The percentage of people in poverty in various racial and ethnic groups is a measure of the overall economic health of these groups and may reflect disparities in access to economic opportunity. It also indicates the level of need for social and government supports.

In 2018-22, 20% of Hispanic or Latino residents and 16% of Black or African American residents in Worcester County had incomes below the poverty line, compared to 11% among Asian residents and 8% among White residents. Since 2008-12, rates declined by 12 percentage points for Latinos and by two points for African American residents. The rates for Asian and White residents were essentially steady.

Worcester County rates for all racial and ethnic groups were similar to the state and nation, except for the rate among African Americans which was five points lower in the County compared to the nation.

The City of Worcester, the only locality with statistically reliable data, had higher percentages of people living in poverty across all races and ethnicities compared to the County, particularly among Asians at 22% and Whites at 18%.

These large and persistent disparities in poverty rates 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. In addition, these differences are attributed to the complex interplay of conditions including gender, occupation, family structure, education, employment status, wages, incarceration, unemployment and discrimination. Black or African American and Hispanic or Latino workers across industries tend to earn lower wages than their White and Asian or Asian American peers. While education, especially the absence of a high school diploma, increases the likelihood of poverty, education credentials do not eliminate racial disparities. African Americans experience unemployment at twice the rate of Whites regardless of education level. Also, the disproportionate and systemic incarceration of Black and Latino males decreases job prospects and increases the likelihood of poverty.

Poverty status is not reported for people in institutions, including college dormitories and military barracks, and people in living situations without conventional housing. 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.

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 expected to be released annually in December.