The percentage of people living in poverty is a measure of the overall economic health of a region. It also indicates the level of need for social and government supports within the community.

The regional poverty rate in 2017-21 was 13%, the same as the nation and statewide rate. Poverty in the region is up from 10% in 2000. The poverty rate in the City of Rochester was significantly higher at 29% in 2017-21, an increase of 3 points since 2000 but down 4 points since 2012-16.

The 59,500 Rochester residents living in poverty accounted for 59% of the poverty in Monroe County and 40% of the total for the region; these shares have declined between 6 and 10 percentage points since 2000, indicating a growth in poverty outside the City as well. Among the regional counties, poverty rates were highest in 2017-21 in Monroe and Orleans (both at 14%), followed by Yates (13%), while the rate were lowest in Ontario and Wyoming (both at 9%).

The multi-year 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. 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. Data for this indicator are expected to be released in the fourth quarter.