Ranked No. 3 as of 2025 for the wealthiest counties in New York, Westchester is home to eight of the communities placed on Bloomberg News’ 200 richest places in the U.S. Public figures like Martha Stewart, Ryan Reynolds, Ralph Lauren, Mary J. Blige, and many others reside in this affluent county. Simultaneously, Westchester is also home to more than 22,000 children living in poverty.
Despite resting below the national child poverty rate of 13.7% and the state child poverty rate of 18%, Westchester still holds a solid 11.1% for children living in poverty. For a county considered to be one of the state’s richest, this percentage is contradictory. After evaluating the numerous factors at play, the following categories roughly satisfy the conditions: household financials, legal concerns, and food insecurity.
United Way of Westchester and Putnam assists local residents in becoming self-sufficient and stable, publishing studies like the ALICE Report to give further insight into local households that struggle to meet ends meet. Faith Ann Butcher, the chief impact officer at United Way of Westchester and Putnam, oversees the company’s operations, along with its marketing and communications. Butcher speaks on the ALICE Report, explaining how it is an acronym for “Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed [households],” providing data — as of 2022 — on Westchester County’s households that “earn more than the federal poverty level, but less than the basic cost of living for the county (the ALICE Threshold).” The report’s research places Yonkers/Mount Vernon at 48% for ALICE and poverty, and Scarsdale/Pound Ridge at the lowest with 8%. Taking household income and basic needs into account, the ALICE Report categorizes and analyzes households in a financial sense.
Westchester Children’s Association recognizes the challenges parents face in providing for their children and aims to both identify and meet their needs. In speaking with Gabriel Nanna, the program and policy associate at the WCA, she points out that, “Parents are being challenged to manage applications and prove their demonstrated needs,” acknowledging the difficulties providers are experiencing, and further mentions how this leaves children in limited positions or even homeless. Nanna introduces the WCA’s Access to Counsel legislation, explaining that this is, “a court observation program tracking the relationship between insufficient legal counsel and increased rates of eviction in the courts.” Statistics show that tenants without legal counsel are almost three times more likely to be evicted. Using the Access to Counsel initiative, families facing eviction can receive the much-needed legal representation, preventing possible homelessness.
The Westchester County Youth Bureau, which promotes positive youth development and encourages healthy lifestyles, is another source working to combat child poverty from the perspective of food insecurity. After talking with Ms. Weisman, the food security coordinator at the WCYB, about child poverty in Westchester, she confirms food insecurity plays a major role, especially during COVID-19, when many young children didn’t have access to all three meals because of school closures. In turn, Feeding Westchester, working to fight hunger in the county, conducted the “Hunger Relief System Analysis,” meant to evaluate what areas in the county seem most affected by food insecurity. While similar to the ALICE Report, the analysis takes neighborhood health statistics and retail food sources into account. To combat these challenges, Feeding Westchester connects those in need to meal programs, food pantries, and many other resources.
Despite Westchester County’s reputation for affluence, the presence of youth poverty highlights a stark divide in economic stability. The work of organizations like United Way, Westchester Children’s Association, Westchester County Youth Bureau, and Feeding Westchester acknowledges the urgent need for continued advocacy, policy changes, and community support to address the challenges families face. While the county’s wealth may suggest prosperity, the reality for thousands of children tells a different story, one that requires both awareness and action. By recognizing the disparities and investing in long-term solutions, Westchester has the opportunity to bridge the gap and ensure that all children, regardless of their socioeconomic background, have access to a stable and secure future.
