Maryland Counties with Highest Total Number of People in Poverty (Baltimore: houses, school districts)

[factcheckerdude]

This data was taken from the new census estimates for total number of people living below the poverty line in each Maryland County. The top 5 areas in terms of total numbers for people living under the poverty line are as follows:

http://www.census.gov/cgi-bin/saipe/saipe.cgi (broken link)

State of Maryland - 509,141 (total people living under the poverty line)

United States Total Number of people in poverty - 42,868,163 (just for some perspective) http://www.census.gov/cgi-bin/saipe/saipe.cgi (broken link)

Maryland as a state only makes up less than 1% of the United States total poverty rate.


1. Baltimore City, MD - 127, 205
2. Montgomery County, MD - 64,607 (10th Richest County in Country)
3. Baltimore County, MD - 63,931
4. Prince George's County, MD - 63,748
5. Ann Arundel County, MD - 34,650

I decided to look at total numbers since that what really affects resources and state aid given to each county.

Here's another statistical way to look at the data. What county houses the highest percentage of individuals living below the poverty line in the state of Maryland?

1. Baltimore City, MD 24.9% (basic math folks lol 127,205/509,141 will give you the percentage) - BTW that's amazing nearly a quarter of all people living under the poverty line in Maryland live in the City of Baltimore

2. Montgomery County, MD - 12.6% of all people living under the poverty line in Maryland reside in Moco. Wow, that's pretty amazing considering it is the 10th richest county in the country

3. Baltimore County, MD - 12.5%
4. Prince George's County, MD - 12.49%
5. Ann Arundel County, MD - 6.8%


Those are the FACTS. (I'll be doing a bunch more statistical facts on the state of Maryland over the next few weeks and posting my findings. I'm extremely interested in Prince George's County, mainly due to the bad reputation and how the data doesn't really back up many people's opinions (sadly not even close).

[Tiger Beer]

Do you have any data on Frederick County MD, Fairfax County VA, and Prince William VA?

[factcheckerdude]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

Do you have any data on Frederick County MD, Fairfax County VA, and Prince William VA?

Hi Tiger Beer,

I'll give you the data even though this is a Maryland forum, but it relates to the DC/Area suburbs, so i guess it is ok to post this information for the state of Virginia

State of Virginia - 805,555 (total people living under the poverty line)

Virginia as a state only makes up less than 2% of the United States total poverty rate.

Model-based Small Area Income & Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) for School Districts, Counties, and States - U.S. Census Bureau

1. Fairfax County, VA - 57,753 (2nd Wealthiest County in the Country)
2. Richmond City, VA - 44,931
3. Norfolk City, VA - 37,917
4. Henrico County, VA - 29,165
5. Virginia Beach City, VA -28,889

7. Prince William County, VA -22,535

35. Frederick County, VA -6,796

[North Beach Person]

The PG number is interesting. In education we measure poverty by number of kids getting Free And Reduced Meals (FARM). The school system number for FARM is 51% of kids receiving it.

[westsideboy]

I couldn't get the link to work, but I don't think the Montgomery County number is correct. The current census fact sheet from 2005 -2009 has only 5.3% of individuals living below the poverty line.

Even taking the current population estimate 946,172 and dividing by the raw figure you gave 64,607, that is still only 6.8% in poverty. I am not sure where this other number is coming from.

[factcheckerdude]

Originally Posted by westsideboy

I couldn't get the link to work, but I don't think the Montgomery County number is correct. The current census fact sheet from 2005 -2009 has only 5.3% of individuals living below the poverty line.

Even taking the current population estimate 946,172 and dividing by the raw figure you gave 64,607, that is still only 6.8% in poverty. I am not sure where this other number is coming from.

Westsideboy, I'll ask you take your issue up with United States Federal Government if you don't like the numbers they posted. I'll be honest at first i thought you were being funny and not serious, so i did not respond, but after reading it again, i think you are being serious?

Basic math you did correct. Montgomery County as of 2009 has a poverty rate of 6.8%, which translates to 946,172 multiplied by 6.8% and guess what? Magically you get a total of (drum roll please) - 64,340 Total people under the poverty level (hence why i thought you were joking and not serious), but i'm not sure what you're actually attempting to disagree with?

Montgomery County is always going to be in the top one or two for total number of people living under the poverty level in the state of Maryland. The county has close to 1 Million people and a much higher poverty rate than fellow large county FairFax County, Virginia, so if Montgomery got their poverty level down to under maybe 3-4% percent than maybe it would not be 1 or 2 each year in the state for number of people under the poverty level.

Westsideboy the problem with the 5.3 number is that you're pulling from another year 2007 or 2006. I'm pulling from the most recent Data given in 2009. However, the results would be the same overall each year for the counties ranked in the Top 5.

Also the Population in Montgomery County for 2009 was estimated at 964,283


Westsideboy follow this link perhaps it works better http://www.census.gov/did/www/saipe/index.html

Step 1 - Click Link
Step 2 - Go to "State and County Estimates for 2009"
Step 3 - Click "create interactive tables"
Step 4 - Put "Maryland" in the State input box. (Leave year 2009) Press continue
Step 5 - Select All and Check the box marked "All ages in poverty" ...Then click display data
Step 6 - You can sort the Data by total numbers all you have to do is click the column that says, "Number" twice, it will put the county,city, with the most total number of people living under the poverty level to the very top!


NorthBeachPerson,

Just to clarify, I do not parse data numbers for children, so I'm not specifically sure why you felt the need to only respond in reference to children? However, what you posted was very interesting as well and has added to the debate. However, I will only post TOTAL numbers, which would refer to all adults, children, and the elderly.


Question to Forum Viewers/Users

I've said this before in my previous post the level of intellectual dishonesty, lying, and outright denial when talking about the state of Maryland astounds me. I have just never seen this level of denial and such an inability to accept facts.

I'm just fact checking!!! I go to the most trustworthy, accurate, and most respected source for the data and post the information. There is no smoke/mirrors, emotional attachment with the data on my end. I'm on the side of honest debate. (which most people hate)

I hate to say, but if you're finding the data that upsetting thus far you're in for a big emotional disturbance on Tuesday when the census posts all the 2010 numbers. Just wait until I post the 2010 Wealthiest Towns/Cities in Maryland, that should stir a lot of interesting responses.

Does anyone else notice this?

[North Beach Person]

Factchecker, the reason I mentioned schools was because the 63K total number is just about, actually a bit lower than, the numerical total of kids getting FARM.

FARM is income based and also includes total members in household. Foster kids automatically get FARM regardless of foster parent income so that will skew the numbers a bit.

Not arguing or even upset, just found the Census number interesting when compared with the school number.

[dkf747]

Factchecker. Is anyone, in fact, upset? Unless you're trying to imply something about MD, I don't see why anyone would be. Do you have a hidden motive for posting the info?

[westsideboy]

My bad, I thought you were saying that 12.6% of Montgomery County residents were living under the poverty line, which would be incorrect.

I get after a more close reading that you are saying that 12.6% of poor Marylanders live in Montgomery County. But considering that Montgomery county has 16.9% of the state's total population, having only 12.6% of the poor folks is still less than what you expect based solely on population.

The general trend I see is that the bigger the population in a county, the larger the raw number of poor people there, which should be expected.

[factcheckerdude]

Originally Posted by westsideboy

My bad, I thought you were saying that 12.6% of Montgomery County residents were living under the poverty line, which would be incorrect.

I get after a more close reading that you are saying that 12.6% of poor Marylanders live in Montgomery County. But considering that Montgomery county has 16.9% of the state's total population, having only 12.6% of the poor folks is still less than what you expect based solely on population.

The general trend I see is that the bigger the population in a county, the larger the raw number of poor people there, which should be expected.

Westsideboy, correct i agree with you, but i was merely pointing out raw numbers, because that what really matters in terms of funding, so despite being the wealthiest county in Maryland. Montgomery County is also most likely receiving the highest level of state aid for the poor, because outside of Baltimore City they have the highest total number of poor people.

I notice a lot of people complain about the poor and spending (tax dollars) on them, so I'm just pointing out we need to keep TOTAL (raw) numbers in mind when discussing these things, because that's what really matters!