Economic Mobility
80/20 Income Ratio
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Source: U.S. Census Bureau

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What does this measure?

The 80/20 ratio describes the disparity in the size of the income of a household at the 80th percentile relative to that of the income of a household at the 20th percentile. A higher ratio indicates greater income inequality.

Why is this important?

High levels of income inequality can make it more difficult for lower income children and families to become part of the middle class (upward mobility). The greater the disparity in income, the less likely it is that positive effects of economic growth will be distributed among all households.

How is our county performing?

In 2018-22, Worcester County had an 80/20 ratio of 5.1, an increase from 4.8 in 2008-12. The 80th percentile salary was $174,200 and the 20th percentile salary was $21,400. The Worcester County ratio was similar to the national ratio of 4.9 and slightly lower than the Massachusetts ratio of 5.5.

Among local areas with reliable data, the ratio was the highest in the City of Worcester, at 6.0, with an 80th percentile salary of $128,500 and 20th percentile salary of $34,200. Blackstone had the next highest ratio, at 5.4, with an 80th percentile salary of $186,200 and 20th percentile salary of $34,200.

Notes about the data

The ratio was calculated by dividing the median household income at the 80th percentile by the median household income at the 20th percentile. Household income was sourced from U.S. Census data.

Income Inequality
2008-122013-172018-22
Worcester County4.85.15.1
Athol4.45.44.2
Clinton4.23.83.8
Fitchburg5.05.04.7
Gardner4.85.14.8
Northbridge4.54.74.9
Southbridge4.64.85.4
Spencer5.44.83.9
Webster4.64.24.7
Westborough3.64.04.4***
Worcester5.66.36.0
Massachusetts5.35.55.5
Additional Worcester County localities
Ashburnham3.63.13.9
Auburn4.14.24.2
Barre3.93.7*2.7
Berlin3.24.14.8*
Blackstone3.93.55.4
Bolton4.23.42.6***
Boylston4.24.63.9***
Brookfield3.64.6*6.4*
Charlton3.54.13.1
Douglas3.83.24.0
Dudley3.54.74.5
East Brookfield4.0*3.83.1
Grafton4.24.44.5
Hardwick7.65.75.3
Harvard3.24.53.1***
Holden3.33.43.6
Hopedale3.84.85.1
Hubbardston3.43.53.5
Lancaster4.23.1*3.2
Leicester3.83.83.6
Lunenburg3.74.64.0
Mendon3.53.23.4
Milford4.44.04.1
Millbury3.95.14.2
Millville3.24.23.9
New Braintree2.83.33.3
Northborough4.23.94.3***
North Brookfield4.33.72.9
Oakham3.53.13.6
Oxford4.74.65.0
Paxton3.24.32.9
Petersham4.74.1*4.2
Phillipston2.83.03.2
Princeton3.74.03.9
Royalston3.1*3.04.1
Rutland3.53.53.7
Shrewsbury3.94.54.2
Southborough3.94.1***3.1***
Sterling3.23.64.4
Sturbridge5.44.34.3
Sutton3.53.24.2
Templeton4.03.33.8
Upton4.24.44.1***
Uxbridge3.33.83.1
Warren3.8*4.3*6.1**
West Boylston3.84.03.9
West Brookfield3.54.1*4.8
Westminster2.92.83.5*
Winchendon3.34.24.1
Leominster4.55.24.4

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
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
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Establishments 1
Increasing
Average Charitable Contribution 0
Maintaining
Households With Internet Access 1
Increasing
Protected Land 10 Not Applicable*
Voter Participation Rate -1
Decreasing
Voter Registration Rate 0
Maintaining
Arrest Rate by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Change in Total Population 1
Increasing
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Foreign-Born Population 1
Increasing
Language Diversity 1
Increasing
Population by Age -1
Decreasing
Households by Type 0
Maintaining
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Median Household Income 0
Maintaining
Household Income by Race/Ethnicity 0
Maintaining
80/20 Income Ratio 0
Maintaining
Income in Relation to Poverty Level 0
Maintaining
People Living in Poverty 0
Maintaining
People Living in Poverty, by Education Level 1
Increasing
People Living in Poverty, by Age 1
Increasing
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Homeownership Rates, by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Overall Housing Cost Burden -1
Decreasing
Cost of Rent, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Median Home Value by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Homelessness 10 Not Applicable*
Households Receiving SNAP by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Household Receiving Temporary Assistance 0
Maintaining
Households Without Vehicles 0
Maintaining
Education Levels of Adults by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Change in Employment by Sector 10 Not Applicable*
Change in Average Salary by Sector 10 Not Applicable*
Female to Male Earnings Ratio 0
Maintaining
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Employer Size 1
Increasing
Business Ownership, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Self-Employment Revenue 0
Maintaining
People Entering/Leaving County for Work 1
Increasing
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Preterm Births 10 Not Applicable*
Infant Mortality by Mother's Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Children with Elevated Blood Lead Levels -1
Decreasing
Prevalence of Children with Asthma 1
Increasing
People with Disabilities 1
Increasing
People Without Health Insurance -1
Decreasing
Cancer Incidence 0
Maintaining
Diabetes Incidence -1
Decreasing
Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions 1
Increasing
Opioid Overdose Mortality Rate 1
Increasing
Children Living in Poverty 0
Maintaining
Children Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Economically Disadvantaged Students 1
Increasing
Disengaged Youth -1
Decreasing
Prekindergarten Participation -1
Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 3 English, by Student Subgroup -1
Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math, by Student Subgroup -1
Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 10 English, by Student Subgroup -1
Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 10 Math, by Student Subgroup -1
Decreasing
High School Cohort Graduation Rate, by Student Group 1
Increasing
Arrest Rate by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Household Income by Race/Ethnicity 0
Maintaining
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Homeownership Rates, by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Cost of Rent, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Median Home Value by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Households Receiving SNAP by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Education Levels of Adults by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Business Ownership, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Infant Mortality by Mother's Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Children Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 3 English, by Student Subgroup -1
Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math, by Student Subgroup -1
Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 10 English, by Student Subgroup -1
Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 10 Math, by Student Subgroup -1
Decreasing
High School Cohort Graduation Rate, by Student Group 1
Increasing





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