No child should experience the hardships of poverty. Yet, here in New York State, far too many do. Here are the facts:
In New York State In 2023
Nearly 1 in 5 or
%
of children experienced poverty
New York children were more likely to live in poverty than in
other states
%
Of children in NYS experience food insecurity
In some communities – including Syracuse, Rochester, and Binghamton, more than 40% of children live in poverty.
Due to structural and systemic racism, Black children in New York State are more than twice as likely to live in poverty than their Non-Hispanic White peers.
In 2024
a family of two adults and two children fell below the poverty threshold if their annual income fell below $31,812 or an equivalent of $2,651 per month.
or 6% of New york's students experienced homelessness
“The aid, care and support of the needy are public concerns and shall be provided by the state.”
– New York State Constitution
Last Updated September 2025
Find data from your community with the Schuyler Center New York State Child Poverty Live Map. This interactive map is a tool for advocates and the public to access local data on child poverty rates in their communities by New York State Senate districts, Assembly districts, and Zip codes.
Additional Resources
- The Center on Poverty and Social Policy at Columbia University undertakes research and data analysis and examines policies that can make a difference in addressing poverty.
- National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) 2019 Report: A Roadmap to Reducing Child Poverty
- The National Center on Children in Poverty, housed at Bank Street Graduate School for Education, engages in state level and national data tracking focusing on childhood well-being.
- The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) created a comprehensive listing of State Poverty Task Force Recommendations in March 2011. These are not specifically about child poverty, but cover many recommendations that would affect child poverty.
- The American Academy of Pediatrics created a spreadsheet of State Child Poverty Commissions, Councils, and Task Forces, their active dates, and any reports or plans they produced.
- City and state efforts to eliminate child poverty from End Child Poverty US.
- Center on Budget and Policy Priorities 2015 Research: EITC and Child Tax Credit Promote Work, Reduce Poverty, and Support Children’s Development
- The American Academy of Pediatrics has released a policy statement on child poverty and has other resources on its website.