Economic Security
Seniors Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity

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Source: U.S. Census Bureau

What does this measure?

The proportion of seniors (65 and older) in various racial and ethnic groups with incomes below the poverty line. Poverty thresholds vary by family composition and year. In 2022, the threshold for a person 65 or over was $14,036.

Why is this important?

The percentage of seniors in various racial and ethnic groups with incomes below the poverty line 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.

How is Westchester County performing?

Poverty rates were highest in Westchester County in 2018-22 among African American seniors at 17%, compared to Hispanic and White seniors, both at 6%. Westchester's rate for African American seniors was on par with the state at 18% and its rate for Hispanic seniors was slightly below the state rate of 8%. The population of Asian seniors in poverty in Westchester County was too small to report reliable data, as was also true for many of the racial and ethnic groups in municipalities.

Why do these disparities exist?

These large and persistent disparities in poverty rates are the result of historic and current policies and practices that disadvantaged people of color. Research has connected slavery and the inability of black Americans (even after emancipation) to fully participate in economic life to the wealth and income gaps still present today. In addition, these differences are attributed to the complex interplay of conditions including gender, occupation, family structure, education, employment status, wages, incarceration, unemployment and discrimination. African American workers across industries tend to earn lower wages than their white and Asian American peers. While education, especially the absence of a high school diploma, increases the likelihood of poverty, education credentials do not eliminate racial disparities. African Americans experience unemployment at twice the rate of whites regardless of education level. Also, the disproportionate and systemic incarceration of Black and Latinx males decreases job prospects and increases the likelihood of poverty.

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. 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.

Seniors Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity, 2018-22
AsianBlack or African AmericanHispanicWhite
Westchester County7%*17%6%6%
Nassau County4%*8%6%6%
Putnam County46%***11%***6%*6%
Rockland County3%***11%*7%7%
New York State19%18%8%9%
Mount Vernon0%***16%*11%***11%***
New Rochelle12%***18%**9%*9%*
Peekskill0%***19%***9%***9%***
Rye City32%***24%***7%**7%**
White Plains17%***22%**5%**6%**
Yonkers9%**20%*6%7%
Westchester County Towns
Bedford0%***0%***7%***6%***
Cortlandt0%***5%***7%*6%*
Eastchester5%***27%***9%**8%**
Greenburgh3%***6%***5%*5%*
Harrison0%***42%***4%***4%***
Lewisboro0%***N/A***3%***3%***
Mamaroneck0%***34%***8%***8%***
Mount Kisco0%***38%***7%***7%***
Mount Pleasant0%***5%***6%**6%**
New Castle0%***62%***4%***4%***
North Castle0%***0%***4%***4%***
North Salem0%***N/A***2%***2%***
Ossining13%***29%***7%**9%**
Pelham5%***0%***4%***4%***
Pound Ridge69%***0%***1%***1%***
Rye18%***9%***4%**5%**
Scarsdale0%***0%***3%***3%***
Somers0%***10%***6%***6%***
Yorktown0%***7%***4%**4%**
Westchester County Villages
Ardsley0%***12%***8%***8%***
Briarcliff Manor30%***33%***6%***6%***
Bronxville0%***N/A***15%***14%***
BuchananN/A***N/A***9%***9%***
Croton-on-Hudson0%***0%***9%***8%***
Dobbs Ferry0%***0%***3%***3%***
Elmsford0%***0%***1%***1%***
Village of Harrison0%***42%***4%***4%***
Hastings-on-Hudson8%***0%***3%***3%***
Irvington0%***N/A***3%***2%***
LarchmontN/A***0%***3%***3%***
Village of Mamaroneck0%***34%***4%***4%***
Village of Mount Kisco0%***38%***7%***7%***
Village of Ossining0%***29%***3%***7%***
Village of Pelham6%***0%***2%***2%***
Pelham Manor0%***0%***5%***5%***
Pleasantville0%***67%***7%***7%***
Port Chester27%***12%***7%***9%***
Rye Brook0%***3%***3%***3%***
Village of Scarsdale0%***0%***3%***3%***
Sleepy Hollow0%***3%***7%***7%***
Tarrytown1%***0%***5%***7%***
Tuckahoe0%***32%***11%***11%***

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%. The Census Bureau asks people to identify their race (white, African-American, etc.) separate from their ethnicity (Hispanic or non-Hispanic). So the totals for these categories cannot be added together, as people show up in both a racial and ethnic group.




Number of Seniors Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity, 2018-22
AsianBlack or African AmericanHispanicWhite
Westchester County621*3,2707,0467,912
Nassau County835*1,6429,94810,653
Putnam County147***33***1,006*1,029
Rockland County109***575*2,5542,643
New York State46,39770,128188,171209,069
Mount Vernon1***1,227*307***324***
New Rochelle55***428**732*775*
Peekskill0***166***255***255***
Rye City19***12***149**149**
White Plains115***294**371**444**
Yonkers243**774*1,1401,586
Westchester County Towns
Bedford0***0***159***159***
Cortlandt0***26***392*392*
Eastchester25***20***506**506**
Greenburgh61***80***643*697*
Harrison0***8***145***145***
Lewisboro0***0***74***74***
Mamaroneck0***19***297***318***
Mount Kisco0***44***106***117***
Mount Pleasant0***8***365**377**
New Castle0***18***101***101***
North Castle0***0***57***57***
North Salem0***0***18***18***
Ossining37***89***391**505**
Pelham5***0***59***59***
Pound Ridge11***0***8***8***
Rye49***39***198**273**
Scarsdale0***0***71***71***
Somers0***9***274***274***
Yorktown0***9***228**228**
Westchester County Villages
Ardsley0***2***69***69***
Briarcliff Manor21***7***83***83***
Bronxville0***0***146***146***
Buchanan0***0***36***36***
Croton-on-Hudson0***0***110***110***
Dobbs Ferry0***0***35***35***
Elmsford0***0***3***3***
Village of Harrison0***8***145***145***
Hastings-on-Hudson8***0***49***49***
Irvington0***0***17***17***
Larchmont0***0***15***15***
Village of Mamaroneck0***19***93***114***
Village of Mount Kisco0***44***106***117***
Village of Ossining0***82***82***196***
Village of Pelham5***0***12***12***
Pelham Manor0***0***47***47***
Pleasantville0***4***74***74***
Port Chester49***37***131***206***
Rye Brook0***2***57***57***
Village of Scarsdale0***0***71***71***
Sleepy Hollow0***4***76***76***
Tarrytown3***0***102***141***
Tuckahoe0***20***115***115***

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%. The Census Bureau asks people to identify their race (white, African-American, etc.) separate from their ethnicity (Hispanic or non-Hispanic). So the totals for these categories cannot be added together, as people show up in both a racial and ethnic group.








Seniors Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity, 2008-12
AsianBlack or African AmericanHispanicWhite
Westchester County10%*14%5%5%
Nassau County4%*11%4%4%
Putnam County0%***29%***6%*6%*
Rockland County5%***13%*6%6%
New York State21%18%8%9%
Mount Vernon28%***13%*8%**9%**
New Rochelle12%***14%**7%*7%*
Peekskill0%***16%***10%***13%**
Rye City31%***0%***4%***4%***
White Plains8%***13%**5%*5%*
Yonkers20%**22%*6%7%
Westchester County Towns
Bedford0%***4%***6%***6%***
Cortlandt0%***9%***4%**5%**
Eastchester13%***0%***3%**3%**
Greenburgh1%***3%***4%*4%*
Harrison0%***0%***6%**6%**
Lewisboro42%***0%***3%***3%***
Mamaroneck0%***27%***4%***4%***
Mount Kisco0%***0%***6%***8%***
Mount Pleasant9%***12%***4%**5%**
New Castle0%***4%***2%***2%***
North Castle0%***0%***6%***6%***
North SalemN/A***N/A***3%***3%***
Ossining3%***20%***8%***7%***
Pelham0%***19%***0%***0%***
Pound Ridge0%***0%***2%***2%***
Rye12%***21%***6%**8%**
Scarsdale0%***21%***1%***1%***
Somers0%***0%***4%***4%**
Yorktown0%***11%***2%***2%***
Westchester County Villages
Ardsley0%***0%***3%***3%***
Briarcliff Manor0%***N/A***5%***5%***
Bronxville0%***N/A***3%***3%***
BuchananN/A***N/A***1%***1%***
Croton-on-Hudson0%***0%***8%***9%***
Dobbs Ferry0%***0%***5%***5%***
Elmsford0%***0%***6%***6%***
Village of Harrison0%***0%***6%**6%**
Hastings-on-Hudson0%***0%***3%***3%***
Irvington0%***N/A***5%***5%***
LarchmontN/A***100%***4%***4%***
Village of Mamaroneck0%***14%***6%***6%***
Village of Mount Kisco0%***0%***6%***8%***
Village of Ossining0%***20%***3%***3%***
Village of Pelham0%***0%***0%***0%***
Pelham Manor0%***36%***0%***0%***
Pleasantville0%***0%***3%***3%***
Port Chester22%***24%***7%***10%***
Rye Brook0%***21%***6%***6%***
Village of Scarsdale0%***21%***1%***1%***
Sleepy Hollow0%***19%***7%***9%***
Tarrytown0%***12%***6%***6%***
Tuckahoe0%***0%***5%***5%***

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%. The Census Bureau asks people to identify their race (white, African-American, etc.) separate from their ethnicity (Hispanic or non-Hispanic). So the totals for these categories cannot be added together, as people show up in both a racial and ethnic group.




Number of Seniors Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity, 2008-12
AsianBlack or African AmericanHispanicWhite
Westchester County501*2,1135,1345,966
Nassau County384*1,6067,0077,536
Putnam County0***27***665*701*
Rockland County102***475*1,8791,976
New York State27,64156,307145,133174,456
Mount Vernon37***620*234**311**
New Rochelle39***270**510*600*
Peekskill0***82***166***241**
Rye City20***0***86***86***
White Plains24***175**281*343*
Yonkers299**662*1,2221,533
Westchester County Towns
Bedford0***1***111***111***
Cortlandt0***18***210**247**
Eastchester25***0***142**142**
Greenburgh10***36***457*468*
Harrison0***0***215**215**
Lewisboro11***0***45***45***
Mamaroneck0***17***157***170***
Mount Kisco0***0***81***113***
Mount Pleasant21***10***192**221**
New Castle0***1***28***28***
North Castle0***0***81***81***
North Salem0***0***20***20***
Ossining4***86***306***306***
Pelham0***19***2***2***
Pound Ridge0***0***20***20***
Rye11***87***277**355**
Scarsdale0***11***16***16***
Somers0***0***164***181**
Yorktown0***18***111***111***
Westchester County Villages
Ardsley0***0***18***18***
Briarcliff Manor0***0***68***68***
Bronxville0***0***21***21***
Buchanan0***0***2***2***
Croton-on-Hudson0***0***72***85***
Dobbs Ferry0***0***61***61***
Elmsford0***0***22***22***
Village of Harrison0***0***215**215**
Hastings-on-Hudson0***0***32***32***
Irvington0***0***45***45***
Larchmont0***2***29***29***
Village of Mamaroneck0***12***127***127***
Village of Mount Kisco0***0***81***113***
Village of Ossining0***86***52***52***
Village of Pelham0***0***2***2***
Pelham Manor0***19***0***0***
Pleasantville0***0***23***23***
Port Chester11***71***137***215***
Rye Brook0***16***111***111***
Village of Scarsdale0***11***16***16***
Sleepy Hollow0***10***56***85***
Tarrytown0***2***98***98***
Tuckahoe0***0***37***37***

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%. The Census Bureau asks people to identify their race (white, African-American, etc.) separate from their ethnicity (Hispanic or non-Hispanic). So the totals for these categories cannot be added together, as people show up in both a racial and ethnic group.




INDICATORS TREND | WESTCHESTER
Early Prenatal Care, by Mother's Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Infant Mortality Rate, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Children with Elevated Blood Lead Levels 0
Maintaining
Children Receiving Subsidized Child Care 0
Maintaining
Children Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Disengaged Youth, Ages 16 to 19 -1
Decreasing
Single-Parent Families, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Single Female-Headed Households -1
Decreasing
Voter Registration Rate 1
Increasing
Voter Participation Rate -1
Decreasing
Serious Crimes -1
Decreasing
Reported Victims of Domestic Violence -1
Decreasing
Arrest Rates, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Households With Internet Access, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Households without Vehicles 0
Maintaining
Means of Transportation to Work, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Air Quality 1
Increasing
Population Density 0
Maintaining
Water Quality of the Long Island Sound 10 Not Applicable*
Open Space in Westchester County 10 Not Applicable*
Change in Total Population 1
Increasing
Change in Population, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Change in Population, by Age 10 Not Applicable*
People with Disabilities 1
Increasing
Language Diversity 1
Increasing
People 65 or Older Living Alone -1
Decreasing
Foreign-Born Population 1
Increasing
Change in Total Jobs 1
Increasing
Change in Jobs by Sector 10 Not Applicable*
Business Ownership, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Average Salary by Sector 10 Not Applicable*
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Female to Male Earnings Ratio 0
Maintaining
Income in Relation to Poverty Level 10 Not Applicable*
Unemployment Rate, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
People Living in Poverty 0
Maintaining
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Seniors Living in Poverty 1
Increasing
Seniors Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Food Insecurity -1
Decreasing
Households Receiving SNAP, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Public Assistance 0
Maintaining
People Receiving Supplemental Security Income 0
Maintaining
Homeownership Rate, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Cost of Homeownership, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Overall Housing Cost Burden -1
Decreasing
Cost of Rent, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Rent Burdened Households -1
Decreasing
Homelessness, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Homelessness, by Sex 10 Not Applicable*
Per-Student Spending 0
Maintaining
Student Suspensions -1
Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 3 English, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
High School Cohort Graduation Rate, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
College Admission Rate, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
College Enrollment Rate, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Education Levels of Adults, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
People Without Health Insurance -1
Decreasing
Mortality Rate, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Mortality Rate from Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Diabetes Mortality, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Suicide Rates, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*


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