Poverty Rates in New York
Major Cities in the State Have Some of Highest Rates in the US
One the national scale, New York has the 12th highest poverty rate in the United States with a poverty rate of 14.5%. This is just slightly lower than the poverty rate in Arizona, but just slightly higher than Oklahoma.
Where the Worst Poverty in New York Occurs
The worst poverty in New York definitely occurs in poor areas of its major cities (25,000 or more people).
There are 12 major cities in New York with a poverty rate that has reached critical levels (at least 50% above the state average). Some of New York’s major cities have some of the highest poverty rates in the United States, such as Ithaca with a poverty rate of 40.2%.
New York’s major cities with critical poverty rates are the following:
- Albany (21.7%)
- Binghamton (23.7%)
- Bronx (30.7%)
- Brooklyn (25.1%)
- Buffalo (26.6%)
- Elmira (23.1%)
- Ithaca (40.2%)
- Newburgh (25.8%)
- Poughkeepsie (22.7%)
- Rochester (25.9%)
- Syracuse (27.3%)
- Utica (24.5%)
New York City as a whole has a poverty rating of 21.2%, which is just slightly below the critical level of poverty.
There are also two counties in New York with critical poverty rates, Bronx and Kings. However, this is simply due to the fact that they share boundaries with the Bronx and Brooklyn boroughs of New York City.
Why the Worst Poverty in New York Exists
People living in heavily populated urban areas like the cities of New York are completely reliant on the market for all of their most basic needs. These needs include utilities, food, shelter, and health care, among other things.
These needs are then all added up to equal the cost of living. If the cost of living is higher than the total income of a household, then we see pockets of poverty begin to form in these urban areas.
Many people do not realize that most people living in poverty do work. However, the jobs they work will usually offer bad hours for low wages.
With no chance to save up assets, the poor in these areas are also much more vulnerable to falling into poverty if anything at all goes wrong.
Some of the things that can push a low-wage working family into poverty are health crises, divorce with children involved, taking care of elderly parents, and an automobile accident.
All of this aside, it is important to keep in mind that the reasons for poverty are as unique as the individuals who live through it. Though finding trends in a specific area is important, no generalization can account for everyone.
What is Being Done about Poverty in New York
Despite all of the problems associated with life in heavily populated New York cities for low-income families, there is an upside.
Poor people living in major cities are generally much easier for national charitable and outreach organizations to help.
Examples of some of these organizations include Save the Children, Second Harvest, United Way, Red Cross, Poverty USA, and Big Brothers Big Sisters, among many others.
Other people who have helped in the fight against urban poverty are legislators who worked to raise the minimum wage.
With a higher minimum wage, working-class people in big cities of New York will be better able to sustain themselves and their families without assistance.
References:
United States Census Bureau
