This document examines poverty trends on the North Shore of Massachusetts. It finds that poverty is concentrated in four cities - Salem, Beverly, Gloucester and Peabody - which together account for 71% of the subregion's poor residents. Poverty has increased overall since 2000 and is becoming more prevalent among non-family households and families without spouses present. However, poverty trends have diverged across municipalities, with some towns seeing rises in poverty while others have remained steady or seen declines. The document outlines challenges faced by those in suburban poverty, including lack of access to services and transportation difficulties.

1. A Picture of Poverty
on the North Shore
Recent Trends and New Challenges
Confronting Poverty on the North Shore
19 November 2013
Timothy G. Reardon
Assistant Director of Data Services
Metropolitan Area Planning Council

2. North Shore Poverty by the Numbers
Number of People in Poverty
Population in Poverty, by Household Type,
North Shore Task Force, 2007 - 2011
8,000
Non-Family
Households
7,000
6,000
Family
Households, No
Spouse Present
5,000
4,000
3,000
Family
Households, Marri
ed Couple
2,000
1,000
0
Under 25
25 - 44
45 - 64
Age of Householder
65 plus

3. An Uneven Landscape

4. Poverty Concentrated in Four Cities
Population inin Poverty,
Population Poverty,
North Shore Subregion, 2007 - 2011
North Shore Subregion, 2007 - 2011
5,500
5,500
Number of Residents in Poverty
Number of Residents in Poverty
5,000
5,000
Labels indicate municipal
share
of subregion's poverty
25%
4,500
4,500
4,000
4,000
3,500
3,500
3,000
3,000
2,500
2,500
17%
16%
1 3%
2,000
2,000
1,500
1,500
1,000
1,000
500
500
8%
6%
4%
3%
2%
2%
2%
2%
<1% <1%
<1%
<1%
--
71% of total
Source: American Community Survey, 2007 - 2011

5. Poverty in 2000

6. The Shifting Landscape of Poverty

7. Divergent Regional Trends
Topsfield
Danvers
Marblehead
Rockport
Middleton
Swampscot
t
Wenham
Nahant
Beverly
Salem
Peabody
Gloucester
Hamilton
Manchester
Ipswich
Essex

8. Divergent Regional Trends

9. The Challenges of Suburban Poverty

10. The Challenges of Suburban Poverty

11. The Challenges of Suburban Poverty

12. The Challenges of Suburban Poverty

13. Anti-Poverty Infrastructure

14. A Picture of Poverty
on the North Shore
Recent Trends and New Challenges
Confronting Poverty on the North Shore
19 November 2013
Timothy G. Reardon
Assistant Director of Data Services
Metropolitan Area Planning Council