Massachusetts
State Government
Governor
Maura Healey (D)
State Senate
36
Democrats,
4
Republicans
State House
133
Democrats,
25
Republicans
Economic well-being - Massachusetts
Extreme poverty rate
0.1
Food insecurity
0.1
Minimum wage
15.0
Percent of working families under 200% of the poverty line
0.2
Poverty rate
9.7%
Unemployment rate
4.8
Number of Black or African American children living in families where no parent has full-time, year-round employment
Number of Hispanic or Latino children living in families where no parent has full-time, year-round employment
Percent of individuals who are uninsured
2.8
Poverty by demographic - Massachusetts
Child poverty rate
0.1
Number of Asian and Pacific Islander children below 200% poverty
19000
Number of Black or African American children below 200% poverty
53000
Number of Hispanic or Latino children below 200% poverty
139000
Senior poverty rate
10.8 %
Women in poverty
3,531,015
Lowell Sun, September 30, 2011: Merrimack Valley Food Bank, Lowell school unite to fight hunger
"The box truck pulled up in front of the Lincoln Elementary School on Friday morning with one goal: the annihilation of one of education's top obstacles -- empty tummies."
The Boston Globe, September 28, 2011: A longer school day transforms low- income kids into high achievers
"The Storyline from the latest MCAS results is disappointing: Overall, our schools are only making slow progress narrowing the gap between low-income and middle-class kids. But the charter school folks have reason to be happy"
The Boston Globe, September 11, 2011: Healthy lift for families, farmers too
"Thanks to a $2,000 grant from the state, the market matches every SNAP dollar up to $25, letting low-income families double the amount of locally produced goods that they can obtain with their benefit."
The Berkshire Eagle, September 10, 2011: New program to give dads direction
"The Berkshire County Sheriff's Office has signed on to a national program aimed at improving relationships and communications skills between fathers and at-risk children."
Daily News-Miner, August 27, 2011: Cyclists rack up miles in Alaska to give back to Massachusetts school
"The two Wellesley College graduates are trying to raise $20,000 for the Our Sisters' School, a tuition-free, school for fifth- to eighth-grade girls from disadvantaged backgrounds in New Bedford, Mass."