What does this measure?
The share of residents with incomes below the federal poverty level. Poverty thresholds vary by family composition and year. In 2021, the threshold for a four-person family with two children was $27,479.
Why is this important?
The percentage of people living in or near poverty is a measure of the overall economic health of a region. It also indicates the level of need for social and government supports.
How does our county compare?
In 2017-21, Lancaster County's poverty rate was 9%, below both the state (12%) and nation (13%). This was an increase of 1 percentage point since 2000, the same rise as Pennsylvania and the U.S. (both 1 percentage point) during the same period.
In the City of Lancaster, 19% of residents lived below the poverty line, lower than the rate in 2000, and down 10 percentage points from 2012-16.
Among surrounding counties, York (9%) and Cumberland (7%) had poverty rates similar to Lancaster in 2017-21. The rate was lower in Chester (6%), and higher in Berks and Dauphin (both at 12%) and Lebanon (11%). Berks and Lebanon experienced a 3-point increase in poverty rates since 2000, while York and Dauphin experienced a 2-point increase. Chester experienced a 1-point increase and Cumberland remained unchanged.
Notes about the data
The multiyear figures are from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey. The bureau combined 5 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 3 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. Data for this indicator are expected to be released annually in December.
| 2000 | 2007-11 | 2012-16 | 2017-21 | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 11% | 13% | 13% | 12% | |||||||||||||||
| Lancaster County | 8% | 10% | 11% | 9% | |||||||||||||||
| Lancaster City | 21% | 28% | 29% | 19% | |||||||||||||||
| Lancaster County Boroughs | |||||||||||||||||||
| Lancaster County Townships | |||||||||||||||||||
| Berks County | 9% | 13% | 14% | 12% | |||||||||||||||
| Chester County | 5% | 6% | 7% | 6% | |||||||||||||||
| Cumberland County | 7% | 7% | 9% | 7% | |||||||||||||||
| Dauphin County | 10% | 12% | 13% | 12% | |||||||||||||||
| Lebanon County | 8% | 10% | 11% | 11% | |||||||||||||||
| York County | 7% | 9% | 10% | 9% | |||||||||||||||
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%.
| 2000 | 2007-11 | 2012-16 | 2017-21 | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 1,304,117 | 1,548,869 | 1,647,762 | 1,482,811 | |||||||||||||||
| Lancaster County | 35,553 | 49,400 | 55,977 | 46,315 | |||||||||||||||
| Lancaster City | 11,162 | 15,364 | 16,255 | 10,482 | |||||||||||||||
| Lancaster County Boroughs | |||||||||||||||||||
| Lancaster County Townships | |||||||||||||||||||
| Berks County | 34,201 | 51,993 | 57,329 | 48,947 | |||||||||||||||
| Chester County | 22,032 | 29,320 | 35,883 | 31,405 | |||||||||||||||
| Cumberland County | 13,102 | 15,700 | 19,828 | 17,865 | |||||||||||||||
| Dauphin County | 23,706 | 31,987 | 35,950 | 33,707 | |||||||||||||||
| Lebanon County | 8,728 | 12,296 | 14,293 | 15,052 | |||||||||||||||
| York County | 25,269 | 39,961 | 45,113 | 38,673 | |||||||||||||||
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%.
| INDICATORS | TREND |
|---|---|
| Children Living in Poverty | Maintaining |
| Children in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity | Not Applicable |
| People Living in Poverty | Increasing |
| People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity | Not Applicable |
| Veterans Living in Poverty | Maintaining |
| Working Poor | Maintaining |
| Median Household Income by Household Type | Not Applicable |
| Median Household Income | Maintaining |
| Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity | Not Applicable |
| Living Wage | Not Applicable |
| Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity | Not Applicable |
| Households Receiving SNAP by Race/Ethnicity | Not Applicable |
| Household Receiving Temporary Assistance | Increasing |
| Students Eligible for Free/Reduced Price Lunch | Increasing |
| Median Home Value | Maintaining |
| Occupied Housing Units | Maintaining |
| Homeownership Rate, by Race/Ethnicity | Not Applicable |
| Cost of Homeownership by Race/Ethnicity | Not Applicable |
| Median Rent | Maintaining |
| Cost of Renting | Increasing |
| Households Without Vehicles | Decreasing |
| Means of Transportation to Work, by Race/Ethnicity | Not Applicable |
