Poverty Increased In Montgomery County, Even Before Pandemic

Nourish Now Food Drive

The poverty rate in Montgomery County rose from 6.9% in 2018 to 7.4% in 2019, according to a newly released report from the U.S. Census Bureau. And that increase occurred before the global pandemic caused a spike in the number of unemployed Montgomery County residents.

According to the 2019 U.S. Census American Community Survey, the number of people living in households earning less than the federal poverty guidelines rose from 72,305 in 2018 to 76,985, with a margin of error ranging from 7.5 to 9%.

In both years, the poverty level for children less than 18 years old was higher than the overall rate. In 2018, 7.9% of children were living below the poverty level, and in 2019, 9.4% were.

Blacks and females also were listed as living in poverty more often than other county residents. In 2018, 11.1% of Black residents living below the federal poverty line. In 2019, the percentage rose to 13.6.

Women’s income fell below the federal poverty limits, which change depending on how many people are in a household, more often than men. In 2018, 8% of women as compared with 5% of men lived in poverty. In 2019, 8.5% of women lived below the federal levels as opposed to 6.3% of men.

https://twitter.com/shanerock/status/1307037894884888577?s=20

About Suzanne Pollak

Suzanne is a freelance reporter with Montgomery Community Media. She has over 35 years professional experience writing for newspapers, magazines, non-profit newsletters and the web.

View all posts by Suzanne Pollak