Poverty Representation Across Our Region
By
the Early Learning Hub of Linn, Benton & Lincoln Counties
Introduction
Poverty affects different communities in different ways, and understanding these differences requires examining both poverty rates and overrepresentation.
Poverty Rate indicates the proportion of individuals or families within a group who live below the poverty line. It highlights the level of economic need within that group and allows for comparisons across groups.
Use Poverty Rate When:
• You want to understand the likelihood of poverty within a specific group.
• You are comparing economic need across groups, such as which families or children are more likely to experience poverty.
• You need to track progress over time, for example, in reducing child poverty among single-mother families.
Overrepresentation measures whether a group experiences a disproportionate share of poverty relative to its size in the overall population. It is particularly useful for identifying disparities and targeting resources equitably.
Use Overrepresentation When:
• You want to understand which groups bear a larger share of poverty compared to their population size.
• You are identifying groups that face a disproportionate burden of poverty, even if their internal poverty rate is moderate.
• You are making equity-focused decisions or allocating support to communities most affected relative to their size.
By considering both measures together, we gain a more complete understanding of economic disparities across demographic groups and can make better-informed decisions to address them.
The tables below illustrate poverty representation in Linn, Benton, and Lincoln counties. For relevant poverty rates in the region, please refer to the 2025 Regional Data Book on the website of the Early Learning Hub of Linn, Benton & Lincoln Counties.
Poverty Overrepresentation
by Race and Ethnicity
and Hispanic Origin
Data source: 2023 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates. Notes:
• Interpret with caution: small sample sizes increase the margin of error in survey-based estimates (such as the American Community Survey), meaning that a single change in family circumstances can shift the percentages considerably.
• “Overrepresentation in poverty" refers to demographic groups whose share of the population in poverty is disproportionately higher than their share of the general population. It is about a statistical imbalance that indicates systemic disparities. Here the red font color is applied when an overrepresentation shows.
• Share of TP: Share of the total population
• Share of TPP: Share of the total poverty population.
• Please note that: the number of people surveyed for the American Community Survey (ACS) can differ from the number of people for whom poverty status is determined because the ACS excludes certain populations for poverty analysis, such as individuals in institutionalized group quarters (like prisons or nursing homes) and those in college dorms, military barracks, or other living situations without conventional housing. Therefore, the poverty data refers to a slightly smaller universe than the total population surveyed in the ACS.
Main Highlights
➢ White populations make up the majority in all counties and statewide, but they are underrepresented in poverty compared to their share of the total population.
• In Oregon, Whites are 76.7% of the total population, but only 71.4% of those in poverty.
➢ Black or African American populations are consistently overrepresented in poverty.
• In Benton County, they are 1.4% of the total population but make up 3.5% of those in poverty.
• Statewide, they are 1.9% of the total population, yet 4.2% of the poverty population.
➢ American Indian and Alaska Native populations face high disparities in certain counties.
• In Lincoln County, they are 2.5% of the population but 5.6% of the poverty population.
➢ Asian populations show mixed patterns.
• In Benton County, they are 6.3% of the population but 14.0% of those in poverty more than double their population share.
• Statewide, Asians are slightly underrepresented in poverty (4.5% of the population vs. 4.1% in poverty).
➢ Two or More Races are generally overrepresented.
• In Linn County, they account for 8.7% of the population but 14.3% of those in poverty.
• Statewide, 10.8% of the population vs. 12.1% in poverty.
➢ Hispanic or Latino populations are consistently overrepresented in poverty across counties and statewide.
• In Linn County, they are 10.2% of the total population but 14.7% of those in poverty.
• Statewide, they are 14.3% of the population, yet 17.8% of those in poverty.
➢ Overall conclusion: Racial and ethnic disparities in poverty are evident. Black, American Indian, Hispanic/Latino, and multiracial populations are disproportionately represented in poverty, while White non-Hispanic populations are underrepresented. Linn, Benton, and Lincoln counties, in particular, show imbalances for minority groups.
Poverty Overrepresentation: Families with Children by
Age Group
Type of All Families with Related Children of Householder under 18 Years
With related children of householder under 5 years
With related children of householder under 5 years and 5 to 17 years
With related children of householder 5 to 17 years
Data source: 2023 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates. Notes:
• Share of AL with C: Share of all families with related children of householder under 18 years
• Share of AL with C in Poverty: Share of all families with related children of householder under 18 years below poverty level.
• Please note that: the total number of families surveyed in an American Community Survey (ACS) report may be different from the number of families for whom poverty status is determined because the ACS excludes certain populations, such as people in institutional group quarters, college dormitories, and unrelated individuals under 15 years old. The poverty status is only determined for the subset of the population for whom it can be determined, making the "population for whom poverty status is determined" the correct denominator for calculating poverty rates
Main Highlights
➢ Families with only school-age children (5–17 years) make up the majority of families with children, but they are underrepresented in poverty compared to their overall share.
Linn Benton Lincoln Oregon
• In Oregon, they represent 65.4% of families with children, but only 58.0% of families in poverty.
• Similar underrepresentation is seen in Linn (62.7% vs. 41.2%) and Lincoln (61.3% vs. 38.8%).
➢ Families with both young children (under 5) and school-age children are consistently overrepresented in poverty.
• In Linn County, they make up 17.6% of families with children but 35.4% of those in poverty double their share.
• Statewide, they are 17.1% of families with children, yet 24.8% of families in poverty.
➢ Families with only young children under age 5 also show overrepresentation in poverty, especially in Lincoln County.
• In Lincoln, they account for 17.2% of families with children but 34.4% of those in poverty double their proportion.
• Statewide, the share is fairly balanced (17.6% vs. 17.0%), but disparities appear more clearly at the county level.
➢ Overall conclusion: Families with very young children especially those raising both preschoolers and school-age children are disproportionately represented among families in poverty. In contrast, families with only schoolage children tend to be less likely to experience poverty relative to their share of the population.
Poverty Overrepresentation by
Family Structure
Type of Families with Children
Data source: 2023 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates.
Notes:
• Share of all F with C: Share of the total families with children under 18 years
• Share of all F with C in P: Share of the total families with children under 18 years living in poverty
Main Highlights
➢ Married-couple families with children make up the majority of families with children, but they are significantly underrepresented in poverty.
• In Linn County, there are 69.4% of all families with children, but only 43.4% of those in poverty.
• Statewide, they account for 67.0% of families with children but just 28.0% of those in poverty.
➢ Female-headed households with children (no spouse present) show the strongest overrepresentation in poverty across all counties and statewide.
• In Benton County, they represent only 20.8% of families with children, yet make up a majority 55.5% of families in poverty.
• In Lincoln County, the disparity is even sharper: 32.0% of families with children vs. 64.5% of families in poverty.
• Statewide, they are 22.5% of families with children, but 57.3% of those in poverty.
➢ Overall conclusion: Single-mother families face the greatest poverty disparities, while married-couple families are comparatively protected from poverty. This points to family structure as a key factor in poverty risk across Linn, Benton, Lincoln, and Oregon as a whole.
Poverty Overrepresentation:
Single-Mother Families with Children
Type of SingleMother Families with Children
With related children of householder
18 years
related children of householder under 5 years
With related children of householder under 5 years and 5 to 17 years
With related children of householder 5 to 17 years
Data source: 2023 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates. Notes:
• Share of all F with C: Share of the total families with children under 18 years
• Share of all F with C in P: Share of the total families with children under 18 years living in poverty.
Main Highlights:
➢ Single-mother families overall make up a relatively small share of all families with children, but are disproportionately represented among those in poverty.
• In Benton County, single-mother families represent 20.8% of families with children, but they make up 55.5% of those in poverty.
• In Lincoln County, the disparity is even sharper: 32.0% of families with children are single-mother households, yet they represent 64.5% of families in poverty.
➢ Single-mother families with young children under age 5 show striking overrepresentation in poverty.
Linn Benton Lincoln Oregon
• In Lincoln County, only 6.8% of families with children are single mothers with a child under 5, but they account for 27.2% of those in poverty.
• Oregon overall shows a similar pattern: 3.1% of families with children fall into this category, yet they make up nearly 1 in 10 (9.6%) of those in poverty.
➢ Single-mother families with both young children and school-age children are also disproportionately impacted.
• In Oregon, they make up 3.2% of all families with children but 13.8% of families in poverty.
• In Lincoln County, they represent 6.9% of families with children but 17.9% of those in poverty.
• In Linn County, they represent 2.8% of families with children but 15.1% of those in poverty.
➢ Single-mother families with only school-age children (5–17 years) show a smaller but still significant disparity.
• In Benton County, 17.7% of families with children are single mothers of school-age children, but they represent 41.9% of those in poverty.
• Statewide, these families make up 16.1% of families with children, yet account for 33.8% of those in poverty.
➢ Overall conclusion: Across all counties and statewide, single-mother families especially those with very young children are heavily overrepresented among families living in poverty, pointing to a significant equity and support gap.
Overrepresentation in Food Stamps/SNAP by Type of Families with Children
Type of Families with Children under 18 Years
no spouse
householder, no spouse present
Data source: 2023 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates.
Notes:
• Share of TF with C: Share of the total families with children under 18 years;
• Share of SNAP: Share of the total families with children under 18 years receiving food stamps/SNAP.
Main Highlights
➢ Married-couple families with children make up the majority of families, but they are underrepresented among SNAP recipients.
• In Oregon, they account for 66.3% of families with children but only 40.7% of those receiving SNAP.
• In Linn County, they are 68.4% of families, but only 49.3% of SNAP families.
➢ Female-headed households with children (no spouse present) are the most overrepresented SNAP recipients.
• In Lincoln County, they are 31.6% of families with children, but 55.0% of SNAP families.
• Statewide, they make up 22.3% of families with children, yet 45.5% of those on SNAP double their share.
• Benton County shows a particularly sharp disparity (20.8% vs. 45.4%).
➢ Male-headed households with children (no spouse present) are a smaller group, but also show consistent overrepresentation.
• In Benton County, they are 10.9% of families with children but 17.7% of SNAP families.
• Statewide, 10.4% of families with children vs. 12.1% of SNAP families.
➢ Overall conclusion: Single-parent households especially female-headed families are disproportionately represented among SNAP recipients, while married-couple families are less likely to rely on food assistance relative to their population share.
Conclusion
Across Linn, Benton, and Lincoln counties, and Oregon as a whole, clear patterns of overrepresentation in poverty and SNAP participation emerge:
1. Family Structure Matters Most: Single-parent households especially those headed by single mothers are consistently and disproportionately represented among families in poverty and those receiving SNAP benefits. Married-couple families, while the majority, are underrepresented in both categories.
2. Children’s Ages Influence Risk: Families with very young children (under 5), or those raising both preschool and school-age children, face the highest risk of poverty, often at double their population share. Families with only school-age children are comparatively less likely to experience poverty.
3. Racial and Ethnic Disparities Persist: While White non-Hispanic families are underrepresented in poverty, Black, American Indian/Alaska Native, Hispanic/Latino, and multiracial families face significant overrepresentation.
4. Food Assistance Reliance Mirrors Poverty Patterns: Families most overrepresented in poverty single mothers and, to a lesser extent, single fathers are also the most overrepresented among SNAP recipients.
Overall, these findings highlight structural inequities in family well-being. Poverty and reliance on assistance are concentrated among single-parent households, families with very young children, and racial/ethnic minority groups. Addressing these disparities requires targeted investments in child care, family economic stability, housing, and culturally responsive supports to reduce inequities across the region.