Assets
Asset poverty rate: 27.1%
Average college graduate debt: $31,549
Unbanked households: 2.6%
Economic well-being
Extreme poverty rate: 6%
Food insecurity: 8.2%
Minimum wage: $13.50
Number of Black or African American children living in families where no parent has full-time, year-round employment: 53,000
Number of Hispanic or Latino children living in families where no parent has full-time, year-round employment 104,000
Percent of individuals who are uninsured: 3%
Percent of jobs that are low-wage: 4.8%
Percent of working families under 200% of the poverty line: 20.9%
Poverty rate: 9.4%
Unemployment rate: 3%
Education
High school graduation rate: 87.8%
Percent of adult population with at least a high school degree: 90.5%
Percent of college graduates with debt: 59%
Percent of population over age 25 with at least a four year college degree: 44.5%
Percent of teens ages 16 to 19 not attending school and not working: 4%
Family
Children in foster care: 9,871
Number of households with grandparents responsible for grandchildren under age 18 120,470
Percent of children in immigrant families: 30%
Percent of children living in single parent families: 32%
Teen birth rate per 1,000 population ages 15-19: 6.9%
Housing
Home foreclosure rate: 0.92%
People experiencing homelessness: 17,975
Households paying more than 50% of income on housing: 248,200
Percent renters: 38%
Total housing units: 2,998,537
Justice System
Incarcerated persons per 100,000 residents: 133
Number of youth residing in juvenile justice and correctional facilities: 288
Participation in federal programs
Adults and children receiving welfare (TANF): 65,466
Children receiving food stamps (SNAP): 265,000
EITC recipients: 364,000
Families receiving child care subsidies: 20,100
Households receiving federal rental assistance: 195,000
Households receiving LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program): 155,792
Number of children enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP: 711,288
Number of women and children receiving WIC (Women, Infants and Children supplemental nutrition program): 105,733
Participants in all Head Start programs: 11,771
Poverty by demographic
Child poverty rate: 12%
Number of Asian and Pacific Islander children below 200% poverty: 16,000
Number of Black or African American children below 200% poverty: 60,000
Number of Hispanic or Latino children below 200% poverty: 131,000
Percent of single-parent families with related children that are below poverty: 24%
Senior poverty rate: 9.1%
Women in poverty: 10.3%

State governments play a significant role in developing policies that help support low-income families. Below is a list of some key Massachusetts policies and a link to an organization that tracks the issue.

Tax & Asset-Building Policy

Family and Work Supports

Education