PDF) The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts. MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER 15 COURT SQUARE, SUITE 700 BOSTON, MA 02108