Economic Mobility
Household Receiving Temporary Assistance
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Source: U.S. Census Bureau

What does this measure?

The number of households that received any public assistance or welfare payments in the past 12 months, expressed as a percentage of total households.

Why is this important?

This measure represents the number of households which rely upon government support to meet their basic needs.

How is our county performing?

In 2018-22, 3.5% of Worcester County households (about 11,700) received public assistance income, a slight increase from 3.2% in 2008-12. This was similar to the state rate (3.3%) and higher the nation (2.7%). The state rate increased very slightly since 2008-12, while the national rate remained the same. The percentage of households receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) in the City of Worcester, the only locality with statistically reliable results, was much higher than the County at 6%.

Notes about the data

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is a federally funded program administered at the state level, meaning that eligibility requirements vary from state to state. ACS does not ask specifically which program provides the income, although TANF is the primary source of public assistance funds. Families are eligible for TANF benefits for up to 60 months, although most receive assistance for shorter periods of time.

The multiyear 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.

Studies have found that national survey estimates (including the ACS) of enrollment in public benefit programs tend to underestimate the true rate due to underreporting by participants, when compared with state-level administrative data. Underreporting can occur for a variety of reasons, including the social stigma of program participation and participants' confusion about the source of the services they receive. For these reasons, the estimates reported above should be considered a lower bound of the true estimate.

Households Receiving Temporary Assistance
2008-122013-172018-22
Worcester County3.2%2.9%3.5%
Athol2.7%***1.8%***6.0%**
Clinton4.9%**3.3%**1.8%***
Fitchburg5.1%*5.3%*4.8%*
Gardner6.4%*4.0%*2.1%**
Northbridge2.4%***1.2%***3.3%***
Southbridge5.1%**3.5%**10.2%*
Spencer4.2%**2.3%***2.4%***
Webster6.8%*5.6%*3.1%**
Westborough1.1%***0.6%***1.3%**
Worcester5.7%5.3%6.0%
Massachusetts2.9%2.8%3.3%
Additional Worcester County localities
Ashburnham1.4%***0.0%***3.2%***
Auburn1.9%**1.4%**4.1%***
Barre1.1%***2.2%***4.5%***
Berlin1.2%***1.8%***1.3%***
Blackstone0.6%***0.4%***0.7%***
Bolton1.5%***0.5%***1.8%***
Boylston1.3%***1.1%***1.9%***
Brookfield0.0%***1.8%***1.9%***
Charlton2.4%***2.0%***4.7%***
Douglas1.3%***3.6%***4.6%***
Dudley0.4%***2.5%***1.1%***
East Brookfield0.9%***0.7%***2.9%***
Grafton2.5%***2.0%**1.4%***
Hardwick0.0%***5.6%***7.3%***
Harvard2.4%***0.7%***0.7%***
Holden1.9%**1.2%**1.7%***
Hopedale1.8%***0.0%***4.4%***
Hubbardston0.0%***0.5%***0.5%***
Lancaster1.3%***0.3%***1.1%***
Leicester2.6%***1.9%***1.5%***
Lunenburg0.8%***1.2%***2.4%***
Mendon0.0%***0.5%***2.3%***
Milford2.1%**2.3%**1.4%***
Millbury1.4%***1.3%***1.8%***
Millville2.0%***1.2%***2.0%***
New Braintree0.0%***1.2%***2.0%***
Northborough1.7%***1.2%***3.5%***
North Brookfield1.4%***1.5%***0.0%***
Oakham2.6%***3.7%**5.1%***
Oxford1.2%***1.4%***2.2%***
Paxton0.0%***1.0%***1.8%***
Petersham0.7%***0.6%***2.4%***
Phillipston5.2%***1.0%***4.3%***
Princeton0.8%***1.9%***0.0%***
Royalston2.3%***1.7%***2.6%***
Rutland2.9%***0.4%***3.0%***
Shrewsbury1.2%**1.3%**1.9%***
Southborough0.8%***1.4%***2.3%***
Sterling0.0%***0.9%***0.0%***
Sturbridge0.7%***0.7%***3.4%***
Sutton1.3%***0.0%***1.7%***
Templeton1.5%***3.4%***4.0%***
Upton1.3%***0.5%***1.4%***
Uxbridge1.8%***1.3%***2.0%***
Warren0.8%***0.5%***4.9%***
West Boylston1.1%***0.9%***2.1%***
West Brookfield2.0%***0.7%***2.3%***
Westminster1.3%***2.6%***0.5%***
Winchendon1.7%***2.6%***5.4%**
Leominster2.9%**3.6%*2.4%*

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%.




Number of Households Receiving Temporary Assistance
2008-122013-172018-22
Worcester County9,4928,84311,655
Athol120***87***283**
Clinton268**182**122***
Fitchburg753*783*801*
Gardner498*330*189**
Northbridge140***74***216***
Southbridge323**244**714*
Spencer196**116***124***
Webster478*377*224**
Westborough79***37***102**
Worcester3,9743,7374,727
Massachusetts74,36572,49890,906
Additional Worcester County localities
Ashburnham33***0***73***
Auburn119**97**274***
Barre21***43***83***
Berlin13***21***19***
Blackstone20***14***29***
Bolton24***8***34***
Boylston21***18***36***
Brookfield0***26***27***
Charlton105***98***227***
Douglas42***112***144***
Dudley16***97***49***
East Brookfield7***6***25***
Grafton159***138**106***
Hardwick0***69***79***
Harvard45***14***14***
Holden121**79**118***
Hopedale40***0***95***
Hubbardston0***9***7***
Lancaster31***8***34***
Leicester106***81***60***
Lunenburg34***50***109***
Mendon0***10***47***
Milford218**258**164***
Millbury72***70***93***
Millville20***14***25***
New Braintree0***5***8***
Northborough90***61***203***
North Brookfield28***28***0***
Oakham17***25**31***
Oxford60***72***107***
Paxton0***16***29***
Petersham3***3***11***
Phillipston34***6***30***
Princeton10***24***0***
Royalston10***9***14***
Rutland77***13***92***
Shrewsbury152**168**270***
Southborough26***46***81***
Sterling0***24***0***
Sturbridge24***25***135***
Sutton40***0***57***
Templeton44***113***125***
Upton33***14***37***
Uxbridge86***64***106***
Warren16***9***99***
West Boylston26***19***59***
West Brookfield28***11***35***
Westminster36***75***15***
Winchendon68***103***195**
Leominster488**603*443*

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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