Economic Mobility
Household Income by Race/Ethnicity
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Source: U.S. Census Bureau

What does this measure?

Median household income, in 2022 dollars. Half of incomes are below the median and half are above.

Why is this important?

Median household income is a gauge of overall economic health of the region and the financial resources of households. Examining income for different racial and ethnic groups is important as a measure of inequity.

How is our county performing?

In 2018-22, median income in Worcester County was substantially lower among Hispanic or Latino ($57,900) and Black or African American ($70,000) households, and higher among White ($91,200) and Asian ($119,300) households. While Latino households had the lowest median income, they saw the largest increase since 2008-12 (44%), compared to smaller increases among African American (11%), Asian (10%) and White (5%) households.

The state had similar disparities in 2018-22. Earnings for African American, Asian, and Latino households in Worcester County were similar to Massachusetts incomes, while earnings for White residents were lower than the state median ($102,700). Compared to national medians, most groups in Worcester County earned more except Latino households, who fared better at the national level ($64,900).

Among local areas with reliable data, the median income for Latino and African American households in the City of Worcester were lower than the County medians for each group.

Why do these disparities exist?

These large and persistent disparities in income are the result of historic and current policies and practices that disadvantage people of color. Research has connected slavery and the inability of Black Americans even after emancipation to fully participate in economic life to the wealth and income gaps still present today. Structural racism perpetuated by policies and practices that systematically disadvantage African American and Latino communities include inequitable education, low wages, job and wage discrimination, lack of access to capital, and globalization. Even when a recovery from the current economic crisis occurs, it is not expected to make up for the pre-existing racial disparities experienced over time unless policies are enacted to address these gaps.

Notes about the data

Figures are in constant 2022 dollars. 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. 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). The survey provides data on characteristics of the population that used to be collected only during the decennial census. Data for this indicator are released annually in December.

Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity, 2018-22
AsianBlack or African AmericanHispanic or LatinoWhite
Worcester County$119,329$70,034$57,914$91,164
AtholN/A***N/A***N/A***$63,457
ClintonN/A***N/A***$49,327***$90,968
Fitchburg$116,250$51,429*$62,485*$68,464
Gardner$52,325**N/A***$77,059*$56,653
NorthbridgeN/A***$184,022**N/A***$106,701
Southbridge$71,818***$44,712**$43,517*$55,079*
SpencerN/A***N/A***$67,896***$76,544
WebsterN/A***$45,905*$62,858$72,568
Westborough$181,315$96,638***$125,057**$122,431
Worcester$62,159$63,756$46,739$66,828
Massachusetts$118,767$67,044$59,292$102,701
Additional Worcester County localities
AshburnhamN/A***N/A***$137,344***$112,438*
Auburn$82,802*$63,021*$90,861**$103,226
BarreN/A***N/A***N/A***$96,128
Berlin$250,001N/A***N/A***$120,938
Blackstone$188,175***$188,406N/A***$94,695
Bolton$114,757***N/A***N/A***$206,071
Boylston$250,001N/A***N/A***$126,458
BrookfieldN/A***N/A***N/A***$70,929*
CharltonN/A***N/A***$110,821**$113,313
DouglasN/A***N/A***$241,146***$136,916
Dudley$51,109*$90,658***$90,188***$86,889
East BrookfieldN/A***N/A***N/A***$78,333*
Grafton$211,938N/A***$93,295***$112,817
HardwickN/A***N/A***N/A***$64,299*
Harvard$220,547*N/A***$250,001$192,784
Holden$105,568***$195,745$126,250***$137,562
HopedaleN/A***N/A***N/A***$121,850
HubbardstonN/A***N/A***$141,071***$114,375
LancasterN/A***N/A***N/A***$111,218*
LeicesterN/A***N/A***$51,875***$96,433
Lunenburg$250,001N/A***N/A***$104,796
MendonN/A***N/A***N/A***$119,250**
Milford$151,458**$76,351*$76,215*$97,700
Millbury$177,969***$144,375***$131,007$98,955
MillvilleN/A***N/A***N/A***$89,811
New BraintreeN/A***N/A***N/A***$100,750
Northborough$219,904*N/A***N/A***$167,222
North BrookfieldN/A***N/A***N/A***$80,743
OakhamN/A***N/A***N/A***$93,438
OxfordN/A***$124,706***$76,929***$96,667
PaxtonN/A***N/A***N/A***$128,625
PetershamN/A***N/A***N/A***$104,886
PhillipstonN/A***N/A***N/A***$90,625
PrincetonN/A***N/A***N/A***$164,417
RoyalstonN/A***N/A***N/A***$99,875
Rutland$86,029*N/A***N/A***$151,149
Shrewsbury$134,068$104,196***$113,352**$126,450
Southborough$250,001N/A***$168,839$175,982
SterlingN/A***N/A***N/A***$131,827
Sturbridge$105,893**$175,265***$130,990*$108,717
Sutton$234,563**N/A***$250,001$137,324
TempletonN/A***N/A***$138,854**$100,071
UptonN/A***N/A***$103,264***$137,768*
UxbridgeN/A***N/A***$130,682**$124,211
WarrenN/A***N/A***N/A***$63,493*
West BoylstonN/A***N/A***$104,625***$93,295
West BrookfieldN/A***N/A***$223,365***$88,092*
WestminsterN/A***N/A***N/A***$95,700
WinchendonN/A***N/A***$160,956***$82,629
Leominster$145,057$90,728$61,842$73,725

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Notes: Figures in 2022 dollars. 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%. The Census Bureau asks people to identify their race (white, African-American, etc.) separate from their ethnicity (Hispanic or non-Hispanic). So the totals for these categories cannot be added together, as people show up in both a racial and ethnic group.







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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