Economic Security
Seniors Living in Poverty, by Sex

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Source: U.S. Census Bureau

What does this measure?

Seniors (65 and over) with incomes below the poverty line, as a percentage of those for whom poverty status has been determined, by sex. Poverty thresholds vary by family composition and year. In 2021, the threshold for a person 65 or over was $12,996.

Why is this important?

The percentage of seniors 65 and over living in poverty by sex is a measure of the overall economic health of these groups and may reflect disparities in access to economic opportunity. It also indicates the level of need for targeted social and government supports within the community.

How is our region performing?

In general, the poverty rate among senior women is higher than senior men. The 2017-21 poverty rate among female and male seniors in the region were 9% and 7% respectively. These are slightly lower than the statewide rates of 13% for senior women and 10% for senior men and the national rates of 11% for senior women and 8% for senior men. Poverty rates among senior men and women in both the region and the state remained largely unchanged from 2000 to 2017-21.

In the City of Rochester, poverty was higher among both senior women and men at 20% and 18% respectively in 2017-21. These rates have increased 4 points since 2000.

Among the regional counties, poverty rates for senior women in 2017-21 were highest in Yates and Wayne counties (13% and 12% respectively) while the poverty rates for senior men were highest in Yates (at 11%) followed by Orleans (at 9%).

Why do these disparities exist?

Women in general are more likely to live in poverty than men due to limited employment opportunities, a persistent wage gap, and more interrupted work histories (exiting and reentering the labor force more frequently than men due to unpaid caregiving) limiting their long-term earning potential. This gender difference in poverty persists into late-life due to lower pensions and Social Security benefits which are based on lifetime career earnings that are structurally lower than men. While 401(k) accounts have largely replaced pensions in the private sector, the over representation of women in low-wage jobs often leads to inadequate retirement savings. Additionally, because women live longer than men, they are often single or widowed and face more expensive health problems with limited resources.

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.

Seniors Living in Poverty, by Sex, 2017-21
FemaleMale
NYS13%10%
NYS (excluding NYC)9%6%
Region9%7%
Monroe10%6%
Surrounding Counties9%7%
Rochester MSA9%7%
Genesee11%*8%*
Livingston6%*4%*
Ontario7%*7%*
Orleans10%*9%**
Seneca11%*8%**
Wayne12%*6%*
Wyoming7%*5%**
Yates13%**11%***
Monroe County Suburbs7%4%
Monroe County Local Areas
Rochester20%18%
Brighton9%***4%***
Chili6%***3%***
Clarkson11%***3%***
East Rochester6%***4%***
Gates8%***8%***
Greece6%*2%**
Hamlin7%***6%***
Henrietta6%**4%***
Irondequoit10%*6%**
Mendon8%***5%***
Ogden8%***2%***
Parma5%***1%***
Penfield7%**3%***
Perinton4%**2%***
Pittsford5%**2%***
Riga10%***7%***
Rush2%***4%***
Sweden14%***4%***
Webster9%*5%***
Wheatland3%***2%***
Brockport (V)11%***2%***
Churchville (V)6%***4%***
Fairport (V)6%***6%***
Hilton (V)6%***0%***
Honeoye Falls (V)4%***4%***
Pittsford (V)3%***0%***
Scottsville (V)2%***5%***
Spencerport (V)3%***7%***
Webster (V)33%***26%***
Regional Cities
Batavia16%**17%***
Canandaigua8%***9%***
Geneva10%***14%***

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
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%.




Number of Seniors Living in Poverty, by Sex, 2017-21
FemaleMale
NYS241,409136,136
NYS (excluding NYC)95,62454,277
Region10,9196,390
Monroe6,7483,659
Surrounding Counties4,1712,731
Rochester MSA9,7055,575
Genesee617*408*
Livingston333*217*
Ontario897*669*
Orleans363*283**
Seneca351*222**
Wayne1,025*498*
Wyoming246*185**
Yates339**249***
Monroe County Suburbs4,1101,720
Monroe County Local Areas
Rochester2,6381,939
Brighton353***100***
Chili161***82***
Clarkson72***14***
East Rochester37***21***
Gates250***223***
Greece651*199**
Hamlin55***45***
Henrietta244**140***
Irondequoit600*270**
Mendon60***34***
Ogden151***31***
Parma72***14***
Penfield317**96***
Perinton249**116***
Pittsford161**44***
Riga47***34***
Rush7***22***
Sweden141***28***
Webster466*198***
Wheatland16***9***
Brockport (V)41***5***
Churchville (V)13***8***
Fairport (V)37***29***
Hilton (V)35***0***
Honeoye Falls (V)12***9***
Pittsford (V)4***0***
Scottsville (V)4***9***
Spencerport (V)11***24***
Webster (V)222***97***
Regional Cities
Batavia225**186***
Canandaigua111***68***
Geneva96***110***

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
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%.




Seniors Living in Poverty, by Sex, 2000
FemaleMale
NYS13%8%
NYS (excluding NYC)9%5%
Region9%5%
Monroe9%5%
Surrounding Counties8%5%
Rochester MSA9%5%
Genesee8%5%
Livingston7%6%
Ontario8%4%
Orleans6%4%
Seneca10%3%
Wayne11%7%
Wyoming6%5%
Yates9%4%
Monroe County Suburbs7%2%
Monroe County Local Areas
Rochester16%14%
Greece8%3%
Ogden3%2%
Mendon8%4%
Pittsford (V)4%2%
Irondequoit10%3%
Brockport (V)6%0%
Honeoye Falls (V)6%2%
Henrietta5%1%
Hamlin3%0%
Hilton (V)9%13%
Chili3%2%
Gates8%5%
Churchville (V)12%9%
Fairport (V)7%2%
Spencerport (V)8%3%
Parma6%4%
Penfield7%2%
Clarkson9%5%
Perinton4%3%
Pittsford10%2%
Webster (V)8%4%
Riga14%6%
Rush0%0%
Brighton8%1%
Sweden10%3%
Webster6%3%
Scottsville (V)2%0%
Wheatland3%0%
East Rochester7%3%
Regional Cities
Batavia7%6%
Canandaigua12%3%
Geneva9%6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
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%.




Number of Seniors Living in Poverty, by Sex, 2000
FemaleMale
NYS186,83677,500
NYS (excluding NYC)74,75829,301
Region7,6902,952
Monroe4,9481,733
Surrounding Counties2,7421,219
Rochester MSA6,8612,601
Genesee370174
Livingston275171
Ontario584212
Orleans16599
Seneca28367
Wayne704317
Wyoming176110
Yates18569
Monroe County Suburbs2,981717
Monroe County Local Areas
Rochester1,9671,016
Greece623149
Ogden2814
Mendon4215
Pittsford (V)62
Irondequoit651115
Brockport (V)140
Honeoye Falls (V)193
Henrietta1098
Hamlin100
Hilton (V)3325
Chili6023
Gates24393
Churchville (V)157
Fairport (V)277
Spencerport (V)219
Parma4925
Penfield18949
Clarkson3210
Perinton11061
Pittsford21926
Webster (V)3310
Riga4213
Rush00
Brighton28624
Sweden6215
Webster17465
Scottsville (V)30
Wheatland120
East Rochester4012
Regional Cities
Batavia11456
Canandaigua13919
Geneva10548

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
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%.







Worse than NYS by 10% or more
Up to 10% worse than NYS
Equal to or better than NYS


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
Tourism Spending $1,399 2021 1 0
Maintaining
Recreation Spending $83 2021 1 -1
Decreasing
Voter Registration Rate 84% 2021 2 1
Increasing
Voter Participation Rate 64% 2020 3 1
Increasing
Registered Library Borrowers 55% 2020 3 -1
Decreasing
Library Visits 2.5 2020 3 -1
Decreasing
Charitable Contributions as a Percentage of Income 0.8% 2020 2 -1
Decreasing
Households Without Vehicles 10% 2017-21 3 0
Maintaining
Total Population 1.4% 2021 2 1
Increasing
Means of Transportation to Work 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
Population by Age 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
Workers’ Commute Time, by Means of Transportation to Work 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
Population by Race/Ethnicity 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
Crashes Involving Pedestrians 2.6 2022 3 0
Maintaining
Population by Age and Race/Ethnicity 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
Crashes Involving Cyclists 1.4 2022 3 -1
Decreasing
Disengaged Youth, Ages 16 to 19 6% 2017-21 3 -1
Decreasing
Vehicle Crashes Resulting in Injuries and Fatalities 60 2022 3 -1
Decreasing
Median Household Income $64,995 2017-21 1 -1
Decreasing
Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) 24 2022 2 -1
Decreasing
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
Miles of Dedicated Bike Infrastructure 2023 0 10 Not Applicable*
People Living in Poverty 13% 2017-21 3 1
Increasing
RTS Ridership 8 2022 0 -1
Decreasing
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
People Living in Poverty, by Sex 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
RTS On-time Performance 0 10 Not Applicable*
Greenhouse Gas Emissions 23.7 2018 0 10 Not Applicable*
Public Assistance Recipients 1.2% 2021 3 -1
Decreasing
Energy Burden of Households 0 10 Not Applicable*
Approval Rate for Public Assistance Applications 22% 2021 0 -1
Decreasing
Females Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
Solar Energy Capacity 122.8 2022 3 1
Increasing
Seniors Living in Poverty, by Sex 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
Households Receiving SNAP 13% 2017-21 3 -1
Decreasing
Households Receiving SNAP by Race/Ethnicity 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
Female Seniors Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
Gas Usage for Household Heating 74% 2017-21 1 -1
Decreasing
Clean Energy Workforce 4.7% 2021 3 1
Increasing
Tax Filers Receiving Earned Income Tax Credit 14% 2020 3 -1
Decreasing
Clean Energy Communities 2023 0 10 Not Applicable*
EITC Dollars $153 2020 2 -1
Decreasing
Electric Vehicles (EV) Charging Ports 165 2023 0 -1
Decreasing
Change in Total Jobs 2.3% 2021 2 1
Increasing
Asthma Hospitalizations 0 10 Not Applicable*
Change in Number of Business Establishments by Sector 2021 0 10 Not Applicable*
Food Deserts 35% 2019 1 10 Not Applicable*
Change in Jobs by Sector 2021 0 10 Not Applicable*
Food Deserts in Low-Income Areas 20% 2019 1 10 Not Applicable*
Sector Shares of Regional Total Employment 2021 0 10 Not Applicable*
Unemployment Rate 4.9% 2021 3 1
Increasing
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
Average Salary by Sector 2021 0 10 Not Applicable*
Change in Average Salary Since 2000 12% 2021 3 1
Increasing
Change in Average Salary Since 2000 by Sector 2021 0 10 Not Applicable*
Employment-to-Population Ratio 59% 2017-21 3 -1
Decreasing
Prekindergarten Participation 41% 2021 2 1
Increasing
School Spending Per Student $23,561 2020 1 1
Increasing
Instructional Spending Per Student $16,983 2020 1 1
Increasing
Students Receiving Special Education Services 2021 0 -1
Decreasing
Grade 3 English 37% 2022 2 1
Increasing
Grade 3 English by Student Subgroup 2022 0 10 Not Applicable*
Grade 3 English by Race/Ethnicity 2022 0 10 Not Applicable*
Grade 3 Math 40% 2022 2 1
Increasing
Grade 3 Math by Student Subgroup 2022 0 10 Not Applicable*
Grade 3 Math by Race/Ethnicity 2022 0 10 Not Applicable*
Grade 8 English 39% 2019 2 1
Increasing
Grade 8 English by Student Subgroup 2019 0 10 Not Applicable*
Grade 8 English by Race/Ethnicity 2019 0 10 Not Applicable*
Grade 8 Math 49% 2019 2 1
Increasing
Regents Algebra 1 73% 2019 3 1
Increasing
Regents English 83% 2019 2 1
Increasing
Four-Year Cohort Graduation Rate 88% 2022 3 1
Increasing
Cohort Graduation Rate, Beyond Four Years 90% 2022 3 1
Increasing
Four-Year Cohort Graduation Rate by Race/Ethnicity 2022 0 10 Not Applicable*
Education Levels of Adults 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
Education Levels of Adults by Race/Ethnicity 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
People Without Health Insurance 5% 2020 3 -1
Decreasing
Supply of Doctors 35.3 2019 1 1
Increasing
Mortality Rate 693 2019 1 -1
Decreasing
Chlamydia Rate 53 2020 2 1
Increasing
Chlamydia Rates, Race/Ethnicity, Monroe County 0 10 Not Applicable*
Gonorrhea Rate 37 2020 1 1
Increasing
Maternal Health, by Race/Ethnicity 2018-20 0 10 Not Applicable*
Gonorrhea Rates, Race/Ethnicity, Monroe County 0 10 Not Applicable*
Early Syphilis Rates 2.8 2020 3 1
Increasing
Early Syphilis Rates within Monroe County, by Race/Ethnicity 0 10 Not Applicable*
People Living with HIV 105 2021 0 1
Increasing
People Living with HIV by Race/Ethnicity 2021 0 10 Not Applicable*
People Living with AIDS 124 2021 0 1
Increasing
People Living with AIDS by Race/Ethnicity 2021 0 10 Not Applicable*
Percent of Days with Good Air Quality 0 10 Not Applicable*
Alcohol-related Crashes 2.7 2021 2 -1
Decreasing
Admissions to Substance Abuse Treatment by Primary Substance 2021 0 10 Not Applicable*
Median Home Value $151,405 2017-21 1 1
Increasing
Median Rental Prices $936 2017-21 3 -1
Decreasing
Housing Affordability for Homeowners 2.3 2017-21 3 0
Maintaining
Housing Affordability for Homeowners by Race/Ethnicity 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
Overall Housing Cost Burden 28% 2017-21 3 -1
Decreasing
Housing Affordability for Renters 32% 2017-21 3 10 Not Applicable*
Rent Burdened Households 48% 2017-21 3 -1
Decreasing
Housing Affordability for Renters by Race/Ethnicity 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
Homeownership Rate 68% 2017-21 3 -1
Decreasing
Homeownership Rate by Race/Ethnicity 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
Vacant Housing Units 9% 2017-21 3 1
Increasing
Homeless Persons 0 10 Not Applicable*
Serious Crimes 165 2021 3 -1
Decreasing
Violent Crimes 25 2021 3 1
Increasing
Victims of Domestic Violence 59 2021 0 -1
Decreasing
Incarceration Rates 10.0 2021 0 -1
Decreasing
Incarceration Rates, by Race/Ethnicity 2018 0 10 Not Applicable*
Arrest Rates 125.2 2021 3 -1
Decreasing
Arrest Rates, by Race/Ethnicity 2021 0 10 Not Applicable*
Per-Capita Spending for Local Government $3,731 2019 0 1
Increasing
Female to Male Earnings Ratio 0.70 2017-21 3 0
Maintaining
*No or multiple regional values for this indicator


Worse than NYS by 10% or more
Up to 10% worse than NYS
Equal to or better than NYS





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