Introduction

Syracuse has one of the worst poverty ratings among cities of the United States. The child poverty rate is especially high, with nearly half of the city’s children living in poverty. And our poverty epidemic is not restricted to Syracuse; many of our region’s rural communities suffer from extreme scarcity as well. But what does this really mean for the residents of our neighborhoods?

Poverty Icon

It means lack of access to proper healthcare and affordable fresh foods. It means limited transportation options to get to and from work reliably, inadequate quality child care options, and limited savings for emergencies. And it often means living in unsafe housing or neighborhoods riddled with violence.

Our young children living in poverty are facing challenges some adults would find insurmountable – when walking to school through unsafe neighborhoods or going to bed hungry, it can be hard to concentrate on your studies. And children that fall behind in school are less likely to complete high school and college, making it hard to later become employed to support a family.

Clearly, the poverty epidemic in Central New York is detailed and complex. With it comes a series of causes and effects that make the solution seem almost unattainable.

But with every mentored child, job preparedness program or public policy change, the cycle of poverty begins to crack open. While our indicators in this section demonstrate the level of poverty in our region, it is important to remember that many of the indicators on this site are all connected to one another, and that the progress or decline of one can have a significant effect on the outcomes of another, especially our region’s poverty rates.

Living in Poverty

Poverty Population by Age/Gender - Onondaga County

Poverty Population by Age/Gender - Madison County

Poverty Population by Age/Gender - Oswego County

Poverty Population by Age/Gender - Cayuga County

Poverty Population by Age/Gender - Cortland County

Poverty Population by Age/Gender - Syracuse

Poverty Population by Age/Gender - Oneida

Poverty Population by Age/Gender - Oswego City

Poverty Population by Age/Gender - Auburn

Poverty Population by Age/Gender - Cortland City

Population Below the Poverty Line - Onondaga County

Population Below the Poverty Line - Madison County

Population Below the Poverty Line - Oswego County

Population Below the Poverty Line - Cayuga County

Population Below the Poverty Line - Cortland County

Population Below the Poverty Line - Syracuse

Population Below the Poverty Line - Oneida

Population Below the Poverty Line - Oswego City

Population Below the Poverty Line - Auburn

Population Below the Poverty Line - Cortland City

Population in Poverty Over Time - Onondaga County

Population in Poverty Over Time - Madison County

Population in Poverty Over Time - Oswego County

Population in Poverty Over Time - Cayuga County

Population in Poverty Over Time - Cortland County

Population in Poverty Over Time - Syracuse

Population in Poverty Over Time - Oneida

Population in Poverty Over Time - Oswego City

Population in Poverty Over Time - Auburn

Population in Poverty Over Time - Cortland City

Let's Break It Down

Women and children are over-represented among those living in poverty.

Data for most Central New York counties reflect the “feminization of poverty” or the phenomenon that women disproportionally make up the face of poverty. Year after year, in every county, data show that more women than men live in poverty. In 2022, women made up about 58 percent of the region’s adults (age 18 or older) living below the poverty line, while men accounted for about 42 percent of the total.

When you look at the breakdown by age, we see nearly 1 in 3 of the poorest residents in Central New York are young people under 18. Syracuse has the 2nd highest child poverty rate among large cities in the nation and the highest rate among large cities in New York State. In 2022, nearly 46 percent of the city’s children were living below the poverty line.

High rates of poverty can also be found throughout the region’s rural counties, where it is estimated that 2 in 5 households struggle to afford basic needs. Oswego County consistently has the highest poverty rate of any Central New York county, with especially high rates among young children. In 2022, over 31 percent of children under 12 in Oswego County were living below poverty. Even in Madison County, which has the lowest countywide poverty rate in Central New York, there are pockets of high poverty in places such as Chittenango and the City of Oneida.

Within counties, poverty rates vary widely and are highest among marginalized racial groups. The region’s highest concentrations of poverty lie within Syracuse census tracts that are home to many Black, Hispanic, and multiracial residents. A 2024 report by PEACE, Inc. describes how a long history of racial inequality has shaped and continues to impact the poverty we see in Syracuse today.

The Census Bureau uses the United States’ official measure of poverty, which assesses if people have the resources necessary to meet basic needs.

Why Does It Matter?

With nearly 39,000 people living in poverty in Syracuse, the entire region is affected.

When communities thrive, a flourishing economic pattern increases prosperity.  When communities fail, a vicious cycle feeds generational poverty, making it difficult to break. Poverty is related to numerous systemic issues that affect the quality of life in our region — safe and affordable housing, quality education, healthy food, reliable transportation and more — making its implications complicated and vast. 

In rural areas, services are often a great distance away and residents are faced with no or limited public transportation. Lack of access to needed services, jobs and reliable transportation create huge barriers to maintaining employment and receiving healthcare.

Living on a low income consequently affects a child’s ability to succeed in school. Children living in poverty are not exposed to the same learning opportunities as their wealthier counterparts and can experience lifelong effects from the disparity. With schools largely funded by property taxes, education inequities cause this problem to persist in low-income neighborhoods.

By serving as our urban center, a thriving Syracuse can lead to a strong commercial and cultural identity for the region, drawing in residents and offering job opportunities for a sustainable economy. Surrounding areas cannot thrive without a successful urban core, making it more important than ever that we all monitor and address these poverty statistics head-on.

With nearly 39,000 people living in poverty in Syracuse, the entire region is affected.

A Local Story

Rising Above Adversity

Everyone deserves a chance to meet their fullest potential, but on paper, it seemed as if Al-amin Muhammad wouldn’t get one. Born in South Side Chicago into a hardworking, low-income family, he was surrounded by gang culture from the very beginning. Now, with a newfound love of tending to flowers and people, Muhammad barely recognizes his previous self.

“Looking back at my earlier years makes me feel like I was wearing a mask,” Muhammad said. “I have since discovered interests I never knew I had — like gardening. I feel relief when I look at flowers, particularly roses.”

While incarcerated, Muhammad was in charge of the prison’s community garden. His new passion and skills fostered feelings of hope, happiness and growth and inspired the creation of his Syracuse-based nonprofit, We Rise Above the Streets (Rise Above). The organization provides basic needs and helps low-income individuals build sustainable lives by breaking the cycles of homelessness and poverty that they, including Muhammad, face every day.

Every day at Rise Above looks different. On a Saturday Muhammad hands out lunch and care packages at his Sandwich Saturdays program. The next day he might teach people who were formerly incarcerated how to garden or mentor people with drug or alcohol addictions. He’s also provided more than 9,000 lunches and 1,500 hats and gloves to local children.

Over his first 30 years, Muhammad was in and out of prison, joined a number of gangs, experienced homelessness, was shot twice and pronounced dead once. He once faced a 20-year prison sentence for a drug charge. But finding a job and a place to live after prison would be the hardest hurdle he’d have to overcome.

“It was really difficult transitioning back into life after I was released from prison and I was living on the street,” Muhammad said. “I wanted to go to school and get a job but I didn’t have time because my sole focus was on surviving.”

Even in the face of adversity, Muhammad didn’t let his past decisions hold him back. A conversation with a fellow inmate and guidance from two mentors helped him turn his life around. Muhammad was encouraged to “take his mask off” to find his true identity.

He earned his GED while incarcerated and began a path to Islam while later obtaining his associate degree. Those achievements helped open the door to a world where he could fulfill his hopes and dreams while helping others through Rise Above.

“I had people who believed in me and empowered me to see the gifts that I had,” Muhammad said. “Without that support, I may not be where I am today. That’s the kind of support I want to provide for others facing disproportionate obstacles.”

With his boots on the ground in local neighborhoods, Muhammad wants others to know that when you’re out in the field, you can save lives. He said that the people physically engaged in community issues can make the greatest change for people experiencing pain and suffering.

“I see a bright light at the end of the tunnel. I am looking forward to continuing my partnerships with other organizations and saving lives.”

Muhammad continues to challenge himself every day and think of new ways to grow his impact — and his beautiful roses.

“I see a bright light at the end of the tunnel. I am looking forward to continuing my partnerships with other organizations and saving lives.” Al-amin Muhammad

What You Can Do

Give input and get involved.

Whether you’re an experienced volunteer, an activist, a student, working professional, or a stay-at-home parent, there are roles both big and small that you can play to shape the future of the region.

See Additional Opportunities View All
Volunteer
Serve food at the Samaritan Center Learn More »
Donate
Deliver food or clothing to CazCares Food Pantry and Clothing Closet Learn More »
Take Action
Join a community action group Learn More »
Civic Engagement
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