POVERTY AND THE REAL COST OF LIVING IN FORSYTH COUNTY The federal government defines people in poverty as those who live below the poverty line or threshold of income for their specific family size and type. In 2009, the federal poverty guideline for an individual was $10,830 and $18,310 for a family of three (the average family size in Forsyth County). For the time period examined, 16.1% of females of all ages (27,360 women and girls) in Forsyth County fell below the poverty level compared to 12.5% of males.8 Significant disparities exist in poverty rates among females of different racial and ethnic backgrounds: 8.4% of white females; 27.2% of African American females; and 39.6% of Hispanic females in 9 Forsyth County fell below the poverty level.
Forsyth County
households headed by single women with related children under the age of 18 experience the highest rates of poverty at nearly
44%.
There is also a greater risk of poverty in old age for women than there is for men. In Forsyth County, elderly women (9.7%) are nearly twice as likely to live in poverty as elderly men (5.4%).10 The poverty rate for specific family types varies greatly and paints a stark picture for female-headed households, over 13,000 of whom live in poverty. With the exception of married couple families, Forsyth County has slightly higher poverty rates than North Carolina and the United States.
Poverty Levels by Family Type — Families with Related Children under 18 50.0% 40.0% 30.0% 20.0% 10.0% 0.0% Female Householder All Families Married Couple Families no husband present
United States
14.9%
6.4%
36.5%
North Carolina
16.8%
6.8%
39.7%
Forsyth County
18.4%
6.6%
43.7% Source: American Community Survey, 2006–2008 3-Y ear Estimates, Table S1702
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