Poverty and living standards in Massachusetts, United States: official figures
The Census Bureau estimates that 9.8% of people in Massachusetts lived below the federal poverty line in 2024, about 675,676 people; joint 8th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 12.1%).
Has poverty in Massachusetts gone up or down?
In 2019 the estimate for Massachusetts was 9.5% (631,551 people), so the rate is up 0.3 percentage points over five years; the national rate moved from 12.3% to 12.1%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children live in poverty in Massachusetts?
11.4% of children under 18 in Massachusetts were in poverty in 2024, about 151,809 children; joint 9th lowest among the 50 states and DC. For children under 5 the rate was 12.8% (U.S.: 15.5% for under-18s, 16.5% for under-5s).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow unequal are incomes in Massachusetts?
The Gini index of household income inequality in Massachusetts was 0.4820 in 2024 (0 means every household has the same income, 1 means one household has it all); 6th most unequal among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 0.4809).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many renters in Massachusetts are cost-burdened?
52.4% of renting households in Massachusetts spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities in 2024, and 26.0% spent half or more; the 30% share is 12th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 51.8%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in Massachusetts get food stamps?
15.1% of households in Massachusetts (426,702) said they received SNAP food benefits at some point in the previous 12 months in the 2024 American Community Survey; 8th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 11.8%). 37% of those households had incomes below the poverty line, and 48% of households below the poverty line did not receive SNAP.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people get SNAP in Massachusetts?
An average of 1,087,752 people in Massachusetts received SNAP benefits each month in fiscal year 2025 (October 2024 to September 2025), down 2.3% on fiscal 2024 (1,113,678), according to USDA administrative data; nationally the average was 42.14 million.
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Service · saved copyHow much are SNAP benefits in Massachusetts?
SNAP benefits paid in Massachusetts totaled $2.6 billion in fiscal 2025, an average of $200.45 per person per month (U.S.: $189.36); 5th largest average benefit among the 50 states and DC.
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Service · saved copyHow many homeless people are there in Massachusetts?
Local counts on a single night in January 2025 found 28,311 people experiencing homelessness in Massachusetts, down 3.6% on 2024 (29,360) and up 53.3% on 2019 (18,471); 4th largest count among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 745,652).
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development · saved copyHow many homeless people in Massachusetts sleep outside?
Of those counted in Massachusetts in January 2025, 26,563 were in emergency shelters or transitional housing and 1,748 (6.2%) were unsheltered, sleeping outside or in places not meant for housing; 2nd lowest unsheltered share among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 35.7%).
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development · saved copyWho is homeless in Massachusetts?
The January 2025 count in Massachusetts included 20,750 people in families with children, 11,219 children under 18, 2,058 chronically homeless individuals and 550 veterans.
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development · saved copyHow many households in Massachusetts are food insecure?
On average over 2021 to 2023, 9.3% of households in Massachusetts were food insecure, meaning they had difficulty at some time in the year providing enough food because of a lack of resources; 7th lowest among the 50 states and DC and statistically lower than the national average of 12.2%, according to USDA.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service · saved copyIs food insecurity in Massachusetts getting worse?
3.2% of households in Massachusetts had very low food security in 2021-23, with some members eating less or skipping meals. Overall food insecurity was 8.4% in 2018-20 and 10.6% in 2011-13; the move from 2018-20 to 2021-23 is +0.9 percentage points, a change USDA does not rate as statistically significant.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service · saved copyHow Massachusetts compares with other states
People in poverty (all ages) (2024)
Massachusetts ranks 44 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau SAIPE model estimates
| Rank | Region | People in poverty (all ages) |
|---|---|---|
| 41 | Hawaii | 10.0% |
| 42 | Wyoming | 10.0% |
| 43 | Virginia | 9.8% |
| 44 | Massachusetts | 9.8% |
| 45 | Colorado | 9.6% |
| 46 | Minnesota | 9.3% |
| 47 | Vermont | 9.3% |
Children under 18 in poverty (2024)
Massachusetts ranks 42 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau SAIPE model estimates
| Rank | Region | Children under 18 in poverty |
|---|---|---|
| 39 | North Dakota | 11.7% |
| 40 | Nebraska | 11.6% |
| 41 | Washington | 11.5% |
| 42 | Massachusetts | 11.4% |
| 43 | Hawaii | 11.4% |
| 44 | Maryland | 11.2% |
| 45 | Colorado | 11.2% |
Gini index of household income inequality (2024)
Massachusetts ranks 6 of 51, highest first. 0 = perfect equality, 1 = one household has all income
| Rank | Region | Gini index of household income inequality |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Connecticut | 0.4989 |
| 4 | Louisiana | 0.4922 |
| 5 | California | 0.4852 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | 0.4820 |
| 7 | Illinois | 0.4802 |
| 8 | Florida | 0.4799 |
| 9 | Texas | 0.4792 |
Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent (2024)
Massachusetts ranks 12 of 51, highest first. Share of renter households for which the ratio can be computed
| Rank | Region | Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | South Carolina | 52.6% |
| 10 | Colorado | 52.5% |
| 11 | Arizona | 52.4% |
| 12 | Massachusetts | 52.4% |
| 13 | Oregon | 52.3% |
| 14 | New Jersey | 52.2% |
| 15 | New York | 51.5% |
Households that received SNAP in the past 12 months (2024)
Massachusetts ranks 8 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey
| Rank | Region | Households that received SNAP in the past 12 months |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | New York | 16.2% |
| 6 | District of Columbia | 15.9% |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | 15.1% |
| 8 | Massachusetts | 15.1% |
| 9 | Oklahoma | 14.0% |
| 10 | Rhode Island | 13.9% |
| 11 | California | 13.5% |
Households with food insecurity (average 2021-23) (2021-2023)
Massachusetts ranks 45 of 51, highest first. Low or very low food security
| Rank | Region | Households with food insecurity (average 2021-23) |
|---|---|---|
| 42 | Rhode Island | 9.7% |
| 43 | Hawaii | 9.6% |
| 44 | Washington | 9.5% |
| 45 | Massachusetts | 9.3% |
| 46 | Vermont | 9.2% |
| 47 | Minnesota | 9.1% |
| 48 | South Dakota | 9.0% |
People experiencing homelessness (one night in January) (2025)
Massachusetts ranks 4 of 51, highest first. HUD point-in-time count
| Rank | Region | People experiencing homelessness (one night in January) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 181,934 |
| 2 | New York | 145,560 |
| 3 | Washington | 31,721 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 28,311 |
| 5 | Texas | 28,031 |
| 6 | Florida | 27,888 |
| 7 | Oregon | 27,202 |
Share of homeless people who were unsheltered (2025)
Massachusetts ranks 50 of 51, highest first. HUD point-in-time count
| Rank | Region | Share of homeless people who were unsheltered |
|---|---|---|
| 45 | Maine | 11.6% |
| 46 | Nebraska | 10.8% |
| 47 | Delaware | 10.6% |
| 48 | Wisconsin | 9.1% |
| 49 | Vermont | 8.0% |
| 50 | Massachusetts | 6.2% |
| 51 | New York | 4.0% |
People receiving SNAP (monthly average, FY2025) (FY2025)
Massachusetts ranks 11 of 51, highest first. USDA FNS National Data Bank
| Rank | Region | People receiving SNAP (monthly average, FY2025) |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Michigan | 1,490,110 |
| 9 | North Carolina | 1,439,835 |
| 10 | Ohio | 1,436,239 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | 1,087,752 |
| 12 | Washington | 902,996 |
| 13 | Arizona | 889,563 |
| 14 | New Jersey | 827,628 |
More on Massachusetts: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · the United States
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Gini index of income inequality (B19083), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 dc8a2b21190b…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Receipt of food stamps/SNAP by poverty status for households (B22003), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 53dc663e0426…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Gross rent as a percentage of household income (B25070), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 edf1abe1970b…)
- USDA Economic Research Service: Household Food Security in the United States in 2023 (ERR-337), tables 4 and 5: food insecurity by State, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c0eebe273d83…)
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: 2007-2025 Point-in-Time Estimates of Homelessness by State (2025 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report, Part 1), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c04ebcbe51c8…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): 2024 poverty and median household income, states and counties, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 cb52c47d75c1…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): 2019 poverty and median household income, states and counties, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 229d90cb3e05…)
- USDA Food and Nutrition Service: SNAP Monthly State Participation and Benefit Summary, fiscal years 1969 to current (FY24.xlsx and FY25.xlsx), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 d31418fd3b4b…)
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