Increasing
What does this measure?
The number of children under 18 living below the federally defined poverty line, expressed as a percentage of all children under 18. 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?
Children raised in impoverished environments are at higher risk for a wide variety of health and social problems, including poor performance in school. The challenges they face in childhood can diminish their chances for successful adult lives.
How is our region performing?
In 2017-21, 18% of children in the region were living in poverty, the same as the state rate and above the nation's 17%. The regional rate increased from 14% in 2000 and fell 3 points from 2012-16, less than the 4-point national decline. Child poverty was concentrated in the City of Rochester, where the rate was 46% in 2017-21, a 4-point decrease from 2012-16 but a 12-point increase from 2000. Children living in poverty in Rochester accounted for 66% of Monroe County's poor children in 2017-21, down from 78% in 2000; indicating growth in child poverty in suburban Monroe County.
Among the region's counties, child poverty was highest in Yates, 22% in 2017-21, followed by Monroe at 20% and lowest in Ontario (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 | ||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NYS | 20% | 20% | 22% | 18% | |||||||||||||||
NYS (excluding NYC) | 13% | 15% | 17% | 15% | |||||||||||||||
Region | 14% | 19% | 21% | 18% | |||||||||||||||
Monroe | 16% | 21% | 22% | 20% | |||||||||||||||
Surrounding Counties | 12% | 16% | 18% | 13% | |||||||||||||||
Genesee | 9% | 17% | 20% | 11% | |||||||||||||||
Livingston | 10% | 14% | 19% | 14% | |||||||||||||||
Ontario | 10% | 13% | 13% | 10% | |||||||||||||||
Orleans | 16% | 15% | 24% | 19% | |||||||||||||||
Seneca | 16% | 16% | 15%* | 11%* | |||||||||||||||
Wayne | 11% | 17% | 17% | 15% | |||||||||||||||
Wyoming | 12% | 14% | 17% | 11%* | |||||||||||||||
Yates | 22% | 24% | 22% | 22% | |||||||||||||||
Monroe County Local Areas | |||||||||||||||||||
Regional Cities |
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 | ||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NYS | 915,710 | 871,312 | 910,806 | 760,862 | |||||||||||||||
NYS (excluding NYC) | 343,954 | 377,733 | 397,874 | 344,768 | |||||||||||||||
Region | 43,277 | 50,660 | 52,155 | 43,546 | |||||||||||||||
Monroe | 29,377 | 34,329 | 35,571 | 31,395 | |||||||||||||||
Surrounding Counties | 13,900 | 16,331 | 16,584 | 12,151 | |||||||||||||||
Genesee | 1,440 | 2,290 | 2,342 | 1,281 | |||||||||||||||
Livingston | 1,505 | 1,759 | 2,295 | 1,536 | |||||||||||||||
Ontario | 2,417 | 3,164 | 2,972 | 2,238 | |||||||||||||||
Orleans | 1,817 | 1,452 | 1,979 | 1,491 | |||||||||||||||
Seneca | 1,270 | 1,230 | 1,045* | 719* | |||||||||||||||
Wayne | 2,835 | 3,767 | 3,377 | 2,809 | |||||||||||||||
Wyoming | 1,247 | 1,212 | 1,350 | 857* | |||||||||||||||
Yates | 1,369 | 1,457 | 1,224 | 1,220 | |||||||||||||||
Monroe County Local Areas | |||||||||||||||||||
Regional Cities |
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%.



INDICATORS - Grouped by Topic | REGIONAL VALUE | YEAR | NYS COMPARISON | TREND | REGION |
---|---|---|---|---|
Prenatal Care | 78% | 2019 |
3
![]() |
1
Increasing
|
Prenatal Care, by Race/Ethnicity | 0 | 10 Not Applicable* | ||
Babies Born with Low Birth Weights | 8.4% | 2019 |
2
![]() |
1
Increasing
|
Babies Born with Low Birth Weights, Race/Ethnicity | 0 | 10 Not Applicable* | ||
Infant Mortality Rate | 6.9 | 2017-19 |
2
![]() |
0
Maintaining
|
Infant Mortality Rate, Race/Ethnicity | 0 | 10 Not Applicable* | ||
Children with Elevated Blood Lead Levels | 0.8% | 2019 |
2
![]() |
-1
Decreasing
|
Children in Poverty | 18% | 2017-21 |
3
![]() |
1
Increasing
|
Children in Poverty, Race/Ethnicity | 2017-21 | 0 | 10 Not Applicable* | |
Single-Parent Families | 39% | 2017-21 |
2
![]() |
1
Increasing
|
Single-Parent Families, by Race/Ethnicity | 2017-21 | 0 | 10 Not Applicable* | |
Rate of Child Abuse and Neglect | 20 | 2020 |
2
![]() |
1
Increasing
|
Rate of Foster Care Admissions | 1.8 | 2020 |
2
![]() |
-1
Decreasing
|
Rate of Teen Pregnancy | 1.3% | 2019 |
3
![]() |
-1
Decreasing
|
Rate of Teen Births | 12 | 2019 |
2
![]() |
-1
Decreasing
|


