Where We Work

Poverty is rising as the number of part-time residents in our region increases. This creates community engagement challenges and exacerbates the existing barriers to affordable housing. Access to housing is a powerful determinant to health, it also has generational effects on wealth. On average 45% of renters in our community pay more than 35% of their income on housing.

As young adults and working-age families leave the region, the share of older adults and number of minority and foreign-born residents has increased. While the overall loss of population corrodes the workforce of a community, it also depletes the tax base for public schools.

In our region the median household income is $72,000 per year, however, there are significant variations between towns. For instance, 7 out of 17 towns have median household incomes below their state’s median household income. Income is one of the most influential social determinants of health. All levels of income are affected by economic conditions – as middle class and upper middle-class households experience poorer health outcomes than their richer peers.

Despite a rich agricultural history, a significant portion of our community is food insecure.

Approximately 12% of households in our region receive SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). We know that households with children are more likely than others to be food insecure, and adults in households with children experience the most severe form of food insecurity. Nationally, the number of food insecure seniors is expected to grow significantly in the next decade. Food insecurity is correlated with obesity, and other diet related chronic disease such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, as well as long-term complications that can develop from these diseases. Food security also impacts academic performance in children.