The percentage of people in poverty in various race and ethnic groups is a measure of the overall economic health of these groups. It also indicates the level of need for social and government supports.

Poverty rates were highest in the region in 2014-18 among African American and Hispanic residents, at 34% and 32% respectively, compared to Asian residents at 17% and white residents at 10%. The disparity was similar at the statewide level; the poverty rate among white and Asian residents was similar to the region, while the rates for African Americans and Hispanics were lower by 13 and 8 points respectively. With the exception of Hispanic residents (whose rate remained largely unchanged), regional poverty rates increased from 2000 through 2014-18 with the largest increases coming among Asian and African American residents (both 4 percentage points). For all groups, rates were higher in the City of Rochester than in the region at 39% of African American residents, 43% of Hispanic residents, 28% of Asians, and 25% of white residents. In the other counties in the region, populations of these groups were generally too small for reliable estimates of the poverty rate.

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. Poverty status is not reported for people in institutions, including college dormitories and military barracks, and people in living situations without conventional housing. Data for this indicator are expected to be released in the fourth quarter.