What does this measure?

The estimated proportion of people in various racial and ethnic groups with incomes below the poverty line. Poverty thresholds vary by family composition and year. In 2010, the threshold for a four–person family was $22,050.

Why is this important?

The percentage of people in poverty in various race and ethnic groups is a measure of the overall economic health of these groups. It also indicates the level of need for social and government supports.

How are Cayuga and Seneca counties performing?

In 2006–2010, 11% of white residents in Cayuga County and 14% of white residents in Seneca County were living in poverty, above the statewide (excluding NYC) rate of 9% and similar to the national rate of 11%. In comparison counties, the rate of poverty for white residents ranged from 7% in Ontario to 15% in Oswego. The populations of other races or ethnicities in Cayuga and Seneca were too small to report reliable statistics.

Notes about the data

The 2006–20010 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). For some small areas, Census did not have enough data to report results at all and N/A is shown in the data table.

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.